On October 29, John Romero, co-founder of id Software and head of Romero Games, delivered a keynote titled "Why We Still Make Games" at gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show. He reflected on decades of creative experience, stating that making games doesn't require permission—creators can start with a small game or simply an idea they want to bring to life.
Romero began by discussing his first game, which he created while learning programming with BASIC, and went on to cover his experiences with text adventures, Apple II assembly language, magazine submissions, and tool development. By the end of 1989, he had already produced 69 games and 19 tools, often handling art, design, programming, sound, and even promotion entirely on his own in the early days.
Afterward, Romero participated in the porting of Might and Magic II and, during his time at id Software, contributed to the development of Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, DOOM II, and Quake. He believes that new technologies, editing tools, and rapid prototyping can directly unlock new design possibilities. The talk also addressed the significant setbacks during the Ion Storm era, as well as lessons learned from technology choices, company management, and supporting other creators.
Romero Games is currently developing its seventh title, with Romero serving as game director. Romero also noted that the current gaming industry is experiencing the most severe layoffs and uncertainty of his career, with opportunities being unevenly distributed. Therefore, it is crucial for peers to stay connected, share knowledge, and help one another. In his view, continuous learning itself is reason enough to keep creating.