Creative & id Software Announce DOOM 3 Collaboration

TS | Thomas · Jul 27, 2004

Creative & id Software announce Doom 3 collaboration

Creative today announced its agreement with id Software relating to Creative's patented shadowing technique & id's cutting-edge 3D graphics DOOM 3 engine, allowing Creative to develop EAX ADVANCED HD 3D audio options for future licensees.

Positional audio in Doom 3 is said to take a major role in gameplay terms (making for a creepier environment), even more so than in previous games using EAX technology. You might remember Robert Duffy's .plan update yesterday detailing how much work they've put on audio technology.

Didou · Jul 28, 2004

Creative apparently has a patent on a shadowing technique that appears to have some similiarity with id Software's soon-to-be-available DOOM3's shadowing technique (story). Now, without attempting to raise any controversy on this matter, this reporter thinks that software patents in general are a Bad Thing. It is a little suspicious that Creative posted about their technique on their company's developer forum first. To have later filed a patent and then challenge id Software is in this reporter's opinion inexcusable. This is tantamount to blackmailing game developers -- inventing a technique, talking about it before filing a patent that hasn't been published and then telling a game developer that there is some infringement is just unethical behaviour.

[edit]It is wise to visit this page to see some history behind Creative's claim. But this does not change the basic opinion this reporter has about the gist of this matter. Please visit the comments on this news post.

This reporter emailed id Software's John Carmack, touching a little on his "reverse shadowing" technique (info here and here) and the state of patenting in general before asking him for some comments on this Creative "agreement" with id Software. Here's what he had to say :

The patent situation well and truly sucks.

We were prepared to use a two-pass algorithm that gave equivalent results at a speed hit, but we negotiated the deal with Creative so that we were able to use the zfail method without having to actually pay any cash. It was tempting to take a stand and say that our products were never going to use any advanced Creative/3dlabs products because of their position on patenting gaming software algorithms, but that would only have hurt the users.

John Carmack

It appears that id Software "backed down" by resolving this quickly in order not to hurt the gaming industry (including gamers). For a company that is tied so closely with gaming, Creative's actions is just plain wrong. It would be awful to think that this matter is setting a precedent for others to follow Creative's behaviour.

Taken from -> Beyond3D

TS | Thomas · Jul 28, 2004

Thanks, I was going to post that up just now too

Didou · Aug 17, 2004

Creative pushes enforcement on Carmack's reverse

by Scott Wasson
As I stumbled through the caffeine and sleep deprivation-induced haze at Quakecon, a tortured soul clandestinely whispered to me that Creative is actively working to exploit its patent on the "Carmack's reverse" rending technique used in DOOM 3. Word has it Creative has sent letters to at least eight other game developers about the issue. More may be on the way, because id Software has already licensed DOOM 3 technology to loads more development teams.

Our informant didn't indicate whether Creative was seeking monetary damage or would use the threat of patent enforcement as leverage to get its EAX Advanced HD tech integrated into more games, as it did with DOOM 3. If we find out more, we'll let you know.

TechSpot

Creative & id Software Announce DOOM 3 Collaboration

TS | Thomas Newcomer, in training

Didou Bowtie extraordinair!

TS | Thomas Newcomer, in training

Didou Bowtie extraordinair!