Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and I seemingly occupy very different spheres; he leads the globe’s most valuable company and is a colossal figure in technology, while I am a hardware writer with long hair who recently had a simple meal of beans on toast. Despite these distinctions, we might share more in common than initially perceived, particularly regarding our views on video games.
During an appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, Huang was prompted to identify the greatest or most influential game in history. He responded without a moment’s pause: “Doom. I would definitely choose Doom, given its profound cultural implications and its pivotal role in transforming the PC into a dedicated gaming machine. That was an incredibly significant juncture.”
Huang elaborated, “While flight simulation companies certainly preceded it, they never achieved the widespread popularity that Doom garnered, which was essential in reshaping the PC’s identity from merely an office automation tool into a personal computer accessible to families and gamers alike.”
“Consequently, Doom’s impact in that domain was immense. From the perspective of game technology itself, I would name Virtua Fighter. We maintained strong relationships with the developers of both titles.”
Although some might contend that other titles pioneered certain aspects, Doom’s position in gaming culture is now so firmly established that its name is recognized across generations. Indeed, with the passage of time, it’s quite plausible that many grandparents may have even played it themselves.
It is therefore gratifying to witness Huang’s immediate acknowledgment of Doom as an exceptionally influential game, whose profound impact permeates not only the gaming world but also our broader collective culture.
I have a fond memory of a former boss who once scoffed at my habit of playing ‘those video games’ in my free time, only for me to later discover a copy of Doom prominently installed on his aging laptop.
“I believed you weren’t fond of games,” I recalled saying. His reply: “Oh, Doom? Yes, that one is truly excellent.”
And it was. It is. It always will be. It appears we all possess some common ground, however unexpected. Who would have thought?