John Carmack: Apple ‘not proud of’ iPhone games
In computer gaming, legends come and have mostly gone with few actually maintaining their place in the popular consciousness. The founder and still the driving force of id Software, creators of the Wolfenstein, Quake and Doom franchises, is one of those rare individuals.
Kotaku is running an interview with John Carmack of gaming giant id Software, which details some of the troubles he’s had working with the often capriciously fickle folks at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California.
“My relationship with Apple has been long standing, but it’s a rollercoaster ride,” says Carmarck. “I’ll be invited up on stage for a keynote one month and then I’ll say something they don’t like, and I can be blacklisted for six months.”
Thereupon, the id Software founder adds that one of the difficulties in recent years has been Apple’s ambivalence about the success of gaming on the iPhone. He attributes these problems to “the highest people” at Apple, whom he believes look down gaming.
“At the highest level of Apple, in their heart of hearts,” said the Doom creator, “they’re not proud of the iPhone being a game machine, they wish it was something else.”
id games available on iPhone:
• Doom Classic, $6.99*
• Doom Resurrection, $6.99
• Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum, $1.99
• Wolfenstein 3D Classic Lite, free* All links open in iTunes
A new beginning?
However, Carmack is hopeful as a long-time friend and one-time id Software co-worker, Graeme Devine, another individual with a long storied history in gaming, is now working at Apple.
“Graeme Devine is in a significant position as a game developer at Apple,” Carmack said. “I have a real man on the inside now. We knew each other from way back in the day. He’s a real developer and I understand everything he is saying.”
Hmm, that’s sounds a bit like a stab at those Apple higher ups. Perhaps Carmack should let his PR people vet his answers before they get published…
What’s your take?
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Filed under: Software, game, iPhone, iPod
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