Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 93

1 Section Page 2 I Fort Worth Star-Telegram I Sunday October 291995 Games 1 AI From Page 1 The dme 1 elygy it the most is when I'm out driving like the trek report!" 4b 7r)) I Audio Star irJar Star-lblegram Audio To Go ao 40 And don't look for these people on Wall Street anytime soon They've managed to stay small and fierce doing what they want how they want "Stockbrokers and headhunters making cold calls should hang up now" id tells callers on its recorded answering message "We are not interested" it adds using a mild profanity to express anger at those who "ignore this message and ring through" They also refuse to play by the same rules that some software companies follow to boost revenues The id gang warns other software developers not to even bother asking about licensing the technology that makes their games so frightening "Forget it" the outgoing message tells callers "It's not That's how the world got-40 know id For Doom id posted the first of three "episodes" 'river shareware channels "The first episode ends with an 800 number and a cliffhanger" Wilbur said The original Doom never saviia retailer's shelf selling only through the 800 number Doom II: Hell on Earth did get mass distribution and it has sold more than 750000 copies Even Henn has a shareware version available through id's site 01 the World Wide Web But fans will have to fork out $50 for a full version Id makes no apologies for 'the virtual blood and violence in its video games Wilbur lets his two small sons 2 and 5 play at will: "In real life people who are violent are violent regardless71 he said )-A Nonetheless the game packages sport warnings for wary parents-I Unlike some hot companiesthat only want to grow id strives tostay small Remaining compact is the only way to keep income high and company control in the right place Wilbur says Id also eschews Wall Street Wall Street puts too much growing companies Wilbur says Don Helm Fort Worth AudioStaz 0 alga 0 Itrocnbskribigra Don Helm listens to Audio Star in his office or on the road where he appreciates being alerted to new highway construction And Audio Star helps him prepare sales and training presentations by giving him true-life stories he can use in his work Whenever Helm heats news that he can use he clips it out from the mignal source the daily Staralegam! Audio Star is ready when you are! Pop it in at home your car or listen to it at your convenience Now you can get a free two-week trial of Audio Star To start it just call 390-7000 and your Audio Star will be delivered along with the Star-Vegram each weekday for two weeks with no obligation I Where business is a game universe "That helped the guys quit their day jobs" Wilbur said noting that sales from Commander Keen hit $300000 to $400000 and allowed them to break offon their own Carmack Romero and Carmack started id Software in February 1991 in Shreveport But they ached for a more happening place to live and moved north to Madison Wis after hearing it was an in spot It didn't last too cold Wilbur explains Six months later id moved south this time to Mesquite "There's not a lot of 24-hour pizza joints in Shreveport" Wilbur said The Nazis arrived in May 1992 Id produced Wolfenstein 3-D with the help of another software label Apogee In the wartime adventure players tool through a three-dimensional stronghold pursuing Adolf Hitler "It was a blockbuster" Wilbur said It grossed $25 million in sales he says More than 250000 copies have been sold to date according to the company Doom born the next year was the first to be released under the id label Another three-dimensional horror-fest Doom has everything: blood zombies very big guns Doom sold more than 140000 copies in the first year Id got so busy that it had to join with another producer Raven Software to develop Heretic a Doomlike fantasy game that id had planned "We went straight to Doom IL" Wilbur said As if to confirm that id has arrived Hexen the company's latest product will debut at programming giant Microsoft Corp in Redmond Wash Tomorrow night the rollout of Hexen or Heretic II will feature a "death match" of several players zapping Out one another They will compete at Doom Doom IIHeretic and just after midnight on Oct 31 Halloween morning Hexen Like Heretic Hexen took help from Raven Software to create Tiny id would prefer to focus all of its attention on Quake which it describes as "Doom taken to the next level" The company hopes to have Quake finished by year-end Developers have already sequestered themselves into a dark corner of the office blinking warily when they emerge into the light after being disturbed Cocky? Sure But at first blush it looks like the I 3-person outfit can afford to act that way even though the company is less than 5 years old Not only did sales hit $10 million in 1994 but the company has already surpassed that this year says Jay Wilbur id's Biz Guy No The next level CALL 390-7000 FOR YOUR TWO-Wint FREE MM 1 AndioStal delivery in Tarrant Parke joimson Denton and Hood Counfiea Recyck your AudioStu tapes weekdays at the following Star-Telegram locations Downtown Fit Wirth 400 Seventh Arhngton 1111 NV Abram Airport Frwy South Plant 1-3) The empire is built on wicked computer games featuring villains with names such as Pain Elemental and Sabreclaw Episodes have titles like "Thy Flesh Consumed" Typical settings are Mars and hell The company's business adventure is less violent if no less dramatic It got off the ground in September 1990 when John Romero then 23 and three friends John Carmack Adrian Carmack (no relation) and Tom Hall designed a game called Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons The adventure stars an 8-year-old boy who must save Earth from alien destruction At the time Carmack Romero and Carmack designed video games for Softdisk Publishing in Shreveport La "They had to develop a new game every 30 days" said Wilbur who volunteered to speak for the founders while they pull together a new effort called Quake "You can't get much done in 30 days They wanted a game that had more to it" Commander Keen saved their So what's next for the Mesquite company: Doom books? Doom: The Movie? The Doom boxed set? A Doom soundtrack? All of the above The paperbacks Doom: Knee Deep in the Dead and Dobm Hell on Earth have been releaied by Pocket Star Books Two rii'61 are on the way next year WiSto says Id also hopes to add music frorii favorite rock bands to upcoming games and the company recently re-released the original Doom game with a new fourth episode It retails for up to $40 Id sold movie rights for Doom to Ethos Films in Los Angeles last year Universal Studios will film the movie and has already hired screenwriters Wilbur says Moe Lospinoso president of Ethos says the movie is in development Ivan Reitman the film7 maker who directed Kindergarten Cop and Dave will produce the movie Lospinoso and Wilbur say: Losponiso says the film like the game will attract older audiences "The 18- to 30-year-old ma14 plays this game" Losponiso says: "Everybody does In the worki place they are playing it" And yes id's executives will'a01 pear in the film Kind of 0-- '4 "We are all scheduled to -be killed" Wilbur says "We thought that would be really neat I am site it will be nasty" Compaq Presario 1180 Desktop Computer Pentium 100 MHz processor 8 MB RAM (expandable to 128 MB) 1275 MB hard drive Quad-speed CD-ROM 16-bit stereo sound 144K datafax modem 3-year warranty 347-419 1 Monitor sold separately Presario SOFTI 14SV Monitor 347-369 29600 VALUED COMPAa SOFTWARE rr7i VALUED AT OVER 00 New From Compaq 0 IN Fiat At Office 0 0 ice Dep tiff ---41 I V000 00 00'M PENTIUM- i A'tveig Compaq Presario 1180 Desktop Computer -0 Pentium 100 MHz processor 9) 8 MB RAM (expandable to 128 MB) 1275 MB hard drive 4'' RO 7 Quad-speed CD 16-bit stereo sound 3-year warranty 144K datafax modem --1 347-419 11'2 IVA CDML 1-- Monitor sold separately SOFTWARE a '1 146V Monitor Presario i-- A-- 4 v-t 1 I I I 347-369 29600 VALUED AT OVER COMPAa Retail in cyberspace 1--( 92011)-1 ---( $1200 Id owes part of its success to an Internet phenomenon called shareware Players dial into an Internet site and download a sample of a video game free Software producers post the segments hoping to generate interest to sell their games MAJOR PRICE BREAK! EF 11 'ritrtik-1 0 owl OS FIVETMACHINESTIWONE1 Color rintem Plain Paper fax Scanner CopietWeleptione Molnar rttPlain Paper Fax Scanner Copletujeleptione HAL LINDEN stars in himwnia FHAVA Special Government Program Low Rates starting at 7'30 (Depending on size and type of loan Injured credit ok) CONVENTIONAL NEWREFINANCE CALL TODAY! Askabout our preapproval program Shop with confidence knowing you're preapproved ril vx krol 4tr 7r lc 406)'14 19 vk cese i WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL! Oct 17 29 Casa Mafiana Theatre 3101 Lancaster Fort Worth (817) 332 CASA TickelMaster metro 214647-5700 Fort Worth Staralegram tITu I RT Efl IOl'fice FatheiSon Challenge 00 TQURNAMENT Tune in to NBC 2-3 'Opts Saves! FIVEMACHINESt INONE inter Plain paper Fax az Copiert Scanne NEXT BUSINESS DAY DELIVERY 1-800-685-8800 Fax: 1-800-685-5010 -4 11111111111- In md owmo Your Price After Rebate I MURZZIm12ZZZM 00 Locmskmc Lexmark Medley 4x ADVANCING THE ART OF MUTATE Multifunction Machine Printer: Color ink jet printing capability Optional color cartridge prints over 16 million colors Plain Paper Far Send and receive faxes even while printing 6 pages per minute ScannerCopier: True 300 300 dpi with 256 grayscale scanning and copying Includes self-loading Windows software for PC scanning 1 and faxing 1-year Lexmark Express warranty with next business day replacement 672-618 List 99900 Our Price Mail-in Rebate Mail-in rebate offer expires 113196 See store tor details ADVANCING THE ART OF PRINTLNG a Xerox Document Workcenter 250 Plain paper fax transmits in as little as 10 seconds per page Printer produces laser-like output Copier collates reduces and enlarges Scanner and Text Bridge Professional Edition OCR software (valued at $299) Pa makes scanning simple De Irina WinFaAJTE software and I PC fax modem let you quickly fax until from your PC 383-356 List 139900 on pu 69999 -10000 No Payments Interestl until May Ion purchases of $299 or more tee store fix detaill Addison 4949 Belt Line Rd (214)991-9052 Arlington 3611 Cooper St (817) 468-9066 Arlington 2501 Randol Mill Rd (817) 633-1145 Central Expressway Central ExolAoy at Forest 1n (214) 373-9585 Dallas 3701 NW Hi (214) 352-5206 SAL: galn4A SUL Ft Worth 6680 West Freeway (817) 737-3065 Ft Worth 4810 SW Loop 820 (817) 377-2041 Garland 950 Centerville Rd (214) 270-9891 Irving 1000 Airport Freeway (214) 438-9177 Noolqiorn ViPECEPT DiscowYna LBJ at Josey 2909 Forest Ln (214)241-9266 Mesquite 3795 Emporium Circle (214)686-9691 North Richland Hills 7800 Grapevine Hwy (817) 428-8034 Oak lawn 2929 Oak lawn Ave (214) 528-4500 Plano 909 Central Expwy (214) 578-0201 Plano (Preston Rd at FM 544) Redbird 3107 Camp Wisdom Rd (214) 467-2840 Richardson 501 Belt Line Rd (214) 669-2582 Mammal Danko bens 4 Ile Mai Dopol Cada Cad Tellrelegi Cad 0 0 00 94044044 4 catp C3 0 Locm skmc 4 Lexmark Medley 4x ADVANCING THE ART OF PRINTLNG 1061 Multifunction Machine 1 43 Printer: 44 Color ink jet printing capability Optional color cartridge prints over 16 million colors s' Plain Paper Fax: Send and receive faxes even while printing 6 pages per minute ScannerCopier: 1 I True 300 300 dpi with 256 grayscale scanning and copying 1 i Includes self-loading Windows software for PC scanning i tociudes oll and faxing 1' Corot 4 0 Sethafe 1-year Lexmark Express warranty with next business -t' 1 199 Value day replacement 672-618 List 99900 FIVEMACHINEStINDNEL Our Price 69999 inter Plainpaaerfax C' aa Mail-in Rebate -10000 LA77 091- Mi onWAbna 14 '-'3 Your Price 599 99 Atter Rebate At Xerox Document Workcenter 250 'ILIk Plain paper fax transmits in as little as 10 seconds per page Printer produces laser-like output '1 Vz'i -----3------------z --it Copier collates reduces and enlarges 4 Scanner and TextBridge4 Professional 1 Edition OCR software (valued at $299) No Paymentt 1 wemakes scanning simple -k V'' '011r Delrina WinFLITE software and iNo Interel i i -t -7- PC fax modem let you quickly fax until May 0 from your PC c----07' i on purchases -t 383-350 List 139900 IC 4e of $299 or more Mall-in rebate offer expires 113196 -n See store tor details tee gore br detailsi Addison 4949 Belt Line Rd Ft Worth 1111 at Josey Plano 3 (214)991-9052 6680 West Freeway 2909 Forest Ln 909 Central Expviy Arlington 3611 Cooper St (817)737-3065 (214) 241-9266 (214) 578-0201 Nr (817) 468-9066 Ft Worth Mesquite Piano eroot Arlington 4810 Loop 820 3795 Emporium Circle (Preston Rd I NEXT BUSINESS OAT 2501 Randol Mill Rd (817) 377-2041 (214)686-9691 at FM 544) DELIVERY (817) 633-1145 Garland North Richland Hills Redbird Central Expressway 950 Centerville Rd 7800 Grapevine Hwy 3107 Camp Wisdom Rd 1-800-685-8800 Central Expwy at Forest tit (214) 270-9891 (817) 428-8034 (214) 467-2840 Fax: 1-800-685-5010 (214) 373-9585 Irving Oaklawn Richardson Dallas 3701 NW Hwy 1000 Airport Freeway 2929 Oaklawn Ave 501 Belt Line Rd Office (214) 352-5206 (214) 438-9177 (214) 528-4500 (214) 669-2582 I MZPOT SAL: Om-Om SAL toont pm $trACCEtt Dew tot Mistral' knwital Etna elle Otto Depol Cada Card A Ithnologi tad 4 FatherSon Challenge lir Tune In to NBC 0 4 II Ape" dog dr on December 2 3 St IDIF alINOTV8)2110 Ots WIRAZZ TrainLREEM Saves! 5-Year 11 in 0 0 0 LEN Annual Percentage Yield olo 6 0 0 -5 6 3 3 3 BANK Mon Fri 7 am 7 pm Sat 9 am 1 pm E9 UNITED Or Visit One Of Our 7 Tarrant County Locations Fac insured mamorn balance to open a CD4and eon the stated APIs a $1000 APYs (Annual Percentage Yields) are subfect to chair and accurate as of publication en data oenaity for Gey withdrawal Qtter available to consumers only Brokered deposits not ach epted 01996 Bank United of axes FSB Equal Housing tenter L--1 1 1.