id Software’s follow-up to their blockbuster series of DOOM games, DOOM 4, is set to get an authentic story written by an authentic author. What’s so special about this?

Well, the DOOM series, as players would know, isn’t well known for its breathtaking, thrilling story arcs, but rather the visceral actions of shooting and destroying zombies and demons. DOOM 3 had the assistance of Matt Costello as far as writing was concerned, but that game was still much more about the edge-of-the-seat action than edge-of-the-seat gripping story and dialogue.

So, to correct this perceived problem, id Software have hired on the services of one Graham Joyce, who has an incredible writing resume. Having written fourteen published novels, twenty-six short stories, won the British Fantasy Award four times, two Imaginaire awards and the World Fantasy Award, Joyce is top-class. He also lectures creative writing courses. He knows his stuff, then.

While Joyce’s exact role in the development of DOOM 4 and its story is unclear, he did disclose his involvement with the project thus:

“I can say that id have hired me to help develop the storyline potential.”

So that will have to be good enough, as id Software are probably only going to reveal anything further on the DOOM 4 project later this year, or after their next game, RAGE, ships.