Summary
- A high school student has successfully ported Doom (1993) to a PDF file, creating a unique but slow gaming experience.
- Doom's small file size enables it to be played on a variety of unconventional devices, including the Nintendo Alarmo and within other games like Balandro.
- The ongoing efforts to run Doom on diverse platforms underscore its lasting impact and continued relevance in the gaming community.
A high school student and GitHub user, ading2210, has achieved a remarkable feat by porting the iconic game Doom (1993) to a PDF file. This innovative approach adds to the list of unexpected devices on which Doom has been played over the years.
Developed by id Software, Doom is celebrated as a cornerstone of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, so much so that it inspired the term "FPS." For many years, other games in this genre were often referred to as "Doom clones." The trend of running Doom on unconventional devices has gained momentum, with enthusiasts porting it to everything from refrigerators and alarm clocks to car stereos and beyond.
The high school student's PDF version of Doom leverages the JavaScript capabilities of the PDF format, which allows for 3D rendering, HTTP requests, and monitor detection. However, due to Doom's 320x200 resolution, using thousands of text boxes per frame would be impractical. Instead, ading2210 uses one text box per screen row, resulting in a game that is slow to play but still functional. The video demonstration shows a game without color, sound, or text, operating at an 80ms per frame response time.
High School Student Ports Doom (1993) to a PDF
The compact size of Doom, at just 2.39 megabytes, facilitates its portability to various platforms. Recently, in November, a programmer successfully ran Doom on the Nintendo Alarmo, using the device's dials and buttons for navigation. Additionally, creative players have even managed to run Doom within Balandro, a card game, despite the performance limitations similar to those seen in the PDF version.
These projects are not primarily about achieving smooth gameplay on these platforms but rather about showcasing the boundless creativity of Doom's fanbase. Over three decades since its release, Doom's continued relevance is a testament to its enduring legacy. As enthusiasts continue to experiment, it's likely that Doom will find its way onto even more unconventional devices in the future.
