Sunday, December 10th 2023

DOOM Turns 30, John Romero Releases SIGIL II

by
btarunr
 Discuss (28 Comments)
The game that jump-started FPS as a popular game genre, DOOM, is now 30 years old! Released in 1993 by id Software, DOOM's shareware first mission is the most widely distributed PC game in history, and its paid full version continues to sell to this day, on Steam; with Bethesda having designed a modern game executable. DOOM is also one of the most popular game franchises, with close to a dozen titles across platforms. With Bethesda's acquisition of Zenimax, the franchise got a fresh breath of live through the 2010s, first DOOM (2016), and then the smash hit DOOM Eternal.

The original team that designed DOOM, ace designers John Romero and Tom Hall; and artist Adrian Carmack, congratulated gamers for making DOOM the indispensable piece of video gaming history that it is. DOOM is among the games that turned the PC into a serious gaming platform, as games on PCs were seen mostly as a novelty software for what was predominantly a machine for work. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of DOOM, John Romero announced the release of SIGIL II, the unofficial sixth episode of the original DOOM. Due to commercial restrictions, the WAD (where's all the data?) files for SIGIL and SIGIL II are free, but you can support Romero's work by buying its unique soundtrack that's been developed by Buckethead and THOR; collectible boxes, and other merchandise.

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28 Comments on DOOM Turns 30, John Romero Releases SIGIL II

#1
ymdhis
"close to a dozen titles across platforms" wouldn't even make a game special in the 1980s. Doom runs on a lot more than that. Dozens upon dozens of platforms if not hundreds.
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#2
TheDeeGee
Only played DOOM and DOOM 2 for the first time this year.

Hated the level design in DOOM 2 but the Total Conversions for that game are SO good.
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#3
bug
The game that jump-started FPS as a popular game genre...
*cough*Wolfenstein*cough*
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#4
Chomiq
bug*cough*Wolfenstein*cough*
Wolf wasn't as big as Doom.
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#5
DAPUNISHER
ChomiqWolf wasn't as big as Doom.
Irrelevant IMO. It was the true gateway drug to Doom and everything else.
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#6
Chomiq
DAPUNISHERIrrelevant IMO. It was the true gateway drug to Doom and everything else.
Relevant, FPS's were called "Doom clones", "Doom like" etc.
Posted on Reply
#7
bug
ChomiqRelevant, FPS's were called "Doom clones", "Doom like" etc.
There were Wolfenstein clones, too. E.g. Blake Stone.
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#8
AusWolf
DOOM's shareware first mission is the most widely distributed PC game in history, and its paid full version continues to sell to this day, on Steam; with Bethesda having designed a modern game executable.
This is why PC gaming will always be better than consoles.

Awesome news, by the way. Does anybody know where I can get Sigil II? :)
Posted on Reply
#9
Easo
AusWolfThis is why PC gaming will always be better than consoles.

Awesome news, by the way. Does anybody know where I can get Sigil II? :)
romero.com/sigil
Posted on Reply
#11
ymdhis
DAPUNISHERIrrelevant IMO. It was the true gateway drug to Doom and everything else.
It's relevant, Wolf3D was a flat catacomb at all times. Doom was capable of crafting elaborate cities even with the no room-above-room limitation. It was hailed as virtual reality when it came out.
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#12
bug
ymdhisIt's relevant, Wolf3D was a flat catacomb at all times. Doom was capable of crafting elaborate cities even with the no room-above-room limitation. It was hailed as virtual reality when it came out.
Well, every ID title back then took action shooters to a new level. But they started with Wolfenstein.
Wolfenstein - first to simulate 3D gfx using a 2D model.
Doom - first to go 3D
Quake - first to use hw accelerated 3D (or maybe second, can't recall whether Tomb Raider came first)
Doom3 and Rage also brought new firsts, even though by then ID forgot to add good gameplay to the mix.
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#13
stinger608
Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder
This is frigging awesome that John Romero did this.

For sure downloading SIGIL II and adding it to my Doom.
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#14
mashie
bugWell, every ID title back then took action shooters to a new level. But they started with Wolfenstein.
Wolfenstein - first to simulate 3D gfx using a 2D model.
Doom - first to go 3D
Quake - first to use hw accelerated 3D (or maybe second, can't recall whether Tomb Raider came first)
Doom3 and Rage also brought new firsts, even though by then ID forgot to add good gameplay to the mix.
Doom was more 2.5D, you couldn't walk under a bridge that you crossed for example. Star Wars Dark Forces was one of the earliest real 3D FPS out there, I remember the nice feeling running up a spiral staircase the first time.
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#16
QuietBob
With some graphical improvements Doom can look impressive even today, and the gameplay holds up really well:



Happy 30th Doom! :clap:
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#17
NoiseBox
TheDeeGeeOnly played DOOM and DOOM 2 for the first time this year.

Hated the level design in DOOM 2 but the Total Conversions for that game are SO good.
Ha, I thought I was the only one who didn't like Doom 2's level design. I understand what they were going for, but I frequently got lost.
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#18
Prima.Vera
QuietBobWith some graphical improvements Doom can look impressive even today, and the gameplay holds up really well:



Happy 30th Doom! :clap:
Where can we download this? Also, does this work with Sigil I and II ??
Thank you in advance.
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#19
trsttte
With Bethesda's acquisition of Zenimax
Isn't it the other way around?
ymdhisDozens upon dozens of platforms if not hundreds
The only true crossplatform title :D
Posted on Reply
#20
QuietBob
Prima.VeraWhere can we download this? Also, does this work with Sigil I and II ??
Thank you in advance.
It's actually a painstakingly matched selection of mods based on GZDoom. It took quite a lot of effort to get it running, but it's well worth it! Drop me a PM and I'll send you a link to the whole package :)
It should be compatible with Sigil 1/2 since they use the original Doom 1 texture set, but I haven't tested these yet.
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#21
Noci
30 years already:eek:, damn I'm getting old and still stuck on level 1 :roll:
Posted on Reply
#22
bug
Noci30 years already:eek:, damn I'm getting old and still stuck on level 1 :roll:
Damned thing required an 80386 while I only had an 80286. Had to play at a friend's...
I had an 80486 by the time DoomII came out, I played that thing till I could finish it without saving.
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#23
AusWolf
Noci30 years already:eek:, damn I'm getting old and still stuck on level 1 :roll:
I only played the game from start to finish once, but man it was hard! Not as hard as Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast (I've never been a fan of labyrinths), but still. :D
Posted on Reply
#24
bug
AusWolfI only played the game from start to finish once, but man it was hard! Not as hard as Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast (I've never been a fan of labyrinths), but still. :D
It depends on how you played it. The first pass would be brutal, yes, but once you learned where the secret areas were (that was part of the gameplay), you would get resources that made playthroughs much easier. And if you got bored, you could always try to see how far you can go using just the fists/chainsaw.
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#25
AusWolf
bugIt depends on how you played it. The first pass would be brutal, yes, but once you learned where the secret areas were (that was part of the gameplay), you would get resources that made playthroughs much easier. And if you got bored, you could always try to see how far you can go using just the fists/chainsaw.
It wasn't the lack of resources that made it hard for me, but trying to find the exit most of the time, same as in Jedi Outcast. :ohwell:
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