id’s focus is not on user generated content

id Software games have always had a strong community of mod support, offering user created maps and game modes, but this isn’t an area the software developer is focusing on with its upcoming game, Rage.

Referring to user generated content id Software lead designer Matt Hooper told Next-gen: “As a game player, I love it. But that doesn’t mean at the same time I can’t love a BioShock or a Call of Duty 4. You can have a focused game, and do that really well. I think that’s the important thing – doing something really well.”

Hooper continued: “What the other games mentioned [Spore, LittleBigPlanet] do as far as user created content, and just on that side of things, it’s like a different focus. I think there can be a separation, almost like movie genres. It’s okay to make a comedy, or a really hardcore, serious documentary. I think there are different fits.”

For Hooper and id Software the goals lie elsewhere.

“For us personally, our biggest goal is – you can see it right now – we’re pushing on the fidelity, visually. We’re also pushing on the gameplay fidelity,” said Hooper. “Those two things are huge. For us, we’re doing things that we’ve never done before. That’s already a lot of eggs in the basket. As far as user-generated content, it’s not a huge consideration for us right now.”

Expect to see much more of Rage when id Software hosts its annual QuakeCon event from July 31 – August 3, 2008.

Do you think id is making the right move in focusing on the gameplay and visuals, or is user generated content the future? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.