When id Software's John Romero, Adrian Carmack, and Tom Hall reunited to reminisce about the company's early days, they brought up a game that has been largely forgotten in the history of PC gaming: Catacomb 3D. The first-person adventure game was released in 1992, four years before Wolfenstein 3D, which went on to revolutionize the industry and establish id Software as a household name.
Catacomb 3D was an ambitious project that showcased many innovative features for its time, including mouse support, color-coded keys, and shooting walls to find secrets. The game also introduced texture-mapped surfaces, a concept that would later become a staple of first-person shooters. However, the decision to invest in this technology was not without controversy.
Initially, id Software's founders were hesitant about pursuing fast-paced action-oriented games like Catacomb 3D, which they believed might not be as commercially viable as more traditional genres. The team had already signed a contract with Softdisk to deliver bi-monthly games for their Gamer's Edge magazine-on-a-disk series, and each episode of the Commander Keen series was still earning significantly more than Catacomb 3D.
However, after playing through an early version of Catacomb 3D, John Carmack had an epiphany moment when he encountered a pop-out effect that made him realize this was where the future of gaming lay. The team subsequently abandoned two weeks' worth of work on Commander Keen 7 to focus on what would become Wolfenstein 3D.
Looking back, it's clear that Catacomb 3D played an instrumental role in shaping id Software's direction and innovation. Its experimental approach paved the way for the creation of immersive first-person shooters like Wolfenstein 3D, which went on to influence a generation of games. Despite its relatively low commercial success at the time, Catacomb 3D remains an important footnote in gaming history, showcasing id Software's willingness to take risks and push the boundaries of what was thought possible.
The reunion video featuring John Romero, Adrian Carmack, and Tom Hall provides a fascinating glimpse into the company's early days and offers insight into the creative decisions that shaped id Software's legacy. For fans of PC gaming, it's a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of the medium and the innovative spirit that has always defined id Software.
Catacomb 3D was an ambitious project that showcased many innovative features for its time, including mouse support, color-coded keys, and shooting walls to find secrets. The game also introduced texture-mapped surfaces, a concept that would later become a staple of first-person shooters. However, the decision to invest in this technology was not without controversy.
Initially, id Software's founders were hesitant about pursuing fast-paced action-oriented games like Catacomb 3D, which they believed might not be as commercially viable as more traditional genres. The team had already signed a contract with Softdisk to deliver bi-monthly games for their Gamer's Edge magazine-on-a-disk series, and each episode of the Commander Keen series was still earning significantly more than Catacomb 3D.
However, after playing through an early version of Catacomb 3D, John Carmack had an epiphany moment when he encountered a pop-out effect that made him realize this was where the future of gaming lay. The team subsequently abandoned two weeks' worth of work on Commander Keen 7 to focus on what would become Wolfenstein 3D.
Looking back, it's clear that Catacomb 3D played an instrumental role in shaping id Software's direction and innovation. Its experimental approach paved the way for the creation of immersive first-person shooters like Wolfenstein 3D, which went on to influence a generation of games. Despite its relatively low commercial success at the time, Catacomb 3D remains an important footnote in gaming history, showcasing id Software's willingness to take risks and push the boundaries of what was thought possible.
The reunion video featuring John Romero, Adrian Carmack, and Tom Hall provides a fascinating glimpse into the company's early days and offers insight into the creative decisions that shaped id Software's legacy. For fans of PC gaming, it's a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of the medium and the innovative spirit that has always defined id Software.
I mean come on guys, Catacomb 3D is like super obscure even among retro gamers 
What's up with all this nostalgia talk? Did you know that Wolfenstein 3D was actually a major success and most of us owe our FPS addiction to John Carmack's genius? 
And let's be real, Commander Keen 7 was way more popular than Catacomb 3D 
Just saying.
they were so ahead of their time with all that mouse support and texture-mapped surfaces it's crazy to think that id software was hesitant at first but then johncarmack had this epiphany moment and it changed everything for them 
i mean, who needs commercial success when you're on the cusp of creating something revolutionary? 
. Like Carmack just has one of those moments where he's playing the game and is like "this is where the future is at" and they ditch Commander Keen 7 on the spot 
. That's some bold decision making right there, fam!
. You might not hit the mark every time, but it's often the experiments that lead to something amazing. In this case, they were ahead of their time and saw potential in first-person shooters that no one else did at the time 
. If they hadn't taken that risk, we wouldn't have Wolfenstein 3D and all its influence on the gaming industry 
!
I mean, it's crazy to think that it was basically abandoned in favor of Wolfenstein 3D, but that pop-out effect must've been a game-changer (pun intended) 
. And can u believe they almost scrapped Commander Keen 7 for it lol. That pop-out effect must've been mind-blowing for John Carmack 
I'm so stoked about this retro gaming news! Catacomb 3D is like, totally an underrated gem 
. I'm totally shipping a retro gaming revival right now 