A brand new documentary from CreatorVC titled First Person Shooter – The Definitive FPS Documentary is up for pre-order and you have until the 1st of August to secure a physical copy. I give my thoughts after being sent a preview copy. The entire documentary is told through the eyes of the people that made the games and some prominent content creators and pro gamers. I loved this as it meant the viewer is hearing everything first-hand or from industry experts and not a scripted narration.
The first half hour is dedicated to the backstory of the FPS genre and goes right back to 1973 when students were dabbling with vector graphics to create 3D corridors and simple firing mechanics. The producers could’ve glossed over this history and gone straight into Wolfenstein 3D, the game that is often cited as the birth of modern FPS games, but this extended build-up creates an excellent understanding for the viewer.
Following this, and I don’t wish to spoil anything, a barrage of interviews with industry legends such as John Romero, John Carmack, Scott Miller and a host of others tell their stories of creating some of gaming’s most iconic titles. To give a little taste, there are stories on Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem, Goldeneye, Half-Life and Halo that are simply spellbinding to listen to.
They discuss the development of the games, the cultural impacts and the importance the genre has had on driving technology forward. This wide lens look makes for compelling viewing and I found myself leaning into my screen many times as these industry giants spill the beans on the highs, lows and special moments that make these stories so important.
The editing is spot on with heavy technical discussion quickly broken up with funny moments that I feel were crucial given the documentary’s length. And that is my main criticism, it’s four and a half hours and the section on Id Software does feel a little long at times. Also, the chapter on military shooters is only fifteen minutes which feels short given how important these are to the industry today.
These are very minor flaws though, as everything about FPS – The Definitive FPS Documentary is high quality. Hardcore FPS fans will unload their proverbial shotgun in their pants at the level of detail, hearing so many stories from their heroes. And anyone with a taste for video game history will appreciate learning so much about the importance of these games to our hobby. A must-watch.
