Being principled is rarely easy. If it were, we would all stick to our guns more often.
On the other hand, often it's easier to stick to an ideal and insult the other person than it is to maintain your point gracefully.
Interviews with ex-id Software peeps
Ultimately it's the parent's choice, I'm all for that, but the parents do have to make an educated decision.chiQ wrote:I used to sell games, and so many times I had pissed off parents come in and rark me up for not selling their 13 year old a title rated as adult. There seems to be this perception amongst the pig-ignorant that if it's classified as a game it's for kids. Those parents who came to me to find out about the content of the games their kids wanted, so as to make an intelligent choice, were in the minority.
True. He was (is) quite the character too. Shame they had to "let him go".chiQ wrote: As for Steed's contribution, he may not be a big part of what made id id in the first place, but his modelling and animation skills rate. He put his stamp all over two of the Quake titles, if not the company.
In reply to the first, yes, definitely, except where the law is all over the unfortunate retailer who sells rated games to those underage.Eraser wrote:Ultimately it's the parent's choice, I'm all for that, but the parents do have to make an educated decision.
True. He was (is) quite the character too. Shame they had to "let him go".
In reply to the second, shame for us. I'm not so sure it was a shame for him in the long run
I dunno how far the law should go in that. Quake 3 was a 15+ game here in Europe. 17+ in the US. I was 16 when I bought Quake 3. Imported it from the US, heh. So my point here is that if the US would enforce that 17+ rating then that would be sort of silly considering another, at least equally educated and professional in the matter, rating system would rate it 15+. Now who is right? IMO 15+ people could easily play Quake 3. I'd even go as far as to say people of 13 or 14 years of age could play it. So I'd say that in the end it should be the parent's decision.chiQ wrote:In reply to the first, yes, definitely, except where the law is all over the unfortunate retailer who sells rated games to those underage.
I do, however, think that games shouldn't be sold directly to minors. If a child doesn't reach the rated age, then a parent should accompany the child to buy the game.
I'm not exactly sure what he's up to now. Last things I saw from him was that dancing girl Winamp plugin from Wild Tangent and some book on character modelling that he wrote.chiQ wrote:In reply to the second, shame for us. I'm not so sure it was a shame for him in the long run
As far as ratings go, online resellers are a different animal - they can only really work with what they know, and if you tell them you're old enough they take your word for it. I do think the rules in your own country should apply, but don't see how an online reseller can really be expected to address the issue.Eraser wrote:I dunno how far the law should go in that. Quake 3 was a 15+ game here in Europe. 17+ in the US. I was 16 when I bought Quake 3. Imported it from the US, heh. So my point here is that if the US would enforce that 17+ rating then that would be sort of silly considering another, at least equally educated and professional in the matter, rating system would rate it 15+. Now who is right? IMO 15+ people could easily play Quake 3. I'd even go as far as to say people of 13 or 14 years of age could play it. So I'd say that in the end it should be the parent's decision.
I do, however, think that games shouldn't be sold directly to minors. If a child doesn't reach the rated age, then a parent should accompany the child to buy the game.
I'm not exactly sure what he's up to now. Last things I saw from him was that dancing girl Winamp plugin from Wild Tangent and some book on character modelling that he wrote.
Re. Steed, that was a while ago
He's since put out an animation book as well, gone to work at XBox, and moved on again - I won't tell you where he is now. That's for him to put about if/when he wants to.
