The Tim Ferriss Show

#681: Doom Legend John Romero — The Path to Prolific Innovation and Making 130+ Games, How to Find the Soul of the Work, Audacious Ambition, and Building in Monk Mode

Jul 12, 2023

In this engaging discussion, legendary game developer John Romero, co-creator of iconic titles like DOOM and Quake, shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a gaming pioneer. He dives into the evolution of game design, emphasizing how technology has transformed the industry. Romero also explores the ambitious development processes behind his groundbreaking games, revealing insights about innovation, collaboration, and even his unique memory condition. Don't miss his personal anecdotes and reflections on the gaming world!

01:32:08

Episode guests

John Romero

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Quick takeaways

John Romero's role in pioneering revolutionary games like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D set new industry benchmarks in high-speed 3D movement.

Success in rapid game development was attributed to scoping projects efficiently and eliminating unnecessary elements, allowing focus on key features.

John Romero's exceptional autobiographical memory provided advantages in recalling past experiences and game designs but also required careful navigation to prioritize essential elements.

Deep dives

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The Importance of Scoping in Game Development

01:39

Discovering the Missing Multiplayer Feature

02:27

The Challenges of Hyperthiamesia and Enhanced Memory

01:20

Programming for Gaming and the Immediate Feedback Loop

01:42

Intro

5min

An Icon's Journey Through Gaming Innovation

2min

From Struggles to Coding Dreams

15min

Pioneering Gaming Technology

20min

The Evolution of Game Design: From Concept to Innovation

3min

Innovating Game Design and the Power of Memory

14min

From Doom to Quake: The Evolution of Game Development

27min

New Releases and Nutritional Insights

7min

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Computer and video game legend John Romero (@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 co-inventing 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.

The memoir DOOM GUY: Life in First Person is his first book.

Please enjoy!

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[07:39] Childhood.

[11:30] Aggressor Squadron.

[14:55] John’s first exposure to computers and coding.

[21:34] Early innovations in 3D gaming.

[26:01] The id Software team.

[28:00] Side-scrolling games.

[30:41] Developing 13 games in one year. How?

[37:28] Designing with movable and removable parts in mind.

[42:45] Warning the world of its inevitable DOOM.

[53:04] Hyperthymesia.

[59:49] Working on two games at once.

[1:02:34] When John realized DOOM would be a hit.