In before the media blitz on DOOM (4) begins, here are some of my thoughts on the approach to whatever this game might be.

So, back in 2004 I've found an early screenshot of Vulgar (back when it was supposed to be an Archvile) and it was incorrectly described as a Revenant. Note that this was when I didn't have an internet. So my info about D3 was coming from different periods, often outdated ones.

Either way, I remember seeing the Vulgar that was described as the new Revenant. I couldn't see any resemblance and I thought that DOOM 3 will be DOOM in name only.

But you know what? I didn't mean that in a bad way! Quite the opposite. It was exciting for me EXACTLY because it was so different, it was something new and unexpected. Hm? That it wasn't like the original? Pff, who cares? Well, apparently a lot of people do. Not everyone though.

Truth is, I was never, ever concerned in any way that DOOM 3 might not live up to its name. I honestly never thought it was really that important. I was excited by the prospect of a new, modern DOOM game and I just wanted to see what id has in store.
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But throughout the years I've learnt that people are not like that. They want the new entry to perfectly match their mental model. They have their checklists and requirements. Not only that. They grew cynical, disappointed with everything, essentially just waiting for an opportunity to let the entire world know how the "good old days are gone and will never come back".

That's not to say that everything is acceptable or that everything should be accepted. But I think people are way too quick to criticize just about every single aspect of the game. They're too quick to write something off just because it's not like what they've imagined.

How much would I be able to accept before saying "ok, this is not DOOM anymore"? I don't know! All I know is that just because a monster looks different or some gameplay element is different than 20 freaking years ago, well, it's not enough to make me want to bash it like there's no tommorow. And I'm sorry, I don't understand why is it so important to "stay true to the original" at all costs.

I mean, let's be honest, people are constantly like "it needs this weapon, and this monster and this and that because it won't be DOOM without it". Am I the only one who doesn't care if this game has all those specific things from the old version? Why is it that people need to be such control freaks like their life depends on it and will feel utterly offended by everything that is not like they want?
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I just wish more people were simply excited for a new entry in their favourite series. Just waiting for whatever is in store, without the cynicism and constant negativity towards everything that's not "like the old days". I mean, if you don't like it, then you don't like it. If it svcks, then it svcks. It might be good, it might flop (I'm not saying it's gonna be awesome no matter what!). But I'm telling you, it's not gonna svck just because it doesn't match your pipe dream version of what it should be. It's also not gonna svck just because it's not a perfect modern projection of the original game.

At least that's my take on this subject.

(And yes, I've been there when this game came out [or not far behind]. I remember the shareware of DOOM stuttering on my PC at the time. So I'd say I've got a pretty good perspective on the situation as I am very much one of the original fans [still playing PWADs for the DII].)

[I also posted this on Doomworld as Touchdown. So don't get suspicious]

I'm 100% with you. Some people are just stuck in nostalgia mode and anything that is new or different has to be criticized. I have yet to be disappointed by an id game.

Definitely, do what you want but give me mod tools and a good multiplayer experience. With the original team now completely gone they will have so really good opportunity to flex their creative muscle.

I love the original id team but lets be honest everyone probably lived in their shadow and couldn't have their creative visions flow as easily as they would have wished. DooM will not only be a creation of a new experience for the DooM series but also from a team that might have been freed from a lot of past expectations and responsibilities.