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An '''Easter egg''' is a message that is hidden or otherwise not immediately evident and is meant to amuse players and often used by the designers to refer to influences, development jokes, pet characters, previous works, or preferences.
 
An '''Easter egg''' is a message that is hidden or otherwise not immediately evident and is meant to amuse players and often used by the designers to refer to influences, development jokes, pet characters, previous works, or preferences.
  
==Doom==
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== Doom ==
 
===Swastika===
 
===Swastika===
[[Image:E1M4 Swastika.png|thumb|Swastika in [[E1M4: Command Control (Doom)|E1M4]]]]
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[[File:E1M4 Swastika.png|thumb|Swastika in [[E1M4: Command Control (Doom)|E1M4]]]]
In released versions of Doom prior to [[Versions of Doom and Doom II#v1.4|v1.4]], [[E1M4: Command Control (Doom)|E1M4: Command Control]] contained a swastika design on the floor of one room, meant as an homage to [[Wolfenstein 3D]]. Alpha versions of this level, dated April 2 and May 22, 1993, included the same room, but did not have the swastika design. [http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/yadex/historic.html] The swastika was removed in v1.4 of Doom. While the presence of a swastika would have caused Doom to be banned in Germany (where the display of Nazi iconography in video games {{wp|Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a|was illegal}}, regardless of context), and not just restricted to adults due to the game's graphic violence, according to developer [[John Romero]], the symbol was removed after an objection to its presence was sent to him by a veteran of {{wp|World War II}}.{{cite web|author=IGN|title=We Play Doom With John Romero|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUU7_BthBWM&t=43m47s|publication=YouTube|publishdate=10 December 2013|accessdate=18 September 2015}}
+
In released versions of Doom prior to [[Versions of Doom and Doom II#v1.4|v1.4]], [[E1M4: Command Control (Doom)|E1M4: Command Control]] contained a swastika design on the floor of one room, meant as an homage to ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]''. Alpha versions of this level, dated April 2 and May 22, 1993, included the same room, but did not have the swastika design. [http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/yadex/historic.html] The swastika was removed in v1.4 of Doom. While the presence of a swastika would have caused Doom to be banned in Germany (where the display of Nazi iconography in video games {{wp|Strafgesetzbuch section 86a|was illegal}}, regardless of context), and not just restricted to adults due to the game's graphic violence, according to developer [[John Romero]], the symbol was removed after an objection to its presence was sent to him by a veteran of {{wp|World War II}}.{{cite web|author=IGN|title=We Play Doom With John Romero|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUU7_BthBWM&t=43m47s|publication=YouTube|publishdate=10 December 2013|accessdate=18 September 2015}}
  
 
===Cheats===
 
===Cheats===
 
Most of the [[Doom cheat codes|cheat codes]] in Doom contain or otherwise trigger easter eggs as part of their name or function:
 
Most of the [[Doom cheat codes|cheat codes]] in Doom contain or otherwise trigger easter eggs as part of their name or function:
* '''idchoppers''' references a game ''Choppers'', created by a friend of Dave Taylor's for a state programming contest. The message "Doesn't suck - GM" is a reference to his friend's defensiveness over the game being "not quite finished" at the time of its release.
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* {{c|idchoppers}} references a game ''Choppers'', created by a friend of Dave Taylor's for a state programming contest. The message "Doesn't suck - GM" is a reference to his friend's defensiveness over the game being "not quite finished" at the time of its release.
* '''iddt''', besides consisting of [[Dave Taylor]]'s initials, also causes those initials to appear as part of the player arrow on the [[automap]].
+
* {{c|iddt}}, besides consisting of [[Dave Taylor]]'s initials, also causes those initials to appear as part of the player arrow on the [[automap]].
* '''iddqd''' forms a reference to DQD, a supposed college fraternity called Delta-Q-Delta, for programmers which could only be joined by having at least one "Q", a common grade assigned for dropped courses, on one's transcript.
+
* {{c|iddqd}} forms a reference to DQD, a supposed college fraternity called Delta-Q-Delta, for programmers which could only be joined by having at least one "Q", a common grade assigned for dropped courses, on one's transcript.
* '''idspispopd''' is a reference to the [[SPISPOPD]] phenomenon which arose on [[Usenet groups|Usenet]] before Doom's release.
+
* {{c|idspispopd}} is a reference to the [[SPISPOPD]] phenomenon which arose on [[Usenet groups|Usenet]] before Doom's release.
  
 
===NIN Reference===
 
===NIN Reference===
[[Image:E4M1_NIN_easter_egg.png|thumb|NIN reference in ''[[Ultimate Doom]]'']]
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[[File:E4M1_NIN_easter_egg.png|thumb|NIN reference in ''[[Ultimate Doom]]'']]
[[E4M1: Hell Beneath (Doom)#Walkthrough|E4M1: Hell Beneath]] includes the letters "NIИ" in a secret area of the level, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Nine Inch Nails|Nine Inch Nails]], the American industrial rock band.<ref>http://www.gamers.org/games/quake/quaketalk.txt</ref> This was included by designer [[American McGee]], who was a fan of the band. id Software's next game, [[Quake]], would feature sound and music by the band's frontman, [[Trent Reznor]]. Additionally, ammunition for the nail-gun and super nail-gun (a crate of nails) would be inscribed with "NIИ" on each of its faces. The easter egg is notably absent from the version of the level used by the [[Sony PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]] ports.
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[[E4M1: Hell Beneath (Doom)#Walkthrough|E4M1: Hell Beneath]] includes the letters "NIИ" in a secret area of the level, a reference to {{wp|Nine Inch Nails}}, the American industrial rock band.<ref>http://www.gamers.org/games/quake/quaketalk.txt</ref> This was included by designer [[American McGee]], who was a fan of the band. id Software's next game, ''[[Quake]]'', would feature sound and music by the band's frontman, [[Trent Reznor]]. Additionally, ammunition for the nail-gun and super nail-gun (a crate of nails) would be inscribed with "NIИ" on each of its faces. The easter egg is notably absent from the version of the level used by the [[Sony PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]] ports.
  
==Doom II==
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== Doom II ==
 
+
[[File:Romero head.PNG|thumb|John Romero's head on a stick]]
[[Image:Romero head.PNG|thumb|John Romero's head on a stick]]
 
  
 
===Romero's head===
 
===Romero's head===
In [[MAP30: Icon of Sin (Doom II)|MAP30: Icon of Sin]], after the player teleports into the huge room with the head of the [[final boss]], a strange, unintelligible noise is played. This is stored in the Doom2 wad file as DSBOSSIT, and if reversed it becomes a voice saying "To win the game, you must kill me, [[John Romero]]". The voice is shifted down in pitch and is that of John Romero himself.
+
In [[MAP30: Icon of Sin (Doom II)|MAP30: Icon of Sin]], after the player teleports into the huge room with the head of the [[final boss]], a strange, unintelligible noise is played. This is stored in the [[IWAD]] file as {{c|DSBOSSIT}}, and if reversed it becomes a voice saying "To win the game, you must kill me, [[John Romero]]". The voice is shifted down in pitch and is that of John Romero himself.
  
 
In the same level, [[Romero's head|John Romero's severed head on a stick]] features as the main boss creature, although the head is hidden behind the face of the final boss, and can only be approached with the [[Doom cheat codes|noclip]] cheat. The player must indeed kill it in order to win the game.
 
In the same level, [[Romero's head|John Romero's severed head on a stick]] features as the main boss creature, although the head is hidden behind the face of the final boss, and can only be approached with the [[Doom cheat codes|noclip]] cheat. The player must indeed kill it in order to win the game.
  
 
===Secret levels===
 
===Secret levels===
The secret maps, [[MAP31: Wolfenstein (Doom II)|MAP31: Wolfenstein]] and [[MAP32: Grosse (Doom II)|MAP32: Grosse]], resemble E1L1 and E1L9 from [[Wolfenstein 3D]].  
+
The secret maps, [[MAP31: Wolfenstein (Doom II)|MAP31: Wolfenstein]] and [[MAP32: Grosse (Doom II)|MAP32: Grosse]], resemble E1L1 and E1L9 from ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]''.  
 
Both levels include Wolfenstein textures and [[SS Nazi]]s that attack the player.  
 
Both levels include Wolfenstein textures and [[SS Nazi]]s that attack the player.  
 
In MAP31, SS Nazis take the place of soldiers and [[Demon]]s are found in place of the dogs.
 
In MAP31, SS Nazis take the place of soldiers and [[Demon]]s are found in place of the dogs.
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In the last room in MAP32 there are four [[Commander Keen]]s hanging on ropes. They must be killed in order to exit the level.
 
In the last room in MAP32 there are four [[Commander Keen]]s hanging on ropes. They must be killed in order to exit the level.
  
In the text screen before MAP32, the message "You'd better blaze through this one!" is displayed; Billy Blaze is [[Wikipedia:Commander Keen|Commander Keen]]'s real name.
+
In the text screen before MAP32, the message "You'd better blaze through this one!" is displayed; Billy Blaze is {{wp|Commander Keen}}'s real name.
  
 
===No Rest for the Living===
 
===No Rest for the Living===
In the Doom II expansion [[No Rest for the Living]], first released as part of the [[XBLA]] version in {{timeline|2010}}, the first map contains a secret message "THE CASTLE WAS HERE" which is almost impossible to find under normal circumstances, as it becomes invisible 30 seconds after the beginning of the level. Directions on how to find it can be found [[MAP01: The Earth Base (No Rest for the Living)#Other_points_of_interest|here]]. It is a reference to the map's author, [[Russell Meakim (TheCastle)]].
+
In the Doom II expansion [[No Rest for the Living]], first released as part of the [[XBLA]] version in {{timeline|2010}}, the first map contains a secret message "THE CASTLE WAS HERE" which is almost impossible to find under normal circumstances, as it becomes invisible 30 seconds after the beginning of the level. Directions on how to find it can be found [[MAP01: The Earth Base (No Rest for the Living)#Other points of interest|here]]. It is a reference to the map's author, [[Russell Meakim (TheCastle)]].
 
 
==Final Doom==
 
  
 +
== Final Doom ==
 
Two of the wall textures in [[Team TNT]]'s ''[[TNT: Evilution]]'', CR64HBRM and METAL-RM, have large blood stains which spell the name "Romero", a reference to [[John Romero]].
 
Two of the wall textures in [[Team TNT]]'s ''[[TNT: Evilution]]'', CR64HBRM and METAL-RM, have large blood stains which spell the name "Romero", a reference to [[John Romero]].
  
 
There is a hidden room in [[MAP17: Processing Area (TNT: Evilution)|MAP17: Processing Area]] next to the room containing the blue [[key]] that can only be accessed by using the [[Doom cheat codes|noclip cheat]]. Several [[Demon]]s are inside and will [[teleport]] out once the key is collected. In this room the player can see "[[Tom Mustaine|Tom]]" and "[[Nine Inch Nails|NIИ]]" in large, glowing blue letters on the north and south walls respectively.
 
There is a hidden room in [[MAP17: Processing Area (TNT: Evilution)|MAP17: Processing Area]] next to the room containing the blue [[key]] that can only be accessed by using the [[Doom cheat codes|noclip cheat]]. Several [[Demon]]s are inside and will [[teleport]] out once the key is collected. In this room the player can see "[[Tom Mustaine|Tom]]" and "[[Nine Inch Nails|NIИ]]" in large, glowing blue letters on the north and south walls respectively.
  
==Console games==
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== Console games ==
 
===Super NES===
 
===Super NES===
 
[[File:SNES Easter egg.png|thumb|right|Secret message visible on the sky texture.]]
 
[[File:SNES Easter egg.png|thumb|right|Secret message visible on the sky texture.]]
In the [[Super NES]] port of the game, at the bottom of the [[Knee-Deep in the Dead]] sky texture is a message reading, "Randy Linden ♥ Jodi Harvey." This can only be seen if the player looks inside the ROM's graphical resources, or uses a [[Wikipedia:Action Replay|Pro Action Replay]] code that allows walking through walls in areas where the sky is visible.
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In the [[Super NES]] port of the game, at the bottom of the [[Knee-Deep in the Dead]] sky texture is a message reading, "Randy Linden ♥ Jodi Harvey." This can only be seen if the player looks inside the ROM's graphical resources, or uses a {{wp|Action Replay|Pro Action Replay}} code that allows walking through walls in areas where the sky is visible.
  
Within the ROM itself, a hidden message can be found which reads, "Rage/Reality Engine written by Randy Linden. Special thanks to my loving wife, Jodi Harvey." It can only be found if the ROM file is opened in a hex editor, and is found at position 10E (270 in decimal).
+
Within the ROM itself, a hidden message can be found which reads, "Rage/Reality Engine written by Randy Linden. Special thanks to my loving wife, Jodi Harvey." It can only be found if the ROM file is opened in a hex editor, and is found at position 10E (270 in decimal).
  
 
===Sony PlayStation===
 
===Sony PlayStation===
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===Doom 64===
 
===Doom 64===
 
 
In [[Doom 64]], if a player dies and waits several seconds, messages will start to appear at the top of the screen every once in a while, usually taunting the player (e.g. "HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!", "LOOK AT THOSE DEMON FEET!", etc.).
 
In [[Doom 64]], if a player dies and waits several seconds, messages will start to appear at the top of the screen every once in a while, usually taunting the player (e.g. "HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!", "LOOK AT THOSE DEMON FEET!", etc.).
  
==Doom RPG==
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== Doom RPG ==
 
: ''See [[Entrance (Doom RPG)#Secrets]] and [[Geek culture references in Doom RPG]].''
 
: ''See [[Entrance (Doom RPG)#Secrets]] and [[Geek culture references in Doom RPG]].''
  
==Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders==
+
== Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders ==
 
 
 
Attempting to use some of the [[Doom cheat codes|cheat codes]] from Doom and Doom II in Heretic has negative effects on the player:
 
Attempting to use some of the [[Doom cheat codes|cheat codes]] from Doom and Doom II in Heretic has negative effects on the player:
 +
* {{c|iddqd}} results in instant death with the message "trying to cheat, eh? Now you DIE!"
 +
* {{c|idkfa}} takes away all the player's weapons, except the staff with the message "Cheater - you don't deserve weapons!"
  
* <tt sab="861">iddqd</tt> results in instant death with the message "trying to cheat, eh? Now you DIE!"
+
== Hexen: Beyond Heretic ==
* <tt sab="863">idkfa</tt> takes away all the player's weapons, except the staff with the message "Cheater - you don't deserve weapons!"
 
 
 
==Hexen: Beyond Heretic==
 
 
* Like the ''Heretic'' Easter egg, in the demo version of ''Hexen'' the [[Heretic cheat codes|cheat codes]] from ''Heretic'' in ''Hexen'' has negative effects on the player:
 
* Like the ''Heretic'' Easter egg, in the demo version of ''Hexen'' the [[Heretic cheat codes|cheat codes]] from ''Heretic'' in ''Hexen'' has negative effects on the player:
:*<tt>quicken</tt> results in instant death.
+
** {{c|quicken}} results in instant death.
 
+
** {{c|rambo}} takes away all the player's weapons.
:*<tt>rambo</tt> takes away all the player's weapons.
+
* The first hub's secret level [[Hub 1: Bright Crucible|Bright Crucible]] features a [[Item#Puzzle items|puzzle]] involving the ''Heart of D'Sparil''. [[D'Sparil]] was the final boss in ''[[Heretic]]''.
 
+
* If the player stays in-game for five whole days, the message "you freak!!!" will appear beneath the timer on the automap screen.{{cite web|author=The Cutting Room Floor|title=|url=[[tcrf:Hexen (DOS)#Hidden Message|Hexen (DOS)]]|accessdate=1 February 2024}}
* The first hub's secret level [[Hub 1: Bright Crucible|Bright Crucible]] features a [[Item#Puzzle_items|puzzle]] involving the ''Heart of D'Sparil''. [[D'Sparil]] was the final boss in ''[[Heretic]]''.
 
 
 
==Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel==
 
  
 +
== Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel ==
 
* In the [[Hub 2: Locus Requiescat|Locus Requiescat]] level, the larger tombstones which have the game developers' names written on them will give funny messages from the developers if "used" by the player.
 
* In the [[Hub 2: Locus Requiescat|Locus Requiescat]] level, the larger tombstones which have the game developers' names written on them will give funny messages from the developers if "used" by the player.
 +
* The sky lights in the start room of the [[Hub 2: Market Place|Market Place]] are vaguely in the shape of the starship {{wp|USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS Enterprise}} from the {{wp|Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek TV series}}.
  
* The sky lights in the start room of the [[Hub 2: Market Place‎|Market Place]] are vaguely in the shape of the starship {{wp|USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS Enterprise}} from the {{wp|Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek TV series}}.
+
== Strife: Quest for the Sigil ==
 
 
==Strife: Quest for the Sigil==
 
 
 
 
There is a sound wave in VOICES.WAD named SUR4A1 that sounds like a bunch of people yelling "surprise!!".
 
There is a sound wave in VOICES.WAD named SUR4A1 that sounds like a bunch of people yelling "surprise!!".
  
==Chex Quest==
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== Chex Quest ==
 
[[Chex Quest]] contains many levels leftover from the original 3-episode Doom albeit trimming to 5 levels.
 
[[Chex Quest]] contains many levels leftover from the original 3-episode Doom albeit trimming to 5 levels.
  
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A secret room in E1M2 contains pictures of all the people that worked on ''Chex Quest''.
 
A secret room in E1M2 contains pictures of all the people that worked on ''Chex Quest''.
  
In ''Chex Quest 2'', E1M1 is titled HHH International Spaceport. This is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Hubert_H._Humphrey_Metrodome|HHH (Hubert H. Humphrey) Metrodome]] in [[Wikipedia:Minneapolis|Minneapolis]], [[Wikipedia:Minnesota|Minnesota]] where the [[Wikipedia:Minnesota_Vikings|Vikings]] formerly played until December 29, 2013 (it has since been demolished).
+
In ''Chex Quest 2'', E1M1 is titled HHH International Spaceport. This is a reference to the {{wp|Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|HHH (Hubert H. Humphrey) Metrodome}} in {{wp|Minneapolis}}, {{wp|Minnesota}} where the {{wp|Minnesota Vikings|Vikings}} formerly played until December 29, 2013 (it has since been demolished).
  
==Doom 3==
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== Doom 3 ==
 +
From a non-functional computer in the [[Delta Complex]] the player may download an email, apparently sent to [[Hellspawn|demons]], giving tips for successful sacrificial rituals.
  
From a nonfunctional computer in the [[Delta Complex]] the player may download an email, apparently sent to [[Hellspawn|demons]], giving tips for successful sacrificial rituals.
+
[[Primary Excavation: Artifact Dig|The last level]] contains the [[id Software]] [[PDA]] which contains special messages from the developers of the game. Immediately before entering the room with the [[Cyberdemon (Doom 3)|cyberdemon]], there is a button marked with the id Software logo. Pressing this opens a door to a secret room containing the PDA.
  
[[Primary Excavation: Artifact Dig|The last level]] contains the id [[PDA]] which contains special messages from the developers of the game. Immediately before entering the room with the [[Cyberdemon (Doom 3)|Cyberdemon]], there is a button marked with the [[id Software]] logo. Pressing this opens a door to a secret room containing the PDA.
+
===Resurrection of Evil===
 +
One of the stages of the ''[[Hellanoid]]'' arcade game resembles the classic [[imp]].
  
 
===BFG Edition===
 
===BFG Edition===
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In [[Doom 3: BFG Edition]]'s expansion ''[[The Lost Mission]]'', the final area of the [[Hell Outpost]] level just before the boss arena contains an Easter egg which refers to ''{{wp|Rage (video game)|Rage}}'', id Software's previously released title. It consists of a button with the game's logo emblazoned on it which can be pressed in order to reveal a secret cache of weapons, health, and armor.
 
In [[Doom 3: BFG Edition]]'s expansion ''[[The Lost Mission]]'', the final area of the [[Hell Outpost]] level just before the boss arena contains an Easter egg which refers to ''{{wp|Rage (video game)|Rage}}'', id Software's previously released title. It consists of a button with the game's logo emblazoned on it which can be pressed in order to reveal a secret cache of weapons, health, and armor.
  
==Microsoft Excel 95==
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== Doom (2016) ==
[[File:Hall of Tortured Souls.png|thumb|right|Hall of Tortured Souls]]
+
In the [[Kadingir Sanctum]] level, a skeleton wearing the iconic "[[uesp:Skyrim:Iron Helmet|Dragonborn helmet]]" from Skyrim (as well as [[uesp:General:Running Gags#Arrow in the Knee|an arrow in the knee]]) can be found in a small cave, behind a stone column.
In [[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]]'s [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Excel|Excel 95]] spreadsheet program (included in the [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office 95]] [[Wikipedia:Office suite|office suite]]), there is an Easter egg known as the ''Hall of Tortured Souls'', a three dimensional raycasting game engine created as an homage to ''Doom''. [http://www.eeggs.com/items/719.html] The existence of this Easter egg is one of the results of the "religion" said to have arisen on the Microsoft campus in the wake of Doom's release. <ref name="mastersofdoom">Kushner, David. [[Masters of Doom|Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture]]. Random House Publishing Group, 2003. ISBN 0-375-50524-5</ref>
 
  
==Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure==
+
===Doot===
 +
At one hour, six minutes and six seconds into the official video of the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm932Sqwf5E&t=1h6m Doom Original Soundtrack],  near the end of the track "Transistor Fist", a [[Revenant (Doom 2016)|revenant]] holding a trumpet appears, flying upwards and then disappearing while spinning around. This is a reference to the popular {{wp|internet meme}} "Skull Trumpet" that originated in 2011 from a short video of a 3D-animated skull playing a trumpet, also known as "Doot Doot" ({{wp|onomatopoeia}} of the sound the trumpet makes at the end of the video), which has since been remixed and parodied in many forms. Due to the existence of a skeleton monster in Doom in the form of the revenant, the meme was eventually adapted into the Doom community (as seen in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzPpWInAiOg this video] for example), often simply called "Doot", and has since been used as somewhat of a {{wp|running gag}} by {{wp|Video game publisher|publisher}} {{wp|Bethesda Softworks}}. The exact time at which the revenant appears in the official soundtrack video is also a reference to the {{wp|Number of the beast|Number of the Beast}}, 666.
  
In Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure, typing <tt sab="917">iddqd</tt> or <tt sab="918">idkfa</tt> shows a picture of the Pitfall staff.
+
== Doom Eternal ==
 +
[[File:DoomEternal_DoogEternal.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Doog Eternal as it appears in Doom Eternal.]]
 +
As a similar nod to the DOOT meme above, one of the invading Revenant's player with the name ''D00t76'' can be seen in the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGq8Ee2gOe4?t=10m8s official gameplay reveal] first shown at Quakecon 2018. The 76 on the tag referred to ''Fallout 76'', [[Bethesda Softworks]]' previously upcoming title in the [[falloutwiki:Fallout series|''Fallout'' series]].
  
==Doom (2016)==
+
In the [[Cultist Base]] level, there are 3 [[Dopefish]] hidden across the level: one hanging on a rope, like it was caught, another stuck in ice (disappears when ice is smashed), the last on an hidden altar.
At a certain point of the official video of the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm932Sqwf5E?t=1h6m Doom Original Soundtrack], at 1 hour, 6 minutes and 6 seconds at the near end of Transistor Fist track, a [[Revenant (Doom 2016)|revenant]] holding a trumpet will appear, flying upwards and then disappear while spinning. It its a reference of a meme associated with the Revenant photo-shopped with a trumpet as seen in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwY6kIncUtM this video] as an example, often called ''DOOT'' and later became a running gag for Bethesda Softworks. The duration of this is also a reference to the Number of the Beast, 666.
 
  
==Doom Eternal==
+
[[Daisy]], the Doomguy's pet rabbit, can be found in numerous locations, often hidden and usually out of sight.  
In the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGq8Ee2gOe4?t=10m8s official gameplay reveal in Quakecon 2018] and the gameplay reveal in E3 2019 one of the glory kills that can be performed on an [[Unwilling]] is smashing its head into its torso, and causing a squeak noise to play. This is always the first glory kill in the game (albeit taking place in the Hell on Earth level instead of the Super Gore Nest level)
 
  
As a similar nod to the DOOT meme above, one of the invading Revenant's player with the name ''D00t76'' can be seen in the same reveal. The 76 on the tag may refer to ''Fallout 76'', Bethesda Softworks' previously upcoming title of the ''Fallout'' series.
+
A reference to the Japanese Hololive v-tuber [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChAnqc_AY5_I3Px5dig3X1Q Inugami Korone] could briefly be found by accessing the runes tab in the dossier during gameplay, and then pressing the dedicated chainsaw button four times. A chainsaw rev could be heard, before the Doom Eternal logo modified to spell "Doog Eternal" would pop up for a few seconds. A video of it being performed can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHhCb9ExMfg here]. This Easter egg is added during the release of ''[[The Ancient Gods, Part One]]'' DLC. A few days later it was removed in patch 3.1.
  
The [[Fortress of Doom (Doom Eternal)|Fortress of Doom]] contains numerous [[Fortress of Doom (Doom Eternal)#Easter eggs|easter eggs]] within the Doom Slayer's personal room, many of which containing materials from earlier Doom games as well as related first person shooter games and classic literature.
+
The [[Fortress of Doom (Doom Eternal)|Fortress of Doom]] contains numerous [[Fortress of Doom (Doom Eternal)#Easter eggs|Easter eggs]] within the Doom Slayer's personal room, many of which containing materials from earlier Doom games as well as related first person shooter games and classic literature.
  
[[Daisy]], the Doomguy's pet rabbit, can be found in numerous locations, often hidden and usually out of sight.
+
== In other games ==
 +
{{Main|Doom references in other games}}
  
==See also==
+
== See also ==
 
* [[Secrets]]
 
* [[Secrets]]
 
* [[SPISPOPD]]
 
* [[SPISPOPD]]
Line 139: Line 133:
 
* [[Crossovers]]
 
* [[Crossovers]]
  
==References==
+
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  

Latest revision as of 11:48, 15 February 2024

An Easter egg is a message that is hidden or otherwise not immediately evident and is meant to amuse players and often used by the designers to refer to influences, development jokes, pet characters, previous works, or preferences.

Doom[edit]

Swastika[edit]

Swastika in E1M4

In released versions of Doom prior to v1.4, E1M4: Command Control contained a swastika design on the floor of one room, meant as an homage to Wolfenstein 3D. Alpha versions of this level, dated April 2 and May 22, 1993, included the same room, but did not have the swastika design. [1] The swastika was removed in v1.4 of Doom. While the presence of a swastika would have caused Doom to be banned in Germany (where the display of Nazi iconography in video games was illegal, regardless of context), and not just restricted to adults due to the game's graphic violence, according to developer John Romero, the symbol was removed after an objection to its presence was sent to him by a veteran of World War II.[1]

Cheats[edit]

Most of the cheat codes in Doom contain or otherwise trigger easter eggs as part of their name or function:

  • idchoppers references a game Choppers, created by a friend of Dave Taylor's for a state programming contest. The message "Doesn't suck - GM" is a reference to his friend's defensiveness over the game being "not quite finished" at the time of its release.
  • iddt, besides consisting of Dave Taylor's initials, also causes those initials to appear as part of the player arrow on the automap.
  • iddqd forms a reference to DQD, a supposed college fraternity called Delta-Q-Delta, for programmers which could only be joined by having at least one "Q", a common grade assigned for dropped courses, on one's transcript.
  • idspispopd is a reference to the SPISPOPD phenomenon which arose on Usenet before Doom's release.

NIN Reference[edit]

NIN reference in Ultimate Doom

E4M1: Hell Beneath includes the letters "NIИ" in a secret area of the level, a reference to Nine Inch Nails, the American industrial rock band.[2] This was included by designer American McGee, who was a fan of the band. id Software's next game, Quake, would feature sound and music by the band's frontman, Trent Reznor. Additionally, ammunition for the nail-gun and super nail-gun (a crate of nails) would be inscribed with "NIИ" on each of its faces. The easter egg is notably absent from the version of the level used by the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn ports.

Doom II[edit]

John Romero's head on a stick

Romero's head[edit]

In MAP30: Icon of Sin, after the player teleports into the huge room with the head of the final boss, a strange, unintelligible noise is played. This is stored in the IWAD file as DSBOSSIT, and if reversed it becomes a voice saying "To win the game, you must kill me, John Romero". The voice is shifted down in pitch and is that of John Romero himself.

In the same level, John Romero's severed head on a stick features as the main boss creature, although the head is hidden behind the face of the final boss, and can only be approached with the noclip cheat. The player must indeed kill it in order to win the game.

Secret levels[edit]

The secret maps, MAP31: Wolfenstein and MAP32: Grosse, resemble E1L1 and E1L9 from Wolfenstein 3D. Both levels include Wolfenstein textures and SS Nazis that attack the player. In MAP31, SS Nazis take the place of soldiers and Demons are found in place of the dogs.

A Cyberdemon is in the place of Hans Grösse in MAP32; the name of this map also comes from Hans Grösse's name.

In the last room in MAP32 there are four Commander Keens hanging on ropes. They must be killed in order to exit the level.

In the text screen before MAP32, the message "You'd better blaze through this one!" is displayed; Billy Blaze is Commander Keen's real name.

No Rest for the Living[edit]

In the Doom II expansion No Rest for the Living, first released as part of the XBLA version in 2010, the first map contains a secret message "THE CASTLE WAS HERE" which is almost impossible to find under normal circumstances, as it becomes invisible 30 seconds after the beginning of the level. Directions on how to find it can be found here. It is a reference to the map's author, Russell Meakim (TheCastle).

Final Doom[edit]

Two of the wall textures in Team TNT's TNT: Evilution, CR64HBRM and METAL-RM, have large blood stains which spell the name "Romero", a reference to John Romero.

There is a hidden room in MAP17: Processing Area next to the room containing the blue key that can only be accessed by using the noclip cheat. Several Demons are inside and will teleport out once the key is collected. In this room the player can see "Tom" and "NIИ" in large, glowing blue letters on the north and south walls respectively.

Console games[edit]

Super NES[edit]

Secret message visible on the sky texture.

In the Super NES port of the game, at the bottom of the Knee-Deep in the Dead sky texture is a message reading, "Randy Linden ♥ Jodi Harvey." This can only be seen if the player looks inside the ROM's graphical resources, or uses a Pro Action Replay code that allows walking through walls in areas where the sky is visible.

Within the ROM itself, a hidden message can be found which reads, "Rage/Reality Engine written by Randy Linden. Special thanks to my loving wife, Jodi Harvey." It can only be found if the ROM file is opened in a hex editor, and is found at position 10E (270 in decimal).

Sony PlayStation[edit]

Several oddities in the Sony PlayStation port of Doom are actually easter eggs, left by the Williams designers:

  • In MAP57: The Marshes, a deadly trap area with an inescapable crusher is formed out of the letters "re", which are the initials of the map's designer Randy Estrella.
  • The song "Breath Of Horror," first occurring on MAP09, contains what sounds like demons chanting or singing in low-pitched voices. If sped up 300%, the song seems to have the lyrics "Danny won. Danny won, hey." This may be a reference by Aubrey Hodges to coworker Danny Lewis (Technoman), and seems to be accompanied by the sounds of an ongoing ping pong game.
  • On the secret level MAP59: Club Doom, sectors forming the letters WDT and JRS are found far to the south-east (bottom right) of the playable area of the map. These are the initials of the play testers for the game, which included Will Shen, Danny Lewis, Tim Heydelaar, John Stookey, Randy Estrella, and Steve Kramer.

Doom 64[edit]

In Doom 64, if a player dies and waits several seconds, messages will start to appear at the top of the screen every once in a while, usually taunting the player (e.g. "HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!", "LOOK AT THOSE DEMON FEET!", etc.).

Doom RPG[edit]

See Entrance (Doom RPG)#Secrets and Geek culture references in Doom RPG.

Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders[edit]

Attempting to use some of the cheat codes from Doom and Doom II in Heretic has negative effects on the player:

  • iddqd results in instant death with the message "trying to cheat, eh? Now you DIE!"
  • idkfa takes away all the player's weapons, except the staff with the message "Cheater - you don't deserve weapons!"

Hexen: Beyond Heretic[edit]

  • Like the Heretic Easter egg, in the demo version of Hexen the cheat codes from Heretic in Hexen has negative effects on the player:
    • quicken results in instant death.
    • rambo takes away all the player's weapons.
  • The first hub's secret level Bright Crucible features a puzzle involving the Heart of D'Sparil. D'Sparil was the final boss in Heretic.
  • If the player stays in-game for five whole days, the message "you freak!!!" will appear beneath the timer on the automap screen.[3]

Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel[edit]

  • In the Locus Requiescat level, the larger tombstones which have the game developers' names written on them will give funny messages from the developers if "used" by the player.
  • The sky lights in the start room of the Market Place are vaguely in the shape of the starship USS Enterprise from the Star Trek TV series.

Strife: Quest for the Sigil[edit]

There is a sound wave in VOICES.WAD named SUR4A1 that sounds like a bunch of people yelling "surprise!!".

Chex Quest[edit]

Chex Quest contains many levels leftover from the original 3-episode Doom albeit trimming to 5 levels.

The texture CEMPOIS has a blackboard and in the bottom right-hand corner of said board, is the equation: √2 = chuck. Charles Jacobi was the Art Director/Lead Artist for Chex Quest.

A secret room in E1M2 contains pictures of all the people that worked on Chex Quest.

In Chex Quest 2, E1M1 is titled HHH International Spaceport. This is a reference to the HHH (Hubert H. Humphrey) Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the Vikings formerly played until December 29, 2013 (it has since been demolished).

Doom 3[edit]

From a non-functional computer in the Delta Complex the player may download an email, apparently sent to demons, giving tips for successful sacrificial rituals.

The last level contains the id Software PDA which contains special messages from the developers of the game. Immediately before entering the room with the cyberdemon, there is a button marked with the id Software logo. Pressing this opens a door to a secret room containing the PDA.

Resurrection of Evil[edit]

One of the stages of the Hellanoid arcade game resembles the classic imp.

BFG Edition[edit]

The Rage button.

In Doom 3: BFG Edition's expansion The Lost Mission, the final area of the Hell Outpost level just before the boss arena contains an Easter egg which refers to Rage, id Software's previously released title. It consists of a button with the game's logo emblazoned on it which can be pressed in order to reveal a secret cache of weapons, health, and armor.

Doom (2016)[edit]

In the Kadingir Sanctum level, a skeleton wearing the iconic "Dragonborn helmet" from Skyrim (as well as an arrow in the knee) can be found in a small cave, behind a stone column.

Doot[edit]

At one hour, six minutes and six seconds into the official video of the Doom Original Soundtrack, near the end of the track "Transistor Fist", a revenant holding a trumpet appears, flying upwards and then disappearing while spinning around. This is a reference to the popular internet meme "Skull Trumpet" that originated in 2011 from a short video of a 3D-animated skull playing a trumpet, also known as "Doot Doot" (onomatopoeia of the sound the trumpet makes at the end of the video), which has since been remixed and parodied in many forms. Due to the existence of a skeleton monster in Doom in the form of the revenant, the meme was eventually adapted into the Doom community (as seen in this video for example), often simply called "Doot", and has since been used as somewhat of a running gag by publisher Bethesda Softworks. The exact time at which the revenant appears in the official soundtrack video is also a reference to the Number of the Beast, 666.

Doom Eternal[edit]

Doog Eternal as it appears in Doom Eternal.

As a similar nod to the DOOT meme above, one of the invading Revenant's player with the name D00t76 can be seen in the official gameplay reveal first shown at Quakecon 2018. The 76 on the tag referred to Fallout 76, Bethesda Softworks' previously upcoming title in the Fallout series.

In the Cultist Base level, there are 3 Dopefish hidden across the level: one hanging on a rope, like it was caught, another stuck in ice (disappears when ice is smashed), the last on an hidden altar.

Daisy, the Doomguy's pet rabbit, can be found in numerous locations, often hidden and usually out of sight.

A reference to the Japanese Hololive v-tuber Inugami Korone could briefly be found by accessing the runes tab in the dossier during gameplay, and then pressing the dedicated chainsaw button four times. A chainsaw rev could be heard, before the Doom Eternal logo modified to spell "Doog Eternal" would pop up for a few seconds. A video of it being performed can be seen here. This Easter egg is added during the release of The Ancient Gods, Part One DLC. A few days later it was removed in patch 3.1.

The Fortress of Doom contains numerous Easter eggs within the Doom Slayer's personal room, many of which containing materials from earlier Doom games as well as related first person shooter games and classic literature.

In other games[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. IGN (10 December 2013). "We Play Doom With John Romero." YouTube. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. http://www.gamers.org/games/quake/quaketalk.txt
  3. The Cutting Room Floor. Hexen (DOS). Retrieved 1 February 2024.

External links[edit]