John Carmack Interview

Doom and rocket science on CNN Money is an interview with id Software's John Carmack conducted during the QuakeCon extravaganza. One of the primary thrusts of the conversation is whether games have become too complicated, noting that he's fought the designers on DOOM 3 on a couple of issues, unsuccessfully arguing against including a crouch function and successfully convincing them that a "use" key is unnecessary. Here's a bit more covering the recent revelation that id's next game will not be another sequel (but will be a shooter) and his oft-rumored plans to retire soon:
We're not doing another sequel next," said Carmack. "We will do a new title. It will be a shooter, with a different antagonist and protagonist. ... People who have been working in the company for a long time don't want to continually rehash their old work."

With the new game will come a new engine, meaning Carmack's oft-rumored retirement will remain a rumor for the next few years.

"In the coming years, I have things I want to do," he said. "The next generation of hardware and the next engine is very exciting. There's little doubt I'll be doing that."
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98 Replies. 5 pages. Viewing page 1.
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98.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 29, 2003, 12:36
98.
Re: No use key!! Aug 29, 2003, 12:36
Aug 29, 2003, 12:36
 
I'd assume the flashlight would replace the "fists" weapons from the original Doom. It would have the added bonus of lighting your way, but it's probably like a heavy MAG-LITE (tm) that can be used as a club if you needed.

"Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you."
-Fry, Futurama
97.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 28, 2003, 22:31
97.
Re: No use key!! Aug 28, 2003, 22:31
Aug 28, 2003, 22:31
 
I've got a question that maybe someone who was at QuakeCon can answer.

So theres a flashlight, and apparently it can double as a Melee weapon. So it must be an actual modeled weapon/item where the player is actually holding a flashlight. (as opposed to just a spotlight magically appearing in the center of your view like HL)

This brings the question, does he hold the flashlight in his left hand or something? What if your using a 2 handed weapon like the shotgun?
Does that mean you have to put away your weapon, pull out an actual flashlight and start wandering around dark environments without you gun out? If a Demon came busting through a wall you'd be screwed.

hm, I'm wondering how exactly that is going to work, cause its kinda gonna suck if you have to constantly switch from your flashlight to a weapon and back again while stumbling around in the dark.

96.
 
Re: eh?
Aug 27, 2003, 23:46
Flx
96.
Re: eh? Aug 27, 2003, 23:46
Aug 27, 2003, 23:46
Flx
 
oops missed a q out on that closing tag....

should read:

dont take stuff out just because you're to lasy to code/implement it.

Actually in programming it's refered to as 'elegent', not lazy :-P But regardless, John Carmack is a great programmer - a large part of his life is dedicated to coding. When it comes to his code, he could NEVER be called lazy.

I think thats enough ranting/rambling for one day, but I'll leave you with this: If John Carmack DID decide to remove the move keys, he'd replace them with something far superior. And you'd all love it and wonder how you coped with anything different before....

Flx

95.
 
Re: eh?
Aug 27, 2003, 23:43
Flx
95.
Re: eh? Aug 27, 2003, 23:43
Aug 27, 2003, 23:43
Flx
 
When John Carmack first put the idea of Wolfenstein 3D to the (fledgling) gaming community way back when (1990 wasn't it) people laughed at him, and said that people wouldn't be interested in running around a maze shooting things, with no puzzles. Thankfully he ignored them, and spawned the most popular genre of gaming, both multi- and single-player, that the industry has seen so far. Every game he's released (including Commander Keen) has changed the way that people write games. Every engine he's written has been a greater hit than the last, sometimes going againt the grain of what people believe makes a good game.

And the important thing is this: He hasn't screwed it up yet.

With a history thats as distinguished as his/theirs, I think we can afford them a little faith - I JC says it's a good idea, then it's a good idea. Personally I'm glad the crouch is in there, but that's probobly because, like everone else, there are times I'm reluctant to let go of the familiar.

q[dont take stuff out just because you're to lasy to code/implement it.]

Actually in programming it's refered to as 'elegent', not lazy :-P But regardless, John Carmack is a great programmer - a large part of his life is dedicated to coding. When it comes to his code, he could NEVER be called lazy.

I think thats enough ranting/rambling for one day, but I'll leave you with this: If John Carmack DID decide to remove the move keys, he'd replace them with something far superior. And you'd all love it and wonder how you coped with anything different before....

Flx

94.
 
Re: eh?
Aug 27, 2003, 21:17
94.
Re: eh? Aug 27, 2003, 21:17
Aug 27, 2003, 21:17
 
I love interaction. Thats why I will be playing HL2, Deus Ex 2, Thief 3 because I will be manipulationg objects interacting with computers, buttons, doors, boxes, NPCs and anything else imaginable. I will still buy DOOM 3 and play it but to me it is going to be original DOOM with updated graphics. "Enjoy your ride on DOOM 3 the PCs best interactive ride!"

Avatar 17249
93.
 
Re: eh?
Aug 27, 2003, 12:27
93.
Re: eh? Aug 27, 2003, 12:27
Aug 27, 2003, 12:27
 
If everyone followed JC's 'simplicity rules' theory, the games industry would never advance.

Yeah right. Carmack helped create a whole game genre. He's helped revolutionize 3D engines on the desktop. He's been a huge advocate of game technology on the Mac.

In short, he's easily one of the most influential persons in gaming today. Without guys like Carmack, the games industry would never advance.

92.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 26, 2003, 16:38
mr
92.
Re: No use key!! Aug 26, 2003, 16:38
Aug 26, 2003, 16:38
mr
 
... but let's say the player is holding a pistol. Are you telling me I have to put my pistol away before I can push a button? It's a one-handed weapon, but apparently my left arm is paralysed ...

In the original dooms the player was left handed so he would be holding his pistol in the left hand.

91.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 25, 2003, 18:38
91.
Re: No use key!! Aug 25, 2003, 18:38
Aug 25, 2003, 18:38
 
The ladders in Deus Ex were worse. I swear a solid 10% of my playtime in that game was trying to get off a ladder after I reached the top.

90.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 25, 2003, 10:55
90.
Re: No use key!! Aug 25, 2003, 10:55
Aug 25, 2003, 10:55
 
"Also, these crazy situations you guys talk about where the lack of a use key will “screw” you, it’s just not true"

Yes, it's true. Perhaps not exactly those mentioned, but other ones are sure to arise. Modes are a bad thing (that was a basic tenet back in user interface classes when I studied computer science back in the eighties).

Making interfaces simple to learn and use is a good thing. But the primary aspect of that is to make sure it does what the user expects at all times.

Anyone remember how you occasionally got stuck on ladders in Half-life because you stumbled into one and the game decided you were going to climb it?


89.
 
Re: Can someone tell me why P2P ??
Aug 25, 2003, 09:32
89.
Re: Can someone tell me why P2P ?? Aug 25, 2003, 09:32
Aug 25, 2003, 09:32
 
You can't say that, if I walk into a dark room holding a pistol I can't turn on the light by hitting the switch with either my free hand, or the pistol itself.

Taking away a use key might not even simplify. If what is being said is correct the weapon drops and a hand appears. This matches early (early) reports of using computer consoles with a mouse cursor. To me this just sounds like it's more complicated, not more simple.


As for ducking - even if it's useless in the game it feels right. Not being able to duck makes me feel very limited - makes me feel like the game just wasn't thought out well. Granted, forced ducking can be annoying, but many people have pointed out hiding in Deus Ex. Even better was finding new passageways and exploring in Deus Ex. Hidden passages aren't well hidden if they can fit a grown man standing.

And, finally, run keys are useless in games that don't have stealth. Both run and crouch are great for multiplayer (hide those footsteps), but it looks like D3 will be twitch multiplayer, so hiding isn't half as useful as speed.

88.
 
Re: Can someone tell me why P2P ??
Aug 25, 2003, 09:28
88.
Re: Can someone tell me why P2P ?? Aug 25, 2003, 09:28
Aug 25, 2003, 09:28
 
p2p just means that there isn't a dedicated server, who knows exactly the networking works. My hopes are that all machines connect and negotiate a dynamic network. If one machine is fastest and has a good connection to the other machines then it becomes a server, if two of the machines are on the same LAN than one of those machines proxies for the other to the dynamically assigned server. Of course this is all assumtions, but p2p just means that all machines talk to eachother, it doesn't mean that they all send all data to eachother, who knows.

87.
 
Re: eh?
Aug 25, 2003, 00:37
87.
Re: eh? Aug 25, 2003, 00:37
Aug 25, 2003, 00:37
 
Maybe for the next game Carmack can convince everyone that the move keys are unnecessary. The player could sit in a moving cart and shoot things in true arcade style!

If everyone followed JC's 'simplicity rules' theory, the games industry would never advance.
Utter rubbish.

86.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 25, 2003, 00:30
86.
Re: No use key!! Aug 25, 2003, 00:30
Aug 25, 2003, 00:30
 
It may be unrealistic to be able to handle a keypad while holding a rocket launcher; but let's say the player is holding a pistol. Are you telling me I have to put my pistol away before I can push a button? It's a one-handed weapon, but apparently my left arm is paralysed ...
Good god. You sad individual.
Just play the game when it ships and shut up.
Since when did you see hell spawn on Phobos?
Christ, it's not much bigger than a football field.
Realism arguments..... *yawn*
It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..It's a game..

85.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 24, 2003, 21:41
nin
85.
Re: No use key!! Aug 24, 2003, 21:41
Aug 24, 2003, 21:41
nin
 
I'll take the bet, nin! I suspect we'll see a mod moving multiplayer beyond four players first.

Ew! Tough call, man! You could be right!

Supporter of the "A happy fredster is a muted fredster" fanclub.

http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/
84.
 
Re: "USE" key
Aug 24, 2003, 21:02
84.
Re: "USE" key Aug 24, 2003, 21:02
Aug 24, 2003, 21:02
 

If you have played the DOOM 3 alpha you will know that the doors open automatically, unless they have a keypad and require an access code to be keyed in: then a console is activated.

Also, you can't back up against a keypad and drop lower your weapon to key in the code. You have to be looking at the keypad for your weapon to automatically lower.

"Use" keys are a silly idea: just a waste of a binding/key. It is much better to have the door auto-open or require an access code. The latter removes the silly idea of collecting ONE key from a remote location to allow the former to occur with ONE locked door. It just doesn't make any sense at all. But an access code... Hmmm!!!
And operating an interactive console/keypad just seems more immersive to me for single player. Multiplayer will be a different story: "USE" keys, keypads and interactive consoles will slow the gameplay of a DM down.

I think JC is doing this whole door thing correctly, and I can't believe so many people are discussing it so seriously. The DOOM 3 alpha runs smoothly and the doors do not hinder the flow of the game, if it can be called a game. The final product will be even better.

83.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 24, 2003, 20:28
WRE
83.
Re: No use key!! Aug 24, 2003, 20:28
Aug 24, 2003, 20:28
WRE
 
I'll take the bet, nin! I suspect we'll see a mod moving multiplayer beyond four players first.

82.
 
Re: Realism.
Aug 24, 2003, 18:28
82.
Re: Realism. Aug 24, 2003, 18:28
Aug 24, 2003, 18:28
 
Thanks Smellfinger, I needed a good laugh.

81.
 
Realism.
Aug 24, 2003, 17:21
81.
Realism. Aug 24, 2003, 17:21
Aug 24, 2003, 17:21
 
Scoop Jackson.
This comment was edited on Oct 17, 01:30.
80.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 24, 2003, 16:10
80.
Re: No use key!! Aug 24, 2003, 16:10
Aug 24, 2003, 16:10
 
Squirmer: "Are you telling me I have to put my pistol away before I can push a button? It's a one-handed weapon, but apparently my left arm is paralysed ..."

No, your attention is elsewhere, not on the pistol. And you would be surprised just how innacurate your left hand can be. I was trained to fire a pistol with either hand as well as in the weaver and modified weaver stance. When your attention is on something else you have to change mental tracks bring the weapon up and aim -- or you can blaze away -- just don't expect to hit anything that isn't right on top of you. And who says you don't have control over your actions? You just have to think and be a bit more cautious about when you drop your guard...

79.
 
Re: No use key!!
Aug 24, 2003, 12:59
nin
79.
Re: No use key!! Aug 24, 2003, 12:59
Aug 24, 2003, 12:59
nin
 
$10 says one of the first mods for D3 is a "use" key...

Supporter of the "A happy fredster is a muted fredster" fanclub.

http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/
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