New video game releases of 2/13-2/19
Indie Jeff's Weekly Pick: Gunpoint
Daily Filter: Mass Effect 3, Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Blizzard files opposition to Valve's Dota trademark
Twisted Metal promotion blows up Sweet Tooth's truck
Industry Responds to id Software Acquisition; Co-founder Romero Labels Deal 'Disgusting'
by Nick Breckon, Jun 24, 2009 5:04pm PDTUpdate: id co-founder John Romero has apologized for his admittedly "harsh" reaction, noting that he is actually "positive about the Zenimax deal."
"i guess i was shocked and sad to see the id Software of old changed forever today," Romero explained in a later Twitter update. "it's a new day and a new id."
Original:
While id Software steward John Carmack was more than pleased with Bethesda parent ZeniMax's acquisition of the infamously independent developer today, fellow id co-founder John Romero harshly criticized the deal in a pair of public messages.
"ZENIMAX??????? Disgusting," wrote Romero on his Twitter feed, later adding, "Fallout 3 bought DOOM. Wow."
id Software was founded in 1991 by Romero, Tom Hall, John Carmack and Adrian Carmack. Romero left the company in 1996 to co-found ill-fated developer Ion Storm, and is now developing an unannounced MMO at Slipgate Ironworks.
At least one industry old-timer was less downbeat in his reaction.
"There's no better company that could have bought id," wrote 3D Realms' George Broussard in the Shacknews comments.
"We're all pretty lucky, as I expect Zenimax to largely leave id alone to do what they do as they do with Bethesda," added Broussard. "Remember that Oblivion and Fallout 3 were made under this same arrangement."
"If this were another publisher it might be cause for a wake, but in this case it's nearly cause for celebration," he concluded.
Meanwhile, longtime id Software publishing partner Activision issued a short statement, saying that they "congratulate id and wish them well on their new endeavors."
Activision will continue to publish id and Raven's Wolfenstein, while Electronic Arts has stated that its publishing deal with id for the developer's upcoming original shooter Rage will be unaffected by the acquisition.
Comments
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 9 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 30 replies.
Except for one thing.
"Fallout 3 bought Doom. Wow." I've interpreted this comment as unusual arrogance and contempt towards a universally applauded Game Of The Year. Bizarre. I'm sensing unwarranted bitterness here, and a potentially unproductive and abrasive attitude that probably won't go down too well alongside progressive thinkers in the new publishing stable.
I can't shake the feeling, as others have already mentioned, that Carmack seems stuck somewhere in the 90s as a bedroom developer with exceptional computing skills who believes the game industry owes him obscene recognition for everything he does.
Good job on buying Id, Zenimax . The bad news is you've got a sullky former-wunderkind with a bad attitude to cope with. Maybe trade that part for two or three fresh, eager Computer Scientists and you can help restore some glory to Id.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 8 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 13 replies.
In that context, nobody should ever be expected to apologize for something they said on twitter. It's a gut reaction, an uncensored thought. If you use twitter to make 'official' posts and guard against how you actually feel about every little thing that flashes before your eyes, you're probably using it wrong.
This is why I don't use twitter. Not that anyone would care what I think anyway, but if I posted all my little unguarded thoughts like I'm supposed to I'd have nothing but enemies and everyone would know just how much of a knobby asshole I actually am.
Romero reacted honestly with all of his bitterness and confused messed up feelings about id and everything that happened inbetween. I don't see how anyone could fault him for that.
And for the record, Daikatana shipped. Score 1 for Romero.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 24 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 23 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 8 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 8 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 14 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 11 replies.
I wonder if Romero knows he is/was the laughing stock of the industry until only a few short weeks ago.
I would most likely keep my fucking mouth shut until my current game was finished.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
Hey Romero how's SlipG8. Oh wait, you have no money left. Sorry.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.
daikatana
kthxgg
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
When it came out, the demo anyway was pretty fun
came out around Quake 2
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.
"i just did an interview for Avault Podcast coming out friday. i am positive about the Zenimax deal. my initial reaction was harsh. sorry."
....si it seems he doesn't mind the move anymore
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
Oh wait. They obviously don't, or they wouldn't be doing things he disagreed with.
Fallout 3 has its share of problems, but its still a dozen times better than any of the corridor shooting BS Romero has ever came up with.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
"working with other companies hasn't been working out as spectacularly as it could."
In other words, we need a bigger team so that WE can make the next Wolfenstein/Quake and not have to rely on Raven/Splash Damage to ruin our franchises...
Romero having an opinion on ANYTHING = LOL
How has that guy not learned to shut his mouth yet? When your only noteworthy game is noteworthy because its a PUNCHLINE, you don't make comments like "Disgusting" about successful developers and publishers who make playable games. Sit down, be quiet, and appreciate how unbelievably lucky you are that more talented people carried you along far enough that you could become famous enough to be an ongoing joke.
http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?id=20249211#itemanchor_20249211
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.