The Making of Doom(r) III: The Official Guide - Softcover

Steven L. Kent

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0072230525 ISBN 13: 9780072230529

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media, 2004

Synopsis

Meet the Creators of DOOM 3! Walk through the doors of id Software and meet the close-knit group of extraordinary designers behind the computer game that is being hailed as possibly the greatest ever made. Through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and never-before-seen game art, you will discover what it takes to pull off an achievement of this magnitude. From initial conception to completed game comprised a four-year journey filled with hard work, setbacks, breakthroughs, and ultimate success. The team at id describe in their own words the inspirations and ideas behind the making of DOOM 3.

About this title

About the Author

Steven L. Kent, a lifelong gamer since the debut of Pong, writes weekly columns about electronic entertainment for the Los Angeles Times syndicate, MSNBC, and the Japan Times.

From the Back Cover

Meet the Creators of DOOM 3!

Walk through the doors of id Software and meet the close-knit group of extraordinary designers behind the computer game that is being hailed as possibly the greatest ever made. Through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and never-before-seen game art, you will discover what it takes to pull off an achievement of this magnitude. From initial conception to completed game comprised a four-year journey filled with hard work, setbacks, breakthroughs, and ultimate success. The team at id describe in their own words the inspirations and ideas behind the making of DOOM 3. Inside you'll find:

• Story of DOOM--This fictionalized re-creation of the story line is not just a walkthrough of the existing game. It includes deleted scenes that never made it to the final cut, along with commentary by lead designer Tim Willits.
• Locations of DOOM--Take a tour of the environments of the angry red planet, including Mars City, the underground caverns that house the remains of an ancient civilization, and the depths of Hell itself.
• Denizens of DOOM--Get up close and personal with the scariest monsters this side of your worst nightmare...and the guys who made them.
• Weapons of DOOM--Take inventory of the items in your arsenal and learn about the remarkable advances that went into making them.
• Engines of DOOM—Legendary programmer John Carmack provides insights into the challenges that intrigue him, while other members of the team discuss everything from sound to artificial intelligence.

Steven L. Kent is the author of numerous books, including The Ultimate History of Video Games; and he is a veteran reporter covering games for such media outlets and publications as MSNBC, Chicago Tribune, Delta Sky, USA Today, and Japan Times. He wrote the entries on video games for Encarta and Encyclopedia Americana, as well as the entries on interactive gaming for two encyclopedias and American Heritage. He has been interviewed on the CBS Morning Show, The Today Show, and CNN, and he has made multiple appearances on National Public Radio.

Reviews

DOOM 3 fans and would-be video game designers will drool all over this picture-packed, behind-the-scenes look at the legendary game. Reporter Kent (The Ultimate History of Video Games, etc.) has interviewed every one of DOOM 3’s 22 developers about its creation; and the result is a vivid account of the decisions, reversals and advances that took place during the game’s four-year development. Kent’s long interviews with id’s programmer, technical director and co-owner John Carmack will be of special interest to game designers—and the two-page "lexicon" that follows it will help make it intelligible to lay people. The volume is really a fan’s book: big business fall outs are summarized with bland lines and nobody says anything that might make id look like less than a heavenly place to work. But who cares? With its sidebars on movie animation vs. game animation and its detailed descriptions of how each character was developed, this book is sure to satisfy its target readership.
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Edition details

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0072230525
• ISBN 13: 9780072230529
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208