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id Software facts for kids
This page is about the video game developer. For the geodata software editor, see iD (software).
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Formerly
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id Software, Inc. (1991–2009) |
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| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Ideas from the Deep |
| Founded | February 1, 1991 in Shreveport, Louisiana, US |
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US
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Key people
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Number of employees
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200+ (2016) |
| Parent | ZeniMax Media (2009–present) |
| Divisions | id Software Frankfurt |
id Software LLC (pronounced "id" like "kid") is an American company that makes video games. It is located in Richardson, Texas. The company started on February 1, 1991. Four friends from a computer company called Softdisk created it. They were John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack.
id Software made huge steps forward in how video games looked and played. They focused on games for PC computers. Their famous games include Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. They were especially good at 3D computer graphics and creating game engines. These engines are like the main software that powers a game. Many other game companies use id Software's ideas.
The company helped create the first-person shooter (FPS) game style. Wolfenstein 3D is often seen as the very first true FPS game. Doom made this type of game super popular. It also made PC gaming much more common. Quake was id's first game that was fully 3D.
On June 24, 2009, a company called ZeniMax Media bought id Software. In 2015, id Software opened a second office in Frankfurt, Germany.
Contents
History of id Software
How id Software Started
The people who started id Software were John Carmack, John Romero, and Tom Hall. They first met at a company called Softdisk. There, they made games for Softdisk's monthly releases. One of these games was Dangerous Dave.
In 1990, John Carmack found a clever way to make graphics move smoothly on a PC screen. This was a big deal back then! Carmack and Hall used this new method to copy the first level of Super Mario Bros. 3. They put Romero's Dangerous Dave character into it. This demo was called Dangerous Dave in Copyright Infringement.
The team worked extra hours to make a bigger demo of their Super Mario Bros. 3 PC game. They sent it to Nintendo. Nintendo was impressed but said they only wanted their games on their own consoles.
Around the same time, Scott Miller from Apogee Software heard about the group. He played Dangerous Dave and was very impressed. Miller contacted Romero, and they started talking about new game ideas. One idea was Commander Keen. This was a side-scrolling game that used Carmack's new graphics trick.
The first Commander Keen game, Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons, came out in December 1990. It was a huge hit! It was sold as "shareware." This meant players could get the first part for free. If they liked it, they could buy the rest.
After getting their first payment from Commander Keen, Romero, John Carmack, and Adrian Carmack (no relation) decided to start their own company. They hired Tom Hall and finished the Commander Keen series. Then, they hired Jay Wilbur and Kevin Cloud. They started working on Wolfenstein 3D.
id Software officially began on February 1, 1991. The name "id" came from their earlier group name, "Ideas from the Deep" (IFD). They dropped the "F" to make it "id." At first, they said "id" stood for "In Demand." But later, they just liked "id" as a cool word.
The shareware method helped id Software sell many games. They released the first part of games like Commander Keen, Wolfenstein, and Doom for free. Then, people would buy the other parts. Later, id Software started selling their games in stores.
After Wolfenstein 3D was very successful, id started making Doom. Tom Hall left the company during this time. Sandy Petersen and Dave Taylor joined before Doom came out in December 1993.
Changes in the Team
Quake was released on June 22, 1996. Making this game was tough because the team had different ideas. This caused problems between John Carmack and John Romero. Romero left id Software after Quake was released.
Soon after, other team members also left. Michael Abrash, Shawn Green, Jay Wilbur, Sandy Petersen, and Mike Wilson moved on. Petersen later said that not having a clear team leader caused these issues.
ZeniMax Media and Microsoft
On June 24, 2009, ZeniMax Media bought id Software. ZeniMax also owns Bethesda Softworks. This deal changed how id Software's games were published. For example, their game Rage was supposed to be published by Electronic Arts. But after the deal, ZeniMax published it through Bethesda Softworks.
id Software moved to a new office in Richardson, Texas, in 2011. On June 26, 2013, id Software's president, Todd Hollenshead, left after 17 years.
On November 22, 2013, John Carmack, a co-founder and the main technical person, left id Software. He went to work full-time at Oculus VR. Oculus VR makes virtual reality headsets. Carmack was the last of the original founders to leave id Software.
In 2019, Tim Willits also left the company. In March 2021, Microsoft bought ZeniMax Media. This made id Software part of Xbox Game Studios.
What "id" Means
The company writes its name as id with a small "i". It's pronounced like "did" or "kid." In the very beginning, the group called themselves "Ideas from the Deep." Later, they thought "id" could stand for "in demand."
However, they didn't really like "in demand." Someone suggested a link to Sigmund Freud's idea of the "id" in psychology. The others liked this idea. You can see this reference in the old Wolfenstein 3D game documents. It says, "that's id, as in the id, ego, and superego in the psyche."
Key People at id Software
- Kevin Cloud – Artist (1992-2006), now an Executive Producer (2007–present).
- Donna Jackson – Office manager, often called the "id mom" (1994–present).
- Marty Stratton – Started in Business Development (1997-2006), then Executive Producer (2006–present), and now Studio Director (2019–present).
- Robert Duffy – Chief Technology Officer (1998–present).
- Hugo Martin – Creative Director (2013–present).
Former Key People
- Tom Hall – Co-founder, game designer (1991–1993). He left after disagreements about Doom.
- John Romero – Co-founder, game designer, programmer (1991–1996). He left after Quake and started his own company, Ion Storm.
- Adrian Carmack – Co-founder, artist (1991–2005). He left after Doom 3.
- Todd Hollenshead – President (1996–2013).
- John Carmack – Co-founder, technical director (1991–2013). He left to work on virtual reality at Oculus VR.
- Tim Willits – Level designer and later Studio Director (1995–2019).
Game Development and Technology
Game Engines
id Software has always been known for its game engines. A game engine is the main software that makes a game run. It handles graphics, physics, and more. Starting with Commander Keen, id Software would license their engine to other companies. This means other companies could use id's technology to make their own games.
id Software made a new engine for each big game they released. This includes engines for Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, and Doom 3. After id Software used an engine for their own game, they would let other developers use it.
In the 1990s, id Software's engines were the best. The Quake III engine was used by many game makers. However, their later engine, id Tech 4 (used for Doom 3), was not used as much. This was because Doom 3 took a long time to make. id Software had to release their game before licensing the engine.
John Carmack loved the idea of sharing source code. Source code is the basic instructions that make a program work. He often released the source code for id Software's older engines for free. This allowed many people to create new projects. They could make the games run on different devices. They could also add new features or fix bugs.
For example, the source code for Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake engines is available. This means these games can run on many devices. These include handheld PCs, iPods, and the Nintendo DS.
Since the engine for Doom 3 (id Tech 4) was released, id Software now calls its engines "id Tech". They add a version number. So, the Doom engine is now called id Tech 1.
IMF Music File Format
IMF stands for "id music file." It's an audio file format created by id Software. It was used for older AdLib sound cards in their games. IMF files store musical notes, like MIDI files. They don't store actual recorded sounds.
IMF files tell the AdLib sound chip what to play. This chip uses FM synthesis to make music. Many early id Software games used IMF music. These include Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D. Bobby Prince composed many of these songs. Other game companies also used this format. Today, modern games don't use IMF music. This is because it has limited features and lower sound quality.
Linux Gaming
id Software was one of the first companies to support Linux gaming. Linux is a type of computer operating system. Many id Software games were very popular on Linux. Some games ported to Linux include Doom, Quake, Quake II, and Doom 3.
Because id Software released the source code for some games, many others can also run on Linux. Even games that weren't officially ported can work. This is thanks to special programs called "source ports."
Timothee Besset was responsible for porting many id Software games to Linux. John Carmack believed that supporting Linux helped make their game code better. However, later on, id Software stopped releasing official Linux versions of their newest games. For example, their game Rage did not have a native Linux version.
Despite this, id Software was an early supporter of Google Stadia. Stadia was a cloud gaming service that ran on Linux servers. Also, newer games like Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal can be played on Linux using special compatibility tools.
Games by id Software
Commander Keen Series
Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons was a platform game. It was like the games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was one of the first MS-DOS games with smooth side-scrolling. Apogee Software published it. This game and its follow-ups made id Software famous as a shareware developer. The first Commander Keen trilogy came out on December 14, 1990.
Wolfenstein Series
id Software's big hit was Wolfenstein 3D, released on May 5, 1992. It was a first-person shooter (FPS) with smooth 3D graphics. These graphics were amazing for computer games at the time. The game was also very exciting.
After creating a whole new type of game with Wolfenstein 3D, id Software made many more FPS games. These include Doom, Doom II: Hell on Earth, Quake, and Doom 3. Each new game had even better graphics.
Wolfenstein 3D led to a prequel, Spear of Destiny. It also had sequels like Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Newer Wolfenstein games like Wolfenstein: The New Order continue the series.
Doom Series
Eighteen months after Wolfenstein 3D, id Software released Doom on December 10, 1993. This game again set new standards for graphics and action. Doom had a sci-fi and horror setting. Its graphics were unlike anything seen on PCs or game consoles.
Doom became a huge cultural event. Its intense themes led to many discussions about violence in video games. Doom was released on many different game systems. It also inspired many other games. It was followed by Doom II: Hell on Earth.
id Software made history with the shareware release of Doom. They returned to the game's theme in 2004 with Doom 3. In 2007, John Carmack said there would be a Doom 4. Doom 2016 was released on May 13, 2016. It was the fourth main game in the series. A sequel, Doom Eternal, was announced in 2018.
Quake Series
On June 22, 1996, Quake was released. This was another big moment for id Software. Quake had a cutting-edge 3D engine and a unique art style. The graphics were amazing for its time. The game also had cool sound effects and music by Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails.
A key new feature in Quake was playing "deathmatch" games online. This meant players could compete against each other over the Internet. This made Quake another huge success.
In 2008, id Software received an award for Quake. It was honored for its work on games that players could easily change or "mod." id Software is the only game company to win this award twice. They also won in 2007 for their 3D technology.
The Quake series continued with Quake II in 1997. This game had a new story about fighting aliens called the Strogg. Most later Quake games follow this storyline. Quake III Arena (1999) focused on multiplayer battles. It had characters from Doom and other Quake games.
Quake IV (2005) continued the war against the Strogg. The game Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is a prequel to Quake II. It shows when the Strogg first attacked Earth. These games were made by other developers, not id Software itself.
There have also been other Quake games. These include Quake Mobile (2005) and Quake Live. Quake Live was a version of Quake III that you could play in a web browser.
Rage Series
In May 2007, Todd Hollenshead announced that id Software was working on a brand new game series. It would use a new engine. This would be the first game since Doom 3 (2004) to be made entirely by id Software. At a conference in 2007, John Carmack showed off the new engine, called id Tech 5. Later that year, the new game's name was revealed as Rage.
Rage was released in October 2011. On May 14, 2018, Rage 2 was announced. id Software worked with Avalanche Studios to make this game.
Other Games
In its early days, id Software made many different kinds of games. These included early 3D first-person shooter tests. These led to Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Examples are Hovertank 3D and Catacomb 3D.
There was also the Rescue Rover series. And John Romero's Dangerous Dave series. This included the tech demo that led to the Commander Keen engine. It also had the popular Dangerous Dave in the Haunted Mansion.
id Software also worked on games that used their technology but were not their own game series. These include ShadowCaster, Heretic, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and Hexen II.
Other Media
id Software has also published books based on their Doom games. These are called the Doom novels. They also helped make a movie based on their Doom game in 2005.
In 2007, Todd Hollenshead said that a Return to Castle Wolfenstein movie was being made. A new Doom movie, Doom: Annihilation, came out in 2019. However, id Software said they were not very involved in making it.
Key People at id Software
In 2003, a book called Masters of Doom was written. It told the story of id Software. It focused on the people and how John Carmack and John Romero worked together. Here are some of the important people who helped id Software succeed.
John Carmack
John Carmack is known for his amazing skills in 3D computer graphics programming. From the start, he was id's main programmer. On August 7, 2013, he joined Oculus VR. This company makes virtual reality headsets. He left id Software on November 22, 2013, to work full-time at Oculus VR.
John Romero
John Romero saw the Dangerous Dave in Copyright Infringement demo. He immediately had the idea to form id Software. This happened on September 20, 1990. Romero was also a pioneer in licensing game engines. He helped start the idea of selling id's technology to other companies.
John also worked closely with the Doom fan community. He was the public face of id Software to its fans. He helped create the control system for first-person shooter games. He also designed the levels in Doom that influenced many 3D games. Romero added "par times" to Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. This started the trend of "speedrunning" games.
Romero wrote almost all the tools that helped id Software and others make games with id's technology. Romero left id Software on August 6, 1996, after Quake was released. He then started his own company, Ion Storm.
Tom Hall
Tom Hall was one of the founders. He was asked to leave id Software early in the development of Doom. But he still had an impact. For example, he was responsible for adding teleporters to the game. After leaving id Software, he worked for Apogee. He later joined John Romero at Ion Storm. Tom Hall has often said he would love to make another Commander Keen game if he could get the rights.
Sandy Petersen
Sandy Petersen was a level designer for Doom and Doom II. He designed many of the levels in those games. He was a big fan of H.P. Lovecraft. You can see his influence in the look of the monsters in Quake. He also created "Inferno," the third part of the first Doom game. He left id Software during the making of Quake II.
American McGee
American McGee was a level designer for Doom II, The Ultimate Doom, Quake, and Quake II. He left id Software after Quake II. He then went to Electronic Arts. There, he became well-known for his game American McGee's Alice. After Electronic Arts, he became an independent game developer. He led an independent game development studio called Spicy Horse in China for many years.
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See also
In Spanish: Id Software para niños