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Jul 23, 2007

Dan rated it:

The true story of John Carmack and John Romero and how they created Id software and became the most prolific computer game designers in the 1990s.

The story describes how two misfit geeks were able to follow their passion of games and through hard work were able to make impressive advances in game technology and get rich at it as well. It also shows the ravages of arrogance on business and how letting ego come into play can destroy friendships and companies.

The story uses More...

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Dec 06, 2008

Joe rated it:

This book tells the story of John Carmack, John Romero, and id Software. It does a great job describing the early times, both in terms of relaying the facts, as well as giving a great feel of the excitement of discovery and invention, of pushing computers and gaming through incredible leaps to do things that most people thought just were not possible.

The two Johns sound like one of those cliched partnerships between two brilliant, and somehow vastly different yet ultimately compatib More...

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Feb 27, 2011

Michael rated it:

Just how was it possible that Doom, a computer game about mutated humans, gore, and a Big Fucking Gun, would define the pop culture of the 1990s? Enter stage David Kushner's Masters of Doom, a book that fictionalizes the true story of the Two Johns (the tight, algorithm-oriented Carmack and the loose, game design-oriented Romero) on the road to richness, fame, and ultimate collapse. What's so interesting about this? Five ninth the (typical?) American story, with the outcasts getting the one-up a More...

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Sep 13, 2010

Mjhancock rated it:

Kushner's book is on the rise, falling out, and aftermath of video game designers John Romero and John Carmack. He manages to spin a fairly compelling narrative out of hundreds of interviews, essays, and games, keeping things interesting with their personal anecdotes and idiosyncrasies. I'm a little surprised that he got personal interviews with Romero and Carmack, given his portrayal of them; Carmack comes across as almost callously emotionless at some times, and Romero appears to be fairly e More...

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Dec 28, 2010

Jim rated it:

For anyone, like me, caught up in Doom, Quake and the beginnings of the internet age, such as it was, this was a great read. Two main characters, different, but both driven in their own ways and visions, formed the nucleus of the account. I found the dynamics of the business interesting largely because it doesn't matter if you're making games or cheese, the issues are still broadly the same. Make, market, sell. Your routes to market may be different, but get it to the market you increasingly hav More...

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Dec 10, 2010

Toby rated it:

An okay book, but it has a few problems. The first is that the story of Id software and the two Johns is not yet done. The departure of Adrian Carmack from Id came well after the book, as well as Romero pretty much falling off the map, so it can't be faulted for that.

The basic story is pretty good, but I was disappointed in the shallowness of some of the reporting. For instance, it seemed that whenever Adrian Carmack was mentioned, he was unhappy with the art he was drawing and wanted More...

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Jan 08, 2012

Jeffrey rated it:

Okay, I'm kind of a gamer geek, but I really liked this book. I first read it about four years ago, then reread it a couple of years ago. Why? It was like visiting an old friend.

It is interesting to see how the two Johns began their programing lifestyles when they were kids, then how their paths crossed one another, culminating with them establishing themselves as the "Masters" of video game programing. Yet, with success, it also leads to conflict of egos and the eventual s More...

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Jun 19, 2010

Don rated it:

It's always a bit fun watching nay sayers with the benefit of historical knowledge, especially in this case. In the mid 1980s, the personal computing industry had not been commodified and packaged neatly or attractively enough for the average consumer. Computers were still the toys of nerds and would not enjoy widespread market penetration for nearly a decade. Without that perspective it would indeed seem unwise to a parent of a video-game addicted teenage boy to endorse the hunkered-down ob More...

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Apr 10, 2011

Todd rated it:

I didn't even play that much Doom until I started tech school in the early 2000s but I recognized its importance early on.

Reading Masters of Doom provided a fantastic background on the history of the First Person Shooter genre as well as a detailed background on the road to modern gaming. Any programmer, gamer, or hobbyist game modder/designer can appreciate the journey through recent decades in gaming technology presented here.

I'm freshly inspired and motivated to get back into it myself, and More...

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May 13, 2011

29alabs rated it:

Masters Of Doom cuenta la adicción de dos jóvenes, uno de Kansas y otro de Colorado, por los videojuegos, una adicción que los llevaría comprar Ferraris, mansiones en Tudor y sin duda a transformar para siempre la cara de la industria electrónica. Masters of Doom es, la historia de id Software.

Masters Of Doom es un viaje frenético de pizza, coca de dieta y arboles BSP aunque por supuesto los groupies nerd no pueden faltar. El enfoque principal del libro es la creación y transformació More...

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Mar 02, 2011

EOB rated it:

I found this book greatly enjoyable as a member of the same generation of technology user that it chronicles - I remember those shareware releases. I was a CoSysOp on boards that distributed these fellows' software. I was broker than hell and poured way too much time (in lieu of money) scamming and reconfiguring my dogshit home setup for the sole purpose of consuming these guys' work.

Author has an unusually good eye for characters here - not quite a Stephen Levy level showing, but s More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Borbality rated it:

So I used to play a lot of video games. You know, from about age ... 5 to maybe 20 or so.

I'm not proud of it, and I think it did a real number on my social skills (and weight, which has now been at a healthy level for about 7 years), but I still have lots of nostalgia for old games and still play with my friends and brother every now and then. I am proud to say I have not acquired a video game system since the Super Nintendo, and haven’t purchased more than a handful of computer gam More...

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Sep 24, 2011

Peter rated it:

I have to say first of all, what a fantastic choice of topic! It's amazing what an influence ID have had in computer games and beyond, and I was delighted to find a book like this had been written.

And very well written it is too. Kushner has researched his topic in incredible depth, as is made clear from the author's notes at the back of the book including how many people he interviewed. More than that he strings all the disparate details into a compelling story. Clearly the author i More...

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Feb 02, 2011

Jared rated it:

I'm a sucker for any book about hackers or computer history, so this was a really good read for me. I was already familiar with a lot of the events depicted, but Kushner does a great job of putting a human face on things. The book is really about the differences between John Romero and John Carmack more than anything and it makes sense how the two were able to feed off of that to make games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. The only problem I had with the book is that it is getting a little dated no More...

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Dec 28, 2011

Ondřej rated it:

Absolutely recommended for anyone interested in the history of computer games.

On one hand, the creative energy must have been incredible, but at the same time the whole history of iD soft (and the people there) looked like a history of people being pushed out of their own company with the reason being mostly "we don't like you anymore", other than anything else (and I imagined it a lot different than it actually happened).

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Aug 21, 2011

Adam rated it:

While basically a straight-forward journalistic book about the rise and fall of Id Software, I found it to be very engrossing and interesting. I don't consider myself to be much of a gamer, but the book made me appreciate the technical achievements Id accomplished and gave me a new perspective on their games. If anything, it seems to be a sort of time capsule of the mid 90s - early 2000s pop culture.

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Jan 31, 2011

Ca9ine rated it:

This is by far my best purchase in roughly 5 years.

An intriguing insight in the minds of John Romero and John Carmack, the birth of id Software and the games that impacted everything from Microsoft to the casual gamer. Through both fear and addiction.

If you're anything like me, you'll be inspired to try to make a change and follow your own path to achieve your goals. The book makes it clear; the sky is no limit, go above and beyond to make it happen!

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Aug 18, 2010

Jonah rated it:

I had no idea there was such an interesting history behind the id Software doors. The personalities really come to life in this book. It also pushed me further into wanting to learn how to code myself.

A highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone interested in programming, games, the inner workings of a game studio or even general human interest stories.

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Apr 02, 2009

Fabian rated it:

Wolfenstein 3D and Doom were amazing games that redefined the way I play games. So it was a real treat to read the relationship between the rocket scientist and the rock star and how they started something amazing. Its was pretty sad to see what in my mind was the downfall of John Romero. Great inside story about the men who turned the corner on gaming.

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Jul 27, 2011

Brandur rated it:

The narrative of John Romero and John Carmack (among others) building the PC gaming industry, starting with primitive top down games, then moving to Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3-D, Doom, and finally Quake. Describes the genius of these people, as well as their character flaws, and infighting which eventually led to Romero's departure from id.

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Jul 03, 2011

Matt rated it:

Having grown up playing id's games, starting with Wolfenstein 3D and including Doom, Doom II, and Quake 1 and 2, it was fascinating to read the story behind the company and the creation of the games I spent so many hours on. Sounds like a hell of a ride and the book does a great job of showing that.

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Jul 14, 2009

Steven rated it:

Well-written, well-researched, a lively tale of hackers gone wild, Masters of Doom is the story of id Software and the men who created the company.

If you are looking for a focussed look inside the gaming industry, this is the book of choice.

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Sep 28, 2011

Scott rated it:

This book is really fascinating got someone who grew up on Doom like I did. Five stars is the fanboy in me talking, but if you're an id, Doom, or 90s PC game fan, this is absolutely worth owning for the retrospective eye into the industry.

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Dec 21, 2009

Vasil rated it:

As a kid, I've played commander keen. I've lived with Doom, had dreams of it, I've seen the guys' code and their tremendous influence. There's a lot to be learned from them.

(in 'Coders at work' Seibel should've interviewed Carmack instead of all the javascript people)

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Jul 19, 2011

Phil rated it:

Kushner's bio of Johns Carmack and Romero was almost entertaining enough to make video games seem interesting. To me it was like reading a really good story about a band I couldn't care less about ....

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Nov 16, 2009

Vincent rated it:

I could not put this book down. It traverses John Romero and John Carmack's beginnings, rise to success, and beyond. One of the best biographies about game developers for sure.

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Aug 04, 2011

Richard rated it:

Rank: Get it Now!

Comment: Not just for video game fans, a great read about technology and innovation, about a group of guys who wanted to do things their own way.

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Mar 01, 2010

alexis rated it:

OK, it's not really THAT good of a book, but it's the one Steve let me borrow that inspired me to start a company. It just sounded so damn cool.

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Dec 17, 2009

Aquarium rated it:

At one point I was tired of "those guys are so great" line in the book. Otherwise it is an interesting read for a part of gaming industry history.

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Jun 15, 2008

Tristan rated it:

At its core, it's a story of a creative partnership, of the Lennon-McCartney of 90's PC gaming. Which no doubt makes for compelling reading. But what really is fascinating is the backdrop. In order to tell his story, Kushner relates the history of gaming and pc gaming as well as a sketch at the sociology of Internet/hacker/Generation X/D&D culture. To wit: A dramatic narrative moment is the discovery of adaptive refresh technology -- i.e. dynamic scrolling for the PCs. Quaintly retro and grippin More...

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