I like the band analogy best: The core creatives eventually went their separate ways. Some started new bands, some changed industries, and some stayed together

I like the band analogy best: The core creatives eventually went their separate ways. Some started new bands, some changed industries, and some stayed together under the original name. But like a rock band id will be forever defined by the creatives involved in each era. The Keen, Doom, and Quake eras all had slightly different members, and it shows strongly in their product. Then most of the remaining band left, and John Carmack kept touring with studio musicians.