Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Id’s bossman Todd Hollenshead (pictured above, thinking about stuff) has conducted a huge interview with internet newshounds VG247. In it they cover a bunch of stuff about Id, Rage, and the Bethesda deal. They also mention that there’s likely to be a demo for Rage, but no multiplayer beta. The most interesting points elucidate about about Rage, explaining how it’s an action game (and a “directed” open world) with some extra bits added on. Hollenshead also explains that the previous Id project – named “Darkness” – was cancelled due to changes in the tech. “We really didn’t expect the ability to have the massive texturing and the outdoor environments,” says Hollenshead, “the game wasn’t designed or conceived to take advantage of that. So we were like, ‘Not taking advantage of this technology would be a shame.’” All of which sounds like the megatexture stuff that Carmack came up with for the Quake Wars guys has ended up allowing Id themselves to move away from the corridor-shooter. What is that going to mean for Doom 4? Well, that’s left answered. Lots me through the link, anyway, so go read.

Browsing Quarter-to-three, I discover that Tom “Tom Bramwell” Bramwell’s interview with John Carmack and Todd Hollenshead has caused a little internet drama, picked up by 1UP. To paraphrase, Hollenshead argued that PC manufacturers secretly like that there’s piracy on the PCs, as it’s something which makes people buy PCs. After all, unlike console manufacturers, they don’t make any more profit if people actually buy games or not.

Which left Jim and I a little bewildered on a couple of points.
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