Quakecon is a annual event held by id Software, where fans of the game developer can meet up and enjoy the festivities, such as the bawls drinking contest, tournaments and keynotes showcasing upcoming games.

In this interview John Carmack discusses Quake Live, which is based Quake 3 Arena, a purely multiplayer game. Quake Live stays true to it’s Q3A roots and takes it to the next level, graphics are slightly improved, the big draw here is the potential to create a massive community, since Quake Live will be ad supported making the game free and easily accessible through the web browser, barriers to entry are virtually nonexistent.

Another feature that will be critical to Quake Lives’ success is its match making system. In the past Quake players would randomly join servers and play against people that ranged from pros to amateurs, the larger the skill gap the less pleasurable the game would be for both players. No one likes a cake walk or being stomped on, the most exciting games are close matches, where one player barely triumphs over the other. The match making system will pit players against an equally skilled opponent, so the skill gap will be as small as possible. If the match making system works as well as they plan, Quake Live could be a huge hit.

Tim Willits, Creative Director of id Software, talks about their upcoming game, Rage. The game isn’t your typical id shooter, where players are always on their feet running through narrow corridors. Rage is played in a more open environment and vehicles play a more central role. Half-Life 2 is a great example of how the addition of vehicles can make games more enjoyable. 

And last but not least, Todd Hollenshead CEO of id Software, talks about a wide range of topics related to id softwares current projects.

Rage Trailer