| Quake Live from id Software, is a free to play | | | | as well as similar multi-player games of that era, was |
| multi-player game, which is based on a modified | | | | that multi-player matches frequently used custom |
| version of the old Quake 3 Arena first person shooter, | | | | maps and mods, and the servers that the multi-player |
| originally released in 1999. | | | | match was being played on very rarely permitted you |
| The game software for Quake Live is available as a | | | | to download those maps and mods from them. This |
| browser plug-in for both Firefox and Internet Explorer, | | | | meant that you needed to find, download, and then |
| and is tightly coupled with the game's website - with | | | | install those required resources yourself. You would |
| the website being used for performing actions such as | | | | then restart the game, and then find out that the |
| logging into the game account, adjusting the game's | | | | server the match was being played on had either |
| settings, and matching players together for game | | | | started a new match or closed down, and that any |
| matches. While Quake Live is primarily a multi-player | | | | new matches required a new set of custom maps |
| game, it can also be played in a single player 'practice' | | | | and mods - leaving you needing to do it all over again. |
| mode. | | | | It was extremely frustrating. |
| Quake Live servers are provided by id Software, and | | | | However, Quake Live is a different experience. Any |
| are available locally in most parts of the world. | | | | new game resources are streamed and stored as |
| Signing up for Quake Live is a fairly painless process. | | | | you need them, without the headache of your needing |
| After signing up for a game account and confirming | | | | to search for, download, and then install them. All |
| the email address used with the account, you just | | | | downloaded game resources are cached on your |
| need to download and install the browser plug-in, and | | | | hard drive, so they don't need to be downloaded again |
| you're more or less ready to go. After you login to | | | | each time you wish to play a new match. It's an |
| your new game account at the Quake Live site, the | | | | enormous improvement over the older way of doing |
| website will begin downloading the game resources. | | | | things. |
| On my mid range ADSL connection, the main game | | | | Yet another advantage of the Quake Live service is |
| resources took around 30 minutes to load. | | | | that games are played on proper dedicated servers |
| I initially started playing the game in windowed mode, | | | | with high-quality equipment, and with good, low latency |
| which worked well enough. Some tweaking of the | | | | Internet connections. I've recently been playing many |
| configuration settings was required to get things the | | | | multi-player matches with the Halo 1 demo version. The |
| way I like them, but this was fairly easy to do. Pressing | | | | majority of these matches are peer hosted by players |
| the escape key allowed me to return to the settings | | | | on their home computers, and I frequently find myself |
| page on the website, tweak my settings, and then click | | | | joining a match just to find that the match is almost |
| a link on the page to return to the game. | | | | unplayable due to lag caused by low grade hardware, |
| After some practice matches in windowed mode, I | | | | or an inadequate Internet connection. Many matches |
| decided to try out the full screen mode. Switching | | | | would be up for only a short time, and would |
| between modes involved changing an option on the | | | | frequently close down in the middle of the match, just |
| video configuration page, which was simple enough. | | | | when I was starting to get involved in the game-play. |
| The settings page remembers your changes, so you | | | | Many of the players hosting the play session also find |
| don't need to re-configure your preferences each time | | | | it amusing to take unfair advantage of their zero ping |
| you log-on. | | | | connections to one-shot you with the sniper rifle, which |
| Full screen mode was fairly similar to playing full screen | | | | quickly gets annoying. In comparison, the Quake Live |
| in the original Quake 3 Arena. The frame-rate was | | | | servers involve persistent games with relatively little lag |
| similar - as was the game-play experience. Pressing | | | | due to their localization, and they also do a solid job of |
| the escape key allows you to exit full screen, and | | | | matching players together with other players of the |
| return to the website. | | | | same skill level and with similar ping times. It's a much |
| To begin a multi-player match, you just go to the home | | | | more professional, and enjoyable, experience overall. |
| page for your account, and click the 'Play Online' link. | | | | One issue I have when playing multi-player games on |
| You will then be taken to the match selection page, | | | | peer hosted servers, is that many of the other players |
| where you are presented with a list of active matches | | | | use the relative anonymity of their Internet connection |
| for the nearest servers in your local area. Clicking the | | | | to let their inner jerk run free. Abusive messages in the |
| image for the match you wish to join, followed by the | | | | chat system, and unsportsmanlike behavior on the |
| 'Play' button, gets you into the multi-player match. | | | | playing field are commonplace. Due to the persistent |
| Game-play in multi-player mode was pretty similar to | | | | account based nature of the Quake Live service, the |
| multi-player on the old Quake 3 Arena, with the | | | | abusive players are kept in check by the threat of |
| exception that players were generally better behaved. | | | | having their accounts shut down, and any |
| One of my pet peeves with the old Quake 3 Arena, | | | | achievements earned on that account deleted. |