Available to download and watch today: First Person Shooter is a four-hour-plus celebration of the FPS genre featuring the legendary developers and artists behind your favorite games.
Reviewers are calling it "Required viewing for any fans of the genre" (Shacknews), "A treasure trove of information" (TheGamer), and "The ULTIMATE video game documentary… a must-see for all gamers!" (WASD & Beyond podcast).
Join us on a nostalgic journey through 50 years of FPS history, from the genre’s humble beginnings through to the present day, exploring the creation, impact, and legacy of a wide range of genre-defining classics from Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and GoldenEye, to Half-Life, Halo, and beyond.
Along the way, you’ll hear from John Carmack and John Romero sharing stories from id Software’s early days, Cliff Bleszinski on Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Warren Spector on System Shock and Deus Ex, Marcus Lehto and Joseph Staten on Halo, and many more, each weighing in not only on their own projects, but also on other games that inspired them.
Secure your digital edition today for instant access. This exclusive bundle comes with the official soundtrack, a detailed PDF booklet, and three stunning desktop wallpapers.
Synopsis & Cast
Beginning in the 1970s, First Person Shooter takes you back to the earliest days of the genre, when a group of high-school students went from building simple 3D mazes to creating the first vital building blocks of the genre - including rudimentary online deathmatch and spectator modes - in the game that became known as Maze War.
From there, we go on a game-by-game journey through the genre, reintroducing you to the beloved classics you grew up playing and highlighting the lesser-known pioneering titles you may have never heard of before.
Here are a few of our favorite parts:
BFG: Big F***ing Games
All four id Software founders, John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack share stories about the early days of the company, taking a deep dive into the making of classics such as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake.
They are joined by fellow id Software alumni, including Sandy Petersen and American McGee, as well as publisher Apogee Software’s founder Scott Miller and others, who each add their own insights.
Don’t miss:
- John Romero shares the exciting moment when Doom's level design and aesthetic crystallized in a way that guaranteed it would become an evolutionary leap beyond Wolfenstein 3D.
- John Carmack speaks candidly about the challenge Quake's true-3D engine posed for him, going into detail on the obstacles he faced bringing it to life, and how this impacted the team.
License to Kill
Karl Hilton and Brett Jones reminisce about making the hit GoldenEye on N64, discussing level design, the extensive use of motion capture, and, of course, the split-screen multiplayer - which was completely unplanned.
Don’t miss:
- Hilton and Jones discuss how Nintendo cautioned studios against making first-person shooters for the Nintendo 64, claiming the hardware wouldn't be up to the task - and the design hacks the Rare team used to prove them wrong.
- The team’s reaction to Shigero Miyamoto’s feedback to make the game ‘nicer’ - including the suggestion to have the player shake hands with enemies in the hospital at the end of the game!
“I Need a Weapon”
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto, writer and cinematic director Joseph Staten, and designer Jaime Griesemer are joined by “Father of the Xbox” Seamus Blackley and former Microsoft Game Studios VP Ed Fries as they discuss the creation of the original Xbox and the enduring legacy of its most important game.
Don’t miss:
- Seamus Blackley shares how he thought he was going to be fired from the Xbox project after Bill Gates’ initial reaction to their plans, and his amazement at the support Bill went on to give the project.
- Halo designer Jaime Griesemer remembers the email from Bungie co-founder Jason Jones claiming the firepower of Halo's pistol in multiplayer had been increased by approximately 25%, only to discover it was much (much, much) more powerful, as anyone who's been sniped from all the way across Blood Gulch can attest!
…And Much Much More
At more than four hours long, First Person Shooter hits harder than a Brute Chieftain's gravity hammer on Halo 2's Legendary difficulty, featuring 45+ experts who each add their own stories and insights. Check out the Full Cast tab to see them all (scroll down if you’re on mobile).
Our format lets you view the movie on your terms: binge the four-and-a-half-hour runtime in one go, or dip in and out using chapter breaks that let you get right to the stories you're looking forward to the most.
Don’t miss:
- Quake III designer Tim Willits and Unreal Tournament designer Cliff Bleszinski go head-to-head on their respective arena shooters
- Warren Spector discusses the importance of immersion, storytelling, and emergent gameplay in System Shock and Deus Ex.
- Early Mac FPS games get their due credit as creator David Alan Smith discusses Colony and Bungie members Joseph Staten and Marcus Lehto recall Marathon and its influence on Halo.
- Greg Thompson and Dave Lebling, two of the co-authors of Maze War, share their stories about creating the industry's true first FPS decades before Hovertank, Catacomb 3-D, and Wolfenstein 3D.
- The irrepressible Jon St. John shares his stories from his time voicing Duke Nukem.
As we relive these iconic gaming moments through the stories of their creators, you will learn about:
- How the industry transitioned from “Doom clones” to arena shooters to military shooters and back again, culminating in a return to 90s-style games such as Dusk, Ion Fury, and Prodeus.
- The evolution of gameplay design and mechanics, including innovations such as free aiming, regenerating health, interactive cutscenes, dual-wielding, and more.
- How groundbreaking technological milestones - such as online multiplayer deathmatch and the rise of FPS on consoles - drove huge advances in design and graphics.
- The incredible worldbuilding and level design that led to the creation of immersive worlds from dystopian cyberpunk cities to alien planets.
- The huge contribution of modding and total conversions to the genre, from Aliens TC to Team Fortress and Counter-Strike, as well as the modding tools that made these and other creations possible.
- How LAN parties grew from college dorms and internet cafes to the earliest days of QuakeCon, laying the foundations for the growing eSports scene.
First Person Shooter was made possible through the support of thousands of FPS fans, as well as the developers, designers and industry experts who shared their stories and insights with us.
Order your digital edition now for immediate delivery. Your digital bundle will also include official soundtrack, PDF booklet, and 3 desktop backgrounds!
Digital Delivery
Digital delivery of your download link should be near immediate, although you will then need to download your copy of the film. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting support.
Small Print
In order to ensure you receive information about your order by email, please whitelist no-reply@creatorvc.com, codes@creatorvc.com, orders@creatorvc.com and no-reply@royalmail.com to ensure you can receive our emails.
"Required Viewing For Any Fans of The Genre" Shacknews
"The ULTIMATE video game documentary... a must-see for all gamers" WASD & Beyond podcast
"Fascinating From Beginning to End" MadLittlePixel:
"Crammed with Entertainment" Boomstick Gaming Review (5/5):
"A Treasure Trove of Information if You're Interested in the Genre's Early Days" TheGamer
"Magnificent!" Reload Magazine (5/5)
"A Love Letter To The Genre" Neowin
"As Entertaining As It Is Informative (And Violent)" Under the Mayo
"An Entertaining and Insightful Exploration of the Genre" Time Extension
"The Most Comprehensive Look at the First-Person Shooter Space" Comic Book Video Games
"Packs More Punch Than a Full-Charge BFG" Fusion R Gamer (9/10)
"An All-In-One FPS Bible" Emuglx (10/10)
Across the four-hours-plus runtime, you’ll hear from the largest cast of FPS industry legends ever assembled:
Find out a little about us below. If you are a member of the press or an influencer, scroll down to find links to our press kit and information on how to request a review copy.
Our Team
We are a remote team based across the U.S., Europe, and Australia who have come together around a shared love of creating great content and a deep appreciation for the FPS games we grew up with:
David L. Craddock, Director/Writer/Producer: David is the bestselling author of over 20 nonfiction books about how games are made and the people who make them. His most well-known works include Rocket Jump: Quake and the Golden Age of First-Person Shooters at Shacknews, and the Stay Awhile and Listen trilogy recounting the making of the Diablo, WarCraft, and StarCraft franchises.
Chris Stratton, Director/Editor: Chris is a passionate and experienced filmmaker. His experience includes producing films for big brands (such as Superdry, Dyson & Nike) and music videos for BMG. He has worked on two critically-acclaimed documentaries as cinematographer and editor and is currently in post-production on another two. This documentary is to be his exciting directorial debut.
Robin Block, Executive Producer: Robin is the founder of CREATORVC, the world’s most successful crowdfunded entertainment company. His credits as Executive Producer/Creator include In Search of the Last Action Heroes, In Search of Darkness 1, 2 & 3, and In Search of Tomorrow. He really loves Halo.
Richard Moss, Producer & Writer: Besides writing an 8,000-word history of the FPS genre for Ars Technica, Richard has contributed hundreds of articles across a variety of gaming publications, including Gamasutra, Polygon, EGM, and many others. He's also the author of The Secret History of Mac Gaming and Shareware Heroes: The Renegades Who Redefined Gaming at the Dawn of the Internet, and he creates the games history podcast The Life & Times of Video Games.
James Evans, Producer: Commercial Advisor
Dominic Wallis, Associate Producer: Social Media
Samuel Way, Associate Producer: Creative Consultant
Clayton Benge, Creative Director: Art for Marketing & Product Design
Matt Cater, Music Producer: Composer
Press Kit & Partnerships
If you are a member of the press or an influencer, you can access our press kit here and request a review copy of the documentary here.
For business inquiries, including corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact robin(@)creatorvc.com
How large is the download?
15 Gigabytes
My payment was declined, what should I do?
Our payments system is hosted by Shopify, the world’s number one ecommerce platform. If you are having problems making a payment we are unable to assist. Please contact your card issuer/bank and ask them to accept the transaction.
Do You Accept International Orders?
Yes. We offer shipping worldwide to most countries, and accept most currencies through our secure payment processing system. Although payments are processed in U.S. Dollars, you will see the equivalent charge in your currency on your bank or credit card statement.
Will the Documentary Have Subtitles?
Yes, English and Spanish
When Will I Receive My Copy?
Digital delivery of your download link should be near immediate, although you will then need to download your copy of the film. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting support.
What is Your Refund Policy?
Digital downloads are not eligible for refunds.
Do you have a Discord?
My Question Isn’t Answered Here
Please submit a ticket on our support portal
-
Available to download and watch today: First Person Shooter is a four-hour-plus celebration of the FPS genre featuring the legendary developers and artists behind your favorite games.
Reviewers are calling it "Required viewing for any fans of the genre" (Shacknews), "A treasure trove of information" (TheGamer), and "The ULTIMATE video game documentary… a must-see for all gamers!" (WASD & Beyond podcast).
Join us on a nostalgic journey through 50 years of FPS history, from the genre’s humble beginnings through to the present day, exploring the creation, impact, and legacy of a wide range of genre-defining classics from Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and GoldenEye, to Half-Life, Halo, and beyond.
![Digital Bundle]()
Along the way, you’ll hear from John Carmack and John Romero sharing stories from id Software’s early days, Cliff Bleszinski on Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Warren Spector on System Shock and Deus Ex, Marcus Lehto and Joseph Staten on Halo, and many more, each weighing in not only on their own projects, but also on other games that inspired them.
Secure your digital edition today for instant access. This exclusive bundle comes with the official soundtrack, a detailed PDF booklet, and three stunning desktop wallpapers.
Synopsis & Cast
Beginning in the 1970s, First Person Shooter takes you back to the earliest days of the genre, when a group of high-school students went from building simple 3D mazes to creating the first vital building blocks of the genre - including rudimentary online deathmatch and spectator modes - in the game that became known as Maze War.
From there, we go on a game-by-game journey through the genre, reintroducing you to the beloved classics you grew up playing and highlighting the lesser-known pioneering titles you may have never heard of before.
Here are a few of our favorite parts:
BFG: Big F***ing Games
All four id Software founders, John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack share stories about the early days of the company, taking a deep dive into the making of classics such as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake.
![Feature Image Carmack]()
They are joined by fellow id Software alumni, including Sandy Petersen and American McGee, as well as publisher Apogee Software’s founder Scott Miller and others, who each add their own insights.
Don’t miss:
- John Romero shares the exciting moment when Doom's level design and aesthetic crystallized in a way that guaranteed it would become an evolutionary leap beyond Wolfenstein 3D.
- John Carmack speaks candidly about the challenge Quake's true-3D engine posed for him, going into detail on the obstacles he faced bringing it to life, and how this impacted the team.
![Feature Image Romero]()
License to Kill
Karl Hilton and Brett Jones reminisce about making the hit GoldenEye on N64, discussing level design, the extensive use of motion capture, and, of course, the split-screen multiplayer - which was completely unplanned.
Don’t miss:
- Hilton and Jones discuss how Nintendo cautioned studios against making first-person shooters for the Nintendo 64, claiming the hardware wouldn't be up to the task - and the design hacks the Rare team used to prove them wrong.
- The team’s reaction to Shigero Miyamoto’s feedback to make the game ‘nicer’ - including the suggestion to have the player shake hands with enemies in the hospital at the end of the game!
![Feature Image Hilton]()
“I Need a Weapon”
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto, writer and cinematic director Joseph Staten, and designer Jaime Griesemer are joined by “Father of the Xbox” Seamus Blackley and former Microsoft Game Studios VP Ed Fries as they discuss the creation of the original Xbox and the enduring legacy of its most important game.
Don’t miss:
- Seamus Blackley shares how he thought he was going to be fired from the Xbox project after Bill Gates’ initial reaction to their plans, and his amazement at the support Bill went on to give the project.
- Halo designer Jaime Griesemer remembers the email from Bungie co-founder Jason Jones claiming the firepower of Halo's pistol in multiplayer had been increased by approximately 25%, only to discover it was much (much, much) more powerful, as anyone who's been sniped from all the way across Blood Gulch can attest!
![Feature Imgage Lehto]()
…And Much Much More
At more than four hours long, First Person Shooter hits harder than a Brute Chieftain's gravity hammer on Halo 2's Legendary difficulty, featuring 45+ experts who each add their own stories and insights. Check out the Full Cast tab to see them all (scroll down if you’re on mobile).
![Feature Image Spector]()
Our format lets you view the movie on your terms: binge the four-and-a-half-hour runtime in one go, or dip in and out using chapter breaks that let you get right to the stories you're looking forward to the most.
Don’t miss:
- Quake III designer Tim Willits and Unreal Tournament designer Cliff Bleszinski go head-to-head on their respective arena shooters
- Warren Spector discusses the importance of immersion, storytelling, and emergent gameplay in System Shock and Deus Ex.
- Early Mac FPS games get their due credit as creator David Alan Smith discusses Colony and Bungie members Joseph Staten and Marcus Lehto recall Marathon and its influence on Halo.
- Greg Thompson and Dave Lebling, two of the co-authors of Maze War, share their stories about creating the industry's true first FPS decades before Hovertank, Catacomb 3-D, and Wolfenstein 3D.
- The irrepressible Jon St. John shares his stories from his time voicing Duke Nukem.
![Feature Image CliffB]()
As we relive these iconic gaming moments through the stories of their creators, you will learn about:
- How the industry transitioned from “Doom clones” to arena shooters to military shooters and back again, culminating in a return to 90s-style games such as Dusk, Ion Fury, and Prodeus.
- The evolution of gameplay design and mechanics, including innovations such as free aiming, regenerating health, interactive cutscenes, dual-wielding, and more.
- How groundbreaking technological milestones - such as online multiplayer deathmatch and the rise of FPS on consoles - drove huge advances in design and graphics.
![Feature Image Oshry]()
- The incredible worldbuilding and level design that led to the creation of immersive worlds from dystopian cyberpunk cities to alien planets.
- The huge contribution of modding and total conversions to the genre, from Aliens TC to Team Fortress and Counter-Strike, as well as the modding tools that made these and other creations possible.
- How LAN parties grew from college dorms and internet cafes to the earliest days of QuakeCon, laying the foundations for the growing eSports scene.
![Feature Image Cook]()
First Person Shooter was made possible through the support of thousands of FPS fans, as well as the developers, designers and industry experts who shared their stories and insights with us.
Order your digital edition now for immediate delivery. Your digital bundle will also include official soundtrack, PDF booklet, and 3 desktop backgrounds!
![Feature Image Miller]()
Digital Delivery
Digital delivery of your download link should be near immediate, although you will then need to download your copy of the film. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting support.
Small Print
In order to ensure you receive information about your order by email, please whitelist no-reply@creatorvc.com, codes@creatorvc.com, orders@creatorvc.com and no-reply@royalmail.com to ensure you can receive our emails.
-
"Required Viewing For Any Fans of The Genre" Shacknews
"The ULTIMATE video game documentary... a must-see for all gamers" WASD & Beyond podcast
"Fascinating From Beginning to End" MadLittlePixel:
"Crammed with Entertainment" Boomstick Gaming Review (5/5):
"A Treasure Trove of Information if You're Interested in the Genre's Early Days" TheGamer
"Magnificent!" Reload Magazine (5/5)
"A Love Letter To The Genre" Neowin
"As Entertaining As It Is Informative (And Violent)" Under the Mayo
"An Entertaining and Insightful Exploration of the Genre" Time Extension
"The Most Comprehensive Look at the First-Person Shooter Space" Comic Book Video Games
"Packs More Punch Than a Full-Charge BFG" Fusion R Gamer (9/10)
"An All-In-One FPS Bible" Emuglx (10/10)
-
Across the four-hours-plus runtime, you’ll hear from the largest cast of FPS industry legends ever assembled:
![John Carmack]()
![John Romero]()
![Tom Hall]()
![Adrian Carmack]()
![Petersen, McGee, Wilson]()
![Jaquays, Heineman, Willits]()
![Kushner, Fisher]()
![Cliff Bleszinski]()
![Warren Spector]()
![Veevaert, Walker, L Bleszinski]()
![Randy Pitchford]()
![Scott Miller]()
![Gray, Atkins, John]()
![Schreiber, Silverman]()
![Marcu Lehto]()
![Joseph Staten]()
![Griesemer, Blackley, Fries]()
![Smith, Upton, Cook]()
![Amy Valkyrie]()
![Dennis Thresh Fong]()
![Randy N0M4D]()
![-Lahti, Fairhurst, Kick]()
![Rolfe, G-Man]()
![Dave Oshry]()
![Dave Lebling]()
![Karl Hilton]()
![Isaac, Jones, Orkin]()
![Thompson, Orkin]()
-
Find out a little about us below. If you are a member of the press or an influencer, scroll down to find links to our press kit and information on how to request a review copy.
Our Team
We are a remote team based across the U.S., Europe, and Australia who have come together around a shared love of creating great content and a deep appreciation for the FPS games we grew up with:
David L. Craddock, Director/Writer/Producer: David is the bestselling author of over 20 nonfiction books about how games are made and the people who make them. His most well-known works include Rocket Jump: Quake and the Golden Age of First-Person Shooters at Shacknews, and the Stay Awhile and Listen trilogy recounting the making of the Diablo, WarCraft, and StarCraft franchises.
Chris Stratton, Director/Editor: Chris is a passionate and experienced filmmaker. His experience includes producing films for big brands (such as Superdry, Dyson & Nike) and music videos for BMG. He has worked on two critically-acclaimed documentaries as cinematographer and editor and is currently in post-production on another two. This documentary is to be his exciting directorial debut.
Robin Block, Executive Producer: Robin is the founder of CREATORVC, the world’s most successful crowdfunded entertainment company. His credits as Executive Producer/Creator include In Search of the Last Action Heroes, In Search of Darkness 1, 2 & 3, and In Search of Tomorrow. He really loves Halo.
Richard Moss, Producer & Writer: Besides writing an 8,000-word history of the FPS genre for Ars Technica, Richard has contributed hundreds of articles across a variety of gaming publications, including Gamasutra, Polygon, EGM, and many others. He's also the author of The Secret History of Mac Gaming and Shareware Heroes: The Renegades Who Redefined Gaming at the Dawn of the Internet, and he creates the games history podcast The Life & Times of Video Games.
James Evans, Producer: Commercial Advisor
Dominic Wallis, Associate Producer: Social Media
Samuel Way, Associate Producer: Creative Consultant
Clayton Benge, Creative Director: Art for Marketing & Product Design
Matt Cater, Music Producer: Composer
Press Kit & Partnerships
If you are a member of the press or an influencer, you can access our press kit here and request a review copy of the documentary here.
For business inquiries, including corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact robin(@)creatorvc.com
![reviews press]()
-
How large is the download?
15 Gigabytes
My payment was declined, what should I do?
Our payments system is hosted by Shopify, the world’s number one ecommerce platform. If you are having problems making a payment we are unable to assist. Please contact your card issuer/bank and ask them to accept the transaction.
Do You Accept International Orders?
Yes. We offer shipping worldwide to most countries, and accept most currencies through our secure payment processing system. Although payments are processed in U.S. Dollars, you will see the equivalent charge in your currency on your bank or credit card statement.
Will the Documentary Have Subtitles?
Yes, English and Spanish
When Will I Receive My Copy?
Digital delivery of your download link should be near immediate, although you will then need to download your copy of the film. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting support.
What is Your Refund Policy?
Digital downloads are not eligible for refunds.
Do you have a Discord?
My Question Isn’t Answered Here
Please submit a ticket on our support portal
