TouchArcade Interview: John Carmack Talks Doom Classic, the App Store, and More
posted by Eli Hodapp on November 4th, 2009 10:14 PM EST in Podcast, Upcoming Games, iPhone games, iPod touch games
We once again had the opportunity to speak with id Software's John Carmack today. This time about Doom Classic [App Store], the iPhone, and his plans for the future among other things. We've included the audio of our complete interview in podcast format in our TouchArcade podcast [App Store], but have summarized several of the highlights here.
When we asked Carmack about the lack of 3G multiplayer in Doom Classic, it turns out he left it out because he doesn't feel the ping times over the cellular network are conducive to a good multiplayer experience, and unfortunately doesn't have plans to implement 3G multiplayer in any of id's action-twitch-FPS games– which pretty much covers most of their catalog.
Carmack isn't quite yet sure how exactly they will deploy Doom's vast array of extra content. In our previous interview he mentioned the likelihood of bringing Doom 2 levels along with several other level packs to Doom Classic. The two examples he gave for how they might roll out this extra content were either in discretely buyable level packs, or a completely different "premium" version of the game with every level that exists for Doom.
Most interesting is that he does have plans to eventually implement the ability for Doom Classic gamers to enjoy all kinds of player-created customized maps and other content, and cites Wolfenstein 3D Classic's [App Store] latest update which utilizes a specially formatted link inside of mobile Safari to import this data in to the game as an example of what they would like to do with Doom Classic. Carmack seemed very excited about the potential this system has.
For those concerned about missing specific Wolf 3D control options (such as strafe) in Doom Classic, Carmack told us he regretted not simply including all of the Wolf 3D control methods and that he will likely add these missing control layouts in a future update.
The next game we will see on the App Store from id Software will likely be Quake Classic, which will eventually be followed by Quake 2 and then Quake 3. The release date for Quake Classic, however, is likely several months off, and he's still shooting for one iPhone game per quarter. Carmack also reports that another "from scratch" iPhone-specific game is still in the plans at some point next year. This game hasn't even gone into the design phase, but he expects it to be based on Rage and be a combat/action/racing game.
Carmack also reveals he does follow the TouchArcade forums/comments to see how people are reacting to his games and was complimentary of the iPhone gaming community.
These are just a few of the points of our discussion with John Carmack, but the entire 20 minute interview is worth a listen. If you'd like to hear more about id Software, their games, and Carmack's feelings on the iPhone and the App Store, you can either subscribe to our podcast in iTunes, or download the file directly.
App Store Link: Doom Classic, $6.99
TouchArcade Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes or Direct Download (M4A, 10MB)
Going to listen to this after baseball for sure.
I hope the next update is out fast and includes the Wolf3D strafe control!
Thanks for the interview and the hard work!
Thanks John !
Doom Classic is Perfect !
It brings back all the fun of playing Doom all over again.
I hope the extra controls are nothing more than an addition as i love the current controls as they are. As for extra content I really hope is in-app purchase considering im really only gunning for doom2, I'm not crazy about final doom but if he opts for the premium edition instead then I'd def be in line for it. Quake1 has me excited but not as much as quake2 as i spent much more time with that, as for multiplayer, I think Doom classic has enough to keep me busy and I can live without MP
I really enjoy reading Johns dev blogs about the development processes of these games. Even if some of it is over my head, he does a great job of expressing the good and bad parts of development.
Another great interview guys! Keep em coming!
I just realized how old he is, he's only 39. So young and so successful. Great interview. id is awesome.
Ah, I used to play the hell out of the Commander Keen series. Controls probably won't work very well on the iPhone, but damn I would buy it just for the memories.
Thanks for the games, John.
Same here !
Me too
But hang on what happened to asking him about global multiplayer over wi-fi?!!! It's omission from the game is like cutting the testicles from a bull no??!!
Helps you steer the game better though, doesn't it?
(horrible, horrible pun. I'm sorry.)
I'm thrilled to death that Id's catalogue is coming over. Been dreaming of Quake 2 on the iPhone. If Gameloft can bring something like Modern Combat to the phone with decent gfx, man, Quake 2 has to be possible… That might friends would be the cherry on top. I hope Id can continue to bring all their games over. Rage, keeping my fingers crossed.
I am HUGELY disapointed that MP over 3G seems to have been dropped. While I've breifly played Eliminate Pro over 3G, it seemed to work. If they can pull it off, I have no doubt Id could. Here's to hoping. Got friends across the state singing the blues.
Thank you for the great games.
3G MP would been realy nice, much rather be playing DooM or Quake MP on the subway than Eliminate. Think 3G would work fine even with some lag From time to time, remember back in the days when we all sat on modems
Looking forward to Rage and all the other iPhone ports, and thanks to all at id software for all the great work over the years
Doom worked great on a modem.
Security may be more of an issue than speed in regards to global play?
Heretic?
Hexen??
touch like Eliminate or Sandstorm?
Good idea for the wheel xD
Heretic and Hexen would be great !
If i recall and yes I am way older than most everyone on this forum that id was the publisher of Heretic and Raven software was the developer.
Both were fun games !
Heretic (classic, not Heretic II) would be sweet, but controls could be a challenge since it adds flying and spell selection/casting.
Cuando van a sacar una cruceta para el iphone/ipod??
WhatEhat about Global multiplayer over wi-fi??? Is MP really only going to be local only? This is nuts.
..Bull nuts.
Doom Classic is by far the best game in the App Store. I cant wait for the Doom 2 content, and get my hands on the double barreled shotgun
Great! I still remember playing Doom when it was released, Quake too! ID are doing a great job!
btw I'm sure they are more than happy to make some more money out of games THAT old, hehe!
I can't remember what I paid for Doom but if I recall Doom 2 was $50-60 when it was released.
I can't count how many re-releases and packs that I have bought.
I recall their was even a Doom for OS/2 Warp!
And yes that was another OS from a few years back.
Carmack is a genius, but I kind of wish he would concentrate on Rage more than iPhone stuff.
As for 3G multi-player, run the speedtest.net app and check your ping. It will likely be in the thousands. Good MP needs a ping of less than 50, ideally less than 5 or 10ms.
LOL,
I don't think dialup ever had a ping time under the 150-200ms?
And it worked rather well for two player co-op.
I think I played a game that looked like this in the very early 90's…
That's so great John is bringing the strafe control back, although I've got to confess I re-enabled the auto-centring and ramping yesterday and went back to the default controls and now that I'm getting used to it, I have to admit it works really, really well! I think after all that time with Wolfenstein's controls it took me a while to convert to something new.
I can't wait for Doom II and Quake… I'm particularly excited play some Quake deathmatches again!
Quake by Christmas. Quake by Christmas. Quake by Christmas.
Everybody! Quake by Christmas….
'Quake Classic, which will eventually be followed by Quake 2 and then Quake 3. '
Yes!
Especially Q3A and Q2.
Nice, very nice.
(+ Rage is looking very sweet too)
Love that man!
but… if they do do the Quake games they should have a look on Moder Combat as it has the best contriols till date.
is it really supposed to be pronounced 'id' software, as in rhymes with lid?? i've been calling it I.D software since the early nineties.
i feel like i've living a lie for nearly 15 years
As in id, ego, superego
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id,_ego,_and_super-ego
arn
Fantastic interview. What a genious that man is….Great work toucharcade – no wonder I check your site first for all the latest iphone related games news. Doom on the iphone is bringing it all back to me – its like 1993/94 all over again…. Great port and I look forward to the control update. Its maybe old but totally playabe and atmospheric – one of the best games in the app store… I still can't get my head around this game used to take a monster PC in its day to run it and here we are with such technology on our cell phones… how things move……
Carmack reads the forums and comments?
Good.
In that case:
Commander Keen.
Now.
The classic games, and, possibly even better, a brand new Commander Keen game. I know there's some backroom political drama around the IP, but if you can make it happen, then make it happen. I can't be the only one who would kill for a new Commander Keen game.
Damn good interview. I just got to listen to it last night. Good thing about someone like Carmack is you'll get info and honest answers, not some PR crap. And he's not afraid to offer info about what projects are going to come from Id next.
The Quake games never really grabbed me. I've got Wolf and Doom. I'm happy. :p
Quake will be funner this time around with my fast 3GS.
id always had the fastest computers and designed their game to push the hardware to the limit. They were the reason why I always had to upgrade my computer and video card.
When Quake was released my 386 was way to slowwww. Had to buy a 486 the next day.
Thanks id
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