A developer has brought the 1993 classic Doom to a Canon EOS 550D DSLR camera, released in 2010, by utilizing the open-source Magic Lantern firmware. This modification allows players to navigate and engage with the game using the camera's built-in directional pad and buttons, with the 'Set' button acting as the fire function.
The Magic Lantern firmware, originally designed to unlock additional photographic features for Canon cameras, has been repurposed to enable the iconic shooter's functionality. The port supports not only gameplay but also the game's original sound effects, including weapon fire and enemy noises, emitted through the camera's internal speaker.
This unique project requires a specific camera model and firmware version; the hack is confirmed to work on the Canon EOS 550D running firmware version 1.0.9. The developer has issued explicit warnings against attempting installation on other camera models or firmware versions, citing the risk of rendering the camera inoperable.
For those without a Canon EOS 550D, a similar feat has been achieved by another developer, DaneBentley, on the Canon PowerShot SD1000, a 2007 point-and-shoot camera. While Magic Lantern's capabilities extend to enhanced video recording and focus peaking, its use for running a 1993 video game represents an unexpected but notable application of the firmware's flexibility.