Finally free

[davidn]

I honestly can't remember the last time that I lay in on a Sunday morning. Normally I'm not the greatest at coming to consciousness - even when I was born I had to be pulled out of the womb with a big pair of pliers - but somehow, during the weekend I realize that I've got all this time to use and can't keep myself wasting it in bed.

This morning, though, free of the huge project that's been at least in the back of my mind over many years, I stayed in bed and watched the history of id Software (which I have been calling I.D. Software for about twenty-five years and it's going to be so difficult to switch to the intended pronunciation now). It's a fascinating look at how they got together through their pseudo-embezzlement of Softdisk Publishing, their relationship with Apogee, their ideas and the reasons that things went how they did.

I find it particularly interesting that Tom Hall's motivation in leaving the company was because of their games becoming too dark in mood, and then he went off and made Rise of the Triad, which really was quite violent even if it was also a bit mental. And that though it used a lot of the ideas that he wanted to put into Doom, the actual storyline that he wanted was notably absent. And of course, I also love that they only have two photos of him, looking unashamedly crazy and utterly baffled, which they use in rotation throughout.

Now I'm free to just non-guiltily have some free time instead of making something with it - or just play with ideas and find what my next one's going to be. Of course, that sounds nice in theory, but what I've been doing in reality is just obsessing over Crystal Towers 2 in a slightly different way, watching the sales, downloads and game events as they come in. Further thanks go out to everybody who's spreading the word about it!

Comments

[rakarr.livejournal.com]

That's an odd coincidence, because I too have been calling it "I.D" for most of my life, and was only clued into the intended pronunciation a short time ago. "Id" makes sense, though.

I don't have much to say about the company, having not yet watched that video (perhaps I should) but I'd be a little sad to learn of any illegitimacy or shady doings, because they've made some wonderful games that were at least somewhat important to my childhood, and certainly to the industry.

And I just played Hexen a couple of nights ago! I mean, I think I had briefly played it before without really knowing what I was doing, but most of the memories I thought I had of it were instead of Heretic... and I'm rambling a bit, but I was surprised at how different Hexen was from Doom, whereas most of my fuzzy memories of Heretic paint it as Doom with magic weapons. I suppose Hexen 2 should have clued me in on that, though.

[davidn]

Well, it wasn't exactly shady, as they agreed to pay Softdisk back with a deal in the end - but they're the reason that my own work contract has a part on it that says that I can't use the computer equipment they provide for personal projects :)

Heretic certainly was Doom with magic weapons, but I remember that when Hexen came out, its whole selling point that it was different - beyond Heretic! And they really did make it different, with hub-based exploration and puzzles and everything. Though I wouldn't know too much, because personally I've never made it past the second map.

[rakarr.livejournal.com]

Having watched the video now, I see it's not as shady as I originally anticipated. Their actions are a bit of a grey area, but it was still all their own work and done on their own time, even if they were using company equipment. And these companies can be rather overzealous and invasive, so I understand the desire to push back, or go in one's own direction.

While the commentary seems a little hyperbolic, it contains quite interesting information. I knew Id had met runaway success, but not the degree of it and the specifics involved.

I like Hexen's more ponderous pace, the emphasis on atmosphere and exploration, some of the RPG-like elements and the unexpected way it heavily incorporates melee combat into its action. I'm going to have to really give it a proper go soon - my own exploration got me as far as the second level, incidentally.