Fifteen years ago today, the first game in the Quake series was released on PC by id Software. It wasn’t the company’s first foray into the world of first-person shooters, having already debuted the Wolfenstein and Doom series earlier in the decade. Quake set itself apart with its 3D engine and online multiplayer. It would lead to the creation of three direct sequels and a great number of ports, as well as several spin-offs, including Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
It was worked on by the likes of John Carmack (who is still at id and is at work on Rage and Doom 4), John Romero (perhaps best known for the Daikatana advertisement that used his name), American McGee (who just released a sequel to American McGee’s Alice, Alice: Madness Returns), and Michael Abrash (who joined Valve this year).
Carmack offered up some thoughts on the anniversary today, talking about how difficult the development process was. He also highlights the concern id had at the time with free-look mouse control, something that’s been taken for granted for more than a decade now, and how online support “was almost an accident.”
