Editing Id Software (section)

=== ''Quake'' ===
{{Main|Quake (series)}}
On June 22, 1996, the release of ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' marked the third milestone in id Software history. ''Quake'' combined a cutting edge fully 3D engine, the [[Quake engine|''Quake'' engine]], with a distinctive art style to create critically acclaimed graphics for its time. Audio was not neglected either, having recruited [[Nine Inch Nails]] frontman [[Trent Reznor]] to facilitate unique sound effects and ambient music for the game. (A small homage was paid to Nine Inch Nails in the form of the band's logo appearing on the ammunition boxes for the nailgun weapon.) It also included the work of [[Michael Abrash]]. Furthermore, ''Quake'''s main innovation, the capability to play a deathmatch (competitive gameplay between living opponents instead of against computer-controlled characters) over the Internet (especially through the add-on ''[[QuakeWorld]]''), seared the title into the minds of gamers as another smash hit.

In 2008, id Software was honored at the 59th Annual [[Technology & Engineering Emmy Award]]s for the pioneering work ''Quake'' represented in user modifiable games.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/342028/2008-tech-emmy-winners 2008 Tech Emmy Winners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929094303/http://kotaku.com/342028/2008-tech-emmy-winners |date=September 29, 2012 }} from Kotaku.com</ref> id Software is the only game development company ever honored twice by the [[National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]], having been given an Emmy Award in 2007 for creation of the 3D technology that underlies modern [[Shooter game|shooter]] video games.<ref>[http://www.shacknews.com/docs/press/010710_id_carmack_emmys.x "John Carmack and id Software's pioneering development work in 3d games recognized with two Technology Emmy Awards"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705061409/http://www.shacknews.com/docs/press/010710_id_carmack_emmys.x |date=July 5, 2008 }} from [[Shacknews]]</ref>

The [[Quake (series)|''Quake'' series]] continued with ''[[Quake II]]'' in 1997. Activision purchased a 49% stake in id Software{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}, making it a second party which took publishing duties until 2009. However, the game is not a storyline sequel, and instead focuses on an assault on an alien planet, Stroggos, in retaliation for [[Strogg]] attacks on [[Earth]]. Most of the subsequent entries in the ''Quake'' franchise follow this storyline. ''[[Quake III Arena]]'' (1999), the next title in the series, has minimal plot, but centers around the "Arena Eternal", a gladiatorial setting created by an alien race known as the Vadrigar and populated by combatants plucked from various points in time and space. Among these combatants are some characters either drawn from or based on those in ''Doom'' ("[[Doomguy]]"), ''Quake'' (Ranger, Wrack), and ''Quake II'' (Bitterman, Tank Jr., Grunt, Stripe). ''[[Quake IV]]'' (2005) picks up where ''Quake II'' left off – finishing the war between the humans and Strogg. The spin-off ''[[Enemy Territory: Quake Wars]]'' acts as a prequel to ''Quake II'', when the Strogg first invade Earth. ''Quake IV'' and ''Enemy Territory: Quake Wars'' were made by outside developers and not id.

There have also been other spin-offs such as [[Quake (video game)#Quake Mobile|Quake Mobile]] in 2005 and ''[[Quake Live]]'', a web browser based modification of ''Quake III''. A game called ''Quake Arena DS'' was planned and canceled for the [[Nintendo DS]]. John Carmack stated, at [[QuakeCon]] 2007, that the ''[[id Tech 5]]'' engine would be used for a new ''Quake'' game.