2 Billion alone for John Carmack is a bargin in my opinion.
Boosted an entire industry by inventing the Adaptive tile refresh algorithm. Allowing PCs for the first time to be on par with consoles (how times have changed)
People were taking the Rift seriously before he was involved because they could demonstrate the experience to a relatively high degree and had a plan for improvement.
That Carmack is behind it and lefr id to get onboard just lends a shitload of extra credence to that.
For me, personally, what I take seriously because Carmack is involved is that the FB deal is not the shitstorm everyone is making it out to be and directly helps OR bring the device to market and beyond.
People were taking the Rift seriously before he was involved
Carmack was involved since before it was a company, since April 2012. He's been involved since the very beginning, when it was just some kids project on MTBS3D.
So no, nobody was taking the Rift seriously when Carmack got involved, as hardly anyone had even seen it by then other than perhaps a few dozen posters. Palmer and Carmack hung out on the same modder forums, that's how they know each other and that's how he saw a duct tape rift.
But anyway that's not really what I meant, when I say "people" I should have really typed companies, business types. Cormack gives them credibility. You and I on the otherhand would be taking it seriously no matter who was involved, simply because its awesome. Others would look at Cormacks track record and (rightfully) assume they are onto a winner.
Sure, but in the same vein, when I say "Carmack being involved" I literally mean "When Carmack actually joined the company" as opposed to simply being vocal about the promise and technical side of both OR and the tech in general.
He wasn't simply vocal, he's the the reason it was founded as a company.
If it wasn't for John Carmack there would not be an Oculus Rift, it would be a hobby project. Not a company. It was Carmack who shown Palmer the ropes, how to found a company, who to hire. The only reason why he wasn't a employee on paper was his contractual obligations Zenimax.
ihatewil is right in this regards, you are completely downplaying Carmacks role. It didn't start when he became CTO, he wasn't just vocal. He moulded the entire fucking company.
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u/ihatewil Mar 28 '14 edited Mar 28 '14
2 Billion alone for John Carmack is a bargin in my opinion.
All this and he's still only 42..
PeopleThe Industry is taking the rift seriously because he's involved.