Doom (1993 video game)
Doom (typeset as DOOM in official documents and stylized as DooM in other media) is a 1993 first-person shooter (FPS) video game by id Software. It is considered one of the most significant and influential titles in video game history, for having helped to pioneer the now-ubiquitous first-person shooter. The original game was divided into three nine-level episodes and was distributed via shareware and mail order. The Ultimate Doom, an updated release of the original game featuring a fourth episode, was released in 1995 and sold at retail.
1993 congressional hearings on video games
id Software's "Doom", a first-person shooter where the player fought hellish creatures and included graphic violence, was released on December 10, 1993, the day following the first hearing. Outside of the hearings, there was concern by parents and other organizations on the violence in this game as well. While "Doom" was not mentioned in either Senate hearing, it would come up against in 1999 following the Columbine High School massacre, where the perpetrators had described their planned attack as something straight out of "Doom". As a result, "Doom" is frequently classified along with "Mortal Kombat", "Night Trap", and "Lethal Enforcers" as early examples of violent video games highlighted by the media.