Doom Guy, John Romero
Doom Guy, John Romero
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Doom Guy
Life in First Person

Author: John Romero

Narrator: John Romero

Unabridged: 17 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/18/2023

Synopsis

The inspiring autobiography of video game designer and DOOM cocreator John RomeroDoom Guy: Life in First Person is the long-awaited autobiography of gaming’s original rock star and the cocreator of DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein—some of the most recognizable and important titles in video game history. Credited with the invention of the first-person shooter, a genre that continues to dominate the market today, he is gaming royalty.Told in remarkable detail, a byproduct of his hyperthymesia, Romero recounts his storied career—from his early days submitting Apple II code to computer magazines and sneaking computers out of the back door of his day job to do programming projects at night in his garage to a high-profile falling out with his id Software cofounder John Carmack, as well as his continued role in the gaming industry today as the managing director of Romero Games Ltd.His story is truly one of a self-made man, founding multiple companies after a childhood filled with violence and abuse drove him to video game design where he could create new worlds and places to escape to. An alcoholic father, a racist grandfather who did not approve of Romero’s parents’ mixed-race coupling, and a grandmother who once ran a brothel in Mexico combine for an illuminating story of his youth—a story that has never before been revealed.After years in the gaming spotlight, Romero is now telling his story—the whole story—in his own words.

About John Romero

Computer and video game legend John Romero has designed and published more than 130 games since his first sale as a teenage programming prodigy at the age of sixteen. His major achievements include coinventing a series of revolutionary computer games that launched the industry’s most popular genre, the first-person shooter. He lives in Galway, Ireland. 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sam on August 27, 2023

If you are a nerd and have nostalgia for DOOM, Wolf3D, Commander Keen, BBSes etc. then the first two thirds of this book are a mildly interesting read, albeit very poorly written. After Ion Storm it rapidly becomes incredibly dull, cos who wants to read about Gunman Taco Truck or whatever else nonse......more

Goodreads review by Wesley on March 31, 2023

Wolfenstein 3-D, one of the first PC games I remember playing, always meant a lot to me. It was super fun and quite innovative for the time. That game was developed by id Software, who’d continue to innovate with games like Doom and Quake. I never got into the latter two games due to their darkness......more

Goodreads review by Alexey on July 18, 2023

john, you're amazing, but you don't need to repeat everything thrice, we get you from the get-go. other than that - unique POV of a unique person. p.s. hyperthymesia sounds like my personal nightmare and I remember about 70% of my life clearly, 100% would be nightmare fuel......more

Goodreads review by Preston on September 03, 2023

Incredible. I cried many times, some of which were very warranted. Others were just my stupid tired brain throwing out chemicals with reckless abandon. Listened to this narrated by Romero himself. While I have tremendous respect for the arts of voice acting and narration, and it was abundantly clear......more

Goodreads review by Dustin on September 11, 2023

Is most interesting when it's focused on what Romero actually thinks and feels but there's very little of that once it gets out of his childhood. At that point it becomes a book about id software's history and design. Some stuff blatantly feels like it's in there to "set the record straight" where i......more

Quotes

“The story of Doom and John Romero is about how being generous with talent and knowledge, as this book is, can change the world.”

Washington Post

“The author is candid in his discussion of the Columbine shooters, who were addicts of his blood-soaked scenarios…Students of game-making and business alike will find useful, sometimes rueful lessons.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Surpisingly moving…[Romero] manages to appeal to gamers and nongamers alike with this celebration of triumphing over adversity.”

Publishers Weekly

“John’s games have inspired countless gamers and game developers. In his memoir you’ll learn that his life is as inspirational as his work.”

Warren Spector, creator of Deus Ex

“While John tells the behind-the-scenes stories about making many elements of today’s gaming industry…it’s the personal stories about his challenges, his choices, and his relationships that I love in this book.”

Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president and COO of Nintendo of America

“DOOM made gaming cool and transformed game developers from nerds into rock stars, and John Romero’s brazen public persona defined the era. Reconciling the legend of John Romero with the warm, supportive game designer with whom I met as an unknown young programmer is a mystery that this book finally reveals in a wonderful narrative following Romero from modest game programming roots to the apex of video game stardom.”

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games

“For years, I thought that I had been born too late and missed out on participating in the heroic eras of computing. Only much later did I realize that Romero and I were at the nexus of a new era—the 3D game hackers.”

John Carmack, cofounder of id Software and founder of Keen Technologies

Awards

  • Publishers Weekly Pick
  • #1 Amazon bestseller
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