Maybe on details, but we disagree that you can rush creativity or genius. His trial-and-error method got him shadow volume years after a separate pair of engine

Maybe on details, but we disagree that you can rush creativity or genius. His trial-and-error method got him shadow volume years after a separate pair of engineers discovered it. This is why most great discoveries are done in research environments with teams. He in my view, failed to see that he just filled his 'apple tree' time with tinkering. Some people plant a garden while thinking about code, or focus intently. I'm not sure there's much difference between methods, it depends on the field and person. The most complex fields, involving what I'd consider true genius cannot be tested. It's just too general of a statement, and only relevant to him or a portion of the population. But this is Carmack as I've always seen him. Technically brilliant, missing the big picture (his games were in some cases restricted simply to show off a technical feature eg. the Doom 3 flashlight), and fairly narrow minded.