Masters of Doom
LC Class | GV1469.15 .K87 2003 |
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture is a 2003 book by
Upon release, Masters of Doom received positive reviews from critics and has been placed on numerous "best of" lists for video game books. The book would later influence
Background
Content
The book describes the respective childhoods of the "two Johns", their first meeting at
The games are discussed in detail, and Kushner's main focus is in the work dynamic and personalities that enabled their creation. He describes Carmack and Romero as the driving forces of id Software, but with very different personalities. Romero is presented as having unbridled creativity and considerable skill, but he loses focus when the spectacular success of the games allows him to adopt a rock star-like public persona. Carmack is depicted as an introvert, whose unparalleled programming skills are the core of id Software, enabling the company to create extremely sophisticated games. However, he has little interest in – or even understanding of – the social niceties that enable people to enjoy working together.
Much of the book concentrates on this dynamic. The two initially complement each other well, but eventually conflicts develop, leading Romero to be fired. Carmack, the skilled creator of the complicated and fast game engines the company's products use, is repeatedly referred to as the only person in the company who is not expendable, and this gives him a great degree of authority and influence. However, this influence transforms id Software into a considerably less pleasant and fun place to work and causes its games to become increasingly repetitive, though technologically sophisticated. Romero is on the opposite end of the spectrum; his Ion Storm is intended to be a very fun place to work, where "[game] design is law" (Ion Storm's slogan was "Design is Law") and that technology must be created to realize the designer's vision, instead of the other way around. However, his lack of management and organizational focus leads to poor and financially disastrous results.
Although Kushner adopts a novel-like narrative, Masters of Doom is a work of video game journalism. According to his notes in the book, it is based on hundreds of interviews conducted over a six-year period. Kushner was an early entrant into the field of video game journalism, and recycled some of his own original reporting in the book.
Publication
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture was first published in May 2003 by
Reception
Kushner has cracked open the dark world of John Carmack and John Romero, the authors of the blockbuster computer games Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake. Reading this fascinating underground tale is as addictive as the games themselves.
Seth Mnookin for The New York Times called it "an impressive and adroit social history", positively noting its pacing and detail.
Legacy
In 2021, Kushner wrote in a Substack post that he was writing a sequel to Masters of Doom. Titled Masters of Disruption: How the Gamer Generation Built the Future, Kushner planned to serialize the book in his newsletter and include new interviews with Carmack and Romero.[28]
Lawsuit
In 2005, former Ion Storm chief executive officer[a] Michael Wilson sued publisher Random House Inc., claiming the book made false allegations against him making a questionable business deal to purchase a BMW with funds from the company. Wilson sought $50 million in damages, with further punitive damages from the publisher.[30] A spokesperson for Random House issued a statement announcing the publishing company's support of David Kushner.[31] No outcome of the suit was ever reported.
Adaptation
A movie adaptation was first conceived in 2005, when it was announced that producer
The movie never materialized beyond the initial announcement.In June 2019, USA Network greenlit a pilot episode of a potential series based on the book, to be written and produced by Tom Bissell under James and Dave Franco's Ramona Films label. The series, if it should continue, is expected to be an anthology series.[33] The series would feature Eduardo Franco as Romero, Patrick Gibson as Carmack, and star John Karna, Jane Ackermann, Siobhan Williams, and Peter Friedman, directed by Rhys Thomas.[34] In 2020, it was reported that the pilot was in post-production by Gotham Group, though no further announcement has been made.[35]
See also
Notes
References
- This article uses content from the GFDL Doom Wiki article "Masters of Doom"
- ^ Chick, Tom (April 28, 2003). "David Kushner on Masters of Doom". GameSpy. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 2, 2004.
- ^ from the original on May 27, 2015.
- ^ Ciuraru, Carmela (June 25, 2003). "An oddball pairing that led to 'Doom'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Chick, Tom (April 28, 2003). "David Kushner on Masters of Doom". GameSpy. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 27, 2004.
- ^ Chick, Tom (April 28, 2003). "David Kushner on Masters of Doom". GameSpy. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 27, 2004.
- ^ Staff (March 27, 2003). "Masters of Doom". Geek.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ Jones, Nicolette (May 23, 2003). "Rights Report". The Bookseller. No. 5078.
- ^ Prima Games Staff (October 3, 2021). "Best Books for Anyone that Loves Video Games". Prima Games. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ProQuest 235608115.
- from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ McDonald, Thomas L. (June 2003). "The Age of id". Maximum PC. No. 58. p. 16.
- ^ Staff (August 2003). "Out There". Edge. No. 126. p. 21.
- ^ Wild Weasel (January 23, 2013). "Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ Juster, Scott (November 2, 2011). "'Masters of Doom' A Great Man History of Gaming". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ Gilbert, Henry (April 29, 2013). "10 great books that will teach you about gaming history". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ Davenport, James (June 8, 2016). "The best video game books". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ Petite, Steven (April 15, 2017). "Take a gaming break to read these 10 great books about the hobby you love". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ Plante, Chris (November 19, 2023). "The best video game books of 2023". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- Salon. Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ Donahue, Ann (June 23–29, 2003). "Book Reviews". Variety. p. 35.
- ^ Ardai, Charles (May 2003). "From Cradle to Doom". Computer Gaming World. No. 226. p. 49.
- from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ Staff (June 10, 2016). "How a Book About Doom Inspired the Oculus Rift". Wired. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Ohanian, Alexis (June 26, 2013). "The Book that Inspired the Birth of reddit". Making the World Suck Less. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06.
- ProQuest 1776689305.
- ^ Romero, John. "Masters of Doom – Signed by John Romero". Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ Kushner, David (September 22, 2021). "Masters of Disruption: How the Gamer Generation Built the Future [1]". Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Heaslip, Stephen (June 3, 2005). "Masters of Doom Lawsuit". Blue's News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ Gibson, Ellie (June 3, 2005). "Doom book publishers sued". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ Martin, Denise (April 13, 2005). "Showtime's 'Doom' day". Variety. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellia (June 27, 2019). "USA Network Orders 'Masters Of Doom' Pilot Produced By James & Dave Franco". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Patski, Denise (September 26, 2019). "'Masters Of Doom': Eduardo Franco & Patrick Gibson To Star In USA Network Pilot; Four More Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ Otterman, Joe (February 6, 2020). "Gotham Group Sets First-Look Deal With Fox 21 Television Studios". Variety. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
Further reading
- Accardi, Joe J. (2003). "Masters of Doom (Book)". EBSCOhost 9400538.
- Brink, Paul; Gropman, Jackie; Woodcock, Susan (October 2003). "Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture (Book)". School Library Journal. 49 (11): 173. EBSCOhost 11297881.
- Cass, Stephen (April 2003). "The Masters Cometh". ISSN 0018-9235.
- Peters, Justin (August 7, 2003). "Profit of Doom". Washington Monthly. 35 (7/8): 52. EBSCOhost 10175564.
- Takahashi, Dean (May 6, 2003). "At the Top of Their Game". The Wall Street Journal. Vol. 241, no. 88. from the original on May 16, 2020.