Doom Becomes a CAPTCHA: Play Games to Prove You’re Human

Classic game Doom gets a new role as a CAPTCHA system, requiring users to play the game to verify they’re human.

Article Summary

In this era of rapid AI development, CAPTCHA systems are evolving too. The classic game Doom has transformed into a new verification system where users must play the game to prove they’re human, bringing fresh thinking to web security.

Birth of a New CAPTCHA System

Traditional CAPTCHAs usually ask users to identify traffic lights, crosswalks, or street scenes. However, as AI advances, these methods have become less effective at distinguishing humans from bots. Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch introduced this innovative system where users must kill three demons in-game to pass verification.

Doom’s Innovative Application

A Classic Game’s Modern Transformation

Since its release in 1993, Doom has not only revolutionized first-person shooter (FPS) games but became legendary for its portability. Players have successfully ported it to unexpected platforms:

• Printers
• Pregnancy tests
• Smart home devices
• Various programmable devices

Practical Innovation

While previous Doom ports were mostly for entertainment, this CAPTCHA application brings practical benefits. It keeps the core gameplay while serving a real purpose.

User Experience and Challenges

Verification Mechanism

• Players must kill three demons within a time limit
• Controls maintain original game style
• Higher difficulty increases verification reliability

User Feedback

Testing shows the system is quite challenging. Many users report killing only one demon in 5-6 attempts, proving its effectiveness as a verification tool.

FAQ

Q: Why choose Doom as a verification system? A: Doom has distinctive game mechanics requiring real-time reactions and skills that AI finds hard to perfectly simulate.

Q: Is this verification suitable for all websites? A: Given its difficulty and unique nature, it may be more suitable for gaming websites or specific tech communities.

Q: How is accessibility ensured? A: As an experimental project, alternative verification methods may need to be provided to ensure all users can pass verification.

How to Try It

You can try this innovative CAPTCHA system at the official test website.

Technical Significance

This innovation shows the potential of games in modern technology and offers new directions for human verification. As AI advances, similar innovative verification methods may become more common.

Author’s Note

It’s really hard!