Indigenous, Award-Winning Video Game Designer, Developer & Programmer of Mixed Yaqui, Cherokee, and Mexican heritage; Known as the "Father of First-Person Shooters"
John Romero Biography
John Romero is an award-winning game designer, programmer, and creative technologist whose career spans more than 130 games and four decades of innovation. As the lead designer and a contributing programmer on Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake, Romero helped invent the first-person shooter genre and pioneered mechanics that transformed how games are played and perceived.
A self-taught developer who began coding in the late 1970s, Romero has been at the leading edge of interactive design — from shaping 3D level design and multiplayer gameplay to fueling the rise of modding, speedrunning, and user-generated content. His work didn’t just shape the game industry; it helped define a generation’s relationship with digital spaces and collaborative creation.
Romero speaks frequently on the impact of his games as well as on the intersection of games, AI, and the future of technology, as well as the increasing relevance of cybersecurity in games — where online infrastructure, player data, and creative systems must work in tandem. His insights extend to the cultural impact of digital media, and how immersive design influences behavior, identity, and community.
Now based in Ireland, Romero leads Romero Games, develops new IP, and mentors emerging creators. Forbes called Romero’s 2023 memoir "DOOM Guy" "...the best non-fiction gaming book of all time.”
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John Romero Speaking Topics
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Wolfenstein 3D Post-Mortem: Achtung!
John Romero will take the audience through the short timeline of creating this "watershed moment in gaming history," showing just how much happened during the game's development rollercoaster ride. Wolfenstein 3D showed the world that the PC could play a new kind of game that no other machine could replicate, a legacy that continues to this day.
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Quake Post-Mortem: The End of the Original id
With the release of DOOM and DOOM II, id software were masters of mayhem, riding high and unstoppable. They would soon begin work on Quake, an ambitious truly 3D FPS that would seek, once again, to redefine the state of the art. Released in 1996, Quake introduced the world to 3D mouse look, 60fps 3D texture-mapped rendering with lighting, and internet multiplayer with a client/server architecture. With its release came the birth of eSports as clans and competitions sprung up worldwide. Over twenty years later, it is still acknowledged as one of gaming’s masterworks. In this talk, id co-founder and Quake designer John Romero takes the audience through the rollercoaster that was Quake’s creation and reveals why it brought about the end of the Original id.
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How do I book John Romero to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like John Romero for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for John Romero, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for John Romero or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for John Romero
Speaking fees for John Romero, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book John Romero are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire John Romero, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does John Romero speak about?
John Romero is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Author, Computer Science, Creativity, Cybersecurity, Diversity & Inclusion, Futurism, Gaming, Indigenous Heritage, Innovation, Modern Media, Technology -
Where does John Romero travel from?
John Romero generally travels from Ireland, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is John Romero’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like John Romero for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book John Romero for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host John Romero or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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John Romero is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Wolfenstein 3D Post-Mortem: Achtung!, Quake Post-Mortem: The End of the Original id, A Lifetime in Games: The Past, Present and Future of the Game Industry, The Early Days of Id Software and The Making of DOOM: A year of ripping and tearing!. The estimated speaking fee range to book John Romero for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. John Romero generally travels from Ireland and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Brenda Louise Romero, Lisette Titre-Montgomery, Maxwell Planck, Ryan Horrigan and Ed Smith. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling John Romero for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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