Doom Shareware Boxes

[miko508]

Hello Doom World forum members, I have a question regarding the first boxed versions of Doom shareware.

I recently picked up a couple variations of Doom shareware, and I was surprised to receive one that is so small.

I know the larger one likely came bundled with other software, as one similar is currently on eBay bundled with Wolfenstein 3D.

Thanks in advance for any clarification!

[baronofheck82]

Awesome :) I always wondered what the Doom shareware box physically looked like and now I know.

[GreyGhost]

Nice find. The smaller box looks to be mail-order sized though I don't know if they were marketed that way.

[miko508]

Thanks for the responses, baronofheck82 & Grey Ghost! I'm hoping to have a copy of the mail order shareware from id.

From what I understand, the mail order shareware version from id is the first official physical representation of Doom.

I know that Doom was first released online, but I'm more interested in finding the first tangible format.

Some argue that id never released a mail order version of shareware. Can anyone shed some light on this topic? Thanks again!

[NiTROACTiVE]

I never wondered what the boxes for the shareware looked like and it's interesting to know that there are different versions of it. Thanks for sharing these pictures.

[Reisal]

Do you have a clearer picture of the third image as I can't read the text on the back.

[AlektorophobiA]

There is a boxed shareware version that came with the retail version of Wolfenstein 3D, here is a video about it.

[miko508]

NiTROACTiVE - No problem!

Mr. Chris - I've already packaged them back up for storage, but I was able to find this scan: http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/doom/cover-art/gameCoverId,194558/

AlektorophobiA - In my quest for information about this topic, I've come across this video on YouTube. Thank you for posting it for others to see. It also serves as a great reference for what's inside the larger box.

Since we seem to have a consensus on the larger box (came bundled with other games), what's the deal with the smaller box? Is this the elusive mail-order version? Thanks again everyone!

[miko508]

So I guess my distilled question is, whats the deal with the small one?

[miko508]

GreyGhost said in a different thread:

"Would be easier to tell if the boxes weren't shrinkwrapped. AFAIK, the smaller mail-order box was used for registered Doom up until v1.666."