The Incredible Feat of Running Doom on Def Con Attendee Badges

The highlight of this year’s Def Con event was the impressive feat of running Doom on the attendee badges. This was no easy task, considering the original code for Doom was targeted at x86 chips running DOS. Porting it to a relatively new Arm-based dual-core SoC with just 256 kB of RAM and 2 MB of flash storage required significant changes to the routines and the overall interface.

Despite the excitement over running Doom on the attendee badges, the development and manufacturing process was not without its challenges. The badge’s firmware developer, Dmitry Grinberg, was escorted from the event while giving a talk about the project. The contracted manufacturer, Entropic Engineering, also released a public statement expressing disappointment in the decisions made by the conference, particularly in terms of promised compensation and visibility.

One of the major issues that arose during the development of the badges was the missed chip pre-flashing deadline. As a result, each of the 29,770 badges had to be programmed manually by volunteers. This not only caused delays but also likely frustrated attendees who had paid a significant amount to attend the conference.

Despite the challenges faced during the development and manufacturing process of the badges, it is expected that all issues will be resolved eventually. Updated firmware will likely be released on the website for the badges, allowing attendees to fully utilize the features of their badges. In the meantime, those looking to play games on their badges can enjoy Kilograham’s Doom port as a testament to the ingenuity and programming skills showcased at Def Con.

The achievement of running Doom on the attendee badges at Def Con demonstrates the creativity and technical prowess of the hacking community. Despite the hurdles faced during the development process, the end result is a testament to the dedication and skill of those involved in the project. As attendees eagerly await the resolution of the remaining issues with the badges, the Doom port serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished through innovation and perseverance in the world of hacking and technology.