Doom, one of the granddaddy’s of the FPS is coming back. It’s been such a long time since anything really good has been released bearing the Doom name though. Doom 3 wasn’t terrible, but it’s been a full 10 years since release. Doom finds itself in a similar position to Wolfenstein in that regard, in that it has to prove that it has what it takes to get players interested once again.
It’s something that publisher Bethesda realises all too well. Speaking to MCV (via OXM), Bethesda’s premier PR chap, said that they’re approaching the new Doom as they did with Wolfenstein. That game’s been given a swift reboot to the nuts, and it’s turned out rather well.
Speaking of Wolfenstein, Hines told MCV : “The last couple of games were either ‘ok’ or ‘not great’. It wasn’t a franchise where people were desperate for the next one. Wolfenstein isn’t Uncharted. We knew this would take some explaining. But developer Machine Games has now untarnished the IP.
“We view that similarly to Wolfenstein, because it’s been so long since the last Doom game,” Hines continued. “We are going in as if we need to prove ourselves all over again. We have no free passes. Nobody will assume this is going to be awesome.
“We are going to have to prove that this is something that’s going to be fun and different that you need to pay attention to. That has to be our default position, we can’t be: ‘It’s Doom, of course you’re going to play it’. But that just makes us work harder.”
The newest Doom is, for the first time, being developed without any of its creators working on the project. Tom Hall works for casual gaming publisher PlayFirst, John Romero has all but slipped in to obscurity and John Carmack has moved on to virtual reality purveyor Oculus.
Doom 4’s had a bit of a troubled development cycle, and mayhaps this fresh look at Doom will actually be a good thing for the game. Expect a tonne of demonic Doom news to come from Quakecon which kicks off in just over a week. Unfortunately, iD and Bethesda want to keep the game’s content under wraps for eyes of attendees only. Naturally, something will be leaked.
To refresh your memories, here’s a look at the game’s teaser.
Last Updated: July 7, 2014
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:03
I won’t lie….Doom 3 holds a special place in my heart. I really really really loved this game. It was very atmospheric. Wasn’t the best game in the world, but was extremely enjoyable. Didn’t enjoy Resurrection of Evil as much though
b1nd3r
July 7, 2014 at 10:45
not alone there it wasnt doom 1 or 2 but it was a very different and gripping game
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:08
Not sure we need another. Was great back in the day, have plenty of others to choose from now though.
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:10
Like CoD and Battlefield?
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:10
Like Metro: Last Butterfly.
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:13
True, but that’s far from plenty. I’m all for more FPS games OUTSIDE of the military like Metro
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:13
Borderlands 2?
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 08:19
Friday night!
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:19
WIN!
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 08:20
I like it cuz the pc AND console guys can partake in tha partaaay in the same night!
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:22
Sadly not together 🙁 We need cross platform! NOW!
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 08:23
Yeah, THAT will be awesome. Snipe me some consolers 😛
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:24
I snipe your face then Tbag you dik! 0-O I mean, um… Cough
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 09:02
The problem is just… where are we all starting out? A new game with new chars? Because I’ve got 3 lvl 50s & 3 between lvl 7 & 3.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 09:17
I’m starting the game for the first time this week, so I’m starting new
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 09:23
Addiction incoming 😀
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 09:26
Its time, since Planetside is a bust now, I need a new fix. And after Sniper V2, I really need a GOOD game.
So we starting new chars then?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 09:32
I’ll play with my lvl 5 Krieg, will just join the game of someone starting fresh, otherwise if they join mine the enemies are all my level. Just finishing off the quick tutorial piece gets you to level 3 anyway.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 09:43
Cool, lemme do that ASAP, then we start the carnage on Friday?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 09:47
…
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 09:48
Hehehe
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:22
That could all have fit into one comment. And those games are kind of old now…Given we are getting sequels to two of those games
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:26
Was my train of thought 😛
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:30
You TRAIN of thought must be part of Metrorail
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:31
*YOUR 😛
Umar Reborn XIV
July 7, 2014 at 08:34
Bah!!……Thanx nazi , your such a helpful nazi. And yes I know ….*You’re
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:42
Lulz! I’m just glad you survived Friday man! I think I’m still a bit damp from it.
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:15
Farcry 3?
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:15
Dishonoured?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:30
Not an FPS :/
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:32
Was implying that Doom as a FPS was good for its day. It’s like Half Life, great for its day, but nothing spectacularly new now.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:46
And neither are the previous Wolfensteins now, but the new one is apparently quite good. It’s not an HD upgrade like Tomb Raider or TLOU, it’s a new game set in an existing universe.
Innovation, like a new universe, is what everyone says they want until they get it, then they wish they had a sequel instead because it’s not as good as the memory of what came before. Now we’re getting the best of both.
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:49
Wouldn’t know, haven’t played the Wolfenstein series.
Skwissgar Skwigelf
July 7, 2014 at 08:47
Doesn’t mean it can’t be reinvented to be amazing today. I mean, they did that same thing with wolfenstein recently.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:47
snap
Skwissgar Skwigelf
July 7, 2014 at 08:47
Great minds think alike, man.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:48
I prefer that to the alternative answer lol
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:51
I suppose I just want something new. I played and loved Doom, but I loved it because it was new back in the day. Would rather it be left as a good memory than have the name put on something that won’t come close to being as good.
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
July 7, 2014 at 08:38
And Final Fantasy? 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:16
I agree, we need a seismic shift… GEDDIT?
Rince&pop
July 7, 2014 at 08:18
Oh you!
Dutch Matrix
July 7, 2014 at 08:36
Please! We need more Doom! What other game is there that will make you try and beat a HellKnight to death with a flashlight?!
Doom… So many scary memories… So many soiled pants…
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 7, 2014 at 08:10
I have some high hopes for this game because it looks like they’ve learnt from their earlier games. Doom 3 wasn’t terrible, it also wasn’t terribly good. It played great until it became predictable, which didn’t take very long. If not for that it would have been good. Rage also wasn’t as bad as people like to make out, played well but the abrupt ending made it suffer.
Kromas
July 7, 2014 at 08:12
After the spit and shine they gave old Wolf I am actually looking forward to Doom.
Johan Fourie
July 7, 2014 at 09:41
Return to Castle Wolfenstein – Best Wolfenstein ever.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 7, 2014 at 09:43
Yeah, loved that one!
Brenz
July 7, 2014 at 09:54
Always loved Doom, 3 was cool, I enjoyed it, looking forward to this!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
July 7, 2014 at 09:56
They are seriously going to have to step up their game.
Doom3 was cool the first half of the game but then got predictable. Great game destroyed by some bad AI mechanics and cheap frights.
Let’s hope they can actually pull of the real horror factor this time
Ryanza
July 7, 2014 at 10:52
If none of the major players are left at ID then I might not care about Doom anymore. I wanted a Doom tweaked ID Tech 5 demo game.
Give me something to shoot at and I’ll be happy. I liked Rage because I had fun shooting shit with those weapons. If you speak about Rage and story then you missing the plot.
Doom is about shooting monsters and shit. They better get the weapons right or it’s going to be a Doom 3 mess.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 7, 2014 at 11:54
I remember being completely underwhelmed by Doom 3. This was right about the time when I had my awakening as a gaming critic (think of it as when your balls drop during puberty). Remember, prior to Half Life 2 and even Doom 3, FPS games were more akin to puzzle games, with the aim being… navigating through an insane labyrinth (while shooting shit), finding keys or keycards and backtracking. Doom 3 was one of the first titles where the focus shifted to linear corridors. You go down a corridor from A to B. You get a scare (from a monster slithering down a pipe or jumping out of crack).
The weird thing is, back then I had a feeling the corridors would get even more confined, until finally modern FPS titles hide behind “cinematic experiences” to account for the limitations of the corridor.
Hammersteyn
July 7, 2014 at 19:40
I don’t think Doom needs to prove anything, it’s been ten years. I’m sure it’s gonna be awesome.