It’s an ongoing joke that your tech isn’t really tech until someone figures out how to run Doom on it. The Hasselblad X2D medium-format camera is the latest hardware to see ID Software’s iconic shooter running on it. Hey, if a lawnmower can do it, why not an actual shooter?
It’s not as simple as a download onto your expensive Swedish camera‘s memory card. If that were the case, every photographer would have IDKFA and IDDQD memorised. Instead, you’ll need a (free) custom firmware that doesn’t just play Doom. It’ll also add or tweak other functions, while invalidating your warranty so hard that Gustav Vasa would resurrect just to call you an idiot.
Camera Doom
But if playing Doom on a Hasselblad X2D’s touchscreen is that important to you, it’s entirely possible. It’s part of a feature set created by GitHub user Radium Wang. The others, including “[m]enu extensions, AF-S speed research, AF-C, stock face/eye detection enablement, factory debug UI finding, object recognition, shutter animation, [and a ] transparent Shimeji overlay” are more closely related to the camera’s original purpose.
We, apparently, care more about the game. Players can control Doomguy’s movements and weapon selection within the game using the X2D’s touchscreen, but there’s one really cool feature. The camera’s shutter button also fires whatever your chosen weapon is. Hopefully that’s the BFG, but you’ll have a fair bit of playing on the camera’s 3.6in touchscreen OLED before getting that far.
Even with the attraction of a vintage game, it’s still wise to wait for Wang’s custom firmware to be completed. It’s presently “not a complete product.” Still, anything can run Doom if you’re brave enough (to risk bricking an R84,000 camera).
