ID

January 9.

Tomb Raider, is an explorer who travels in search of adventures in the most uncharted areas of the world, whether it's remote lost islands near China, grand Egyptian tombs, Moroccan palaces, or Nordic cultures hidden through the centuries. These activities often lead to problems that don't end well, with some terrorist group, organization, or mafia lurking in the shadows pursuing their interests. The various franchise installments have their ups and downs. In this, she'll have to use all her skills and knowledge to face the challenges she encounters as a renowned archaeologist.

What enhances the gameplay in the latest releases from Lux Comics?

A third-person game with numerous perspectives, featuring the addition of an orbital camera design and omniscient cameras from various angles to capture the game's wonders. Tomb exploration, vehicle driving, and some peculiar combat scenarios with different types of weapons like bows, guns, knives, explosives, pipes, and spears are part of Lara Croft's arsenal for enhancing her combat abilities. It blends elements from the first and second game releases into one. Billy introduced many demands to the twelve-person team that has produced incredible video games.

Mechanics for climbing, jumping, and acrobatics are just some of the aspects he requested. Focus on gameplay, graphical improvements, a more human-like motion sensor, and new game modes, such as large maps with multiple functionalities, hidden treasures, improved NPC character technicalities to increase game difficulty, extensive maps, and open-world functionality for crafting items, gear, cooking, weapons, and stealth.

-This is quite challenging, very challenging, - Romero said, with something akin to stars in his eyes. The technical challenges he's presented in the company have given his career a significant boost. Each time he opened his mouth and mentioned that everything had already been invented, they would send him a curveball that led to a variety of different tasks. Now, improving the camera and implementing a dual camera is something that didn't occur to him at first, but it's all worth it.

-Don't worry; we'll take care of improving the engine. The results are clear when it comes to giving more depth to the other characters. I can only come up with a few ideas for technical enhancements, - John Carmack said.

-Well, let's continue with the movement patterns and anticipation mentioned in the book. This concept of machine intelligence brings up many intriguing details. I think we can refine the games. Jason, you're in charge of improving NPC gameplay, - Brian Riley said, to which Jason nodded in agreement

-We'll take care of putting the game together. With the designs in place, assembling the framework is not a problem. I think I can adapt the game's functionality to various features, such as stealth, lateral movement, jumps, and different gameplay, - Carmack said.

-I'll try to incorporate motorcycle gameplay. I'm also interested in replicating animals in-game mechanics, - Camil, another ID Software employee particularly skilled in in-game mechanics design, said.

-I can create the framework. I believe I can find a way to streamline the process so that it doesn't consume too much memory. This new approach will optimize the game with the new computers and equipment we've obtained, making game development require fewer resources to run, - Coleman said.

-Very well, let's get to work, - Brian Rilley said.

-I'll go handle the issue of the new game development team. We'll hire five new employees, one to strengthen our current team and four to work on a unique game project assigned by the boss, - Brian's wife, Alexa Rilley, a skilled programmer in her own right, said. - I'll conduct the interviews and then return to my work on improving the game modeler. -

The small book, "Crash," a 2D game with not much difficulty, has received applications from multiple game programmers. Parent companies like Colecovision have faced significant layoffs, and companies in the video game industry with their ups and downs have let go of many employees who have been struggling to find work for months. So, the interviews have attracted numerous participants.

-Francis, I thought Richard would come to oversee the selection process, - Alexa Rilley said.

Francis Patt smiled. - He had some complications, so he sent me to help out a bit. Here are the filters provided by the hiring agency. We have twelve participants, all of whom appear to have excellent resumes at first glance, but that doesn't matter much in this company. -

-You're right; in this company, only skill matters. Out of these twelve, we don't know who is capable of creating, and creating unimaginable things is the essence of ID Software, - Alexa said, particularly proud. The gaming industry has provided a home for her parents, her wife, and herself. It has allowed her to go on great trips and help her younger sister pay for her final college tuition. She still has money to spare. She won't leave this company for anything in the world.

-What have you planned, young lady? - Francis asked.

-Well, I entered a contest, and I want all of you to participate in a competition. Anyone who can develop a 2D game with basic mechanics, including controls for jumping, spinning, diving, and flying, can join. You have one month to deliver something innovative. I'm not expecting you to complete the work of a full team; what I'm looking for is creativity and commitment, - Alexa said.

-Alright, let's head to the stage. I'll be in the back. By the way, the company's receptionist is particularly beautiful, - Francis said with a smirk.

Alexa mumbled something but reached her destination.

The twelve people were gathered in the small conference room, typically used for end-of-year meetings or birthdays.

-Good afternoon, everyone. As you already know, this company is looking for the best programmers. Being a leading game development company, I want you all to be aware that this interview is a competition. You have one month to create a game with the specifications provided in this small booklet. Those who produce the best work or the most creative design will be hired. Don't worry; at ID Software, we value talent and ability above all else. All twelve of you can enter if all twelve deliver something outstanding. You can work in pairs at most. Any questions? - Alexa said.

-Can the partner be someone from outside this room? - a person with thick glasses asked.

-Yes, as long as they have acceptable programming skills. We already have enough designers, writers, and makers; what we need are game coders, - Alexa replied.

-Well, my friend is a programmer from another company. I can convince him, - the young man said.

-I'm sorry, your name slipped my mind, - Alexa said.

-Dave Taylor, - he replied.

-Alright, Dave, you can do that, but your friend will have to be on a trial basis later - Alexa said.

Dave nodded excitedly. This is a piece of cake. It needs some polishing, but between Tim Willits and him, the requirements are minimal.

-Any other questions? - Alexa asked.

The silence that followed was the answer. After all, a salary of $96,000 per year, along with numerous commissions and luxurious vacations, is something anyone would dream of. Though few knew it, this was Billy's first original game, even though he used the characteristic design of Crash. He designed the entire map from scratch.

The map features a grand laboratory game, which is a 54-level labyrinth with tight time constraints, vertically moving screens, horizontally moving screens, skateboard skate games, and common villains. These are experiments of Professor N. Cortex, the creator of the bandicoot animals, Crash, Coco, and Tawna. These are the first franchise characters that will shape the way to overcome the six laboratory robots.

Of the 54 playable levels, 14 will be added by the developers themselves as a required practice and development feature. Sometimes these may have different modes that can turn out to be brilliant.

-Continuing with the explanation, each group will have two weeks to create a stable product. The product will be evaluated based on basic criteria of innovation, - Alexa said.

The programmers were taken aback by the tight schedule, but this is a job that pays its employees very well. Rumors were circulating that they received $200,000 per year, along with incredible vacations, flexible hours, and, of course, the allure of creating games. Being part of the group that recently launched two animated movies was also a perk.

**********************

Tim Willits had a rough time during his ID Software selection process and found himself having a few beers at the bar near his house. He listened to the billiard balls clinking away, but today he wasn't in the mood for a game of pool.

On his seventh beer, the bartender, a former gang member who decided to invest his money in the dive bar he now managed, approached him. The atmosphere was good enough that nobody would bother you if you just wanted to drink in peace.

-You're Tim Willits, - the bartender said.

-Yeah? - Tim replied.

-You have a call on the line. Your phone rang for fifteen minutes straight, - said John Rodriguez.

Tim Willits nodded and moved his phone away from the beer. He was feeling dizzy and wanted to meet a girl, but he knew he wouldn't find one in this bar. Maybe in the city center, he could meet up with some friends and find someone interested. "Thanks, boss," he told John Rodriguez, who nodded and rushed back to tend to the bar.

The phone was hanging on the wall. Who would call him at this hour? Better yet, who would call him at this place?

-Tim speaking, - he said, obviously drunk. But Dave was so excited that he didn't notice or perhaps didn't care, as he was in a motel in Kansas City, sipping cheap vodka with flavored soda.

-Friend, come to Kansas. They allowed you to come. Teamwork is crucial in this company, and we have to develop a competition... - Dave started speaking hurriedly, without pauses, and with some confusion in his sentences. He was never good at speaking quickly; his eagerness would take over, and he would end up stumbling over small words.

-Of what are you talking about? - Tim interrupted, equally drunk as moments ago.

-Damn fool, come to Kansas quickly. We have to get to work, or do you no longer want to work at ID Software and create fantastic games for the company, - Dave said slowly and calmly.

-Wait, Dave! - Tim said.

-Who else would call you at the bar where you waste all your free time? - Dave remarked.

A valid point.

-My... mother, - Tim replied.

-Well, buddy, you have until tomorrow to come. We have a competition and a job to win, - Dave said.

-Are you kidding? - Tim asked.

-I'm not, I'm speaking the truth. I turned down a few ladies so you could come here, - Dave said suggestively, his mind elsewhere.

Dave heard the call hang up, and Tim bolted out of the bar, rushing to catch the first flight to Kansas. In his haste, he had forgotten his favorite jacket on the chair.

....

in Patreon we are in chapter 174, of this series, patreon.com/vin_modeus12