John Romero responds to id buyout

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 25th June 2009
Comments (19) Stumble
John Romero responds to id buyout

John Romero was one of the founding members of id Software, but left to company to start Ion Storm instead.

id Software founder John Romero may have left the legendary developer to form Ion Storm in 1996, but he's still a synonymous with the Quake maker to a lot of people - so what did he think of the recent sale of id Software to Zenimax Media?

Well, according to Romero's twitter feed (via VG247) he's both shocked and disgusted by the fact that id Software is now owned wholly Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesa Softworks.

"ZENIMAX??????? Disgusting," tweeted Romero just after the sale was announced, following it up a few hours later with "Fallout 3 bought DOOM. Wow."

While Romero fell into disgrace after Daikatana he's still a hugely important and recognisable face in the games industry - one often credited as inventing the term 'deathmatch'. While Daikatana may have proven a total failure it's worth remembering that Ion Storm did have critical success with other titles, most notable Deus Ex and Anachronox.

Having apparently calmed down since his initial tweets, Romero has since posted once more to make his feelings on the sale a little more clear.

"I guess I was shocked and sad to see the id Software of old changed forever today. It's a new day and a new id," said Romero.

Zenimax Media and id Software have assured fans that the sale will not affect the studio massively and that id Software will remain pretty much the same.

Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
Quote general22 25th June 2009, 10:24
LOL, when was the last time John Romero was relevant in the industry? Over 10 years ago probably.
Quote Bauul 25th June 2009, 10:24
As much as I can see where he's coming from, unfortunately he can go swivel. He's done nothing of note for over 13 years now, apart from sell his super-cars and get his girl-gamer ex-wife a boob job.

And you should know better Joe. Romero had nothing to do with Deus Ex. Different designers, different studio.
Quote CardJoe 25th June 2009, 10:37
Romero didn't work on it no, but it was an Ion Storm production and it was Romero who founded the studio and gave Spector's team the autonomy to finish up the game. May have been different teams, but it's worth remembering that if Romero hadn't founded Ion Storm, hired Spector and let him get on with it then Deus Ex might not ever have come into being.
Quote Evildead666 25th June 2009, 12:40
I actually liked Daikatana.
the only gripe I had was one huge bug.
i played the game first time, got more than halfway through before seeing I could increase the power of the Daikatana by using it a lot.
Started again, used only the Daikatana.
Got up to the maximum level of power for the Daikatana, and about 10mins later in the game, a point where the games crashes, everytime.
I've tried it a few times since on later systems, and still crash in the same place everytime...

Anyhoo, it seems the people at Bethesda have their heads screwed on correctly after Oblivion and Fallout 3....
Can't see what harm it could do...yet.
;)
Quote Skiddywinks 25th June 2009, 13:13
Christ, why does everyone all of a sudden assume that the two developers are now one in the same, and that all that is going to come out of this is a wave of ******* Doom/Fallout Frankengames? Honestly.

Fallout did not buy Doom. Zenimax bought id. It is just like EA buying a developer (but not shredding the team among different development projects). They get the benefits of a big name, and big money, but they are still id, and all of the team are still there.
Quote Yemerich 25th June 2009, 14:32
"Zenimax Media and id Software have assured fans that the sale will not affect the studio massively and that id Software will remain pretty much the same."

Yeah right.. Like when they said the wouldn't rape FO series and wouldn't disappoint FO fans...
Quote Yemerich 25th June 2009, 14:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
Christ, why does everyone all of a sudden assume that the two developers are now one in the same, and that all that is going to come out of this is a wave of ******* Doom/Fallout Frankengames? Honestly.

Not in any other case, but Beth sft is a Virus that destroy other ppl's works
Quote Neogumbercules 25th June 2009, 15:20
John Romero is gonna make Zenimax his bitch!
Quote Otto69 25th June 2009, 16:56
Has Romero learned how to do project management or design planning yet?
Quote Horizon 25th June 2009, 16:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
EA buying a developer (but not shredding the team among different development projects).


EA buying a dev and not reducing it to a memory of it's former self? that's absurd
Quote Skiddywinks 25th June 2009, 17:46
I know. Hence why I made the distinction between what EA does and what Zenimax has done. While similar, they are very different.
Quote b5k 25th June 2009, 19:49
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
It is just like EA buying a developer
It's not even like that as EA is a Publisher. ZeniMax is a parent company of Bethesda Soft. They're not actually a publisher, they're just a media conglomerate. ZeniMax may have been started by Bethesda Soft owner, but that doesn't mean they're the same. :p

Besides, both developers do different things. One's RPG and one's FPS, they'll never over lap because they've both got different products to add to the publishers line up. What use is buying id Software if they're just going to produce more of the **** you've already got? Might as well just buy some upstart studio and get them to do it...
Quote Skiddywinks 25th June 2009, 20:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by b5k
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
It is just like EA buying a developer
It's not even like that as EA is a Publisher. ZeniMax is a parent company of Bethesda Soft. They're not actually a publisher, they're just a media conglomerate. ZeniMax may have been started by Bethesda Soft owner, but that doesn't mean they're the same. :p

Besides, both developers do different things. One's RPG and one's FPS, they'll never over lap because they've both got different products to add to the publishers line up. What use is buying id Software if they're just going to produce more of the **** you've already got? Might as well just buy some upstart studio and get them to do it...

I didn't really mean the business dynamics behind the acquisition, more how it effects us gamers.

At the end of the day, all this really means for us is that they have more funds and a much bigger oppurtunity for media coverage and advertising, aka the jobs of a publisher. I know that they are not a publisher like EA is, but for all intents and purposes the effects are going to be the same.
Quote perplekks45 25th June 2009, 20:34
@ b5k: id = sh*t ? Is that what you're trying to say, kid? Wanna go outside and "talk" about it like adults do?! ... :p

Anyways, I agree with JR. Still sad and angry... and scared they'll kill id's ideas. PLEASE DON'T!!!
Quote bridgesentry 26th June 2009, 04:46
Bethesda Soft is ggggoooood. And now DOOM4 will have gggooood characterization
Quote smilinrat 26th June 2009, 06:46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Horizon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skiddywinks
EA buying a developer (but not shredding the team among different development projects).


EA buying a dev and not reducing it to a memory of it's former self? that's absurd

Bioware
Quote perplekks45 26th June 2009, 10:49
Acquired in late 2007. Give it some time...
Oh, and Bioware already started making console titles. They'll degrade over time, just wait. :p
Quote Psytek 29th June 2009, 22:32
Zenimax said they were leaving ID as it is, letting them run as normal... its not like they bought them out and fired loads of employees and told the rest to start working on some bs movie license game...
Quote perplekks45 30th June 2009, 00:17
They can say what they want. It's not like EA or Activision is buying a studio, then states they're going to ruin their franchises, are they?
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