John Romero Credits Nasir Gebelli as Key Inspiration Behind DOOM and Gaming's Greatest Franchises

John Romero Credits Nasir Gebelli as Key Inspiration Behind DOOM and Gaming's Greatest Franchises In a significant acknowledgment of cross-generational influence in the gaming industry, John Romero, co-founder of id Software and co-creator of the genre-defining shooter DOOM, has publicly praised legendary programmer Nasir Gebelli for his influential work at Square (now Square Enix).

Romero’s comments followed the rare broadcast of a new interview with Gebelli on Japanese network NHK, which brought renewed attention to one of the most pivotal figures in early video game development. Romero, whose work on DOOM revolutionized first-person shooters and influenced countless titles on platforms like the Nintendo Switch, took to social media to underscore Gebelli’s impact.

He stated, 'There would be no DOOM without Nasir.

His pioneering programming inspired an entire generation of developers,' paying tribute to Gebelli’s enduring contributions to the craft.

Using the hashtag #programmedbynasir, Romero encapsulated the reverence felt by many in the industry. Nasir Gebelli’s journey through video game history began at Sirius Software and his own Gebelli Software, where he produced influential titles for the Apple II.

His talents caught the attention of Square's founder Masafumi Miyamoto and Final Fantasy's creator Hironobu Sakaguchi.

In 1986, they brought Gebelli onboard, where he played a critical role in engineering the original Final Fantasy series for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and later contributed to iconic titles like Secret of Mana for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Gebelli’s work as lead programmer on the foundational Final Fantasy games is widely credited as instrumental to the franchise’s global success—Final Fantasy has since evolved into one of the best-selling role-playing series, reaching millions through hardware shifts from the NES and SNES to the current Nintendo Switch platform and beyond.

Secret of Mana (released in 1993), lauded for its real-time combat system and multiplayer gameplay, remains a touchstone in the action-RPG genre. The recent NHK interview, originally aired in October 2024 with a special extended version rebroadcast in December, provides rare insights into Gebelli’s philosophy and contributions.

Prior to this, Gebelli had largely stepped away from public appearances following his retirement after Secret of Mana, with his last major interview occurring at an Apple II reunion event in Dallas—an encounter during which Romero, already an avid admirer, personally interviewed him about his groundbreaking techniques. While the extended NHK interview remains exclusive to Japanese audiences, the original segment is accessible on NHK World’s website.

The feature has sparked renewed discussion regarding Gebelli’s formative influence on both Japanese and Western game development, emphasizing the vital legacy carried forward in titles that defined entire generations of hardware, from 8-bit originals to modern Nintendo Direct announcements. By highlighting the accomplishments of Nasir Gebelli, John Romero reinforces the integral role of early software pioneers whose innovations on classic platforms like the NES and SNES paved the way for industry-changing titles such as DOOM.

As today’s players experience Final Fantasy’s rich legacy across platforms like Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop, Gebelli’s engineering brilliance continues to inspire both fans and developers worldwide.

Final Fantasy DOOM John Romero Nasir Gebelli Square NHK