Looking back at Catacomb 3D, the game that led to Wolfenstein 3D

The origins of id Software's groundbreaking first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, are more complex than the iconic game itself. A recent video featuring John Romero and Adrian Carmack discussing id's early history revealed that the true pioneering effort was their pre-Wolfenstein adventure game, Catacomb 3D.

Catacomb 3D, released in 1992, showcased innovative features for its time, including mouse support and color-coded keys. Its use of texture maps to render walls added a new level of immersion to the gameplay experience. However, despite these groundbreaking elements, the game's reception was lukewarm, with some critics viewing it as too gimmicky.

According to Romero, the team initially struggled to monetize Catacomb 3D, earning a paltry $5,000 through contract work for Softdisk's Gamer's Edge magazine-on-a-disk. In contrast, each episode of id Software's Commander Keen series earned ten times that amount, cementing the decision to focus on fast-paced action-oriented games.

The team began working on a seventh Commander Keen game with parallax scrolling and full VGA color support before realizing it was "just like a weird gimmick thing" – a sentiment echoed by John Carmack. It wasn't until they encountered the intense excitement of playing through Catacomb 3D's corridors, complete with an in-game troll that left one team member speechless, that they decided to pivot and create Wolfenstein 3D.

The decision to shift focus towards first-person shooters proved to be a winning strategy for id Software. As Carmack noted, "that's where the future was going," and within two weeks of realizing it, the team had abandoned their Commander Keen project to bring forth what would become an iconic genre-defining game: Wolfenstein 3D.

Through this insightful retrospective video, we see that id Software's foray into Catacomb 3D marked a pivotal moment in their development as a studio. It was there, experimenting with innovative features like texture maps and first-person gameplay, that they laid the groundwork for some of their most beloved titles – including Wolfenstein 3D itself.

I'm low-key impressed by how much we didn't know about Catacomb 3D ! Did you know it dropped in '92? That's like, ancient internet history . The game's mouse support and color-coded keys were total game-changers (pun intended) . And let's be real, who doesn't love a good troll in a video game?

But what's crazy is that Catacomb 3D wasn't even their most successful title at the time . Commander Keen episodes earned way more than Catacomb, so it makes sense they shifted focus to fast-paced action games .

It's dope to see how id Software iterated and learned from Catacomb, then created something like Wolfenstein 3D, which is basically a genre-definer . This just goes to show that innovation can come from unexpected places . Did you know Wolfenstein 3D was released in '93? That's when the first-person shooter scene really took off !

awww man I'm so impressed by id Software's journey! They took risks on Catacomb 3D and it paid off in ways we can only imagine today . It's crazy to think about how that game, which some people thought was too gimmicky back then, ended up paving the way for one of the most iconic FPS games ever made . And can you believe they were earning like $5,000 from a single magazine? That's not chump change at all!

lol what's up with id Software just being all secretive about Catacomb 3D lol like it's not already cool that it came out in 1992 and was basically a proto-wolfenstein id should've at least made a bigger splash with it, i mean who doesn't love a good retro fps? but for real though, it's dope to see how they experimented with those texture maps and color-coded keys... and that in-game troll tho was definitely the turning point for them

I think it's wild how id Software's early game Catacomb 3D kinda got lost in the shadows . I mean, it had some awesome features like mouse support and color-coded keys, but nobody really remembers it . But it's dope to see how it influenced Wolfenstein 3D and paved the way for their success . It's like, you gotta appreciate the journey and not just the final product .

I'm telling you, this is all just a big smokescreen . They're trying to distract us from the real story here. I mean, think about it, Catacomb 3D was basically a prototype for Wolfenstein 3D, but instead of going with that direction, id Software chose to go down a completely different rabbit hole with Commander Keen . It's like they were trying to test the waters, see how people would react to their new ideas before finally unleashing the real deal. And what do we get out of this? A bunch of nostalgic fanfare and a pat on the back for id Software's "groundbreaking" achievements . I'm not buying it. There's always more to the story, folks .

I'm surprised to hear about Catacomb 3D's impact on id Software's development. It's easy to overlook it now, but seeing how it influenced their later work is really cool . I mean, who doesn't love a good old-school FPS? But what's even more fascinating is the team's struggle to monetize it . $5,000 from contract work? That's not exactly a fortune . It just goes to show that sometimes taking risks and trying new things can lead to something amazing . And in this case, id Software took those lessons learned from Catacomb 3D and ran with them .

OMG u guys I just saw that vid about Catacomb 3D and I'm low-key impressed! I mean, who knew id Software had such a cool pre-Wolfenstein game? They were like the OG pioneers of 1st person shooters! I love how it all went down from Catacomb to Commander Keen and then BAM Wolfenstein 3D happens! It's crazy to think that id Software struggled to monetize Catacomb but still managed to create something so revolutionary. The texture maps tho are just genius! Can't wait for more retro gaming content

I'm surprised people still don't know about Catacomb 3D, it's like a hidden gem in gaming history . I mean, it had all these cool features that id Software would later incorporate into their games, but it didn't really get the recognition it deserved back then. The fact that they struggled to monetize it and ended up focusing on Commander Keen instead is wild . But at the same time, it's awesome how they eventually pivoted to make Wolfenstein 3D, which changed the gaming industry forever . I guess you could say Catacomb 3D was like a test run for their future success . Anyway, I'm glad we're getting to see more of id Software's early history being uncovered and shared with us today .

I'm totally obsessed with old computer games right now. Like, I was playing through some of the original Doom demos last night and it's crazy to think about how far gaming has come since then. The graphics may be outdated, but there's something about the nostalgic feel of those early games that just can't be replicated. Have you ever played any of the classic id Software titles? I mean, who wouldn't want to experience the thrill of navigating a creepy old castle or fighting hordes of demons in a low-res 3D environment? It's like stepping into a time machine!

I'm still amazed at how far back id Software's roots go ... I mean, Catacomb 3D is like, ancient history in gaming terms! Released in '92 and it was already showing off advanced features like mouse support and color-coded keys. It's crazy to think that a game with those features didn't do as well as some of their other stuff... Commander Keen series was a huge hit for them, but then they went all-in on 3D shooters and the rest is history . I still remember playing Wolfenstein 3D back in the day and being blown away by its immersive gameplay . It's awesome to see how id Software's early experiments laid the groundwork for some of their most iconic games...

id Software's journey from Catacomb 3D to Wolfenstein 3D is wild . I mean, $5,000 from a game that was kinda ahead of its time? That's like hitting the lottery in game dev land! But what's crazy is how they learned from it and pivoted into first-person shooters, which totally changed the gaming landscape. Their commitment to innovation and taking risks paid off big time . I love how John Romero and Adrian Carmack are still open about their process and willingness to adapt. It's a great reminder that even mistakes can lead to amazing breakthroughs

I think it's kinda cool how id Software started out with Catacomb 3D back in '92. They were definitely ahead of their time with mouse support and color-coded keys . But, I mean, who knew it was gonna be all about fast-paced action shooters for them? It's wild to think that they almost dropped Commander Keen and went straight into first-person territory instead! What if they had stuck with it? Would we have seen more Catacomb-esque games or would Wolfenstein 3D have still been the game-changer it was? Either way, id Software's history is pretty fascinating and it's awesome to see them getting some love for their early experiments .

This is so cool - I had no idea Catacomb 3D existed! Those guys were total pioneers in game development. I mean, mouse support and color-coded keys? Mind blown And that troll scene in Catacomb 3D must've been super intense It's crazy how id Software took those early experiments and turned them into something so huge with Wolfenstein 3D. I guess you could say they really found their stride around that time.

id Software's early days are fascinating . I think it's awesome how Catacomb 3D showed them the way to immersive gaming, but they didn't quite monetize it well back then . It's crazy that each Commander Keen episode earned ten times more than Catacomb 3D! The team must've learned from their experience and applied those skills to create Wolfenstein 3D . I love how John Romero and Adrian Carmack were inspired by playing through Catacomb 3D, it's like they stumbled upon something special . It's no wonder they pivoted towards first-person shooters, it seems like the future was calling their name .

I'm still amazed how id Software's games used to blow my mind back in the day . I mean, think about it, Catacomb 3D was like a futuristic sci-fi movie with its mouse support and color-coded keys . And can you believe they only made $5,000 from that game? That's peanuts compared to what Commander Keen was making! It's crazy how they initially thought it was all just a gimmick, but then they discovered the magic of Catacomb 3D and Wolfenstein 3D took off in a way they never expected .

I remember playing Wolfenstein 3D with my friends back in college and we were all like "whoa, this is insane!" The parallax scrolling was so cool and it felt like we were actually exploring a creepy castle . It's amazing how that game has stood the test of time and still influences games today .

Anyway, it's always cool to see how old games can lead to new innovations and what could've been if they had stuck with Catacomb 3D .

OMG u guys cant believe the story behind Wolfenstein 3D!!! it's like id Software was on the verge of giving up on gaming altogether lol but then this crazy troll in Catacomb 3D just stopped them dead in their tracks... i mean who needs a good troll to save ur game, right? but seriously can u imagine if they had stuck with Commander Keen, would we be playing Duke Nukem or what? id Software was literally on the cusp of greatness and then Catacomb 3D just pushed them over the edge... talk about a weird gimmick thing indeed!

Man, I'm loving this deep dive into id Software's history . I mean, who knew Catacomb 3D was such a crucial stepping stone to creating one of the greatest FPS games ever made? It's wild that it almost got lost in the shuffle - like, $5,000 isn't nothing, but when you consider how much more popular Commander Keen was at the time, it makes sense why id shifted focus to something with more mainstream appeal.

And can we talk about how innovative those textural maps and parallax scrolling were back then? It's crazy to think about how far gaming has come since then. The excitement that must've been had playing through Catacomb 3D's corridors, complete with an in-game troll - it's a testament to the team's creative spark.

It's also fascinating to see how id Software's experimentation and willingness to take risks paid off in the end. I mean, who would've thought that a game like Wolfenstein 3D would become such a cultural phenomenon? The fact that they abandoned their Commander Keen project so quickly just goes to show you how right they were about shifting gears. That's some masterful game development right there!

You know I played this game back in the day and it was mind-blowing at the time! I mean, who would've thought that a game like Catacomb 3D would influence something as big as Wolfenstein 3D? The fact that they were experimenting with tech like texture maps and parallax scrolling is crazy to think about now. And you're right, it's wild how their first attempt at monetizing it didn't quite pay off... $5,000 from contract work isn't exactly a fortune . But hey, it's all part of the story, right? The fact that they were willing to take risks and pivot when they hit a dead end is what made Wolfenstein 3D so iconic in the end. I mean, can you imagine if they had stuck with Commander Keen?

the id software team's journey from catacomb 3d to wolfenstein 3d is pretty wild

i love how they experimented with tech features like texture maps and color-coded keys, even if it didn't take off initially

it's interesting that the commander keen series was a safer bet financially , but id software saw the potential in fast-paced action games and ran with it

their pivot to first-person shooters is pretty iconic , and it's awesome they listened to their own feedback and adjusted course when playing catacomb 3d

i think this story highlights how even "failures" can be turning points for growth and innovation