Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/id's Hollenshead: Piracy 'hidden benefit' for PC manufacturershttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/ids-hollenshead-piracy-hidden-benefit-for-pc-manufacturers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/ids-hollenshead-piracy-hidden-benefit-for-pc-manufacturers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/ids-hollenshead-piracy-hidden-benefit-for-pc-manufacturers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oh, those sly PC hardware manufacturers. As if it wasn't bad enough that they keep building better, more powerful rigs every six seconds, id Software's Todd Hollenshead believes they also secretly benefit from software piracy. No stranger to the public flogging of the illicit C:\ scourge, the CEO candidly told GamesIndustry.biz that manufacturers typically "line up on the wrong side of the argument."

"They have lots of reasons as to why they do that," he said, "but I think that there's been this dirty little secret among hardware manufacturers, which is that the perception of free content - even if you're supposed to pay for it on PCs - is some sort hidden benefit that you get when you buy a PC, like a right to download music for free or a right to download pirated movies and games." Hollenshead believes that this is what motivates manufacturers to stick up for the law-abiding minority when it comes to issues like peer-to-peer sharing.

"I think that if you went in and could see what's going on in their minds, though they may never say that stuff and I'm not saying there's some conspiracy or something like that - but I think the thing is they realise that trading content, copyrighted or not, is an expected benefit of owning a computer." Heck, the only reason we got one was to steal quotes from Tom Bramwell's interviews.

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]]>idid-SoftwarePiracyQuakeconTodd-HollensheadLudwig Kietzmann2008-08-21T22:00:00+00:00New Wolfenstein game will not feature Hitlerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/new-wolfenstein-game-will-not-feature-hitler/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/new-wolfenstein-game-will-not-feature-hitler/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/new-wolfenstein-game-will-not-feature-hitler/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When we think back on our proudest achievements throughout our video gaming careers, a few notable moments come to mind -- for instance, the first time we caught 'em all. Or when we topped our friends' high scores on Pac-Man Championship Edition. The first time we beat the wretched wind tunnel level in Battletoads. Oh, and how could we forget -- that time we shuffled robo-Hitler off this mortal coil in Wolfenstein 3D. That guy was a jerk.

Unfortunately, the satisfaction one feels after putting the kibosh on a genocidist won't be present in Id Software and Raven's next installment in their Nazi-stomping franchise, Wolfenstein. In an interview with Eurogamer, Id lead artist Kevin Cloud confirmed that the Fuhrer will not be present in the upcoming title, claiming that the developer needs to "save something for future Wolfensteins." Who could possibly replace him as the game's nefarious evil boss, though? Eva Braun? Bowser, perhaps?

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]]>adolf-hitlerhitlerid-softwareravenwolfensteinGriffin McElroy2008-08-09T21:00:00+00:00Carmack: Xbox 360 Rage 'a little blurry,' 'key scenes' same as PS3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/carmack-xbox-360-rage-a-little-blurry-key-scenes-same-as-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/carmack-xbox-360-rage-a-little-blurry-key-scenes-same-as-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/carmack-xbox-360-rage-a-little-blurry-key-scenes-same-as-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

mgs4
How many DVDs does it take to screw in a light bulb? ... Are we talkin' a Mega Texture light bulb that casts penumbra shadowing?

In an update to id Software's data dilemma, John Carmack tells Tom's Games, "We're pretty much resigned to the fact that we're going to make [Rage] fit onto two DVDs on the 360." In other words, Microsoft isn't about to write off the steep royalties that allegedly add up with each additional game disc. The good news is you'll only have to whine for mom to swap your Xbox 360 discs once. The bad news, as headlined last week, is that Rage for Xbox 360 will supposedly look worse than the PlayStation 3's Blu-ray version due to data compression. But how much worse?

"All of the key scenes, the things anyone is going to take a screenshot of are going to look exactly the same on both platforms," Carmack explains. "They'll get the high quality compression. But if you go into some areas in the wasteland, like behind a fence where nobody will typically go and explore, this is where the 360 version may look a little blurry compared to the PS3." We hear id's been sweeping some artifacts under the rug too. And watch out for those jaggies hiding beneath the bed!

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]]>blu-raydvdeaid-softwareid-tech-5john-carmackrageJames Ransom-Wiley2008-08-08T13:45:00+00:00Carmack turned down Quake MMO offershttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/carmack-turned-down-quake-mmo-offers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/carmack-turned-down-quake-mmo-offers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/carmack-turned-down-quake-mmo-offers/#commentsFiled under:


So, according to John Carmack, id has turned down offers from publishers who wanted to create massively multiplayer version of Quake. Why? Well, to put it pretty bluntly, Carmack (and, by extension, id) doesn't have any interest in making one.

So, what do you think the biggest news here is? Is it that this a Quake MMO isn't going to happen? We don't think so. We're far more concerned that some publisher somewhere thought that making a Quake MMO was a good idea. Dearest game publishers, please don't think that "MMO" actually stands for "Tons of Free Money." It's because of that kind of thinking that Richard Garriott had to pick up a second job at Toys 'R' Us.

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]]>idid-softwarequakeJustin McElroy2008-08-05T23:30:00+00:00Avary is working on Wolfenstein flick 'right now'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/avary-is-working-on-wolfenstein-flick-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/avary-is-working-on-wolfenstein-flick-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/avary-is-working-on-wolfenstein-flick-right-now/#commentsFiled under:


Though we would have thought that, in light of recent events, a draft of Grand Theft Auto would be more appropriate (What? Too soon?), it seems that Roger Avary is still plugging away at the script for a big-screen Wolfenstein feature.

id's Todd Hollenshead told Eurogamer that, though the recent writer's strike slowed things down, progress is being made, saying, "I've recently been in contact with Roger and he's actually working on the script right now." Hollenshead thinks that the progress is slower than id would have liked, but considering, oh, every other video game movie ever, we think we can find a way to hold out.

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]]>id-softwaremovieswolfensteinJustin McElroy2008-08-05T10:00:00+00:00id's Carmack: iPhone nearly as powerful as Xbox, PS2http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/ids-carmack-iphone-nearly-as-powerful-as-xbox-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/ids-carmack-iphone-nearly-as-powerful-as-xbox-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/ids-carmack-iphone-nearly-as-powerful-as-xbox-ps2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


When he isn't dabbling in rocket science, id Software's John Carmack is one of the world authorities on 3D graphics programming. Carmack, who recently revealed that he is turning his talents to Apple's iPhone (the graphics ones, not the rocketry smarts) for a "graphical tour de force," has provided his two cents on just how powerful the cell phone personal media device really is.

During an on-stage appearance at QuakeCon 2008, the man who's tinkered with every graphics tech under the sun likened the polygon-pushing capabilities of iPhone to that of Sega's late, great Dreamcast. Taking the comparison to more current game hardware, he stated that iPhone is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and Sony PSP combined," perhaps even nearing the capabilities of the PS2 and original Xbox. Given his statements, we're even more eager to see the two projects id is developing for the device, a "conventional mobile game" and the aforementioned visual show stopper.

[Via Engadget]

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]]>id-softwareiphonejohn-carmackquakecon-2008Randy Nelson2008-08-01T21:55:00+00:00See QuakeCon video of Wolfenstein RPGhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/see-quakecon-video-of-wolfenstein-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/see-quakecon-video-of-wolfenstein-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/see-quakecon-video-of-wolfenstein-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We haven't played Doom RPG, so we're not exactly sure how meshing an id FPS with a role-playing game model will work. But we have to say that after watching the above QuakeCon footage of Wolfenstein RPG, we're at the very least intrigued.

If we have one regret, it's that the game is coming to cell phones instead of Apple's sexy new behemoth. Sadly it seems like we'll have to wait for Carmack's "graphical tour de force" for a portable id game that doesn't look like straight yuck.

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]]>id-softwarequakeconwolfenstein-3dwolfenstein-rpgJustin McElroy2008-08-01T14:55:00+00:00Doom IV getting name change operationhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/doom-iv-getting-name-change-operation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/doom-iv-getting-name-change-operation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/doom-iv-getting-name-change-operation/#commentsFiled under: ,


Whatever form the next game in the Doom saga takes, it will do so with a name other than simply Doom IV. id's Tim Willits told Big Download during this week's QuakeCon that the previously revealed Doom sequel will still have Doom in the title, but will adopt some form of hellish subtitle instead of a number, roman numeral or otherwise.

The designer noted that the decision was made, at least in part, because the fourth game in the series will not be a continuation of the events seen in Doom III and its expansion. As for what we can expect from the forthcoming Doom something something, who's to say, though it'll probably involve demons, a shotgun and -- if Doom III was any indication -- us wetting the bed.

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]]>doomdoom-4doom3doom4idid-softwarequakeconquakecon-2008Jason Dobson2008-08-01T10:35:00+00:00Carmack: Rage to look worse on 360 if limited to two DVDshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/carmack-rage-to-look-worse-on-360-if-limited-to-two-dvds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/carmack-rage-to-look-worse-on-360-if-limited-to-two-dvds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/carmack-rage-to-look-worse-on-360-if-limited-to-two-dvds/#commentsFiled under: ,


Fanboys, start your engines! According to id Software's resident genius John Carmack, the developer's upcoming title Rage could actually look worse on Xbox 360 "due to the compression needed to fit the game's assets on two DVDs," reports Shacknews.

Evidently royalty fees associated with a third disc would make the project financially unviable, so Carmack's looking to Microsoft to bite the bullet and rescind the fee or suffer the consequences (read: a multiplatform AAA title that looks worse on 360). Perhaps, unsurpringly considering the large size of the game's texture files, Carmack doesn't think that Doom 4 or Rage will make their way to digital distribution anytime soon.

[Thanks, Anonim]

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]]>EAid-SoftwareJohn-CarmackRageChristopher Grant2008-08-01T09:38:00+00:00Intel: Some example of Ray Traced gaming likely in 2-3 yearshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/intel-some-example-of-ray-traced-gaming-likely-in-2-3-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/intel-some-example-of-ray-traced-gaming-likely-in-2-3-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/intel-some-example-of-ray-traced-gaming-likely-in-2-3-years/#commentsFiled under:

Already looking to the future, Intel's Dr. Michael Vollmer expressed hope towards the future of ray traced visuals in gaming. When asked by PC Gaming Hardware if there were developers already working on ray traced games, Vollmer said, "I dare say that in two to three years time we will see something," noting that he keeps in touch with companies all over the world.

Ray tracing is a graphics technique that is capable of some impressive, photorealistic visuals but conversely is very computational-intensive. Vollmer also said that the raytracing demo shown last month should be seen as a technical demo and that the graphics portion had been taken from the non-raytraced optimized Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Speaking of which, we couldn't think of a more likely candidate for showcasing raytraced graphics than John Carmack and Id Software, except maybe Crytek. If Vollmer's estimates are accurate, we hope to see some ray traced frag fest in time for the 2011 Game Developers Conference.

[Via Blue's News]

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]]>crytekid-softwareintelmichael-vollmerray-tracingraytracingRoss Miller2008-07-31T09:15:00+00:00Rumor: Wolfenstein will likely appear at E3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/rumor-wolfenstein-will-likely-appear-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/rumor-wolfenstein-will-likely-appear-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/rumor-wolfenstein-will-likely-appear-at-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We thought it was important to comb through Spike TV's E3 coverage plans, if only so we could plan our walking paths to put us in front of the cameras as much as humanly possible. But imagine our surprise when we actually found news hiding within our ticket to stardom. Check this listing:

"Geoff Keighley is on the E3 show floor to give Spike viewers the inside scoop on the sights and sounds of the show. Also, tune in for more world exclusive surprises including something special from id Software and Raven Software. -- Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16 (11:59 PM - Midnight, ET/PT)"

Something special from id and Raven, huh? Could it be the 2-and-1/2-years-in-development Wolfenstein follow up that's supposed to arrive this year? Yeah, we think that's a pretty safe bet. Here's hoping we get to hear more about another return to the castle next week.

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]]>geoff-keighleyid-softwareravenspikespike-tvwolfensteinJustin McElroy2008-07-09T14:29:00+00:00Metareview -- Quake Wars vs. Quake Warshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/metareview-quake-wars-vs-quake-wars/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/metareview-quake-wars-vs-quake-wars/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/metareview-quake-wars-vs-quake-wars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

quake wars
"A Tale of Two (different) Ports" has reached its (anti-) climactic conclusion, as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this week. Development of the console ports was fractured between two different studios, and when we checked in on the games six weeks ago, Underground Development's PS3 version was lagging behind -- yet refused to be delayed. And so, broken and stuttering, the port pushed on, crossing the finish line (into the retail market) hand in hand with its Xbox 360 counterpart. A tie then? Clearly not:
quake wars
"A Tale of Two (different) Ports" has reached its (anti-) climactic conclusion, as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this week. Development of the console ports was fractured between two different studios, and when we checked in on the games six weeks ago, Underground Development's PS3 version was lagging behind -- yet refused to be delayed. And so, broken and stuttering, the port pushed on, crossing the finish line (into the retail market) hand in hand with its Xbox 360 counterpart. A tie then? Clearly not:

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]]>activisionenemy-territory-quake-warsidid-softwarenervequake-warsunderground-developmentz-axisJames Ransom-Wiley2008-05-30T19:00:00+00:00id Software leaves ESAhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/id-software-leaves-esa/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/id-software-leaves-esa/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/id-software-leaves-esa/#commentsFiled under: ,

GamePolitics has confirmed through an id Software representative that the Doom and Rage developer is no longer a member of the Entertainment Software Association. The departure comes after several other companies, including LucasArts, Activision and Vivendi, waved goodbye to the organization. It's unclear what prompted id's decision, but the ESA will be in trouble if these exits turn into an exodus.

The ESA may release a full statement, acknowledging the latest departure, later today.

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]]>BreakingNewsESAidid-softwareLudwig Kietzmann2008-05-23T14:55:00+00:00Doom 4 announced, id Software hiringhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/doom-4-announced-id-software-hiring/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/doom-4-announced-id-software-hiring/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/doom-4-announced-id-software-hiring/#commentsFiled under: ,

Turns out those blood-thirsty demons just won't stay dead. Id Software has announced that Doom 4 has begun production as of today. According to the press release, the studio is now hiring for the project. Said CEO Todd Hollenshead, "Doom is part of the id Software DNA and demands the greatest talent and brightest minds in the industry to bring the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth."

No other details were given, but we're guessing it'll run off of id Tech 5 (or perhaps something greater). Given the ending of the Doom 3 expansion Resurrection was pretty conclusive, we don't know where the team will take the Doom story next. Our guess? Probably send a space marine to Hell to fight demons. Perhaps this time he (or she) will pack a better flashlight.

Id Software is a prolific partner of Activision, who published Doom 3, Quake 4 and Quake Wars. Check out Activision's Family Album to learn more about the company's internal studios.

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]]>breakingnewsdoomdoom-4idid-softwareRoss Miller2008-05-07T12:59:00+00:00id Software admits uncertainty regarding plans for E3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/id-software-admits-uncertainty-regarding-plans-for-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/id-software-admits-uncertainty-regarding-plans-for-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/id-software-admits-uncertainty-regarding-plans-for-e3/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week laid the groundwork for what promises to be at the very least a confusing E3, with a number of familiar faces jumping ship in favor of the uncertain waters below. However, the news of who would and would not be attending the show this July got a bit hazy with regards to talk of developer id Software, with conflicting reports painting the Doom masterminds as both planning to attend and turning their backs on the annual event.

Rather than seek the wisdom of the office Magic 8-Ball, we turned to id co-owner and CEO Todd Hollenshead, who conceded uncertainty with regards to the company's E3 plans. Admitted the exec in an email: "Actually, we haven't determined in what capacity we'll be attending E3 (if any), so everyone is wrong." Interestingly, his response echoed that of our own prognosticating orb, which replied simply "Reply hazy, try again."

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]]>doome3esaidid-softwareidsoftwareJason Dobson2008-05-04T00:30:00+00:00NCsoft, Foundation 9, Atlus also skipping E3, other attendees confirmhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/ncsoft-foundation-9-also-skipping-e3-other-attendees-confirm/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/ncsoft-foundation-9-also-skipping-e3-other-attendees-confirm/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/ncsoft-foundation-9-also-skipping-e3-other-attendees-confirm/#commentsFiled under: ,


The E3 2008 confusion continues. Following the soon-to-be merged Activison and Vivendi Games' departure from the Entertainment Software Association and its E3 press event, we got to wondering who else might not be showing up for the annual game industry showing. The list of attendees on the (password-protected) E3 site leaves out some pretty big names, including MMO-publisher NCsoft who tells Joystiq that, though it's been an ESA member since last year, it will not be attending E3 this year because the timing of the event didn't work out for their upcoming releases. Gamespot reports that Foundation 9 won't be attending, stating, "We just didn't feel like we got enough out of the investment last year in order to justify the expense this year." Atlus also confirmed to Joystiq that, despite attending last year's summit, it too would be skipping out on E3 2008.

Gamespot confirms that other names missing from the list - Bethesda, id Software, Majesco, and D3Publisher - still plan on attending. Kotaku claims that id Software is not attending despite Gamespot's story to the contrary. We've contacted id for clarification. They also assert that Her Interactive (best known for their popular Nancy Drew games) won't be attending, though the publisher didn't attend E3 last year either. We reached out to peripheral manufacturer Nyko who said that, though they aren't listed on the official site, they will nevertheless be attending.

As for a specific reason for the absences, outside of timing and exposure, Kotaku cites several unnamed sources who pin the blame straight on current ESA pres Michael Gallagher's well-tailored lapel. Is Gallagher out of touch with the video game industry?

[Update 4:58pm: Added Atlus and Nyko details.]


Read - Activision/Vivendi leave ESA, skip E3
Read - Five Publishers Drop Out of E3 This Year, Some Blame ESA President
Read - NCsoft, Foundation 9 bypass E3 '08

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]]>ESAFoundation-9id-SoftwareNCsoftChristopher Grant2008-05-02T16:27:00+00:00Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, a tale of two (different) portshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/enemy-territory-quake-wars-a-tale-of-two-different-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/enemy-territory-quake-wars-a-tale-of-two-different-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/enemy-territory-quake-wars-a-tale-of-two-different-ports/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Huh. Well, this is surprising. Instead of pushing for platform parity in their upcoming console ports of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars - like several other recent multi-platform releases have strived for - id Software has created two relatively unique versions. The practice of using two different developers to handle the ports - Nerve for the Xbox 360 port and Activision's Underground Development (formerly Z-Axis) on the PS3 port - accounts for some of the disparity, but certainly other dual-developed ports have been relatively similar, at least in feature-set if not quality (take Orange Box, for example).

In this case, as revealed to MTV Multiplayer, the Xbox 360 version of Quake Wars has a robust Achievement system that actually includes an entirely separate single-player campaign mode, as well as a training mode and all the Xbox Live integration you would expect from a team-based shooter. Meanwhile, Underground Development "was focusing in on other things like ... making the game look as good as it could on the PS3" and "creating systems that do what Xbox Live [already] does like matchmaking [and] server migration." Unfortunately, as relayed by PlayStation fansite PSU, the "near complete" PS3 port suffers from a hefty 4.1GB mandatory installation and "falls short of expectations, showcasing the same broke visuals we have become accustomed to in deprived PS3 ports, delivering an unpolished experience."

With the title's May 27 release rapidly approaching, it's unlikely the PS3 release will look radically different than it does now. And to think, we thought the era of gimped PS3 ports was at an end.

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]]>ActivisionEnemy-Territory-Quake-WarsiD-SoftwareQuake-WarsChristopher Grant2008-04-18T16:27:00+00:00Gameloft, Id to develop for iPhonehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/gameloft-id-to-develop-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/gameloft-id-to-develop-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/gameloft-id-to-develop-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under:

Joining the ranks of Electronic Arts in game development for the iPhone, Gameloft and id Software have announced their commitment to Apple's portable. According to its press release, Gameloft intends to develop over 15 titles.

In a post on Slashdot, id's programming wizard John Carmack lauded Apple's 70% royalty deal and distribution deal. As for the SDK, Carmack said, "Just based on the blurbs, it looks very good -- a simulator plus debugging on the native device is the best of both worlds." Id also noted it had to put in an application for development like everyone else. Can we get an official version of Doom now?

[Via Engadget]

Read - John Carmack on iPhone SDK
Read - Gameloft Confirms Plans to Develop For iPhone With Over 15 Titles in 2008

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]]>applecarmackdoomgameloftidid-softwareiphonejohn-carmackRoss Miller2008-03-10T13:45:00+00:00GDC08: Surviving the war of words in 'The Future of Story' sessionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-surviving-the-war-of-words-in-the-future-of-story-sessi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-surviving-the-war-of-words-in-the-future-of-story-sessi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-surviving-the-war-of-words-in-the-future-of-story-sessi/#commentsFiled under: ,

First off, kudos to the GDC organizers for putting such different-minded people together for "The Future of Story" panel, which ended up being an insightful and vitriolic debate. The panel, hosted by indie writer Deborah Todd, included Saber 3D's Matthew Karch and Michael Hall (Time Shift), Silicon Knights' Denis Dyack (Too Human), Eidos Montreal's Mary DeMarie (previously: Myst III, IV and Dungeon Siege), Matt Costello (7th Guest) and Director of id Software Tim Willits.

A focus of the panel was the the dichotomy of story and gameplay, with both Dyack and Karch taking opposing viewponts and everyone else scattered somewhat in the middle. Early on, Karch asserted his view that some genres don't need to value story as much, citing Call of Duty 4 as a game where no one cared about the story. Later, he summed his viewpoint up best saying, "My whole argument is, it doesn't need to be a story written by Steinbeck, it needs to be someone who just keeps the game moving on."

Said Dyack, "In five to ten years, there will not be a shoter genre. It's gonna be more literative -- horror, science fiction, etc." When Karch asked if Bruckheimer would go away (referencing the "high-octane" film producer), Dyack retorted that "He's McDonald's, thats what he is. and people love McD's." The back and forth continued, culminating in the following exchange:

Dyack: "We should still aspire to this. you could have bubble gum like, Transformers [the film] for example, but in the end its what entertains."

Karch: "I'll take bubble gum."
Costello provided the less heated, but still thought-provoking observations. "We all love oil refineries, but if we blow it up for a reason, for a purpose, it just magnifies that 100volt," he said near the beginning, and later, "I would argue doom has a story -- there are monsters that will kill you. And i think that's compelling."
When should writing be implemented and to what extent? DeMarie told an anecdote from when she worked "out of house" (not in the studio). "I'd work with the designer, we'd talk on the phone for hours, gong through the process, and he's day 'great, I'm going to take this in house to talk about it," she said. "Months later he'd call and say, 'We're good to go now, write the script, but oh yeah here are all the changes we made." DeMarie said she got frustrated and it's why she moved in hour to become a narrative lead at Eidos Montreal.

Hall and Karch noted that, while full time pay is good, a writer does not necessarily to be involved for the entire development process. "It'd be nice for everyone here to have full-time with benefits where you go to office and everyone's happy," said Hall, "but you gotta make a living, so it happens." Costello mentioned that out of house writers are beneficial in that those who excel at genres (i.e. horror) aren't tied to a single studio.

Karch noted that in many cases the story is supplementary to the game mechanic, whereas Dyack said the story precedes gameplay, like it purportedly did for Too Human. Those who start with mechanics are "fundamentally flawed," he said. "We didn't think about gameplay, technology, audio," he said, "all that came later. The central core was to entertain."

De Marie asserted that game mechanic can come first, and given the clever Portalthat came out this year, we're inclined to agree. Said Willits, before Rage, "we actually started a new game that John [Carmack] had great technology ideas for. The game story and design of that was not working with the title. So we talked with Matt [Costello] and he had to fundamentally change the game design to fit with that."

How far is technology? Karch said that gaming haven't scrapped the surface on the technological possibilities. "We're still cavemen in that regard," he said. "If you want to tell a good story, it's only going to be possible when you think the people you see are real people. that's technology." Dyack (and later Hall) described the advancements of technology as a curve. "However," said Dyack, "society is reaching perceptual threshold where they don't tell it as much."

Hall provided an amusing moment when he said, "I think we're damn close to the ceiling. how close are you to photorealistic. Show of hands," he said, pointing to the audience. One, maybe tow hands show up. "We're not real close, well okay," he quipped to a room of laughter.

The concluding moments led to one of the funniest exchanges between Dyack and Karch, with the latter providing the zinger. In talking about integrating interactivity into cinema-like storytelling, the two argued over whether it was possible. Said Dyack, "Many people thought it wasn't possible with what we're doing with Too Human but you can play it yourself," to which Karch replied, "when it comes out I'll be happy to," referencing the decade-long development cycle. Burn.

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]]>eidosfuture-of-storygdcgdc08idid-softwaremichael-karchragesilicon-knightstime-shifttimeshifttoo-humanRoss Miller2008-02-21T17:00:00+00:00GDC08: Quake Zero becomes Quake Livehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-quake-zero-becomes-quake-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-quake-zero-becomes-quake-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-quake-zero-becomes-quake-live/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's been a while since we've heard anything about Quake Zero, id Software's free-to-play variation of Quake 3. For starters, it's not going by that old name anymore. From now on, you can call it Quake Live. Secondly, gone are any doubts about the financial efficacy of their business model: in-game advertising acronym addicts IGA Worldwide has announced a partnership with id Software to convert your roaming gaze into cold, hard cash.

Quake Live will be available, cleverly enough, at www.quakelive.com, along with an assortment of features like stats, matchmaking, and of course, the game itself. And no, we still don't know when it (or the XBLA version) is scheduled to be release. Regardless, coupled with EA's free-to-play Battlefield Heroes, our trend-sensors are ringing off the charts.

[Via GameDaily BIZ]

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]]>BreakingNewsGDC08id-SoftwareQuake-LiveQuake-ZeroChristopher Grant2008-02-20T07:28:00+00:00