John Carmack Wins GDC Lifetime Achievement Award

[TheMailMan78]

Who better? Also FYI guys hes a real rocket scientist. No joke.

John Carmack Wins GDC Lifetime Achievement Award

id Software co-founder, technical wizard and rocket man John Carmack has been named winner of this year's Game Developers Choice Awards Lifetime Achievement Award "for his contributions to the art and science of games."

"It's no exaggeration to say that John Carmack and id Software have had a monumental influence on all modern 3D games, but especially the first-person shooter genre," said GDC event director Meggan Scavio. "John is one of the key figures in the history of video games, and we're delighted to be giving him the Lifetime Achievement award this year."

Carmack-devised engines have powered id's games all the way from the 2D platformer Commander Keen and the revolutionary first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D, through the iconic Doom and varied Quake series all the way to id's upcoming Rage. Dozens of games from Anachronox to Half-Life have licensed these engines.

Carmack engines have also shaped gaming as we know it with robust support for user-created mods from Doom onwards, from simple custom levels to essentially whole new games. Team Fortress notably started life as a Quake mod and Counter-Strike creator Minh 'Gooseman' Le started modding with Navy SEALs for Quake.

Amateur developers have also benefited from id's policy of releasing the engine source code for its older games, with the engines from Wolfenstein 3D through to Quake 3 now open to anyone who wishes to tinker under the hood, resulting in stand-alone mods, engine overhauls, free indie games and even neurological research on mice.

The decision was made by a panel of industry figures including BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka, Deus Ex lead designer Harvey Smith, Ben Cousins of EA DICE, PopCap co-founder John Vechey and Far Cry 2 creative director Clint Hocking.

Previous fabled luminaries to lift Lifetime Achievement Awards include Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the Sim-tastic Will Wright and Civilization creator Sid Meier.

Carmack will be presented with the award by Will Wright during the 2010 Games Developers Conference at a ceremony on March 11 hosted by System Shock producer and Deus Ex creative director Warren Spector.

This ceremony will also see Valve Software's Gabe Newell receiving this year's Pioneer Award and the Ambassador Award going to Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik and Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade, as well as the unveiling of the other Game Developers Choice Awards winners.

Source

 

[TVman]

nerdy white guy FTW no but seriosly he deserves that more then anybody

 

[MadClown]

"Far Cry 2 creative director Clint Hocking."

I loled right there.

Carmack deserves that award, he's a freaking genius.

 

[CDdude55]

He definitly deserves it.

One of the greatest game developers of all time imo.

 

[Muhad]

I sure wish he would develop a tactical shooter!

 

[TheMailMan78]

I sure wish he would develop a tactical shooter!

I just want a true follow up to Quake 3.

 

[btarunr]

A "lifetime achievement award" in anything is given to those who are leaving the field (or hinted to leave). Carmack is that. He 'was' a great game maker. But the time for id and its style of game presentation is running out.

 

[TheMailMan78]

A "lifetime achievement award" in anything is given to those who are leaving the field (or hinted to leave). Carmack is that. He 'was' a great game maker. But the time for id and its style of game presentation is running out.

Then me as a gamer will be done also. iD has made some of the best games to ever be played. What could replace them?

 

[btarunr]

Then me as a gamer will be done also. iD has made some of the best games to ever be played. What could replace them?

It's already replaced.

Half Life 2 outsold and outdid Doom 3. Military-style multiplayer shooters such as CS, CoD4, etc., replaced Sci Fi shooters such as Quake 4 and UT3. The id, Epic era is gone. Don't have too high hopes on Rage.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'd say he deserved it more so than Sid Meier. Sid Meier made some good games (like Pirates! and SimGolf) but what Carmack did was simply epic (2.5D games FTW--literally). A long overdue recognition.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Well deserved indeed.

 

[newconroer]

I know we live in an age, where we don't snicker at one another as much as we used to, about the idea that someone plays or makes video games.

But I don't know man... "John is one of the key figures in the history of video games,..."

Might as well just put "NERD" on his tombstone one day.

To me, Carmack is like Bill Gates - right time, right place, with the right amount of ambition, a bit of luck, a massive vision and some knowledge.

 

[johnnyfiive]

It's already replaced.

Half Life 2 outsold and outdid Doom 3. Military-style multiplayer shooters such as CS, CoD4, etc., replaced Sci Fi shooters such as Quake 4 and UT3. The id, Epic era is gone. Don't have too high hopes on Rage.

NOTHING REPLACES Quake 1 (QuakeWorld, TF), Quake 2 (OSP, Rocket Arena 2, CTF), Quake 3 (OSP, Rocket Arena 3, CTF), and QuakeLive.

When I saw Carmack giving his speech about id and the changes with Bethesda and demo of RAGE, I was excited. Although RAGE looks like an id'ed Fallout 3, its still an id game and I can't wait to play it. Long live Carmack and his insanely amazing game changing creations. I wouldn't add luck to any of his success because no one could have created what John Carmack did in his prime. Theres a reason he is considered the first 3D FPS originator. Even when key people leave his team (John Romero), he was still successful, even more so than before the staff departures. Mr. Carmack is a genius. Can anyone remember playing Quake 2 in OpenGL and crapping their pants? Those were the days.

 

[TheMailMan78]

It's already replaced.

Half Life 2 outsold and outdid Doom 3. Military-style multiplayer shooters such as CS, CoD4, etc., replaced Sci Fi shooters such as Quake 4 and UT3. The id, Epic era is gone. Don't have too high hopes on Rage.

Those are not replacements. Those are incarnations

Anyway HL2 is in the same tier as Quake and Unreal. What it "lacked" in eye candy it made up for in plot. It was like playing a movie. CS is just Quake/Unreal with unlocks in a modern setting and CoD4 runs off of a modified Doom 3 engine. So yeah you were saying what was "replaced"

Come on BTA don't forget your roots! I know deep down under all the news reporting you fire up Quake 3 once in a while!

 

[Phxprovost]

I'd say he deserved it more so than Sid Meier. Sid Meier made some good games (like Pirates! and SimGolf) but what Carmack did was simply epic (2.5D games FTW--literally). A long overdue recognition.

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Personally, i dont think there is a game series that i have sunk more time into then civilization and i honestly think they are the greatest strategy games ever made. I think they both deserve it as they both played key roles in the early development of video games...just in two different directions