John Romero and Midway part ways

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 13th 2005 at 2:00PM }

Recent rumors that John Romero, co-creator of DOOM, has split from Midway were confirmed when Romero posted this message on his website: "I can definitely confirm that I have left Midway - I've been gone for about 3 weeks." Romero had been working on the latest installment in the fading Gauntlet franchise for Midway, which still plans to ship the game this fall. Details on the breakup are still unknown, but some sources seem to suggest that Romero was indeed fired from the company. We'll keep you posted.

[via Pro-G]

[CGM link courtesy of Matthew]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

gee willikers @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Midway's ultimatum to Romero was as succinct as it was scandalous:

"Shave off the weedy pimp beard...or else."

Romero, to his credit, refused, and the rest is history. QED.

Coyote @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

bwahahahahahahahahaha... *ghasp bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

But seriously he was working on the new gauntlet game?? Well crap and i was looking forward to it too. On the plus side maybe he was fired for being a lazy ass and didnt accually do any work on it.

strider_mt2k @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I liked Gauntlet II alot in the arcades.
It's the only original Game Boy cart I held on to.
Cool to have it on RIM.

32_Footsteps @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I'd like to formally move that from here on out, John Romero's nickname shall be Daikatana. Anyone with me on this?

nod @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I really hope he's saved a bit of his id money.

Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Romero may not be dependable but if I had a choice between John Romero and John Carmack to help design a game I'd go with Romero. Carmack's got the programming skills and all but Romero's got the spirit.

Read "Masters of Doom" and you'll see what I mean.

The Jeremy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I want a new Gauntlet. One that does online play, whether on Xbox Live or whatever monolithic online system Sony has in store for the PS3. Midway seriously needs to hit this out of the park because I'm tired of them doing nothing with that treasure trove collectively known as *Atari Games* that they own. Is it too late to hope that Infogrames aka "Atari Inc. USA" couldn't buy out Midway and finally reunify?

bwana @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

There wouldn't be any point to Atari buying Midway, and I don't think it is possible anyway. According to most of the news I see, Sumner Redstone owns the controlling interest in Midway, and has publicly stated that he sees games as the next major entertainment medium. He said something along the lines of the SEC is slow to notice this, and this is a prime opportunity for traditional entertainment companies to outright buy companies that will compete with them, without fear of government interference, and he can't understand why EVERY major entertainment company isn't doing the exact same thing right now.

As to the Atari Games vs. Atari/Infogrames, the way it was delineated, Midway Games West / Atari Games was limited to arcade coin-op machines, which they officially bowed out from pursuing a few years ago, preferring to stick instead with home console. The IP was probably part of the sale of Atari-as-entity to Hasbro and, later, Infogrames.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Games
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_Games

Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Romero may have the "spirit" but it is that spirit that cost edios ( i think it was edios... don't have "masters of doom" with me at the moment) millions of dollars over several years for a FLOP!
If I had the choice of who would help me it would be Carmack.