Doom Now Playable in PDF: Toasters Out!

Doom, the iconic first-person shooter, has been adapted to run on an astonishing array of devices, from toasters to fridges, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Yet, the novelty of running Doom on unconventional platforms continues to captivate enthusiasts. In a remarkable feat, a high school student named ading2210 has successfully ported Doom into a PDF file, playable directly in your browser.

While this version of Doom lacks traditional elements like text and sound, it offers a unique way to enjoy the classic E1M1 level, perhaps while procrastinating on those overdue taxes. Inspired by the TetrisPDF project, ading2210 utilized the Javascript capabilities within PDF readers to bring Doom to life in this unexpected format.

ading2210 leveraged the computational power of Javascript within PDF specifications, despite browser security limitations, to create a functional Doom port. The game uses a six-color ASCII grid for its sprites and graphics, delivering a surprisingly legible experience, albeit with an 80ms delay per frame.

While this PDF version of Doom may not replace your PS5, the ingenuity behind running it on such an unconventional platform is truly impressive. Thomas Rinsma, the creator of TetrisPDF, acknowledged ading2210's work on Hacker News, praising its neat execution.

Though this might not be the ideal way to experience Doom for the first time, the thrill of seeing it run on everything from PDF files to living gut bacteria continues to delight and inspire the gaming community.