Doom is one of the most influential video games ever made. id Software, which developed Doom (along with several other groundbreaking games), is one of the most influential game studios of all time. John Carmack and John Romero, the two main drivers behind id Software, are two of the most influential game developers in history, especially when it comes to western developers. Much has been written about these two men and their time at id Software, but the definitive source is Masters of Doom by David Kushner.
Masters of Doom (Book)
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture is a 2003 book by David Kushner about id Software and its influence on popular culture, focusing chiefly on the video-game company’s co-founders John D. Carmack and John Romero.
I haven’t read it myself, but it’s on my list, and should be for anyone who grew up playing as much Doom and Wolfenstein 3D as I did.
Masters of Doom (Show)
For people who are too cool to read books, USA has ordered a pilot for a series based on the show. Considering that the golden days of id Software sound like they had a Wolf of Wall Street feel to them, it sounds like it’ll be a fun time. USA ordered the pilot three months ago, but they just announced their two main leads today: Eduardo Franco and Patrick Gibson. Looking at these pictures, it’s a pretty solid match.
Bonus: John Romero Wasn’t Whitewashed!
This news seems pretty cool. I hope I'm played by someone of my heritage. Any suggestions? https://t.co/rfNZ96sqCB #DOOM @davidkushner pic.twitter.com/hPCG8yEHyp
— 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓 𝕽𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖔 (@romero) June 27, 2019
Based on that tweet, John Romero might have been worried that he was going to be whitewashed in this series (as happens so often in Hollywood), but it looks like he got his wish with this casting. On top of that, Eduardo Franco is a pretty great double for a young John Romero, and he’s been great in everything I’ve seen him in. The show still has to be good, of course, but this is definitely a good start.
At the end of the day, it’s cool that gaming has been around long enough that we’re now getting retrospectives about some of the legendary people and moments involved in the history of our favorite hobby. USA hasn’t announced yet when the series is set to premiere, so stay posted for more news. In the meantime, check out the book, where you can get even more of the story without having to wait.
