John Carmack on John Romero | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips

The Nugget

John Carmack acknowledges the complexities of his relationship with John Romero, revealing that misaligned contributions and corporate structures at id Software significantly contributed to their animosity. The core lesson revolves around reflecting on collaborative dynamics and structures within creative enterprises.

Make it stick

🤝 Equal partnerships can lead to tension; when not everyone pulls their weight, resentment grows.
⚙️ John Romero was a polymath, excelling in programming, art, game design, and sound design, which made him invaluable to early games like Doom and Quake.
📈 Carmack recognized business realities; success can only be sustained with a balanced approach to team dynamics and project management.
🎮 Despite their differences, Carmack respects Romero's contributions and foresight into gaming trends, particularly in mobile gaming.

Foundational Issues: Carmack discusses how the original equal partnership with John Romero created problems due to differing work ethics and motivations.
Push to Separate: As Carmack felt overworked, he began pushing for changes that ultimately led to Romero's exit from the company.
Corporate Structure: They lacked modern business frameworks, which exacerbated tensions—Carmack now sees the need for gradual equity distribution over time.

Admiration for Talent: Carmack recognized Romero as the “coolest programmer,” lauding his speed and versatility in game development.
Contributions to Games: Romero’s impact on Doom and Quake was significant; while Carmack focused on programming, Romero was instrumental in level design and overall game aesthetics.
Navigating Success: Romero embraced the spotlight of being a top programmer, which influenced team dynamics in ways Carmack found challenging.

Cordial Post-Departure Interactions: Despite past tensions, Carmack maintains a cordial relationship with Romero and has communicated about potential collaboration on AI in gaming.
Reflecting on the Past: They both reminisced about their shared history, including their time playing Dungeons & Dragons together, highlighting personal connections despite professional differences.
Continued Respect: Carmack expresses genuine hope for Romero's success, showing he has moved past earlier animosities to appreciate their shared contributions to the gaming industry.

"If I could go back... I would tell my younger self some advice about the corporate structure of id Software."
"Romero made some of the best levels. He was enormously valuable in the early stuff."
"I recognized that he knew all this stuff and made things happen fast."
"Even after we parted ways, he was ahead of the curve with mobile gaming."
"I just talked with him about doing AI stuff; I wish almost everyone the best."

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.