When the video game industry was beginning to explode in the ’90s, one of the companies which benefitted the most was id Software.
Creator of the groundbreaking Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake, id was arguably at the vanguard of 3D gaming during most of the decade, and its success turned two of its co-founders – John Carmack and John Romero – into household names with gaming fans.
Such was Carmack’s fame that a story has risen up about his love of fast cars, a direct benefit of his commercial success at id Software. The tale goes that Carmack was actually barred from purchasing a Ferrari F50 because of his desire to modify sports cars in the past.
Twitter account Motor Car Tidbits posted about this story recently, noting that Carmack would take his Ferraris to Norwood Autocraft, a Dallas-based tuner, for modification. Because Ferrari prohibits such modification, he wasn’t allowed to purchase a shiny new F50.
One Twitter user took issue with this tale, claiming it couldn’t be true “because if the manufacturer can stop you from modifying “your” car then it isn’t really “your” car: it’s really their car by definition and you’re only renting.”
At this point, Carmack steps in himself to attest that the story is actually 100% true:
The local Ferrari dealer refused to put me on the waiting list for the F50, despite my having bought three Ferraris, two from them. They strongly disapproved of the turbocharging Norwood had done on my other cars. I wound up getting one of the first private sale F50 in the US when it came off lease.
So there you go; another video game “myth” becomes a solid fact.
Go on.... treat yourself to a new game.
2 Comments
That’s such a wild story! It’s crazy to think that John Carmack, a legend in the gaming world, faced that kind of restriction just because he wanted to tweak his rides. I mean, who wouldn’t want to mod a Ferrari? But I guess Ferrari’s all about keeping their brand pristine. The fact that he still managed to snag one of the first F50s in the US just goes to show his determination. It’s a cool reminder that even the most iconic figures can have some bizarre experiences. Plus, it adds a bit of personality to the man behind some of our favorite games!
It’s wild to think that even someone as legendary as John Carmack could run into issues like that! I mean, you’d think after creating iconic games like Doom and Quake, he’d have the keys to any car he wanted. But nope—Ferrari was not having it because of his modding habits. I get it, though; they want to keep their brand image pristine. Still, it’s kind of hilarious that he ended up getting one of the first F50s in the U.S. anyway. Just goes to show, if you’re determined enough, you can still get what you want, even if it means going around the rules. Carmack’s definitely got that gamer spirit!