Doom Has Been Ported to a PDF File

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

A high school student's remarkable achievement—porting the iconic 1993 game, Doom, to a PDF file—has captivated the gaming world. This latest feat adds another bizarre entry to the long list of unconventional platforms where Doom has found a home.

Doom's compact size (a mere 2.39 megabytes) is key to its adaptability. Its influence on the first-person shooter (FPS) genre is undeniable; the game's very existence is credited with popularizing the term "FPS." For years, many FPS games were simply considered "Doom clones." This legacy continues to inspire programmers and enthusiasts to push the boundaries of where Doom can run. Previous examples include ports to refrigerators, alarm clocks, and car stereos—essentially, any device with even a hint of processing power.

GitHub user ading2210, a high school student, achieved this PDF port by leveraging JavaScript's capabilities within the PDF format. While PDFs support features like 3D rendering and HTTP requests, the low resolution (320x200) presented a challenge. Instead of using individual text boxes for each pixel (impractical given the resolution), ading2210 cleverly utilizes one text box per screen row. The result? A playable, albeit slow, monochrome version devoid of sound and text, with an 80ms frame rate.

Beyond the PDF: Doom's Unconventional Platforms

This isn't just about playing Doom; it's about the boundless creativity of its fanbase. Recent examples include a Nintendo Alarmo port (using the device's dials and buttons) and a port within the game Balandro. Both, like the PDF version, demonstrate performance limitations but highlight the enduring spirit of innovation.

The continued relevance of Doom, over three decades after its release, underscores its lasting impact. As long as imaginative players exist, the possibilities for Doom's next unusual platform remain endless.