GameSpy: What do you feel to be your biggest contribution to the world of interactive arts and sciences?
John Carmack: As a part of id Software, the distinctive feel of a first-person shooter may be the broadest accomplishment. 3D games were certainly going to exist, but they could have all gone the way of Ultima Underworld or Mario 64, rather than taking the action-arcade route. Personally, most of my technical accomplishments are just temporary. ...

GameSpy: What game developers do you admire most?
John Carmack: Probably Valve, because they did so many things right as a new company, and in the end, results matter most.