Slashdot Mirror
Interview With id Software's Robert A. Duffy
LEXI writes: "Accompanying our recent first set of Q3Radiant Tutorials I had the chance to interview one of the programmers behind the editor and the new engine, Mr. Robert A. Duffy of id software. 10 questions asked, 10 answers given. Topics range from personal details, education, job description, over to the new engine and the new tools, to violence in games and George W. Bush. The English original can be found here; the German translation resides at this very spot. The interview should be interesting for as well the quake player desperately awaiting the new engine, as the fresh or old-school mapper."
Robert Duffy: Well wearing a gun and owning a gun are two very different things and neither of them have to do with any game in my opinion. The only countries I have ever seen citizens wearing guns are ones where it was illegal. I don't think to date I have seen a citizen wearing a firearm in public here in the US.
Riiiight. That's not a gun in my pocket, I'm just happy to see you.
In case of the Slashdot effect, here's the interview:
Interviewer: Boxers or briefs?
Robert Duffy: I'll have to keep my take on this to myself.
Interviewer: We would like to thank Robert Duffy for taking the time to answer our questions and wish both him and id software all the best for the future.
...oOOo..'(_)'..oOOo...
I always wondered what happened with Sergeant Duffy after his roles in Infocom's Witness and Deadline...
"There ought to be limits to freedom"
Question 1
Mr. Duffy, to start off with: What does the "A" in Robert A. Duffy stand for, how old are you, when did you join id software and what does your job description say in terms of your duties within the company?
Robert Duffy: The fucking a motherfucking stands for Allen. Goddamned sons of bitches like you. I am 38 and I've been full time at id for about two and a half years and I did contract work for them bastards for about one and a goddamn half years before that. You will feel my burns. My juicy job description is "Programmer", I work on the fucking editor, tools, the fucking in-game gui systems and game code ( doors, security cameras, etc.. You are a pussy. about to get started on some effects for shits as well ). You are a pussy. I also (in addition to the fact that you're a shit) deal with our licensees most of the fucking time as far as code updates and shit and at times work on other shits as needed. I should slam your throat. I worked with Kevin [Cloud] on the fucking Wolf MP shit and did some work on Wolf towards the fucking end of the fucking project tidying some shit up.
Question 2
I'm sure a lot of enthusiastic gamers out there would like to know and follow in your footsteps: What kind of education did you go through and what other companies / projects did you work for before you got hired by id? What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Robert Duffy: I am self taught. Pop Quiz, why are you such a fuckhead? The fucking last 3 companies I was at before id I wrote code as well as managed the fucking development process. Jesus was right, you are a shithole. I was Director of Technology for a motherfucking company in Los Angeles just prior to coming to fuckin' id, co-founded a fuckin' net company back in the fucking early-mid nineties before that.. You are a pussy. etc..
A fighter pilot but my fucking vision rules.
Question 3
Who was around when you had your application interview and how did you feel when you entered the "holy hallways" of id software for the first time?
Robert Duffy: John [Carmack] sent my stupid ass an jizz saying them poo pirates wanted to hire my stupid ass full time. I went up and talked to fuckin' that piece of shit ( and I think Graeme [Devine] was there at the fucking time ) told that bastard I'd get back to that piece of shit in a fuckin' day or so god-damn and after discussing that piece of shit with my fucking wife went for that shit. I was first at id many years ago when DOOM was first shipping, we were looking to license technology for some shit at the fucking time.
More recently when I started contracting that piece of shit was a motherfucking GOOD impression but a goddamn bit intimidating.
Question 4
Violence in Gaming and its influence on teenagers is a huge topic worldwide. My opinion is that people who spend some time kicking butt in fast-paced shooters like Q3A will definitely not tend to aggressively kick butt out on the streets. What is your take?
Robert Duffy: I'll have to keep my goddamn take on this bullshit to myself.
Question 5
As far as I understand legislation in your country, it is part of the constitution that every american citizen is allowed to wear a gun. In my opinion that is one major reason for teenage high- school killings - while claiming games like "Doom" guilty is completely ridiculous. What is your opinion?
Robert Duffy: Well wearing a gun and owning a gun are two goddamn different shits and neither of them shits have to fuckin' do with any game in my goddamn opinion. The only fucking countries I have ever seen citizens wearing guns are ones where the fuck that piece of shit was illegal. You are a fuckmonster. I don't think to date I have seen a citizen wearing a fuckin' firearm in public here in the fucking US.
Question 6
Doom 3: Quoting John Carmack, for the new engine the editor will be part of the main game executable and called via a command line parameter. Will that make it possible for level designers to preview their maps without fully re-compiling each time? Will the 3D-Window within the editor finally be game-engine-powered? And what will this mean in terms of the editor's looks and usability in general?
Robert Duffy: Yes the fucking editor is built into the fucking game ( as are all the fucking tools ). You and your sluts can preview in realtime fuckin' what a level looks like. The fucking editor is much like Q3Radiant but with additional functionality.
Question 7
In your opinion, what is the biggest benefit community & professional level designers will face using the new tools / editor compared to what Q3Radiant does for them today?
Robert Duffy: Real time preview and integration will help a whole shitload.
Question 8 ;o) - when do you think a demo version of the new engine will be available: Late 2002, Early 2003 oder Late 2003?
How is development of the new engine and tools coming along? Are the new tools already in use by anyone, creating content for the new engine? In general - without giving "when it's done" statements
Robert Duffy: Things are going goddamn well.
Question 9 :o) - to give yourself three attributes without giving a damn about what other people might think about you - what would they be?
Robert Duffy: Hmmm.. I dunno, I'm fairly happy to live with myself as I am and deal with the fucking GOOD and "f'ing great" aspects of that ;-)
If you were - and you are now
Question 10
What do you think about George Bush? Do you believe in God? What are your basic ethical values in every day social life?
Robert Duffy: He has done a great job under intense pressure. I am glad he is our president. Yes but not like most people probably do. I try to fuckin' be a GOOD moral human on a fuckin' daily basis.
We would like to thank Robert Duffy for taking the time to answer our questions and wish both him and id software all the best for the future."
The future isn't what it used to be.
The irony is overwhelming. Frenchmen considering Americans to be xenophobic. Aren't these the people who wouldn't allow the word "rocket" into their language?
On the subject of the French language, is it possible to say "Defend the border." in French? They hate American guns except on the occasions when those guns are sparing them from becoming a German province.
-Peter
I've actually been quite sucuessfull in persuading a large quantitiy of French people that personal responsibility and personal accountability are the true choice of a Liberty seeking people
Perhaps you succeeded where Montesquieu, Voltaire, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man failed.
Perhaps they were delighted to have an American explain what their true choice should be as a libery-seeking people. After all, the French had only abolished slavery in France a mere 70 years before it was abolished in the U.S.
Perhaps the French had no paragons of personal responsibility and accountability to match Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton and thus were happy to use your humble self as a working example.
Now perhaps some of your fellow Americans could stand some similar enlightenment.