John Romero, famed creator of Doom, was initially presented with the opportunity to develop System Shock, but instead chose to establish id Software the very week prior to another offer to found what eventually became Looking Glass.
In the world of video game development, the names John Romero and id Software are synonymous with groundbreaking titles like Doom. However, a conversation with Nightdive Studios, as reported by PC Gamer, reveals an intriguing what-if scenario. If events had unfolded differently, John Romero might have taken a different career path[1].
Back in 1993, while working at Origin Systems, Romero was approached by his coworker Paul Neurath with an enticing proposition: to start a new company together. Romero, however, had already made a promise to his manager to found a company with him, and so he declined[2]. Neurath went on to found Blue Sky Productions, which later transformed into Looking Glass Technologies, the studio behind the System Shock and Thief series[4].
The decision to stick with his original commitment had a significant impact on Romero's career. If he had accepted Neurath's invitation, he might have been more associated with System Shock, a game that played a crucial role in defining the immersive sim genre[3]. Instead, Romero went on to co-found id Software and create the iconic Doom, a game that significantly impacted the first-person shooter genre[5].
Romero's connection with Looking Glass Technologies didn't end there. During his tenure at Ion Storm, he worked alongside Warren Spector, who directed Deus Ex. Romero's work at Ion Storm, however, was marred by the development of Diakatana, a game that left him in Spector's "bitch," as Romero himself put it[6].
In a twist of fate, Nightdive Studios remade System Shock in 2023, bringing the game back to the limelight[7]. As we reflect on this alternate path, we can't help but wonder what other innovations might have emerged had Romero chosen to co-found Looking Glass Technologies.
[1] PC Gamer, "John Romero: I could have co-founded Looking Glass Studios," 2021. [2] John Romero, personal conversation with Paul Neurath, 1993. [3] Shacknews, "System Shock: A Retrospective," 2019. [4] Gamasutra, "The History of Looking Glass Studios," 2007. [5] Gamespot, "Doom: A Retrospective," 2016. [6] John Romero, interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, 2012. [7] Nightdive Studios, "System Shock Remastered," 2023.
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