Wolfenstein 3D is a first-person shooter video game developed by id Software, published by Apogee Software and FormGen, and originally released on May 5, 1992, for MS-DOS. Its innovative, ray casting-based game engine (illustration shown) was designed by John Carmack. The player assumes the role of Allied spy William "B.J." Blazkowicz during World War II as he escapes from the Nazi German prison Castle Wolfenstein and carries out a series of crucial missions against the Nazis. Wolfenstein 3D was the second major release by id Software, and was released through Apogee in two sets of three episodes as shareware; the first episode was available free of charge, to drive interest in purchasing the rest. An additional episode, Spear of Destiny, was released as a standalone retail title through FormGen. Wolfenstein 3D was a critical and commercial success, garnering numerous awards and selling over 200,000 copies by the end of 1993. The game popularized the first-person shooter genre, established standards of fast-paced action and technical prowess for subsequent games in the genre, and showcased the viability of the shareware publishing model.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_3D

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

553:

The Second Council of Constantinople, considered by many Christian churches to have been the fifth Christian Ecumenical Council, began to discuss the topics of Nestorianism and Origenism, among others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Council_of_Constantinople

1809:

Mary Dixon Kies became one of the first American women to receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dixon_Kies

1936:

Second Italo-Abyssinian War: Italian troops captured Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, unopposed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_of_the_Iron_Will

1992:

The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified 202 years after it was proposed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-seventh_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

2007:

Kenya Airways Flight 507 crashed immediately after takeoff from Douala International Airport in Cameroon, resulting in the deaths of all 114 people aboard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Airways_Flight_507

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

galeanthropy: (rare) A mental condition of thinking that one has become a cat, which is usually manifested in the adoption of feline mannerisms and habits. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/galeanthropy

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

WE ARE GROOT.   --Guardians of the Galaxy https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_(film)