Corey Quinn has pulled off a truly bizarre and fascinating feat—running the classic game "Doom" on a DNS database. If that sounds like a strange marriage between retro gaming and modern technology, it is. This unconventional project doesn't aim to bring a new gaming experience but rather to showcase the endless possibilities that tech creativity can explore.
The project exploits DNS, a system traditionally meant to translate URLs into IP addresses, by using it to handle "Doom's" arithmetic and memory functions. Corey Quinn compiled the game specifically for a 32-bit machine, turning DNS into a kind of digital librarian for managing precomputed game operations. Over 6.4 million rows of precomputed truth tables reside in the DNS database, acting as a repository for game functions. Although this means "Doom" on DNS is sluggish, taking a whopping 54 seconds for updates, it highlights the playful and experimental side of gaming tech.
Doom has long been a favored playground for tech enthusiasts eager to push the limits of where and how the game can run. From ATMs to digital cameras, the "Can it run Doom?" meme has become a cultural phenomenon showcasing human ingenuity. Founded by John Carmack and John Romero in 1991, id Software produced "Doom" as a first-person shooter that revolutionized gaming, becoming an enduring part of gaming history and inspiring countless tech experiments.
The Cultural Phenomenon of Doom
Paul Vixie, a pioneer of DNS technology, described the project as "deliciously horrible" or "horribly delicious," emphasizing the odd yet captivating nature of melding gaming with DNS technology. It's not the first time "Doom" has been played around with in this way. Earlier this year, another developer split "Doom" into nearly 2000 DNS-TXT entries to run it via PowerShell.
Culturally, the project reflects the playful and experimental spirit of the tech community, often leading to unexpected innovations. While this DNS version of "Doom" isn't practical for gaming, it underscores the influence of retro gaming and its impact on new tech explorations. As id Software celebrates its 35th anniversary, projects like these continue to highlight the lasting legacy of their groundbreaking games.
This isn't just a geeky tech stunt—it's a commentary on the limitless creativity found within the gaming and tech communities. While the execution isn't practically playable, it’s a brilliant demonstration of the imaginative boundaries continually being pushed. Whether or not this inspires more DNS-based gaming shenanigans, the project stands as a fascinating case study in what happens when innovation meets nostalgia.