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New Doom level released by game creator John Romero | New Doom level released by game creator John Romero |
(about 1 hour later) | |
John Romero, one of the developers behind the seminal computer game Doom, has released his first new level for the title in 21 years. | John Romero, one of the developers behind the seminal computer game Doom, has released his first new level for the title in 21 years. |
He is offering the new material for free via the file-sharing site Dropbox. | He is offering the new material for free via the file-sharing site Dropbox. |
Mr Romero told the BBC he had made it as a "warm up" for a new project. | Mr Romero told the BBC he had made it as a "warm up" for a new project. |
Doom was released in 1993 and had 10 million players by 1995. It has retained a cult popularity, and still has a dedicated community of players who also create their own content. | Doom was released in 1993 and had 10 million players by 1995. It has retained a cult popularity, and still has a dedicated community of players who also create their own content. |
The source code - the computer program that powers the game, written in a human-readable computer language - has been available for some time. | The source code - the computer program that powers the game, written in a human-readable computer language - has been available for some time. |
As a result, Mr Romero estimates there are about 30 alternative versions of the entire game, and more than 100,000 add-on levels created by Doom fans. | As a result, Mr Romero estimates there are about 30 alternative versions of the entire game, and more than 100,000 add-on levels created by Doom fans. |
"Every day people are still making new levels for it," he said. | "Every day people are still making new levels for it," he said. |
His new level, Tech Gone Bad, is a boss level that offers an alternative climactic fight. | His new level, Tech Gone Bad, is a boss level that offers an alternative climactic fight. |
It ends in a massive complex with a huge computer room that links to different portals and "hell cracks" in the floor, he said. | It ends in a massive complex with a huge computer room that links to different portals and "hell cracks" in the floor, he said. |
The original final level was made by the developer Sandy Petersen and not Mr Romero. | |
The new version is mostly based outdoors. | The new version is mostly based outdoors. |
Mr Romero said that distinguished it from the original game, which was largely based on indoor play, with the exception of Mount Erebus in level six (E3M6 in the Doom register). | Mr Romero said that distinguished it from the original game, which was largely based on indoor play, with the exception of Mount Erebus in level six (E3M6 in the Doom register). |
"Doom mapping is pretty easy to do compared with 3D engines," Mr Romero said of his own creation. | "Doom mapping is pretty easy to do compared with 3D engines," Mr Romero said of his own creation. |
"But I did worry... the community that's been playing it for 20 years would tear [the new level] apart." | "But I did worry... the community that's been playing it for 20 years would tear [the new level] apart." |
However the reaction from players has been positive, he added. | However the reaction from players has been positive, he added. |
"It's been out for four days and it's exploded. It's crazy that a game that's 23 years old has so many people still super-excited about it." | "It's been out for four days and it's exploded. It's crazy that a game that's 23 years old has so many people still super-excited about it." |
He added he had no idea Doom would become such a perennial favourite back in the early 1990s. | He added he had no idea Doom would become such a perennial favourite back in the early 1990s. |
"With Doom, it was mouse and keyboard-controlled on the PC when it was released, and you can still play it that way," he said. | "With Doom, it was mouse and keyboard-controlled on the PC when it was released, and you can still play it that way," he said. |
"People remember how much fun they had a long time ago and I hope they will have that much fun again." | "People remember how much fun they had a long time ago and I hope they will have that much fun again." |
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