Doom Has Been Ported to a PDF File

Doom's Unexpected PDF Port: A Testament to its Enduring Legacy

A high school student's remarkable feat of porting the iconic 1993 game, Doom, to a PDF file has captivated the gaming community. This achievement adds another extraordinary platform to the already impressive list of unconventional devices on which Doom has been successfully played.

Doom's compact size (a mere 2.39 megabytes) has always been a key factor in its adaptability. Its influence on the FPS genre is undeniable; the game's very existence is credited with popularizing the term "FPS," and for years, similar games were often dismissed as "Doom clones." This legacy continues to inspire programmers and enthusiasts to push boundaries, running Doom on everything from refrigerators and alarm clocks to car stereos.

GitHub user ading2210's PDF port leverages JavaScript's capabilities within the PDF format, enabling 3D rendering and other functionalities. However, the limitations of the PDF format necessitate compromises. The game's resolution (320x200) requires a massive number of text boxes for each frame, resulting in a slow but surprisingly playable experience. The video demonstration showcases a monochrome, soundless, text-free version with an 80ms frame rate.

Doom's Cross-Platform Prowess:

This isn't an isolated incident. Recent examples include a playable version on the Nintendo Alarmo (using its dials and buttons) and a port within the game Balandro, both demonstrating performance challenges similar to the PDF version.

These projects aren't about achieving optimal performance; they're about showcasing the boundless creativity of players and the enduring appeal of Doom. Over three decades later, Doom's continued relevance is a testament to its lasting impact. The ongoing experimentation ensures that future ports to even more unusual devices are almost certainly on the horizon.