The desire to play ‘Doom’ on just about anything seems to grow stronger over time. Some enthusiasts have managed to run it on devices like a calculator connected to a 770 potato battery and a digital pregnancy test. The next step? Make the legendary game from id Software run on a computer without operating system.
as collected PC Gamer, someone has managed to make ‘Doom’ work on a computer without Windows. And he has not resorted to magic or the mystical arts to achieve this almost impossible challenge. Instead, he has decided to use a BIOS, that is, the firmware that controls the computer at a very low level.
Running ‘Doom’ in a BIOS
The key to play ‘Doom’ from the BIOS of a computer is in Corebootan open source project that aims to replace proprietary firmware on motherboards with “more open, faster, and more flexible” firmware.
Coreboot has a feature known as “payloads”, which enables payloads that can function as programs and provide additional functionality to the BIOS. Recently launched the version 4.17 with various fixes, a new bootloader, support for more motherboards, and other improvements.
The update also included a port the ‘Doom’ based on the project doomgeneric what allows you to run the game from ROM, albeit with some limitations. No sound, can’t save game, only works with PS/2 keyboard (no USB) and once you stop playing the whole system freezes and you need to restart your computer.
As this is an open project, anyone with technical knowledge – and aware of the risks – can try to run ‘Doom’ if they have compatible hardware. Coreboot works with the motherboards of various laptop models, including the Acer Aspire VN7-572G and Razer Blade Stealth KabyLake.
‘Doom’ is one of the most significant titles of recent times. Released in 1993, players step into the shoes of “Doomguy”, a Marine who must fight his way through hordes of demons and other hellish characters. Since its debut, it is estimated, has sold 10 million copies. Almost 30 years after its launch, it is still present.
In Xataka | The legendary Sinclair ZX Spectrum turns 40: this was the computer that conquered Europe
