DOOM is one of the most influential games of all time, helping to pioneer the first-person shooter genre while inspiring an untold number of clones. The franchise spawned by that original game continues to this day with titles like Doom Eternal, but fans also still churn out their own creations such as a recent DOOM mod inspired by Mel Brooks' Spaceballs.
One clever use of DOOM 2 was published to the website Mod DB on July 30 by DevHour Games' co-owner and designer Chris Baracani: A nearly 1-to-1 recreation of the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas that interested fans can download and explore now. DevHour is primarily known for its "relaxing puzzle game" Depixtion, but Baracani said he has been working on version 1.0 of this DOOM recreation for over a year in his off-time.
Baracani said he began working at the National Videogame Museum as a tour guide within months of its opening in 2016, and was later asked if he could create the DOOM map for an exhibit by one of the owners. Despite the museum re-opening on June 15, the mod's publication is well-timed given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced large gatherings like BlizzCon to be hosted virtually. The museum advertised his creation on Twitter suggesting it as an alternative to visiting in person.
Players can explore the map at their leisure through "Tourism Mode," or switch on demons to fight throughout the museum, which includes two secret maps per request of the owners. A side-by-side video shows the museum recreated with an impressive level of detail, including its massive console release timeline and 80s-style arcade, making the whole endeavor reminiscent of Devolver Digital's Devolverland Expo E3 simulator that turned its games showcase into a modern first-person shooter.
DOOM's influence on the industry and recent high regard thanks to modern games by id Software makes it the perfect centerpiece for a museum dedicated to video game history. When there aren't mods being made for the classic first-person shooter, DOOM is often modded into games like Minecraft.
This recreation of the National Videogame Museum was largely a labor of love, as Baracani said the museum has "become an extremely influential part of my life." It should be worth checking out his DOOM map while the coronavirus pandemic continues to largely affect the United States, especially for those who have finished working through Doom Eternal's second major update from June.
Sources: Mod DB, National Videogame Museum, Twitter