The Legacy of DOOM
There are so many games that have had a lasting significance on the computer/video game industry, as we read in the unit notes (i.e. Spacewars!, Pac-Man, Pong, etc.), but there are a few more-recent ones that have shaken the core of the gaming industry. I am of course talking about the birthplace of the FPS, or First Person Shooter. I decided to pick the ever-popular Doom for this discussion, as although technically Wolfenstein 3D came out a year earlier (1992 compared to Doom's 1993, both titles being created by id Software), Doom was an overall improvement over Wolfenstein 3D. If you look up Doom on the internet (i.e., http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10499993/20-years-of-Doom-the-game-that-put-a-gun-in-your-hand.html), you'll see that it is indeed considered one of the most influential video games of all time. Now, to the specifics of why that is accurate.
Doom has had the most significant impact on the video game industry because, even though there were a few FPS titles before then, Doom was the one that really stuck with people. The increased pace of gameplay and more creative and visually interesting levels, coupled with the brutality of the combat system and heavy metal music spread throughout, created a much more memorable experience. While Wolfenstein is still the go-to for the theme of killing Nazis, Doom paved the way for futuristic sci-fi shooters up until this day, with its theme of killing demons/aliens on Mars. When listing creative influences for first-person shooters, many people will mention Doom in some fashion. Doom itself was based partly on Aliens and Evil Dead, movies that have earned significant cult followings themselves. Doom itself was even made into a movie, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Karl Urban.
As for the controversy, the release of the game certainly spawned multiple instances of such. Some people criticized the game for its content, which included high levels of blood and gore, as well as demonic/Satanic imagery. Certainly, the religious groups and sensitive parents that worried about this content did not like the inclusion of heavy metal music either. Other than general concern about the violence in video games, the most notable incident that is associated with Doom is the Columbine High School shootings. While these happened years later, people were worried about the correlation between the game and the shootings because one of the shooters mentioned their wanton slaughter would be akin to playing Doom. I personally don't believe there is a link between violent video games and actual real-world violence, as those involved usually have some form of Antisocial Personality Disorder, and thus it is merely coincidental that they also enjoy playing video games. The fact that games like Doom are violent may be an attractive quality of the type of game they enjoy, but it is certainly not the cause of any violence toward others.
Games like Doom definitely made designers think differently about how they developed games, especially in the way I previously mentioned, regarding the evolution of the first-person shooter. In games like Doom, there is a more personal connection with the protagonist of the game because you are not just a voyeur into the world of the game, you are in control; you are viewing it through their eyes, for all intents and purposes. It gives one a visceral feeling that they are the character, and perhaps the decisions one makes in the game hold more weight because of this.
Another crucial aspect of Doom's legacy was the fact the game was designed three-dimensionally. While the character models were still 2D, the player could move 360 degrees; up, down, forward, back, left, and right. This also enabled developers to think differently, as now they would be able to create more advanced worlds, which encompassed a much greater sphere of existence. This also meant the player was no longer restricted to a single screen, like in Pong or Pac-Man. This would not only apply to the first-person shooter either - games such as Baldur's Gate and Fallout would take the same sort of idea and convert it into an isometric view. I don't presume that Doom directly influenced them, but its initial contribution could very likely have led to some of their designs, which surfaced 3-5 years after Doom was released. Other first-person shooters such as Quake (also id Software) were very much along the vein of Doom, even down to the industrial music created for the game by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Duke Nukem 3D was quite similar. Non-id Software games said to have had a direct influence might be Half-Life, Deus Ex, Rise of the Triad, and Unreal Tournament, to name a few.
I think Doom taught people they can have a more personal relationship with the games they play, as well as reminding people that the technology of games had limitless potential, which has been accurate up until today. While the graphics and gameplay have become more complex over the years, the step from 2D to 3D was one of the most significant. Doom and its aforementioned qualities solidify it as one of the most influential games of all time. Doom is still available for purchase from a variety of gaming platforms, including Steam, Xbox Marketplace, GOG.com, and even the App Store for the iPhone/iPad. The next step will be virtual reality, most likely (currently in progress), and perhaps even full-body simulation like The Matrix.
Doom has had the most significant impact on the video game industry because, even though there were a few FPS titles before then, Doom was the one that really stuck with people. The increased pace of gameplay and more creative and visually interesting levels, coupled with the brutality of the combat system and heavy metal music spread throughout, created a much more memorable experience. While Wolfenstein is still the go-to for the theme of killing Nazis, Doom paved the way for futuristic sci-fi shooters up until this day, with its theme of killing demons/aliens on Mars. When listing creative influences for first-person shooters, many people will mention Doom in some fashion. Doom itself was based partly on Aliens and Evil Dead, movies that have earned significant cult followings themselves. Doom itself was even made into a movie, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Karl Urban.
As for the controversy, the release of the game certainly spawned multiple instances of such. Some people criticized the game for its content, which included high levels of blood and gore, as well as demonic/Satanic imagery. Certainly, the religious groups and sensitive parents that worried about this content did not like the inclusion of heavy metal music either. Other than general concern about the violence in video games, the most notable incident that is associated with Doom is the Columbine High School shootings. While these happened years later, people were worried about the correlation between the game and the shootings because one of the shooters mentioned their wanton slaughter would be akin to playing Doom. I personally don't believe there is a link between violent video games and actual real-world violence, as those involved usually have some form of Antisocial Personality Disorder, and thus it is merely coincidental that they also enjoy playing video games. The fact that games like Doom are violent may be an attractive quality of the type of game they enjoy, but it is certainly not the cause of any violence toward others.
Games like Doom definitely made designers think differently about how they developed games, especially in the way I previously mentioned, regarding the evolution of the first-person shooter. In games like Doom, there is a more personal connection with the protagonist of the game because you are not just a voyeur into the world of the game, you are in control; you are viewing it through their eyes, for all intents and purposes. It gives one a visceral feeling that they are the character, and perhaps the decisions one makes in the game hold more weight because of this.
Another crucial aspect of Doom's legacy was the fact the game was designed three-dimensionally. While the character models were still 2D, the player could move 360 degrees; up, down, forward, back, left, and right. This also enabled developers to think differently, as now they would be able to create more advanced worlds, which encompassed a much greater sphere of existence. This also meant the player was no longer restricted to a single screen, like in Pong or Pac-Man. This would not only apply to the first-person shooter either - games such as Baldur's Gate and Fallout would take the same sort of idea and convert it into an isometric view. I don't presume that Doom directly influenced them, but its initial contribution could very likely have led to some of their designs, which surfaced 3-5 years after Doom was released. Other first-person shooters such as Quake (also id Software) were very much along the vein of Doom, even down to the industrial music created for the game by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Duke Nukem 3D was quite similar. Non-id Software games said to have had a direct influence might be Half-Life, Deus Ex, Rise of the Triad, and Unreal Tournament, to name a few.
I think Doom taught people they can have a more personal relationship with the games they play, as well as reminding people that the technology of games had limitless potential, which has been accurate up until today. While the graphics and gameplay have become more complex over the years, the step from 2D to 3D was one of the most significant. Doom and its aforementioned qualities solidify it as one of the most influential games of all time. Doom is still available for purchase from a variety of gaming platforms, including Steam, Xbox Marketplace, GOG.com, and even the App Store for the iPhone/iPad. The next step will be virtual reality, most likely (currently in progress), and perhaps even full-body simulation like The Matrix.
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