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Question: Is there such thing as an owner of a video game buisness?

(Posted by: Ryan on 2010-03-11 14:30:33)

Hi, my name is Ryan Mumin (in case you guys want to see me on tv in the future lol) and i want to become a video game programmer. I am only 13 years old and i just started learning how to program with Java (i know im a little bit too old to start but hey you never know i can learn fast probably xD). If you guys know who John Carmack is, I am his BIGGEST FAN! And i really want to become like him in the future. But just like how he has ID Software, i want to create my own game company like that. But here is the question, does John Carmack own ALL of ID Software, or is the ownership split up to different people. I want to know because i want to own all of my game company that i expect to start in the future. I want to own all of it. Also, is John Carmack VERY famous like actors and singers? Or is he just known by nerds? My main question is if i start my own company like ID software for example, will i own that entire company? Or will i only have a portion of it? And i want to know what is that called? I want to be a game Programmer BUT i also want to be in a high position like John carmack. What are they called? Lead video game programmer? Or just a Programmer. Please answer ALL my questions i just typed.

Posted by: Scoopkin on 2010-03-11, 16:37:53

Ok, here's your answers... (By the way, its id not ID, and pronounced to rhyme with kid, not Eye-Dee) Originally, John Carmack started id with fellow coder John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack (no relation!) They owned the company, but possibly had a number of other investors. However, they are a developer not a publisher, which means they program games but don't manufacture or distribute them. In June 2009, id Software were bought by ZeniMax Media. John Carmack is therefore no longer an owner (though I dare say he got shares in Zenimax as part of the deal) His job title is lead programmer and he is the only founder member still working for the company. While John Carmack is not famous in a "celebrity " kind of way nowadays, he was better known to the general public back in the 90s when id were in their heyday (Doom / Quake era). Of course you can own your own company, but you would have to then license your game to a publisher in order to get it onto shop shelves. Also, you would probably not be able to afford to run a development studio all by yourself, so you may well need investors who will want a percentage of the company in return for their cash But if you own the company, you can give yourself whatever job title you like! However, you shouldn't be going into the industry because you want to be famous. You should have a passion to want to create great games regardless of the wealth and "fame "