Doom Guy: Life in First Person

The inspiring, long-awaited autobiography of video-game designer and DOOM cocreator John Romero

John Romero, gaming's original rock star, is the cocreator of DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3-D, some of the biggest video games of all time. Considered the godfather of the first-person shooter, a genre that continues to dominate the market today, he holds a unique place in gaming history. In DOOM Guy: Life in First Person, Romero chronicles, for the first time, his difficult childhood and storied career, beginning with his early days submitting Apple II game code to computer magazines and sneaking computers out the back door of his day job to write code at night.

Industry-redefining breakthroughs in design and tech during Romero's time at id Software made DOOM and Quake cultural phenomena, and this thrilling story recounts every step of the process, from collaborative, heavy metal-fueled days spent crafting the industry's most revolutionary and cutting-edge games to a high-profile falling-out with id cofounder John Carmack. After years in the gaming spotlight, Romero is now telling his story--the whole story--shedding new light on the development of his games and his business partnerships, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, sharing insights about design, code, the industry, and his career right up to today. Sharing gratitude for a lifetime in games, Romero reveals the twists and turns that led him, ultimately, to be called DOOM Guy.

Author: John Romero
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 07/18/2023
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.33lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.32w x 1.33d
ISBN: 9781419758119


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/29/2023
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2023

About the Author
Computer and video game legend John Romero has designed and published more than 130 games since his first sale at the age of 16. A teenage programming prodigy, his major achievements include coinventing a series of revolutionary computer games--DOOM, Quake, Wolfenstein 3-D, and Commander Keen--that launched the industry's most popular genre, the first-person shooter. He lives in Galway, Ireland.