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WTF?! Modders repeatedly prove that Doom can run on anything with a screen. However, most hacks involving the game simply transfer its classic gameplay and graphics to new devices without any changes. In contrast, a recently showcased volumetric version envisions the game like never before.
Running id Software's iconic Doom on things like a McDonald's kiosk, Notepad, a smart lamp, a Lego block, a lawn mower, or another video game is impressive, but it's the same Doom fans have enjoyed since 1993. A new test brings the foundational first-person shooter to a display that fundamentally changes how it looks and plays.
Tinkerer and YouTuber "Ancient" recently posted videos demonstrating what they describe as a homebrew volumetric display. The device emits three-dimensional hologram-like images in a way that somewhat resembles Voxon's VLED technology.
Most of the videos show the holograms contained within a dome-shaped glass cover, though the device can operate unshielded at a reduced refresh rate. Three-dimensional design projects are the machine's most likely practical use case, but Voxon also proposed a range of "volumetric games" resembling holographic tabletop games. What better way to test a homemade variant than to run Doom on it?
Ancient's off-screen videos show the display running the game from multiple angles, with the classic HUD displayed at the dome's base. The strangest aspect is the YouTuber's decision to operate the game from a third-person view.
The hologram uses the somewhat isometric gameplay angle to give Doom's levels a more 3D presentation. However, it likely also makes the game harder, as it can only render a relatively small space around the player.
Ancient completed the volumetric feel by implementing the voxel mod that debuted in 2022, which transforms Doom's 2D billboard sprites into 3D voxel-based objects. It also features in a recently released ray tracing mod for Doom 2.
Google researchers created an equally strange version of Doom late last month when they taught Stable Diffusion to generate the game automatically. The results look mostly accurate, but minor hallucinations are noticeable upon close inspection.
Those wishing for an easy way to access Doom and numerous fan-made maps on modern hardware should investigate the Doom and Doom 2 combo pack that id and Nightdive Studios released in early August. It introduces a new map pack and contains all prior official episodes.