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{{wrongtitle|title=id Software}}
{{wrongtitle|title=id Software}}


{{Infobox_Company |
⚫
'''id Software''' is a [[video game developer|computer game developer]] based in [[Mesquite, Texas]], a suburb of [[Dallas]]. The company was founded by four members of the computer company [[SoftDisk]]: [[John Carmack]], a [[game programmer|programmer]], [[John Romero]] and [[Tom Hall]], [[game designer]]s, and [[Adrian Carmack]], an [[artist]] and is now considered the most influential game development company out of the many game development companies in the Dallas area, known as the Dallas Gaming Mafia.
company_name = id Software |
company_logo = |
company_type = N/A |
company_slogan = N/A |
foundation = [[Mesquite, TX]] ([[1991]]) |
location = [[Mesquite, TX]] |
key_people = [[John Carmack]], Lead Programmer<br />
[[John Romero]], Game Designer<br />
[[Tom Hall]], Game Designer<br />
[[Adrian Carmack]], Artist |
num_employees = N/A |
products = [[Wolfenstein 3D]]<br />
[[Hexen]]<br />
[[Hexen II]]<br />
[[Heretic (computer game)|Heretic]]<br />
[[DOOM]]<br />
[[DOOM 2]]<br />
[[DOOM 3]]<br />
[[DOOM Engine]]<br />
[[Quake]]<br />
[[Quake II]]<br />
[[Quake III]]<br />
[[Quake Engine]]<br />
[[Commander Keen]] |
homepage = [http://www.idsoftware.com/ www.idsoftware.com]
}}


⚫
'''id Software''' is a [[video game developer|computer game developer]] based in [[Mesquite, Texas]], a suburb of [[Dallas]]. The company was founded by four members of the computer company [[SoftDisk]]: [[John Carmack]], a [[game programmer|programmer]], [[John Romero]] and [[Tom Hall]], [[game designer]]s, and [[Adrian Carmack]], an [[artist]] and is now considered the most influential game development company of the many game development companies in the Dallas area, known as the [[Dallas Gaming Mafia]].
⚫
Note the lower-case ''id'', which refers to the [[Ego, Superego and Id|id]] as a psychological concept. Originally, both letters were capitals (''ID Software''), and stood for "In Demand". The I was made lowercase in the release of the second Commander Keen series, and eventually the D was also dropped down to lowercase, and the meaning of the word changed.


⚫
Note the lower-case ''id'', which refers to the [[Ego, Superego and Id|id]] as a psychological concept. Originally, both letters were capitals (''ID Software''), and stood for "In Demand". The "I" was made lowercase in the release of the second Commander Keen series, and eventually the "D" was also dropped down to lowercase which changed the meaning of the company name.
==Company history==

⚫
The founders of id first met in the offices of SoftDisk, developing multiple games for SoftDisk to publish every month or so. These included Dangerous Dave, and other titles. Once Apogee software learned of the group, and of their exceptional talent, they recruited them, and developed the necessary titles for them to get out of their SoftDisk contracts. Meanwhile they worked on titles that would be developed under the ID Software moniker. The most successful of those first outings would be ''[[Commander Keen]]''.
==History==

⚫
The founders of ''id Software'' met in the offices of SoftDisk developing multiple games for SoftDisk for monthly publishing. These included [[Dangerous Dave]] and other titles. Once [[Apogee Software]] learned of the group and their exceptional talent, they recruited them, and developed the necessary titles for them to get out of their SoftDisk contracts. Meanwhile, they worked on titles that would be developed under the ''ID Software'' moniker. The most successful of those outings would be ''[[Commander Keen]]''.


===''Commander Keen''===
===''Commander Keen''===
⚫
The ''Commander Keen'' series, a [[platform game]] introducing one of the first smooth side-scrolling [[game engine]]s for the [[IBM PC compatible|PC]], brought id Software into the gaming mainstream. The game was very successful and spawned a whole series of titles. It was also the group of id games that designer Tom Hall was most affiliated with.


⚫
The ''Commander Keen'' series, a [[platform game]] introducing one of the first smooth side-scrolling [[game engine]]s for the [[IBM PC-compatible|PC]], brought id Software into the gaming mainstream. The game was very successful and spawned a whole series of titles. It was also the group of ''id Software'' that designer Tom Hall was most affiliated with.
⚫
The [[shareware]] method of distribution was initially employed by id (through [[Apogee Software]]) to sell their software (such as the Keen, Doom and Wolfenstein games). They would release the first part of their trilogy as shareware, then sell the other two installments by mail order. Only later (about the time of the release of ''DOOM II'') did id release their games via the more traditional shrink-wrapped boxes in stores (through other [[video game publisher|game publishers]]). It is likely that id Software has been the most successful shareware publisher to date.

⚫
The [[shareware]] distribution method was initially employed by ''id Software'' through Apogee Software to sell their products such as the Commander Keen, DOOM and Wolfenstein games. They would release the first part of their trilogy as shareware, then sell the other two installments by mail order. Only later (about the time of the release of ''DOOM II'') did id release their games via the more traditional shrink-wrapped boxes in stores (through other [[video game publisher|game publishers]]). It is likely that id Software has been the most successful shareware publisher to date.


===''Wolfenstein 3D''===
===''Wolfenstein 3D''===

The company's breakout product was ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'', a [[first person shooter]] with smooth 3D graphics that were unprecedented in computer games, and with violent game play that many gamers found engaging. After essentially founding an entire genre with this game, id created the games ''[[DOOM]]'', ''[[DOOM II]]'', ''[[Quake]]'', ''[[Quake II]]'', ''[[Quake III]]'', and ''[[DOOM 3]]''. Each was a first person shooter with progressively higher levels of graphic technology (and progressively higher minimum system requirements).
The company's breakout product was ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'', a [[first person shooter]] with smooth 3D graphics that were unprecedented in computer games, and with violent game play that many gamers found engaging. After essentially founding an entire genre with this game, id created the games ''[[DOOM]]'', ''[[DOOM II]]'', ''[[Quake]]'', ''[[Quake II]]'', ''[[Quake III]]'', and ''[[DOOM 3]]''. Each was a first person shooter with progressively higher levels of graphic technology (and progressively higher minimum system requirements).


===John Carmack===
===John Carmack===

The [[lead programmer]] for id Software is John Carmack, whose skill at [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[computer programming|programming]] is widely recognised in the software industry. He is the last remaining of the original lead designers in the company.
The [[lead programmer]] for id Software is John Carmack, whose skill at [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[computer programming|programming]] is widely recognised in the software industry. He is the last remaining of the original lead designers in the company.


===Tom Hall===
===Tom Hall===

Tom Hall left id software during the early days of ''DOOM'' development (but not before he had some impact, he was responsible, for example, for the inclusion of teleporters in the game). However, Hall felt that his place was not at id software, and saw his future was elsewhere, so he left before the shareware release of ''Doom'' for Apogee to work on ''[[Rise of the Triad]]'', with the ''Developers of Great Power''. Tom Hall has frequently commented that if id software ever sell him the rights to Commander Keen he will immediately develop another Keen title.
Tom Hall left id software during the early days of ''DOOM'' development (but not before he had some impact, he was responsible, for example, for the inclusion of teleporters in the game). However, Hall felt that his place was not at id software, and saw his future was elsewhere, so he left before the shareware release of ''Doom'' for Apogee to work on ''[[Rise of the Triad]]'', with the ''Developers of Great Power''. Tom Hall has frequently commented that if id software ever sell him the rights to Commander Keen he will immediately develop another Keen title.


===John Romero===
===John Romero===

John Romero left after the release of the shareware ''Quake'' to form Ion Storm software. Like, Hall he felt that id software was not supportive of his ideas, and left to form the ill-fated [[Ion Storm]]. Having already finished his work on ''Rise of the Triad'', and not finding himself compatible with the ''[[Prey]]'' development team at Apogee, Tom Hall left to join his ex-id compadre in this new company.
John Romero left after the release of the shareware ''Quake'' to form Ion Storm software. Like, Hall he felt that id software was not supportive of his ideas, and left to form the ill-fated [[Ion Storm]]. Having already finished his work on ''Rise of the Triad'', and not finding himself compatible with the ''[[Prey]]'' development team at Apogee, Tom Hall left to join his ex-id compadre in this new company.


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===''Quake''===
===''Quake''===

The release of ''Quake'' marked the second milestone in id history. ''Quake'' combined a cutting edge fully 3D engine with an excellent art style to create what was at the time regarded as a feast for the eyes. Furthermore, Quakes main innovation - the capability to deathmatch (competitive gameplay between living opponents instead of against the machine) over the internet (especially through the add-on QuakeWorld) seared the title into the minds of gamers as another smash hit.
The release of ''Quake'' marked the second milestone in id history. ''Quake'' combined a cutting edge fully 3D engine with an excellent art style to create what was at the time regarded as a feast for the eyes. Furthermore, Quakes main innovation - the capability to deathmatch (competitive gameplay between living opponents instead of against the machine) over the internet (especially through the add-on QuakeWorld) seared the title into the minds of gamers as another smash hit.


===Opinion and engines===
===Opinion and engines===

However, the success of ''Quake II'', ''Quake III'' and ''DOOM 3'', though financially very successful, have met some critical opposition. id's games have continued to rate well in magazines, but community opinion on the later id games is often divided, with many accusing the developer of being too orthodox in their design principles, with a lack of imagination and an unwillingness to innovate&mdash;especially with their latest title, ''DOOM 3''.
However, the success of ''Quake II'', ''Quake III'' and ''DOOM 3'', though financially very successful, have met some critical opposition. id's games have continued to rate well in magazines, but community opinion on the later id games is often divided, with many accusing the developer of being too orthodox in their design principles, with a lack of imagination and an unwillingness to innovate&mdash;especially with their latest title, ''DOOM 3''.


Revision as of 01:12, 21 November 2004

The correct title of this article is id Software. It appears incorrectly here due to technical restrictions.
id Software
Company typeN/A
FoundedMesquite, TX (1991)
FounderJohn Carmack
John Romero Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersMesquite, TX
Key people
John Carmack, Lead Programmer

John Romero, Game Designer
Tom Hall, Game Designer

Adrian Carmack, Artist
ProductsWolfenstein 3D

Hexen
Hexen II
Heretic
DOOM
DOOM 2
DOOM 3
DOOM Engine
Quake
Quake II
Quake III
Quake Engine

Commander Keen
Number of employees
N/A
Websitewww.idsoftware.com

id Software is a computer game developer based in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The company was founded by four members of the computer company SoftDisk: John Carmack, a programmer, John Romero and Tom Hall, game designers, and Adrian Carmack, an artist and is now considered the most influential game development company of the many game development companies in the Dallas area, known as the Dallas Gaming Mafia.

Note the lower-case id, which refers to the id as a psychological concept. Originally, both letters were capitals (ID Software), and stood for "In Demand". The "I" was made lowercase in the release of the second Commander Keen series, and eventually the "D" was also dropped down to lowercase which changed the meaning of the company name.

History

The founders of id Software met in the offices of SoftDisk developing multiple games for SoftDisk for monthly publishing. These included Dangerous Dave and other titles. Once Apogee Software learned of the group and their exceptional talent, they recruited them, and developed the necessary titles for them to get out of their SoftDisk contracts. Meanwhile, they worked on titles that would be developed under the ID Software moniker. The most successful of those outings would be Commander Keen.

Commander Keen

The Commander Keen series, a platform game introducing one of the first smooth side-scrolling game engines for the PC, brought id Software into the gaming mainstream. The game was very successful and spawned a whole series of titles. It was also the group of id Software that designer Tom Hall was most affiliated with.

The shareware distribution method was initially employed by id Software through Apogee Software to sell their products such as the Commander Keen, DOOM and Wolfenstein games. They would release the first part of their trilogy as shareware, then sell the other two installments by mail order. Only later (about the time of the release of DOOM II) did id release their games via the more traditional shrink-wrapped boxes in stores (through other game publishers). It is likely that id Software has been the most successful shareware publisher to date.

Wolfenstein 3D

The company's breakout product was Wolfenstein 3D, a first person shooter with smooth 3D graphics that were unprecedented in computer games, and with violent game play that many gamers found engaging. After essentially founding an entire genre with this game, id created the games DOOM, DOOM II, Quake, Quake II, Quake III, and DOOM 3. Each was a first person shooter with progressively higher levels of graphic technology (and progressively higher minimum system requirements).

John Carmack

The lead programmer for id Software is John Carmack, whose skill at 3D programming is widely recognised in the software industry. He is the last remaining of the original lead designers in the company.

Tom Hall

Tom Hall left id software during the early days of DOOM development (but not before he had some impact, he was responsible, for example, for the inclusion of teleporters in the game). However, Hall felt that his place was not at id software, and saw his future was elsewhere, so he left before the shareware release of Doom for Apogee to work on Rise of the Triad, with the Developers of Great Power. Tom Hall has frequently commented that if id software ever sell him the rights to Commander Keen he will immediately develop another Keen title.

John Romero

John Romero left after the release of the shareware Quake to form Ion Storm software. Like, Hall he felt that id software was not supportive of his ideas, and left to form the ill-fated Ion Storm. Having already finished his work on Rise of the Triad, and not finding himself compatible with the Prey development team at Apogee, Tom Hall left to join his ex-id compadre in this new company.

Both Hall and Romero are seen as excellent designers and idea men who have helped shape some of the key PC gaming titles of the 90's.

Quake

The release of Quake marked the second milestone in id history. Quake combined a cutting edge fully 3D engine with an excellent art style to create what was at the time regarded as a feast for the eyes. Furthermore, Quakes main innovation - the capability to deathmatch (competitive gameplay between living opponents instead of against the machine) over the internet (especially through the add-on QuakeWorld) seared the title into the minds of gamers as another smash hit.

Opinion and engines

However, the success of Quake II, Quake III and DOOM 3, though financially very successful, have met some critical opposition. id's games have continued to rate well in magazines, but community opinion on the later id games is often divided, with many accusing the developer of being too orthodox in their design principles, with a lack of imagination and an unwillingness to innovate—especially with their latest title, DOOM 3.

Currently, id's "game engines" are licensed to many other developers. This, along with Carmacks' heavily orthodox FPS design ideas are two facts that have helped shape public oppinion to where some in the community regard id first a technology developer and only second as a game developer. The price of licensing id's engines normally runs about $250,000 per title. id releases its older game engines, such as that of Quake and Quake II, under the GNU GPL for others to use free of charge (bound by the GPL license restrictions).

In 2003, the book Masters of Doom chronicled the development of id, concentrating on the personalities and interaction of John Carmack and John Romero.

Games developed

Additional reading

  • Kushner, David (2003). Masters of Doom: how two guys created an empire and transformed pop culture, New York: Random House. ISBN 0375505245.
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