#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 | TED Radio Hour

Intro

In this episode of the TED Radio Hour, computer and video game legend John Romero shares his journey of innovation and prolific game-making. From his humble beginnings to co-inventing revolutionary games like Doom and Quake, Romero’s story is one of audacious ambition and building in “monk mode”. Join host Guy Raz as he explores the path to success with John Romero.

Main Takeaways

Path to Prolific Innovation

• John Romero has designed and published over 130 games since his first sale at the age of 16.
• Co-invented revolutionary games like Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein 3D, and Commander Keen.
• Focused on speed and optimization, which set his team apart from others.
• Scoping and defining the game’s scope were key factors in their success.
• Iterative nature of programming allowed for quick learning and problem-solving.

Finding the Soul of the Work

• Stripped out unnecessary elements to focus on the soul of the game.
• Created a navigable maze on a screen, introducing a third dimension of movement.
• Introduced new design elements like lighting control and non-orthogonal walls.
• Focused on high-speed run and gun gameplay in Doom.
• Embraced multiplayer features, allowing players to play with and against each other.

Audacious Ambition

• Pushed the boundaries of technology and design to create something new.
• Created the Quake engine for a 3D game experience.
• Embraced challenges and worked in “crunch mode” to finish projects.
• Left id Software to start a design company with Tom Hall.
• Continued making games and wrote a memoir, Doom Guy, documenting his experiences.

Building in Monk Mode

• Maintained complete focus on game development without distractions.
• Small team of four people enabled one vision to come out the right way.
• Experience in all aspects of game development contributed to their success.
• Visualized the game and communicated ideas without using prototypes.
• Execution and delivering on promises were crucial to their success.

Summary

John Romero’s Path to Prolific Innovation

John Romero’s journey in the gaming industry has been marked by innovation and prolific game-making. From his early days of designing and publishing games at a young age to co-inventing groundbreaking games like Doom and Quake, Romero’s passion for speed, optimization, and scoping set him apart from other game developers. His ability to learn quickly through the iterative nature of programming allowed him to constantly push the boundaries of game design. With a focus on finding the soul of the work, Romero stripped out unnecessary elements and introduced new design elements to create immersive gaming experiences.

Audacious Ambition and Building in Monk Mode

Romero’s audacious ambition led him to create the Quake engine, a revolutionary technology that powered a 3D game experience. Despite the challenges and intense work involved, Romero embraced the opportunity to push technology and design to the limit. After leaving id Software, Romero continued to build his career in game development and even wrote a memoir, Doom Guy, documenting his experiences. Throughout his journey, Romero emphasized the importance of building in monk mode, maintaining complete focus on game development without distractions. With a small, dedicated team and a strong commitment to execution, Romero’s games became industry-defining classics.

Conclusion

John Romero’s story is a testament to the power of audacious ambition, relentless innovation, and unwavering focus. From his humble beginnings to co-creating some of the most influential games in the industry, Romero’s passion for pushing boundaries and finding the soul of the work has left a lasting impact. Aspiring game developers and enthusiasts can learn valuable lessons from Romero’s journey, reminding us that with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible in the world of gaming.