DOOM is known for its ability to run on a wide range of devices, a flexibility that a single developer, Danny Spencer, pushed even further by turning the game into a functional tool. In a creative experiment, he built a fully working calculator inside DOOM, where each numeral is represented by a row of samples crafted from the game’s assets.
Using the level editor, Spencer released custom monsters that align to form digits, transforming combat encounters into arithmetic. The calculator behind this setup can perform addition; with time, users could imagine configurations for subtraction or multiplication as well. However, in a single configuration, not all arithmetic operations run at once, which keeps the system simple yet intriguing.
Another compelling feature is the reset mechanism. To clear the current calculation, players shoot the monsters, which guarantees a restart of the numerical input. The reset is slower than a typical reset, but it injects an element of playfulness and strategy into the experience. Numbers are also input by delivering precise shots to particular projectiles or monsters, turning calculation into an interactive act rather than a straight computation.
For those curious about how the project works, documentation exists that explains how the level editor and creature placements translate into numerical values and arithmetic rules. (VG Times)