happy birthday, doom

December 10, 2003 under Classic Gaming, Computers

Ten years ago, idSoftware unleashed Doom on us. I didn’t get my first computer until I was 17, so I missed out on the early classics in PC gaming. But I got to try Doom out shortly after getting that 486 SX 25MHz (later upgraded to a 486 DX2 50MHz). I was instantly hooked. I was mostly a console gamer before, but Doom made me see how great PC games could (and would) become. Doom was the first game that actually scared the shit out of me on occasion. I used to play at night after my parents went to bed. I played with the lights off and the sound low, but loud enough to hear all the creepy atmospheric sounds and screams. I’d catch myself leaning into the monitor to try to see around a corner. Who needs drugs when you have the paranoia of a possible imp around the corner, you’re low on ammo and you’re facing a dimly lit corridor? Trippy indeed.

The shareware business model made Doom popular and it had a very busy mod community that kept the game fresh. I also have fond memories of deathmatching with Sean Claire on our 28.8 KBps modems after work at the golf course. The other Doom’s (Ultimate Doom and Final Doom) and Doom 2 were great too, but nothing can still compare to the original Doom…especially it’s first episode; “Knee Deep In The Dead”. I’m not sure if Doom 3 will have the same impact as the original, but I sure hope that one freaks me out even more.

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