Looking at the Competition

FS: So since you're going back to your research, is this going to have an effect on when the next id game is going to come out?

John: It depends on what we wind up choosing for the next step. Both of the technologies that I'm working on are stuff that can fit fairly well into the existing Quake 3 framework, so there is a possibility that new technologies will wind up going into the next product. Currently we have this wonderful opportunity where we've got this rock solid, stable, expandable, flexible engine where we could do a game design and not touch much of the engine... and that would be really nice from a management standpoint. However, if we do that the stuff that I'm doing today probably wouldn't see store shelves for like three, four years or something, and that's just a long time for something to go. So there's going to be a really strong incentive to push some of the technology into the next product.

FS: Do you do much research by playing other games, looking at competitors' products?

John: I played Unreal most of the way through, I'll probably play Unreal Tournament most of the way through, although I haven't yet, aside from some of the demo stuff. I don't do a really thorough canvassing, play everything that's out there. Usually I watch over someone's shoulder when they're playing the hot new game. But I don't spend that much time actually playing other games. I certainly play more Quake 3 than any other games out there.

FS: Is there someone in the company that does do that?

John: Christian and Graeme play most of the new games. It used to be Brandon who played every game, when he was at id, everything funneled through there. Tim does it more for some kinds of like research purposes; Tim's fairly conscientious about looking through the other stuff, but Graeme and Christian probably play the other games more for fun.