Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read for gamers and non-gamers alike...
Review: I've been a virtual slave to gaming since I was big enough to pick up a Joystick (remember those things), however, when the PC became a platform to play on (back 'round 86), gaming had a new venue to "get serious". Graphics, immersion, networking with other players; most all of these important aspects of the game playing experience were pushed furthest out by the PC, and those coders that were at the front line of that innovation is what this book is all about. The PC/Console gaming industry has already eclipsed that of the movie business, but in my opinion it's only just begun. Masters of Doom paints a colorful and detailed picture of the "garage and dorm-room" origins of game coding, on through to the big business, big money industry it is today. I would reccomend this book highly to all interested in gaming, business, or good ol fashion American success stories. Enjoy...
Rating: 
Summary: Good history and insight
Review: I've been interested in the 2 Johns (and Scott Miller) since I downloaded Commander Keen with my 1200 baud modem. David Kushner provides a superb look at the making of the partnership that led to that game and the path from there to Quake and Daikatana. The author tackles the difficult job of turning the true story of computer programmers into a compelling page-turner. Perhaps the personality of John Carmack is at fault, but I never felt I really got to know this brilliantly focused individual. I'm certain that Romero was an easier person to interview and much more fun to describe, but Carmack drove the success of id and after 300 pages I don't feel I learned enough about him.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible to put down
Review: Impossible to put down best sums up this book. I glanced at it in a B&N store. Despite mediocre reviews on a few websites I thought I'd give it a quick skim. 100 pages later and still standing in the store I realised I had to buy it. The story covers the lives of John Carmack and John Romero - their childhood, early careers as programmers, the formation of iD and their subsequent fallout. A great book. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is that I felt at times that the book was often trying to cover as much territory as possible, but at the cost of depth. I'd give the book 4.5 stars if I had the choice, really :) Still, extremely well written, worth the buy and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs and game developers alike.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME Book
Review: In my opinion this is a very great and inspirational book. I have been very excited in waiting for this book to come out and now its finally here. I am through half of the book so far and it is by far one of the best books i have read in a while, not only is it interesting but it is a very inspirational book to up and coming game designers like myself. I give this book 5 stars. read it.
Rating:
Summary: Pizza, Diet Coke, Games, and All Night Programming!
Review: In this book, David Kushner documents the lives of two influential game programmers, John Romero and John Carmack - the guys who created Doom and id Software. It chronicles the lives, the company, the gaming industry, and the impact of these two young computer geniuses. It's a quick, fluid read that is not only entertaining, but is awe inspiring as well. This is a fascinating book on many fronts. It describes how two kids got into games from the early childhoods, describes their fascination with computers in general, and their dreams. It goes from a tale of two kids with ideas, to their technological innovations, to business start, to their monumental growth, and finally to their fallout. It sheds light not only independent game programming, but of the type of people who develop and play these first person shooters like Doom. Not only is this a biography, or a game book, it's also sort of the "startup.com" of the gaming world. With a good mixture of business, gaming, with unique and individual characters, it indirectly describes the world of gaming companies and what it takes to make a good, and bad, company. While a good book for all, it's a must for anyone who loves games or is into software development.
Rating:
Summary: Egos, Fame and Genius
Review: Kushner nails this story! If you have ever had even a passing interest in PC gaming this is a must read.
The story follows Carmack and Romero from the days of shareware and BBS's to the height of "rock star" programmers.
I dare you to put this book down!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent "Behind the Video Gamer Makers" story
Review: Kushner's book is a "Behind the Music" type of story detailing what drove these young men to devote their lives to making some of the world's greatest video games. You'll especially love it, if like me, you played Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake in the 80s and 90s, and wondered how id software could revolutionize gaming every few years. The author gives a great inside scoop on how Carmack created graphics engines that turned the PC into a gaming machine, which at that point in time seemed almost unthinkable. Romero, in the early days, was the perfect complement to Carmack's skills, creating the first level editing tools to develop levels for Commander Keen and Wolfenstein. And the rest of the people at id software--Adrian Carmack, Tom Hall, etc., their stories are detailed, as well as people like DWANGO Bob, who made money off networked DOOM servers before the Internet came along. My only wish was that the book had pictures so we could visualize what everyone looked like at the time!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent "Behind the Video Gamer Makers" story
Review: Kushner's book is a "Behind the Music" type of story detailing what drove these young men to devote their lives to making some of the world's greatest video games. You'll especially love it, if like me, you played Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake in the 80s and 90s, and wondered how id software could revolutionize gaming every few years. The author gives a great inside scoop on how Carmack created graphics engines that turned the PC into a gaming machine, which at that point in time seemed almost unthinkable. Romero, in the early days, was the perfect complement to Carmack's skills, creating the first level editing tools to develop levels for Commander Keen and Wolfenstein. And the rest of the people at id software--Adrian Carmack, Tom Hall, etc., their stories are detailed, as well as people like DWANGO Bob, who made money off networked DOOM servers before the Internet came along. My only wish was that the book had pictures so we could visualize what everyone looked like at the time!
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: Masters if Doom is really one of the best books I have ever read.
I remember the first time I played Doom and Wolfenstein. The were really amazing titles when they were first out and still have a place in my collection today. At the time I had no idea who had made these awesome games, but I thought that whoever the creators werem theym ust have been gods. Reading Masters of Doom let me know who John Carmack and John Romero really were. Some people may be disturbed by Romeros sick sense of humor, and Carmacks extreme anti-social behavior, but I for one could relate to them. Any person with a passion for games (making them) will have already purchased this book. For the rest of you, the uninitiated, buy this book and you will know more about the gaming underground then you ever wanted to.
Rating:
Summary: A Hero's Journey
Review: Masters of Doom chronicles the story of "the two Johns", John Carmack and John Romero. In many ways the story reads like a classical hero's tale described by Joseph Campbell. Carmack and Romero are unlikely heroes, growing up in relatively dysfunctional families with virtually no support from loved ones for their dreams. Through incredible hard work, and the fortune of being at the right place at the right time, they rise to the level of rock stars and begin an industry. However, the fame and fortune is not without its costs, and Carmack and Romero have a falling out, and then their respective companies (id and Ion Storm) struggle with internal strife. Finally, both begin to transition out of the worlds they created, and both are transformed themselves. David Kushner, the author, writes with an easy and enjoyable style; the 300 pages fly by. But I think Kushner's greatest skill is his ability to show Carmack and Romero both as heroes and humans. They both worked incredibly hard, achieved great things, but they were not without their flaws. Kushner achieved an excellent balance as he told the story. In many ways the book reminds me of an adventure in business. Similar books/stories include Startup by Jerry Kaplan and Netscape Time by Jim Clark. The story is centered on the people, but the plot and the setting are based on the business and the industry they are creating. I did not give Masters of Doom 5 stars because the book had no pictures. I would love to see their house in Shreveport or Ion Storm's "Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory of Gaming", pictures of many of the old games they talked about (ah, to see asteroids again), the two Johns when they were younger, Al Vekovius, Stevie Case, Tom Hall, and of course their cars. However, despite this one shortcoming, I would recommend this book to almost anyone. If you are into computer games, this is part of history. If you are into business, this tells about the creation of a billion-dollar industry. If you are into real-life drama, this story has it. Thumbs up for Masters of Doom.
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