Wolfenstein 3D

Wolfenstein 3D, developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software, was one of the most influential and innovative first-person shooter games of all time. Released in 1992, the game puts players in the shoes of William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American spy captured by Nazis during World War II. The game consists of six episodes, each containing ten levels, in which players must navigate through Nazi fortresses and eliminate soldiers, mutants, and the infamous Mecha-Hitler. The game's graphics, which used a 3D raycasting technique, were groundbreaking at the time and helped to establish the first-person shooter genre.

The game's fast-paced action, innovative level design, and engaging storyline made it an instant classic. Wolfenstein 3D was a critical and commercial success, selling over 200,000 copies in its first year alone. The game also introduced players to the concept of secret areas within levels, which encouraged players to explore and rewarded them with extra ammo and health. The success of Wolfenstein 3D laid the foundation for future first-person shooter games, including the hugely popular Doom and Quake series. Today, Wolfenstein 3D is considered a classic of the genre and a must-play for fans of first-person shooters.

Development of Wolfenstein 3D began in October–December 1990 when a team of Softdisk employees, known as Ideas from the Deep, developed Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons. After its release in December through Apogee Software, the team, including John Romero, John Carmack, Tom Hall, Adrian Carmack, and Jay Wilbur, planned to leave Softdisk and start their own company. As part of their agreement with Softdisk, they produced games for Gamer's Edge. During this time, John Carmack experimented with 3D computer graphics, creating a rudimentary 3D game engine using ray casting. This engine was used for the April 1991 Softdisk game Hovertank 3D. Later that year, Carmack enhanced the engine for the November 1991 Catacomb 3-D, incorporating texture mapping. Scott Miller of Apogee encouraged the team to create a 3D shareware action game after seeing the Catacomb 3-D engine.

In November 1991, with contractual obligations to Softdisk almost complete, the team at id Software, now officially established, planned their next major game. Tom Hall initially proposed a sci-fi project, but John Romero suggested a 3D remake of the 1981 Castle Wolfenstein. The team embraced the idea, and after acquiring the Wolfenstein trademark, they began development on Wolfenstein 3D in December 1991. The project focused on fast-paced, action-packed gameplay where players could mow down Nazis. John Carmack developed the core of the game's engine, incorporating features from Catacomb 3-D and optimizing it for smoother and faster performance with higher-resolution graphics. The game was programmed primarily in ANSI C, with assembly used for scaling and ray casting routines. Adrian Carmack hand-drew sprites for enemies, and the team added violent animations, realistic sound effects, and a Death Cam for added shock value. Released as shareware in May 1992, the game marked a unique position for id Software by simultaneously targeting both the shareware and retail markets. The total development time was approximately half a year, with a cost of around US$25,000. The success of Wolfenstein 3D paved the way for id Software's future projects, including the iconic Doom.