Fred Nilsson Leaves id Software

Rogerpq3 writes "id Software animator Fred Nilsson has decided to leave the company and head back to Hollywood to work for Dreamworks. Fred joined id Software during the development of the Quake III mission pack "Team Arena", but his main work at id concentrated around the animation for their blockbuster hit DOOM III. Unlike the rest of the id crew, Fred could regularly be found on Quake3 game servers and he always hangs on IRC. In 1995 he moved out to Northern California to work at a company called PDI/Dreamworks. He worked on such films as The Arrival, Antz and Shrek. "Fredo", as he's known online, was a prominent figure at the QuakeCon 2003 and 2004 events. In 2003 he was one of the id Software employees taking part in the Quake3 id challenge tourney and in 2004 he participated in a Doom3 id challenge contest. In a interview with PlanetQuake3.net a few years back, Fred discussed how he went about getting his job at id. The entire id Software fan base wishes Fred the best with his new job and thanks him for all his hard work."

Fired?

[Anonymous Coward]

Unlike the rest of the id crew, Fred could regularly be found on Quake3 game servers and he always hangs on IRC.

Maybe he got the sack for wasting too much time at work :)

Re:Fired?

[robnauta]

Agreed, only on slashdot is 'always hangs on irc' a positive comment. Not something anyone would put on their resume I guess.

take his experience

[Sv-Manowar]

i hope to see some nice grenade launching in Shrek 3 now he's gone to dreamworks

Re:WTF?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is this news? Eh?

Maybe if Carmack left iD or something then that might be newsworthy.

Are we going to report every shmuck that changes jobs now? Fred Nil who? Wha? He's a newbie with iD, who the fuck cares what the hell he does.

that's not flamebait, it's true

slashdot... built for morons

Sinister

[HansF]

This post reads like an obituary.

Not A BlockBuster

[EngineeringMarvel]

"blockbuster hit DOOM III"

I don't think Doom III was much of a blockbuster. I'm sure they had some decent intial sales, but the game was a major disappointment. I don't forsee Doom III making too much more money.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[Makarakalax]

Major disappointment my arse. It was slightly disappointing, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm sure they'll make plenty enough money. Also I'm sure blockbuster hit is a perfectly reasonable description. From what I've read it was a bestseller in many countries.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

It sold, but it was forgotten about.
Gamespys list of multiplayer games [gamespy.com]

You'll find it way down there at the bottom, below all the demos of games from 1999-2002.

Sad, I really dont mind the 4 player limit (More than enough to duel, and thats what ID games are best at), but something about the game just didnt work. Maybe Q4 will be better, maybe not. we'll see.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[IntergalacticWalrus]

Did it ever occur to you that DOOM III was (gasp!) NOT made to be a multiplayer game? Saying a SINGLE PLAYER FOCUSED GAME bombed because it ranks lower in the online ratings is just stupid.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

Well, I don't have any charts handy for how many times I've heard people talk about how fucking horrible the SP game was. (repetitive level design and monsters, repetitive gameplay (OOH ANOTHER PDA, I WONDER IF THERES A LOCKER ACCES CODE IN IT.. THERE IS!) etc).

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[gnarlin]

Oh, I'm sure that Doom3 won't make all that much money, but the engine that drives it, thats where the real dough is. ID has always made a bundle by licensing their engines.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[Rico_Suave]

Geez, I wish this rumor would die. id themselves have said engine licensing only accounts for 20% of their revenue.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.05/doom.ht ml ?pg=2&topic=&topic_set=

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[T-Ranger]

That may be true, but that 20% is all profit.

Re:Not A BlockBuster

[Diomedes Tydeus]

I haven't been able to find recent sales charts, but according to this article it topped world wide sales charts. http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200408/N04. 0825.1015.29165.htm -Diomedes

say it ain't so

[BortQ]

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[falls down on knees and cries]

he's not dead, right?

[gabe]

That reads like an obituary. He didn't die, he just left id.

Or are those one and the same?

The Doom III zombies look like dead gray Shreks

[The-Bus]

It makes sense. iD is a small niche studio which by all accounts is at the top of their game. Dreamworks, however, is now going to face increased competition not only from Pixar, which will now be flush with cash and little creative restrictions, as well as Disney. They need all the help they can get.