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General : ZeniMax Acquires id Software
Posted Jun 24, 2009 by Jon Wood
Zenimax, parent company to Bethesda and Zenimax Online, announced today that it had acquired id Software, best known for their work on such classic FPS titles as Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein.
With these new properties falling under the Zenimax umbrella that includes an MMO studio, it certainly raises some interesting possibilities.
une 24, 2009 (Rockville, MD) – ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of legendary game studio, id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, and its upcoming title, RAGE. The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the finest, most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the first person shooter (FPS) expertise of id Software with acclaimed role playing game (RPG) developer Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2008 Game of the Year, Fallout 3, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers.
Founded in 1991, id Software established itself as an industry leader with some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video games of all time. id Software created the original first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, and subsequently set new standards in the genre with the blockbuster releases of its DOOM and QUAKE titles. In addition, id Software developed cutting edge, proprietary technology with the id Tech engine which powers many notable FPS titles, and continues to make great advances in game technology under the direction of John Carmack, one of the country’s technology leaders and a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame.
Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, commented on the transaction: “This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles. In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”
id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio.
“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am.”
Robert Altman, the founder, Chairman & CEO of ZeniMax Media stated, “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”
Read the original release.
O_O wow. Personally I like my creative freedom, but ID has run it's course. Time to cut your loses and sell out to someone that has ideas for your IP. Good luck, lets hope it turns out well.
I guess you didnt really read the Press Release, the studio will still be operating exactly as it did before, and even under the same people such as the founder John Carmack. They havent really "sold out" or "cut their losses" its still all the same people. Cutting your losses would imply that people just dropped any backing in the company and left, which no one did. This is a great opportunity for id Software, and I hope to see some good games come out of this transaction, id has always been one of my favorite game studios and I cant wait to see what this does for them. :)
Oblivion: Quake Wars anyone?
Well, id always did great engines and crappy games at least some creativity may leak in now.
ROFL, crappy games. I guess your a man who doesn't like FPS games. Because ID Software made some of the best out there. Quake 1,2 and 3 were some of the most competitive games out for quite sometime and started what we know as CPL. ID engines also spawned some really great mod's like Urban Terror, 3Wave CTFS, and Warsow. On top of that they have a major leader in FPS's with the Doom series. Then you add on John Carmeck, thee leader in game engine building, and you have the best studio in the world. I really hope this makes John rethink MMORPG's and creates an engine for them. I have no doubt it would be the sweetest running engine to date. This is some huge new's I must say, but I can see why it's not getting a lot of attention on these boards.
ID Software is slow on making games but when they release new game (once every decade) its sure masterpiece and will make all fans of FPS games require underwear laundry.
That's because Id Soft is one of the FEW remaining PC game studios that wait until a game is actually DONE before releasing it.
Id pioneered the 3d gaming industry....they pioneered 3d internet gaming....you could say they invented the wheel upon which all of our modern games roll.
To join with Bethesda in the way that they have....I literally get chills down my spine when I think of the creative possibilities, and what we could see in the future from these game makers.
This is big. REALLY big.
That's because Id Soft is one of the FEW remaining PC game studios that wait until a game is actually DONE before releasing it.
Id pioneered the 3d gaming industry....they pioneered 3d internet gaming....you could say they invented the wheel upon which all of our modern games roll.
To join with Bethesda in the way that they have....I literally get chills down my spine when I think of the creative possibilities, and what we could see in the future from these game makers.
This is big. REALLY big.
LOL???
NO they are not the few remianing game studios that waits till a gme is actually done, they have been in financial difficulties for quite some time now, so they had to sell. You mean duke nukem forever thats taken 15 years to still make? yes they sure the hell are waiting with that one LOL.
LOL???
NO they are not the few remianing game studios that waits till a gme is actually done, they have been in financial difficulties for quite some time now, so they had to sell. You mean duke nukem forever thats taken 15 years to still make? yes they sure the hell are waiting with that one LOL.
you might want to know what you are talking about before you jump into a conversation. Duke Nukem is 3DRealms....we're talking about Id here.....
Financial difficulties?? HAHAHA!!! You realise that JC owns Armadillo Aerospace?? Has an exotic car collection so big that he has been known to give them away as prizes during Quakecon?
Do you know that the Source engine was originally a licensed quake 2 engine? That Id not only sells it's games, but make an insane amount off from engine licenses and royalties?? That a significant percentage of PC games, were, and still are being made on licensed Id technology?
Well, I was starting to worry about them when I saw Quake Wars.
Now, I'm just plain sad panda. I mean, MAYBE under a new company they'll still put out some awesome games, but...
Unless the game is called DOOM 3.
Unless the game is called DOOM 3.
Doom 3 was fine. It brought new technology to the table, and was a delight for fans of the original game. People at the time were expecting gimmicks, and cool new buttons to push. Id gave their fans instead a classic Id game with a graphics upgrade and some new physics, and remained true to the spirit of the game.
For those who wanted gimmicks..there was Half Life 2 (which would never have existed without the evolution of Valve's licensed Q2 engine).
I bought and played both games, and still regularly fire them up for a re-play...both great games, but aimed at creating a totally different experience.
Id software will do fine...with their technology, and artists, and Beth's knack for story and immersion, we're going to get some MIND BLOWING games...mark my words.
You are as good, as your last game.
Zenimax made John Carmack their bitch.
LOL???
NO they are not the few remianing game studios that waits till a gme is actually done, they have been in financial difficulties for quite some time now, so they had to sell. You mean duke nukem forever thats taken 15 years to still make? yes they sure the hell are waiting with that one LOL.
you might want to know what you are talking about before you jump into a conversation. Duke Nukem is 3DRealms....we're talking about Id here.....
Financial difficulties?? HAHAHA!!! You realise that JC owns Armadillo Aerospace?? Has an exotic car collection so big that he has been known to give them away as prizes during Quakecon?
Do you know that the Source engine was originally a licensed quake 2 engine? That Id not only sells it's games, but make an insane amount off from engine licenses and royalties?? That a significant percentage of PC games, were, and still are being made on licensed Id technology?
3DRealms still exists currently but it is in doubt what will come of it. I understand the original company Prodigy is starting back up to possibly handle all Duke properties but its still in question about Duke Nukem Forever. The publisher is sueing 3DRealms for breach.
you might want to know what you are talking about before you jump into a conversation. Duke Nukem is 3DRealms....we're talking about Id here.....
Financial difficulties?? HAHAHA!!! You realise that JC owns Armadillo Aerospace?? Has an exotic car collection so big that he has been known to give them away as prizes during Quakecon?
Do you know that the Source engine was originally a licensed quake 2 engine? That Id not only sells it's games, but make an insane amount off from engine licenses and royalties?? That a significant percentage of PC games, were, and still are being made on licensed Id technology?
3DRealms still exists currently but it is in doubt what will come of it. I understand the original company Prodigy is starting back up to possibly handle all Duke properties but its still in question about Duke Nukem Forever. The publisher is sueing 3DRealms for breach.
If you read the complaint filed, 3Drealms had been soaking up and blowing money left and right for years from different publishers for Duke Nukem Forever. What finally undid them is Take 2 Interactive ( their last publisher and the suing party ) decided something was screwy and decided to do a little auditing of their own.
It will be interesting to see what this sharing of creative abilities will do. There is no doubt that id is a leader in innovations, and also no doubt that Bethesda is a leader in story and immersion. As I said, it will be interesting to see what will happen.