3 sources
Doom co-creator reveals id Software collaborated with pirates for distribution
John Romero, co-founder of id Software, disclosed that the studio once worked with Taiwanese pirates to distribute Doom by selling them empty game boxes for legitimate copies.
Key points
- id Software used Taiwanese pirates to help distribute Doom in the 1990s.
- The studio sold empty game boxes to pirates who then provided legitimate copies to fans.
- Doom was originally distributed via a shareware model with its first chapter free.
- This unconventional method was seen by id Software as a form of distribution.
3 sources
PC GamerJohn Romero says id Software once sold empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates so fans there could have legit copies: 'For us, it was distribution'
EurogamerDoom creator id Software used Taiwanese pirates to help distribute the game, John Romero reveals
DexertoDoom co-creator reveals how id Software used pirates to get the game to more people