"Masters of Doom" chronicles the rise of John Carmack and John Romero, the visionary creators behind the groundbreaking video game "Doom." Their fierce rivalry and passionate collaboration transformed the gaming industry, igniting a revolution that introduced the world to first-person shooters. With gripping storytelling, David Kushner unveils the duo's tumultuous journey filled with creativity, ambition, and ultimately, betrayal. This tale is not just about games, but the tension between art and commerce, and the personal sacrifices made for success. Dive into the compelling narrative that explores how two young programmers became legends and reshaped entertainment forever.
By David Kushner
Published: 2004
""In a world where imagination knows no bounds, the true power lies in the ability to bring dreams to life, one pixel at a time.""
Masters of Doom is the amazing true story of the Lennon and McCartney of video games: John Carmack and John Romero. Together, they ruled big business. They transformed popular culture. And they provoked a national controversy. More than anything, they lived a unique and rollicking American Dream, escaping the broken homes of their youth to co-create the most notoriously successful game franchises in history—Doom and Quake—until the games they made tore them apart. Americans spend more money on video games than on movie tickets. Masters of Doom is the first book to chronicle this industry’s greatest story, written by one of the medium’s leading observers. David Kushner takes readers inside the rags-to-riches adventure of two rebellious entrepreneurs who came of age to shape a generation. The vivid portrait reveals why their games are so violent and why their immersion in their brilliantly designed fantasy worlds offered them solace. And it shows how they channeled their fury and imagination into products that are a formative influence on our culture, from MTV to the Internet to Columbine. This is a story of friendship and betrayal, commerce and artistry—a powerful and compassionate account of what it’s like to be young, driven, and wildly creative. “To my taste, the greatest American myth of cosmogenesis features the maladjusted, antisocial, genius teenage boy who, in the insular laboratory of his own bedroom, invents the universe from scratch. Masters of Doom is a particularly inspired rendition. Dave Kushner chronicles the saga of video game virtuosi Carmack and Romero with terrific brio. This is a page-turning, mythopoeic cyber-soap opera about two glamorous geek geniuses—and it should be read while scarfing down pepperoni pizza and swilling Diet Coke, with Queens of the Stone Age cranked up all the way.”—Mark Leyner, author of I Smell Esther Williams
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“"In a world where imagination knows no bounds, the true power lies in the ability to bring dreams to life, one pixel at a time."”
Masters of Doom
By David Kushner
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David Kushner is an acclaimed author and journalist, known for his engaging storytelling and in-depth exploration of contemporary culture. His notable works include 'Masters of Doom,' a bestselling narrative about the creation of the iconic video game 'Doom,' and 'The Testimony,' a gripping account of American history through the lens of technology and innovation. Kushner's writing style is characterized by its meticulous research, vivid detail, and an ability to weave personal anecdotes with broader societal themes, making his work both informative and compelling.
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