PDF Doom Drops: Classic Game Reimagined in Literary Format

Doom's Unlikely New Home: A PDF File

A high school student has achieved the seemingly impossible: porting the iconic 1993 first-person shooter, Doom, to a PDF file. While the resulting experience is slow, it's surprisingly playable, adding another bizarre entry to Doom's already impressive list of unconventional platforms.

Doom's relatively small file size (a mere 2.39 megabytes) has always been a factor in its adaptability. This compact nature has previously allowed players to run it on devices as unexpected as a Nintendo Alarmo (using its dials and buttons for control) and even within other games, such as Balandro. These feats, often hampered by performance limitations, underscore the game's enduring appeal and the ingenuity of its fans.

This latest accomplishment, by GitHub user ading2210, leverages the PDF format's JavaScript capabilities. While PDFs can support 3D rendering and other functions, the low resolution of the original Doom (320x200) presents a challenge. To overcome this, ading2210 cleverly utilizes a single text box per screen row, resulting in a playable, albeit sluggish, experience. The video demonstration showcases a monochrome, soundless, and text-free version with an 80ms frame rate.

The continued exploration of running Doom on unusual hardware and software isn't just about optimal gameplay. It's a testament to the game's lasting legacy and the boundless creativity of its community. Over three decades after its release, Doom remains a source of inspiration and a canvas for innovative projects, promising even more unexpected ports in the years to come.