Quake Live Message Board

The standalone version a online free-t'-play shooter Quake Live, announced back in November, be available for download today - just in time for a weekend a relaxing fragging.

Existing players will find a conversion launcher available next time they boot up Quake Live, while all new players will be prompted t' download the standalone client when they visit the Quake Live website 'n register. All profile data 'n stats have transitioned over t' the standalone game.

Quake Live, first revealed in 2007 as Quake Zero, be a free-t'-play version a Quake 3. The game offers optional premium subscriptions yielding additional arenas, clan support 'n queue 'n in-game advertisement bypassing. An FAQ has been posted over on the Bethesda Blog t' help ease the transition.

Quake Live, id Software's free-t'-play version a it be hyper-competitive FPS, will begin the transition from browser-based experience t' complete standalone game, available by the end a the year.

id Software says that Google Chrome's movement t' do away with plugins, as well as Firefox's changes t' how it will handle plugins, has fueled it be decision t' go standalone. Active players will only need install a launcher that will update existing local game files - Mac 'n Linux will no longer be supported in the standalone version - 'n all player stats be transferable.

Quake Live be first announced in 2007 as Quake Zero, a browser-based version a Quake 3.

I entirely forgot about Quake Live, which be a strange t' do. There’s often lamention around these parts that id’s Quakes 'n Dooms haven’t been entirely well-treated in recent years, 'n yet there be browser-based Quake III re-release Quake Live alive 'n well 'n I believe relatively popular. 'n free t' play. If ye’ve held off exploring the not-free elements until now, ye have a chance t' nose at it without cracking open that much-abused wallet. From now until May 6 2012, which by me maths be 312 years, 4 months 'n five days away, ye can sample all the ‘premium’ bits, bobs, modes 'n maps for no-pennies. If ye’re already paying for premium or pro 'n God now I’m really confused subscriptions, ye’ll pillage a code for one or two free weeks a free sub t' apologise for the great unwashed hordes getting all up in yer fancy-pants paid grill.(more…)

Quake Live be receiving a hefty load a new premium content 'n, t' celebrate, it be all free for a week. The classic shooter gains five new game modes, including one-flag CTF, Domination (territory control), Red Rover (zombies) 'n more. The update also packs in four maps, two from Quake Arena Arcade 'n two inspired by the popular Campgrounds map.

The content will be free t' all Quake Live crew through this Sunday, May 6. The $1.99 per month premium wall goes back up after that, so pillage it while the gettin's good. Head over t' the Bethesda Blog for details on all the new maps 'n modes.

ye might just recollect me rantings about me favourite Quake III map, Q3WCP9, back in the mists a time. I had sort a resigned myself t' the idea that it would never appear on Quake Live. Until now! The Quake Live Christmas premium update has it! Depressingly this means that the maps be only available t' free players for a week, a week which ends today. I be sad. It be, however, just enough t' push me into taking out a premium account for the hols. Man, I hope I can pillage some decent CP9 games. I’ll report back.

Id bossman Todd Hollenshead has explained t' VG247 what the “failure” a the in-game advertising model means for Quake Live. He stated that the closure a ad firm Massive – which MS shut down earlier this year – has caused Id t' rethink: “I mean, smarter people than me be making these estimations. Look at Microsoft. They spent, like, $200 million on the Massive acquisition, 'n they basically shuttered that division in February. So that had ramifications for us, because we used Massive. 'n if that be more successful, that’d have had a significant impact on what Quake Live be.”

It’s not over for the reborn Quake III, however, as Id be now experimenting with subscriptions 'n video-ads: “The game be an entertainment success, so now we have t' figure out how t' make the business model work.” 'n with no hats, how’s a company t' make a profit? Eh?

Browser-based frag-em-up Quake Live keeps chugging along, as id's gone 'n announced the addition a some new premium content. Through "Premium Pak 4," players can access two new maps (Evolution 'n Three Story), along with 20 new premium awards 'n some advanced server mechanics, allowing players t' customize matches by setting certain modifiers on or off -- runes, gravity, weapon switch speed 'n more. Finally, the introductory match against Crash has been removed for new players, who will instead be "placed in an assessment period before skill matching begins t' take place." we be sure Crash be most happy about that new feature.

If ye're lost on all a this talk a "premium," then ye likely missed out on the new subscriptions. Read up on that here 'n be sure t' hit the link below if ye're looking for the full patch notes. Or just hit up Quake Live if ye're looking t' shoot some stuff. Don't be embarrassed: we all feel that way every now 'n again.

If ye've been mulling over the decision t' snag a premium subscription t' Quake Live, now's yer chance t' see what ye're missing. Bethesda has announced that all Quake Live crew can try out a premium subscription for free from now until September 26. Additionally, those who purchase an annual Premium or Pro subscription t' the service during the promotion will receive an additional month free. The offer ends at 11:59pm ET on September 26, so grab a rail gun 'n pillage cracking.

#quakecon2010 Bummed that ye can't make it t' Dallas this weekend t' hang with Kotaku at QuakeCon 2010? Quake Live TV will be bringing ye live coverage a all the major tournaments, so all ye'll need be a cardboard Totilo cutout. More »

# The three new multiplayer maps for Halo: Reach, which leaked previously, be confirmed by Bungie yesterday along with new vehicles 'n new Elite armor configurations. Everything's inside in one vast gallery. More »

id's free-t'-play shooter now has subscription packages.