Retro Video Gamer

(http://romero.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/44914_489503526288_6065428_n.jpg)


I am completely amazed that we can announce we have arranged an interview for you all with the awesome John Romero.

John does not really need an introduction but he is an award-winning game designer, programmer and artist whose work spans over 130 games, 107 of which have been published commercially, including the iconic works Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM and Quake.

Post your questions.

Wow, amazed is right! I'll start thinking of questions.

That's awesome!  Here are some questions to get things started:

1. How did the formation of id Software come about?
2.  How did you come up with the idea for Wolfenstein 3D?
3.  What challenges did you face when programming the game? 
4.  How did you get started in the video game industry?
5.  Can you tell us about your experience at Midway Games and the work you did for Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows?
6.  What do you think of the video game industry currently? 

Great news! John Romero is an icon of game design. I will post questions soon.

Nice one all.

Here are my questions.

1. What is your favorite Doom level to play in deathmatch?
2. Doom has become a competitive game in both multiplayer (deathmatch) and single player (speed running) circles. When you designed the levels for Doom, were you keeping in mind the hardcore gamers who would try to take the game to its limits? Does it amaze you that people in the year 2015 still have not found its limits?
3. Were there any discussions within id Software when Wisdom Tree acquired the license to develop Super Noah's Ark 3D with the Wolfenstein 3D engine, and have you ever played it?
4. Doom was one of the bloodiest games of its time and was released just as Mortal Kombat hit arcades. Was there a general sense among developers in the early '90s that game design would need to go in an edgier, more realistic and more violent direction?
5. Have you read any of the Doom novels?
6. Is there any chance of you reuniting with Adrian Carmack while in Ireland for another game project?

Nice fella.

Out of all the games you have had a hand in creating, do you have a favourite?
Was there a lot of opposition to the violence in your early games at id, either from inside or outside the studio?
What do you think of the modern Wolfenstein and Doom games? Do you play them?
What do you think of the evolution of the first person shooter in general?
What are you up to these days?

Nice one pal, keep them coming.

Dangerous Dave was a fantastic game, can you tell us how that came about?

What was the deal with you have to still create games for Softdisk after leaving to setup ID Software?

Do you feel some of your earlier games don't get the recognition they deserve do to Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein?

Q - Did you know you on the PS1 version of Doom you play 2-Player link-up with only 1 copy of the game?! Just let the data load on one console, take out the disc and it would load the 2nd players level and start the level without crashing the console!

Q - What is your definitive version of Doom on console?

Hi John and thanks for taking the time to talk to us at RVG, can you briely tell us a little about you for those that are just coming into this hobby?

How did the formation of id Software come about?

How did you come up with the idea for Wolfenstein 3D?

What challenges did you face when programming the game?

How ad why did you get started in the video game industry?

Can you tell us about your experience at Midway Games and the work you did for Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows?

What do you think of the video game industry currently? 

What is your favorite Doom level to play in deathmatch?

Doom has become a competitive game in both multiplayer (deathmatch) and single player (speed running) circles. When you designed the levels for Doom, were you keeping in mind the hardcore gamers who would try to take the game to its limits? Does it amaze you that people in the year 2015 still have not found its limits?

Were there any discussions within id Software when Wisdom Tree acquired the license to develop Super Noah's Ark 3D with the Wolfenstein 3D engine, and have you ever played it?

Doom was one of the bloodiest games of its time and was released just as Mortal Kombat hit arcades. Was there a general sense among developers in the early '90s that game design would need to go in an edgier, more realistic and more violent direction?

Have you read any of the Doom novels?

Have you ever been involved we a game or games that never got released? Any info if so?

Is there any chance of you reuniting with Adrian Carmack while in Ireland for another game project?

Did you ever do any work for the Konix Multisystem?

Out of all the games you have had a hand in creating, do you have a favourite?

Was there a lot of opposition to the violence in your early games at id, either from inside or outside the studio?

What do you think of the modern Wolfenstein and Doom games? Do you play them?

And have you ever been asked to be a consultant on them?

What do you think of the evolution of the first person shooter in general?

Dangerous Dave was a fantastic game, can you tell us how that came about?

What was the deal with you have to still create games for Softdisk after leaving to setup ID Software?

Do you feel some of your earlier games don't get the recognition they deserve do to Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein?

Did you know you on the PS1 version of Doom you play 2-Player link-up with only 1 copy of the game?! Just let the data load on one console, take out the disc and it would load the 2nd players level and start the level without crashing the console!

What is your definitive version of Doom on console?

How do you feel about being a gaming icon?

What are you up to these days?



Questions sent.

No way - this is very cool. Doom rocked my world post A-levels back in 1994. I'd dreamed about games like that but never imagined they might exist. My mate Stu and I... well, his dad's £2000 486 PC didn't get used for much else at the time. Money well spent, obviously.

Anyhow...

1. What have been your biggest career highlights and low points? What did you learn from each?

2. If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring game designers and developers today, what would it be?

3. There are a lot of amazing games that are coming out, and have come out in recent years. Equally there are a lot of games that are technically impressive but lack a certain fun factor. What's your take on this, and what do you think makes a game fun?

4. What's your favourite level in the original Doom and why?

5. How did you feel when you were working on the original Doom - did you know/hope/have a sense that it would turn into the kind of cultural phenomenon that it has?

6. How do you feel about that fact that over 20 years later Doom is (and is likely to remain) up there with the seminal video games of all time? (I suppose this is the same as question 5, but did you have any idea of what you were creating?)

7. If you could have one do over, what would it be and why?

8. What's been the most enjoyable period of your career, and why?

9. Who do you look up to in game design? Who and what inspires you?

10. Do you take inspiration from other forms of art. If so what are they and why?

I'll try and think of some others.

Thanks for sorting this out - great choice of interviewee.


Thanks,


Bart

Interview now live HERE (//http)

Awesome! Thanks to all involved

Wonderful job on putting this all together! John Romero always has a lot of interesting things to say and is something of a PC gaming historian in addition to being one of the world's most influential game developers.

Nice one Zapiy! Good Interview, though i dont think he got my question about which version of Doom on console was his favourite, perhaps i should have worded it clearer!?

Yeah i thought the same, great stuff though..