Rage is a different game for id for another reason; after creating games for the PC version with console ports coming later (many handled by other developers) Rage is the first game designed specifically to be run on multiple platforms. Willits told us that the goals is to have Rage have the same assets on all the platforms it will be sold on and that it will be "fun for the hardcore console player and fun for the hardcore PC player."

While creating an online community for Rage is actually easy for the consoles since they have their own proprietary systems (Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 and Playstation Network for the PS3) Willits told us, "The challenge will come with community features on the PC." However creating a game designed to be run on multiple platforms also means that they are looking at making the game's interface and controller set up work for both PCs and consoles. Willits said he doesn't feel making a game for a console means "dumbing it down" for the PC gamer, saying, "The fewer the buttons and the more intuitive you can make interface, the more fun for everyone."

Rage is indeed coming to the Mac as well as the PC and consoles and Willits said they will also serve the Apple gamer well, saying, "We are more of a Mac house than people realize. My only machine at work is a Mac." Other id team members use Macs at work and at home and certainly Carmack has demoed id games and id game engines, including Rage, at various Apple press events.
ZeniMax's recent acquisition of id Software has meant several things for the developer as they work on current and future projects. One of those consequences is that the company is getting bigger as id goes up to three separate development teams (it was just a few years ago that id consisted of just one small team). Rage is being worked on by one team and another is the team working on the new Doom game. They are located on the lower level of id's building (or "Hell" as Willits called it). We tried to get the Rage team to reveal any hint at all on the new Doom game but none of them were talking.

The third team is currently working on Quake Live but the goal is to expand that team to work on a bigger title. Willits said it's currently unknown what that team will be working on beyond Quake Live, saying, "We don't know if it will be a Wolfenstein game, or Rage 2 or something else right now."

With the game industry being affected by the recession and game developers, even seemingly successful ones, shutting down, the fact that id is expanding is something of an anomaly right now. Being bought by ZeniMax, which is privately owned and has tons of money, has helped id in this current economy. Kim told us, "I think we are stronger than ever. There is a lot more security within the entire team."

While id is getting bigger, it looks like the team is going to retain that kind of intimate feel for making games even as they try out new gameplay designs and features. It also will retain that "when it's done" attitude towards completing the game that previous id titles have had. That means that while Rage is being spotlighted this year at QuakeCon it could still be at least another year (and maybe longer) before the final game is in the hands of gamers.