GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Carmack Doom-ed to Lifetime Achievement Award

id Software CTO to pick up top honor at 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards as part of GDC in San Francisco next month; Warren Spector hosting.

125 Comments

Thanks to seminal early-'90s hits such as Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein, id Software essentially invented the first-person shooter genre as the industry currently knows it. Beyond being pioneers in the field of real-time 3D graphics, id's early software lineup also contributed to the proliferation of such standard features as networked multiplayer matches.

John Carmack
John Carmack

Now, the man behind the technology that powered those early shooters will have one more honor to add to his mantel, as Game Developers Conference show runners UBM TechWeb Game Network (formerly Think Services Game Group) announced today that it would honor id chief technical officer John Carmack with a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards.

According to show organizers, the Lifetime Achievement Award "recognizes the career and achievements of developers who have made an indelible impact on the craft of game development." Award winners are chosen by the Choice Awards Advisory Committee, which comprises industry luminaries such as Ben Cousins (EA DICE), Harvey Smith (Arkane), Raph Koster (Metaplace), John Vechey (PopCap), Ray Muzyka (BioWare), and Clint Hocking (Ubisoft).

"It's no exaggeration to say that John Carmack and id Software have had a monumental influence on all modern 3D games, but especially the first-person shooter genre," said GDC event director Meggan Scavio of Carmack's selection. "John is one of the key figures in the history of video games, and we're delighted to be giving him the Lifetime Achievement award this year."

Carmack will receive the accolade at the GDCAs, which will take place on March 11 in San Francisco as part of GDC 2010. The studio, which was purchased by Bethesda Softworks parent company Zenimax Media in June 2009, is currently work on the all-new intellectual property Rage, as well as Doom 4 and a free-to-play Web browser-based version of Quake, which is currently in a beta-testing phase.

GDC show runners also announced today that Junction Point Studios founder Warren Spector will host the 2010 GDCAs. Spector is best known for his contributions to the System Shock, Deus Ex, and Thief franchises. His studio, which was acquired by Disney in July 2007, is currently working on Epic Mickey, a platforming adventure game slated to ship for the Wii later this year.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 125 comments about this story
125 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for ratix2
ratix2

2241

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@DEATH775 actually first person shooters date back to the early 80s, ten years before wolf 3d and doom, but it was id that made them what they are, which is one of the most popular genres in history.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for xboxer36018
xboxer36018

31

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

John Carmack is the man.I also cant wait for Rage and DOOM 4 their going to be awsome.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DEATH775
DEATH775

4216

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 27

User Lists: 0

You are the man. Making one of the first game in FPS history. You definitely earned it. So when can I get my Doom 4 and Rage? I really want this game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for archvile_78
archvile_78

8438

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Carmack deserve it, congratulation.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for d-rtyboy
d-rtyboy

3178

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Boy, they're really milking the whole post-apocalyptic-radio-active-mutant thing aren't they?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for geedotherodian
geedotherodian

697

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 90

User Lists: 0

He deserves the award and i'm happy for him but where is my Doom 4 news?? Will it be like Doom 3? A new direction perhaps? I've gotten sick of speculating!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Shardz7
Shardz7

451

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

If it weren't for John Carmack and the talented folks at id, we'd all be playing with marbles and frisbees right now. Especially for his uncanny young age starting off, his genius ignited a multi-billion dollar industry that has kept gamers addicted for years. Kudos to John Carmack and it's about time he got this award!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Mcgnnis1
Mcgnnis1

811

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I'm Glad to hear that. He definitely deserves that award. Now can you please show us some early footage of Doom 4.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for namdar
namdar

741

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Carmack I love you, if it wasnt for you I wouldnt be the serious pc gamer I am today!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for AlbertoML
AlbertoML

250

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 28

User Lists: 0

Congratulations to John Carmack, he's indeed an industry pioneer and a great example to always move forward and to innovate

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rougehunter
Rougehunter

5873

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Congrats Carmack, you deserve it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dinoryan
dinoryan

70

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

naughty dog deserves the reward

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ScionofEntropy
ScionofEntropy

733

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'm ashamed to admit that I almost chuckled a bit at the headline. Oh, GameSpot, you rascals...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for PublicNuisance
PublicNuisance

4582

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

Carmack may not have done the quality of his early games in the last five years but from 1990-1995 he was a god in my eyes. You have more than earned it for what you have done and you have given me my favorite genre.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for metalkid9
metalkid9

6013

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 21

User Lists: 0

that's nice, where the hell is rage, doom4, and quake5 though

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rbrignoni
rbrignoni

77

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Gets my vote for top honors. Congrats John Carmack. You introduced me to 1st person shooters with Wolfenstein and Doom. I wish Sid Meier would also get an award. These two guys changed gaming as we know it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Auricom_Pilot
Auricom_Pilot

161

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

sweet headline guys :)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Gooeykat
Gooeykat

3412

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 24

User Lists: 0

One of the greatest ever.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ahpuck
ahpuck

3641

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 100

User Lists: 0

John Carmack the man, the legend. every FPS fan must bow before him. nah, just kidding, but he really is the man.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ogara0c9
ogara0c9

116

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

"Spector is best known for his contributions to the System Shock, Deus Ex, and Thief franchises." Every time I hear Spector and Thief in the same sentence, I just wince.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for necorid
necorid

378

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

John Carmack. because of him i flaunt my nerdiness. it's a lifestyle

Upvote • 
Avatar image for doontime
doontime

580

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Oh...My...God!!! Rage is going to be freaking SWEEEEET!!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for MJoanne
MJoanne

782

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I am looking forward to Epic Mickey. I don't think it is going to be the typical Disney product.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Desulated
Desulated

30952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 55

User Lists: 0

They should've mentioned the BFG 9000. What other FPS game besides Doom and Quake has a gun that awesome?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hakud0ushi
Hakud0ushi

7613

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Sweet. Rage looks amazing so far.

Upvote •