John Romero has shared an unusual piece of history regarding the early distribution of Doom. According to the co-founder of id Software, the team once supplied empty game boxes to pirates in Taiwan as a deliberate method to get the game into the hands of local players.
By providing these boxes to those already handling unauthorized distribution, the developers ensured that fans in the region could secure legitimate copies of the title. Romero noted that for id Software, this unconventional approach was primarily a practical solution for getting their software to an international audience.
The Shareware Roots
This revelation highlights the lengths the studio went to during the 1990s to expand the reach of Doom. The game was initially built on the shareware model, where the first episode was distributed for free. If players enjoyed that initial portion, they could send payment to id Software to receive the final two episodes via mail.
While this strategy is a far cry from modern digital storefronts like Steam, it remains a defining characteristic of how Doom became one of the most influential titles in gaming history.