# Adrian Carmack > video game artist and co-founder of id Software **Wikidata**: [Q372751](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q372751) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Carmack) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adrian-carmack ## Summary Adrian Carmack is an American video game artist, designer, and businessperson best known as a co-founder of id Software. He played a foundational role in the development of the video game industry through his work as an artist and engineer on influential software projects. ## Biography - Born: 1969-05-05 - Nationality: United States - Known for: Co-founding id Software and his work as a video game artist. - Employer(s): Softdisk, id Software - Field(s): Video game industry, computer science, design ## Contributions Adrian Carmack co-founded the American video game developer id Software on February 1, 1991. Based in Richardson, Texas, the company became a major force in the industrial and service sectors of the video game industry. Before founding id Software, Carmack worked at Softdisk, a software company based in Shreveport, Louisiana, that was active in the video game industry starting in 1981. As a multi-disciplinary professional, Carmack has contributed to the field as a computer scientist, engineer, and designer. His work is central to the history of major gaming franchises, as evidenced by his dedicated entries in the Doom Wiki and Quake Wiki. Beyond his technical and artistic roles, he has also served as a businessperson and television producer. His professional output is cataloged under MobyGames person ID 819 and the Europeana entity registry. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Adrian Carmack's most notable achievement? A: Adrian Carmack is most notable for co-founding id Software in February 1991. He served as a key artist and designer for the company, helping to establish it as a leading developer in the video game industry. ### Q: Where did Adrian Carmack begin his career? A: Carmack began his career at Softdisk, a defunct company headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana. His experience there preceded the formation of id Software. ### Q: What professional roles has Adrian Carmack held? A: Throughout his career, Carmack has worked as a video game artist, computer scientist, engineer, designer, and businessperson. He has also been involved in television production. ## Why They Matter Adrian Carmack is a pivotal figure in the evolution of the video game industry. As a co-founder of id Software, he was instrumental in the creation of a company that would define modern gaming standards. His transition from Softdisk to id Software represents a significant era in software development, moving from early disk-based publications to the creation of major standalone video game franchises. His work as an artist and designer provided the visual identity for projects that are now considered landmarks in computer science and digital entertainment. The lasting impact of his contributions is reflected in his recognition across international knowledge bases, with biographical records maintained in ten different languages and specialized industry wikis such as the Doom and Quake archives. ## Notable For * **Co-founder of id Software:** Helped establish the influential American video game developer on February 1, 1991. * **Industry Pioneer:** Recognized as a key artist and designer during the formative years of the video game industry. * **Multi-Disciplinary Impact:** Held diverse roles across the technology sector, including engineer, computer scientist, and television producer. * **Global Recognition:** His work and biography are documented in 10 languages and multiple international databases, including Europeana and MobyGames. ## Body ### Early Career at Softdisk Adrian Carmack's professional entry into the technology sector began at Softdisk. Founded in 1981 and based in Shreveport, Louisiana, Softdisk served as a training ground for several individuals who would later revolutionize the video game industry. Carmack's tenure at the company provided the foundation for his later work in game design and computer science. ### Founding and Growth of id Software On February 1, 1991, Adrian Carmack co-founded id Software in Richardson, Texas. The company focused on the video game industry and grew to become a significant employer in the region, at one point reaching 39 employees. As a co-founder, Carmack was involved in both the creative and business operations of the studio. ### Technical and Artistic Roles Carmack's career is characterized by a blend of artistic and technical expertise: * **Design and Art:** He is primarily identified as a video game artist and designer, contributing to the visual assets of id Software's projects. * **Engineering and Science:** He is classified as a computer scientist and engineer, practicing within the industrial and service sectors. * **Media Production:** His professional reach extended into television production. ### Documentation and Legacy Carmack's contributions are extensively documented in specialized industry repositories: * **Doom Wiki:** Identified under the ID "Adrian_Carmack." * **Quake Wiki:** Identified under the ID "Adrian Carmack." * **MobyGames:** Cataloged under person ID 819. * **Wikidata/Wikipedia:** His life and career are summarized in languages including English, German, French, Japanese (under the alias アドリアン・カーマック), and several others. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. [Adrian Carmack - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org](https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Adrian_Carmack)