Games: id Software through the ages

Commander Keen: this shareware series was id Software's first foray into the gaming mainstream Photograph: PR

Wolfenstein 3D: credited as being the original first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D pitted players against an evil Nazi horde, killer German shepherds ... and a cyborg Adolf Hitler Photograph: PR

Wolfenstein 3D: your mission is to kill that nasty Mr Hitler before he kills you Photograph: PR

Doom: the title that gave nightmares to millions of gamers took the first-person shooter to a whole new level Photograph: PR

Doom 2: both this sequel and the original were ported over to most gaming platforms. They became a cultural phenomenon, bringing a new wave of criticism about violence in videogames Photograph: PR

Doom 3: released 13 years after Doom 2, the latest incarnation was a reboot of the franchise and sported graphics that were light years ahead of the original. A fourth version of Doom is said to be in the works, for release in 2010 Photograph: PR

Quake: released in 1996, the original Quake was a milestone in id's history. The ability to play against others online, in "deathmatch" mode, made this title another smash hit for the company Photograph: PR

Quake 3 Arena: the third in the series, released in 1999, saw the focus shift from single-player to multiplayer action Photograph: PR

Wolfenstein: the sequel to 2001's Return to Castle Wolfenstein, this latest version – due for release in August 2009 – is being developed not by id, but by Raven Software Photograph: PR

Rage: the first new title to be developed solely by id since Doom 3, Rage is part racer, part first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world. Its expected release date is "when it's done" Photograph: PR

Still in the game: id Software boss Todd Hollenshead, seen here with pro-snowboarder Shaun White, says that despite the company's sale to ZeniMax Media, "id will continue to be id" Photograph: Duffy-Marie Arnoult/Getty

Gaming godfather: id co-founder John Romero, who left the company more than 10 years ago, was a driving force behind early games Doom and Quake and is considered a controversial industry veteran Photograph: Public Domain