John D. Carmack (born August 20, 1970) is an American game programmer and the co-founder of Id Software. Carmack was the lead programmer of the Id video games Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, Rage and their sequels. Carmack is best known for his innovations in 3D graphics, and is also a rocketry enthusiast and the founder and lead engineer of Armadillo Aerospace. In August 2013, Carmack took the position of CTO at Oculus VR.
Shawnee Mission East High School, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Nationality
American
Spouse
Katherine Anna Kang (m. 2000)
Children
Christopher Ryan Carmack
Parents
Inga Carmack, Stan Carmack
Awards
BAFTA Fellowship, Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Video Gaming Technology and Applications
Star Sign
Leo
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Quote
1
Like most things, it is difficult to come up with a single weighted sum of the value of a programmer. I prefer to evaluate multiple axis independently. Programming is really just the mundane aspect of expressing a solution to a problem. There are talents that are specifically related to actually coding, but the real issue is being able to grasp problems and devise solutions that are detailed enough to actually be coded. Being able to clearly keep a lot of aspects of a complex system visualized is valuable. Having a good feel for time and storage that is flexible enough to work over a range of ten orders of magnitude is valuable. Experience is valuable. Knowing the literature is valuable. Being able to integrate methods and knowledge from different fields is valuable. Being consistent is valuable. Being creative is valuable. Focus is extremely important. Being able to maintain focus for the length of a project gets harder and harder as schedules grow longer, but it is critical to doing great work. I certainly respect the abilities of my primary competitors. Back in the DOOM days, Ken Silverman was extremely impressive, and today Tim Sweeny is producing much of value.
2
If you don't care enough to have something of your own to say, they shouldn't be quoting you.
3
I was sort of an amoral little jerk when I was young. I was arrogant about being smarter than other people, but unhappy that I wasn't able to spend all my time doing what I wanted. I spent a year in a juvenile home for a first offence after an evaluation by a psychologist went very badly.
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Fact
1
Programming for the new DOOM game to be released sometime in 2002. [2001]
2
Son, Christopher Ryan Carmack, with Katherine Anna Kang, was born on Friday, August 13 at 12:50 pm weighing six pounds, seven ounces.
3
Took a computer workstation with him on a honeymoon
4
Parents Stan and Inga Carmack
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Older brother of Peter Carmack
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Every game released by Carmack's company has pushed the game and graphics envelops to new levels, leading the next revolution in 3-D interactive games with both single and multiplayer technology. Wolfenstein 3D (1992) ushered in the concept of the first-person shooter game. This concept was forever changed when Doom (1993) (VG) was released, setting the benchmark for all 3-D action games. Doom II (1994) (VG) further built on this success. Quake (1996) (VG) set the new standard in multi-player, true 3-D, combat action games. Use of OpenGL 3-D accelorator cards for smoother 16-bit graphics and lighting effects were prevalent in Quake II (1998) (VG). Quake III: Arena (1999) (VG)'s graphics engine offers curved surface rendering and high detail textures to create visual features such as moody atmospheric fog and spectacular lighting.
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One of Carmack's favorite novels is Vernor Vinge's "A Deepness in the Sky".
8
Has made enough money from id Software [us] that he really does not have to work anymore. This gives John "the freedom from anybody having the ability to have any leverage" over him and the freedom to drive his exotic cars. John owns a 600hp twin-turbo Ferrari F50 and a 1000hp twin-turbo V-12 Ferrari Testarossa GTO.
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Lives in Mesquite, Texas with his wife, Anna Kang (ex-director of id Software [us]).
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Doom³
2004
Video Game programmer / technical director
Quake III: Arena
1999
Video Game lead programmer
Quake II
1997
Video Game lead programmer
Doom 64
1997
Video Game programmer
Quake
1996
Video Game lead programmer
Final Doom
1996
Video Game programmer
Hexen
1995
Video Game programmer: 3D engine
Doom II: Hell on Earth
1994
Video Game lead programmer
Heretic
1994
Video Game programmer: 3-D engine / set engineer
Ultimate Doom
1993
Video Game programmer
Spear of Destiny
1992
Video Game software engineer
'Goodbye, Galaxy!' Episode IV: Secret of the Oracle
1991
Video Game programming team
'Goodbye, Galaxy!' Episode V: The Armageddon Machine
$40 Million
