Doom Creator John Romero Reveals Surprising Origin of Hunting Game Genre

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John Romero recently disclosed some intriguing information to the gaming community about the origin of the Deer Hunter series, which many might not have anticipated having connections to a well-known retail chain. Initially launched in the late 90s for PC, Macintosh, and Game Boy Color, the Deer Hunter series offered hunting simulation games, amassing more than 20 titles under its main brand. In these games, players were transported to open fields and dense woods teeming with various animals, UFOs, and even Bigfoot.

John Romero is a highly respected figure in the video game development world, known for creating many classic titles and co-founding id Software. Some of the beloved intellectual properties he helped develop include Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake. There are numerous well-regarded and nostalgic games associated with John Romero, such as Heretic, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and Dangerous Dave, among others that fall outside the Doom series.

In a podcast conversation with Nightdive Studios, Romero disclosed that it was Walmart’s rise in the gaming industry during the 90s, particularly due to its popular sales of video games and consoles, which sparked the creation of the Deer Hunter series. More recently, Walmart has made headlines for accepting pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2, a surprise move. The collaboration between id Software and GT Interactive, the PC publisher that eventually transformed into modern Atari, paved the way for Deer Hunter to be stocked on Walmart’s shelves.

John Romero Reveals Deer Hunter Series’ Origin With Walmart

Regardless of numerous first-person shooter games that mimicked Doom, Romero disclosed that a Texas-based Walmart buyer, with an appetite for a more straightforward hunting game connected to reality, was their main client. “He simply wanted a deer hunting game,” Romero said, recalling the executive’s words. “Make one of those, and I promise you’ll sell out.” In response, GT quickly started developing the Deer Hunter series.

wrapping up the podcast conversation, Romero expressed his views on the future of gaming, highlighting that Walmart played a significant role in the survival of hunting games. He was convinced that independent games (indies) would dominate the gaming industry in the future, and there’s been no dearth of them. Some of the best indie games blend genres, such as FTL: Faster Than Light, The Forgotten City, Slay The Spire, and given Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s remarkable success (which is typically categorized as an indie), it seems that this genre could very well be setting the trend.

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2025-07-22 14:04