A demonstration of classic Doom played on a holographic display makes the retro game appear 3D. Developed by id Software and released in 1993 for the MS-DOS operating system, Doom is widely regarded as the world's first real first-person shooter. While the game was highly controversial upon release due to its graphic content, it successfully spawned a franchise which has lasted into the modern day.
The original Doom was a highly influential title with a lasting influence that is still felt in modern first-person shooter games. The 1990s were filled with titles that followed in the game's footsteps, with the influence leading to the use of the term "Doom Clone" to describe them. These retro successors range from fairly unknown games, such as Chex Quest and Rise of the Triad, to extremely iconic titles like Marathon and Duke Nukem 3D. These games borrowed Doom's first-person perspective, inventory system, movement mechanics and more. While Doom and other games of its era are now fairly dated, mods such as Beautiful Doom exist to polish the classic game up for modern audiences.
Twitter user Jan Kaiser, a technology specialist with groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, recently revealed what Doom looks like when played on a holographic display. The effect is truly outstanding, bringing the game that pioneered three-dimensional graphics into a new realm of 3D. The innovative technology was created by Looking Glass Factory, a company that designs holographic displays. The display allows the player to realistically peek around corners by simply rotating the screen, a feature that isn't present in even the most modern of gaming titles.
While 1994's Doom pioneered the first-person shooter genre, 2020's Doom Eternal has continued to innovate and revolutionize the genre. The 2016 reboot Doom brought the franchise into the modern day, emphasizing brutality and aggression, but Eternal turned the dial up to 11 by creating an intensely fast-paced and tactical experience. Players had mixed reactions to Doom Eternal, especially its two-part expansion The Ancient Gods, but series fans praised the new title for recreating the tone and style of the series' first installment.
Just as Doom broke new gaming ground in a number of different ways, Looking Glass Factory's holographic display technology is breaking new ground today. Combining these two innovators is a real treat, demonstrating how holographic displays can enhance the past while also paving the way for the future. Physically moving a screen to peek around corners is a simple but mind-blowing idea that gives a small glimpse into the future of gaming technology.
Source: Jan Kaiser