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December 24, 2002: Due to some unusual circumstances, the demo contest has been cancelled. That being said, I'm taking a *yawn* break until January. Have a great holiday... see ya next year!
-Dr.Gibbs
December 24, 2002: For the last update of 2002, there's a new Quake 3 CTF map in the Map Reviews area... it's called On the Rim, and it's by Lake Trout -- winner of the 2001 mapping contest. See it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 16, 2002: A new map pack for ThreeWave CTF has been released... this one is kind of interesting, because it's actually a conversion of some Alliance CTF maps. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 14, 2002: A new map has been added to the map reviews section. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 13, 2002: I received a heads-up about a program called Q2Models, a Java applet that lets visitors view Quake 2 models in their browser. It should support Quake 3 models soon. More information can be found here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 10, 2002: Version 1.034 of BFG Arena was just released. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 9, 2002: You'll be happy to know that Tenebrae, the engine mod for Quake 1, has been updated to version 1.03. It includes some minor enhancements. You cab grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 8, 2002: Quake 2: Evolved, a total conversion for Quake 2, has just entered its beta stage. The conversion is basically an engine enhancement that adds new graphics to the game, as well as some other improvements. You can get more info (not to mention the beta) right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 8, 2002: A lot of you will be happy to know that Weapons Factory Areana 3.5 has been released. There are a ton of new features, changes, and bug fixes. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 6, 2002: CMPA has been updated to version 99y3. You can grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 5, 2002: Ultimate Deathmatch 1.4 has been released. The mod allows you to edit level parameters and items in real time. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 3, 2002: D-Day: Normandy, a total conversion for Quake 2, has been released as a stand-alone mod, meaning you don't need to hae Quake 2 in order to play it. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 1, 2002: Q3 Mappers should be aware that GTKRadiant has been updated to version 1.2.11. There are a lot of fixes, as well as a new version of Ydnar's Q3Map. Be sure to download it! Head on over to their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 22, 2002: A new version of the Punkbuster client (1.005) was released. The autodownload should pick it up, but if not, you can get it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 18, 2002: The Tenebrae site has been updated with a couple of new collections of skins and models. Head on over to their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 18, 2002: A few new screenshots (10) were added to Quake 3's screenshot archive. Some of them are really good, so be sure to check them out. This brings the collection to 198... it's not likely that many more will be added, so this may be one of the last updates to that part of the site. See them all here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 16, 2002: There's another new version of CPMA out, this one's 99y2. There are mainly just some bug fixes, but it's worth getting. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 15, 2002: The Quake Episode 1 Remodelling Project recently released a new model and skin pack that totals 20 megs... it includes new models and skins for Quake 1 characters and items. It's intended for use with engine modifications like Tenebrae. Get it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 15, 2002: A new Quake 2 total coversion has entered development... it's called The Evil Unleashed. It brings a whole new world of single player gameplay to Quake 2, and it's definitely worth a look. It uses a modification of the Quake 2 engine called QFusion, so it promises some incredible graphics. If you still play Quake 2, keep an eye out for it. Go to their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 14, 2002: There are some changes in the Quake 3 Map Reviews area. I just uploaded a new "official" map based on Quake 1's The Bad Place, and I also updated the info pages to match the new site. Tunnel Vision (previously dzoneq3dm2) has been temporarily removed until a new beta version is released. Anyway, be sure to head on over there and check things out!
-Dr.Gibbs
November 14, 2002: November's monthly picks are up! Check 'em out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 14, 2002: Quake2maX 0.45 has been released. The openGL engine mod improves a lot of the visual effects in Quake 2. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 13, 2002: FuhQuake, a mod that adds visual quality and gameplay improvements to Quake 1, has been updated to version 0.25. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 11, 2002: CPMA has been updated to 99x9b, it fixes some trivial bugs. 1.0 will be coming soon, but players should grab this release in the mean time. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 10, 2002: Urban Terror 2.6 has finally been released! The 90 meg download is definitely worth it, as it sports some great new maps, new weapon models, a ton of bug fixes, and some new features as well. Head on over to their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 8, 2002: GameSpy v2.62 is out. The biggest change is support for the new Medal of Honor Allied Assault Spearhead demo. Get the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 7, 2002: QMB, an engine enhancement for Quake 1, has been updated to version 1.13. There are quite a few fixes and improvements, most of them dealing with lighting. To get the new version and more info, visit their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 2, 2002: It's that time of year again... this year's official holiday contest has just been announced. The theme? Demos. There are enough categories to keep you busy, and demos are simple enough to make, so be sure to give it a try! Check out the contests's official page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 1, 2002: Ethereal Hell just announced the release of a new Quake 1 single player map, Ultramarine. Here's the description, straight from the site:
Ultramarine is a blue gothic/industrial level using modified Quake3 textures. It takes the medieval/castle theme to another height in originality with blue panels and light grey brick. A trademark twisting layout that weaves through this large level as you enter and eventually exit the castle in a tough end battle. Custom monsters come included with Axeman, Gremlins, Rocket and Nail Ogres and the tough Baron gang. A traditional 'Alk' map.
You can read grab the map and see some screenshots here.-Dr.Gibbs
November 1, 2002: The Quake 1 deathmatch mod Jeht has been updated to version 1.4. The new version contains quite a few changes and improvements. To get more info about the mod and to download the update, head on over here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 1, 2002: There's a total conversion in the works called Dark Ages. It's based on medieval warfare and includes classes like Foot Soldiers, Knights, Archers, Catapults, and more. They're just getting started, and they're looking for mappers, texture artists, graphics artists, sound engineers, voice talent, programmers, and modellers (static and animated). If you can help, or if you're just interested in checking out the mod, be sure to visit their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 27, 2002: A total conversion called TransFusion (formerly known as QBlood) has been released for Quake 1, including source code. It turns Quake 1 into Monolith's 1997 release of Blood. It's definitely worth checking out! Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 24, 2002: A bit of news concerning Quake 3 1.32... Robert Duffy announced that the source code for 1.32 has been released. You can find it on our Downloads page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 24, 2002: Three new maps were just added to the Quake 3 Map Reviews database - The Birth Machine, The Guns Of Navarone, and The Wisdom Machine, all created by Quint. Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 20, 2002: Great news! After a 4 month fiasco, the search feature FINALLY works. A new script was installed... it works like many search engines you're used to - you can use terms like "AND" "NOT" "OR" to narrow results. A help page will probably be added soon. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know, I'm sure relieved *cheers*. Enjoy!
-Dr.Gibbs
October 20, 2002: Well, it appears Hotmail isn't the issue. I used my own Hotmail account, and sure enough, the messages are being sent. There are a large number of Hotmail addresses that no longer work, however, so they are being removed from the mailing list. If you're subscribed to the newsletter, but you haven't been receiving it, please subscribe again. Thanks!
-Dr.Gibbs
October 19, 2002: A problem has come up regarding the newsletter - most Hotmail users are now unable to receive it. I'm not sure what the issue is, obviously it's on Hotmail's side but I doubt I will have any luck getting them to even acknowledge my existance, so I will have to try to solve the problem by doing something on my end. Because of this, if you're a subscriber, you might get a test message or two in the next couple days. Sorry for the trouble :)
-Dr.Gibbs
October 15, 2002: The Fruitz of Dojo has released another update for Quake 1.0.9 for MacOS X. It includes a lot of new features, as well as some big fixes. You can get ahold of the new version right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 14, 2002: I added a few new Quake 1 screenshots (9, to be exact). Nothing special, just some old ones I had laying around from a co-op game I played awhile back... I figured you all might be interested, so I went ahead and put them on. Grab 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 8, 2002: Gaming Invasion recently posted an interview with Doom 3's lead designer, Tim Willits - a name we should all be familiar with. It has some information about the new engine, none of it is new if you've been following this stuff, but it's always interesting to get it straight from id. Here's part of it:
Now, what inspired you to do game design?
Well, I’ve always been interested in designing things, like my brother, my older brother, used to play D&D when I was younger, I never really liked to play but I thought making maps was cool. When Doom II came out it was great because it gave me the chance to make my own maps and modify their maps, and it was really cool because it gave me the chance to be able to run around in worlds that I built and it really inspired me, and the rest is basically history.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in working with Doom III?
When you are working with a new technology, that and the game at the same time, it’s like filming a movie and inventing the camera, so we are discovering what all we can do, while we do it, so the base challenge is exploiting the engine as much as we can, but we haven’t even scratched the surface with the new technology.
You can read the rest of the interview here.-Dr.Gibbs
October 7, 2002: As promised quite some time ago, Quake 3 1.32 has just been released! You'd better not miss out on this one, or you won't be seeing any servers pretty soon... anyway, grab it on our Downloads page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 4, 2002: I went ahead and uploaded the new monthly picks for October, check 'em out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 4, 2002: The Fruitz of Dojo has released an update for their version of Quake 1 (1.0.8 - the original release) for MacOS X. It includes a lot of new features, as well as some big fixes. You can get ahold of the new version right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 23, 2002: Globetechnology.com has published an article all about the infamous Fatal1ty... it's fairly short, but it's a good read. Here's a clip:
Fatal1ty, otherwise known as Jonathan Wendel, is an unconventional player in an unconventional sport. In his first two years on the professional video-game circuit, Fatal1ty had established himself as one of those legendary athletes -- along the lines of Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky -- who define greatness in their respective fields. The difference was that Fatal1ty's sport wasn't quite as mainstream as baseball, prize-fighting, basketball or hockey.
A scrawny and brash 21-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., Fatal1ty competes in the virtual arena of Quake III, a popular "first-person shooter" video game played on networked computers through which combatants hunt one another in a last-man-standing free-for-all. And while Fatal1ty's fortunes have gone up and down (and then back up) in recent years, the sport he loves to play only increases in popularity.
You can catch the rest of it right here.-Dr.Gibbs
September 23, 2002: Alien Culture, a new single player total conversion for Quake 3 based on -- you guessed it, aliens -- is going to be released October 1st. Be sure to check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 23, 2002: PlanetQuake recently posted an interview with Raven's Quake 4 level designer, Jim Hughes. It doesn't say much about Quake 4, but it's pretty interesting. Here's a sample:
PQ: So how did you get into the gaming industry?
JH: Well, I was doing levels. I'd been messing around with Doom 2 but I wasn't on the Internet at the time, so I'd just bought the Doom Editing Handbook and had kind of been messing around with that. Then Quake came out and again I just started messing around with it. That's when I got on the Internet. From there I made some levels and released them got online, then Quake 2 came out and I started to get noticed on some of the review sites with the level pack I released. I was doing another four levels and a guy ICQed me saying that Raven was looking for level designers so I sent it on a whim - my newer stuff, thinking it wasn't finished. It was playable, it just wasn't polished. I thought I'd never be given a second look at, but they gave me a call the next day and wanted to fly me out from New Jersey and, well, the rest is history. I went to work on SoF as my first game.
You can read the whole interview here.-Dr.Gibbs
September 21, 2002: I'm just letting you all know that the search feature DOES NOT work. I don't know what's wrong with it, it seems to be one of those things that just fails without reason :) I'm working on getting it fixed, hopefully it will be working again shortly.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 21, 2002: I just added a new Quake 3 article you'll probably be interested in... it's a collection of Quake 3 screenshots that were released to the public during Quake 3's development. It's quite a rare find, as these shots really aren't around anywhere anymore. Check it out here!
-Dr.Gibbs
September 18, 2002: I went ahead and updated the sample newsletter on the Newsletter page to reflect the new version of the publication. If you still haven't subscribed, be sure to check it out here!
-Dr.Gibbs
September 17, 2002: I finally updated the Monthly Picks! Click here to see what they are, or go to the Monthly Picks link at the top of this page.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 13, 2002: Just a heads-up for those of you using GameSpy 3D... a new version, 2.62, was just released. It features some new games. Get it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 9, 2002: Believe it or not, there are still some new Quake 1 mods... Quake Matrix, a brand new total conversion for Quake 1, was just released today. It adds a ton of features to Quake 1 based on the movie The Matrix. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 8, 2002: Ultra Freeze Tag has been updated to 1.01. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 8, 2002: QuakeIT, a Quake 3 game launcher, has been updated. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 8, 2002: SmackDown 5, the continuation of an annual worldwide QuakeWorld tournament, is now open for registration. The deadline is September 20th, so get a move on! Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 5, 2002: QMB, the project working to redesign Quake 1's engine to make it - well, better - is under way with another release. Check out the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2002: EasyGen, a Quake 3 terrain generator that should prove to be useful to any mapper interested in terrains, is now available in version 1.42. To get the new version, click here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2002: Reaction Quake 3, the follow-up to Action Quake 2, has been updated to version 2.2. The new version fixes some pretty important bugs. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 26, 2002: Another noteworthy article on Gamespy describes the real-time Doom 3 demo at QuakeCon in detail. Read all about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 26, 2002: GameSpy has released an interview with id Software, notably Tim Willits, about Doom 3. It contains a ton of info, you should find it very interesting. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 26, 2002: An Infiltration-style mod called True Combat is in the works, there is a beta version available as well as plenty of info on new releases. To learn more, visit their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 26, 2002: Hey! Something actually happened... DeFrag, a single-player mod for Quake 3 designed to help you improve your ability to move, has been updated to version 1.7. Grab the new version (as well as some more information) here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 22, 2002: Looks like things are a little slow in the Quake community these days (except for QCon, of course). Ah, well, if you're bored you can have a look at a few new Quake 3 screenshots... as usual, they're worth a look. Check them out here!
-Dr.Gibbs
August 7, 2002: D-Day Normandy, a World War II mod for Quake 2, has been updated to version 4.1. The new version invludes Linux support and quite a few new features and fixes. Check out their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 4, 2002: The QMB (Quake Engine Coding Project) has been updated once again, with quite a few bug fixes. The project seeks to add features to Quake 1's engine to make it more like current games. Get more info and the latest release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 1, 2002: I just added another Quake 3 map to the review archive... it's called Alien Warehouse. If you like tech maps, be sure to check this one out. It can be found right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 1, 2002: Looks like we're about to be getting another point release for Quake 3. Here's Robert Duffy's .plan:
Just a quick note on future releases for Quake 3 Arena. We will be releasing a new point release in the relatively near future which includes a handful of fixes and updates and also includes full Punk Buster integration to combat cheating. No firm date on when this will be out but it should not be too far off.
I guess this is the *final* final patch. We'll see :)-Dr.Gibbs
August 1, 2002: Activision has been kind enough to release two new Doom 3 screenshots. Get ready for a serious droolfest! Check them both out right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 1, 2002: The new monthly picks are in... these are a couple of really good ones, so don't miss out. Grab 'em here!
-Dr.Gibbs
July 27, 2002: I just uploaded 13 new Quake 1 screenshots... there are now a total of 111 for you to kill some time with :) The new ones are pretty dang good, so don't miss out. Check them out here. I also fixed a minor problem with the Quake 1 and Quake 2 screenshot archives, so if you having trouble with them before that should be cleared up now.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 26, 2002: There's a new total conversion available for Quake 3. It's called Niflheim: Souls Feast, based on the Nilfheim 2D shooter by MISTIC Software. Looks pretty interesting... check out their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 26, 2002: Reaction Quake's been updated to v2.1... grab the new copy here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 24, 2002: I just added 6 new map reviews to the Quake 2 and Quake 3 archives... they're definitely worth a look. Check out the Quake 2 maps here and the Quake 3 maps here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 22, 2002: A new beta version of ZPM (Zero Ping Mode) was released, bringing it up to 4.4. It's a pretty important release, because some pretty nasty bugs were addressed. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 22, 2002: The winners of the Quake Architecture Contest have been announced, and I must say they are pretty darn impressive... check out the results and get some more info about the contest here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 22, 2002: Looks like Ultra Freeze Tag is finally done... version 1.0 was just released. It includes some bug fixes and some better stat control. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 22, 2002: Well, the site's been up for about 10 minutes now, and something already went wrong. The search feature on the left side of the pages isn't working for some reason... I'm taking a look at it right now. Sorry about that :)
-Dr.Gibbs
July 22, 2002: No, you're not out of your mind - there have been a *couple* of changes around here :) As you can see, the new site is up and running... and hopefully it won't be too much of a disaster. There is a TON of rewritten content, the mapper's guides and player's guides have all been completely redone from scratch and they are far better than before. In fact, basically everything has been redone from scratch - although, I should mention, nothing was removed. In addition, the layout and organization is basically the same, so you shouldn't have any problem finding your way around. There isn't a lot of new content online yet, but I have it all in que and I'll be working on getting it up this week. Be sure to take a nice, long look around - there's lots to see.
There are a couple of new Quake 3 articles, so be sure to check those out here.
Have fun, and don't forget to give some feedback!
-Dr.Gibbs
June 29, 2002: I'm going to be moving, so I won't have my computer - obviously, everything is going on hold for awhile (not to mention the fact that I will be a *little* busy). I should have my computer back in about a week. Feel free to send emails or content, just don't expect a reply until next weekend ;)
Once I get my machine back I'm going to continue working on the new site. It's getting quite close to being completed, so it shouldn't take too much longer.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 24, 2002: Three new mods have been released for Quake 1. They are Quake-e-mon, Jeht 1.1, and MonsterTF. Grab 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 24, 2002: An update to Gleeb's GQ, an enhancement for GLQuake, has been released for public consumption. For more info, visit the G-Zone here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 21, 2002: The guru3d.com team has just released a new version of Q3Bench, a neat little utility that makes benchmarking Quake 3 a whole lot easier. Check it out right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 11, 2002: Well, hehe, you might say something came up (something really big, actually)... and I won't have much time to work on the site until July. So, what does that mean for you? Well, I'm going to go ahead and add the monthly picks and send out the newsletter, because I doubt the site will be done early... it will almost definitely take until July like previously planned. Some of you have been sending me maps and so on, which is great... I'm putting them all on the new site, so there will be lots of new stuff once it's up!
Sorry for the inconvenience, guys... there's a chance it will be done early... I just can't say for sure. And I'm going to go ahead and start posting news again so you're not missing out on anything, including some that was missed from the beginning of the month.
That's okay, we're keeping the tradition alive... nothing around here ever gets done on time :)
-Dr.Gibbs
June 7, 2002: Just a little update for you: the new site's layout is completely done, the Quake 3 content has been added (this was the longest part), and most of the Quake 1 content has been added, plus a few other things. While the new design isn't behind exactly (I wasn't planning on finishing it until July at least), it's going to be a little longer than June 10. I think the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd or so is a more realistic estimate. As it gets closer, I will have a better idea and I'll be able to tell you for sure.
For those of you wondering, June's monthly picks will be featured on the new site, and the June edition of the newsletter will be sent out as soon as the new site is uploaded. It will be pretty late in the month, but if it gets around the 20th or so and it looks like the new site isn't going to be done before the beginning of July, I'll be sure to take care of that stuff right away.
Hang in there, it won't be much longer - and when you see the new site I think you'll definitely agree that it was worth it :)
-Dr.Gibbs
June 1, 2002: In addition to Quake 1, Fruitz of Dojo also has a new Mac version of Quake 2 available (1.0.5). You can find it on their downloads page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 1, 2002: Fruitz of Dojo has a new version of Quake 1 for MacOS X... this one being 1.0.7. If you're a Mac fan, don't miss out on this one... grab it from their downloads page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 1, 2002: All stop! That's right, The Deathmatch Zone is about to undergo yet another rebuild - but this time it's one of the biggest changes that has ever been made. Over the last four years, there have been two major redesigns... this will be the third. The content will remain the same (except for some new and updated stuff!) and the layout of the site will be similar, but the look and feel of it is going to be a lot nicer. Development is well under way and actually ahead of schedule, so I've decided to put a halt on updates for now. If all goes as planned, the new site should be up sometime around June 10, and things will start moving again. Hang in there!
Please remember that you can still submit any content you like, it's just going to be added to the new site and it will appear once the new site opens. Also, feel free to browse around... all of the content from the site is still here, it's just not being updated right now.
Thanks for your support!
-Dr.Gibbs
May 29, 2002: Believe it or not, MSNBC has published an interesting article on Doom 3... including some comments by John Carmack on video cards and how they will be able to handle it. I'm getting tired of posting quotes, so you'll just have to read it here :)
-Dr.Gibbs
May 26, 2002: Yet another Doom 3 treat... GameSpy just released an interview with id Software concerning the game. Here's a clip of it:
GameSpy: So, the tools you're using to build DOOM III are basically complete?
Robert Duffy: The tools have essentially been complete for quite a while. Obviously we continue to add things and fix problems as they come up. Recently I added an in-game sound editor for Trent [Reznor] and his crew to use, so they can edit things dynamically in the game in real time so they get a feel for the level. Recently I've been working mainly on gameplay issues and special effects programming and things like that.
GameSpy: The tools are a big deal -- they're included and built into the game. Can you talk about that a bit?
Robert Duffy: Yeah. The editor and the BSPer and all the tools are actually built into the game itself. You can run it from the console. On a Windows system, if you can run the game you can essentially run the tools. The editor still uses a lot of Windows code so it's not going to run on a Macintosh, but I think all the other tools should run fine.
The entire interview can be found here.-Dr.Gibbs
May 23, 2002: Unless you've been visiting Venus or something, I'm sure you've heard plenty on Doom 3 at E3. Well, GameSpy just released an interview with id Software's John Carmack. Here's part of the interview:
GameSpy: It's been a few years since the release of Quake III, and other than a few appearances at QuakeCon and other shows, and a few .plan updates, we haven't heard much from you. In terms of developing the new DOOM engine (and otherwise), what have you been up to? In this day and age, how do you approach the task of building a brand new 3D engine, and where does work on the engine stand at the moment?
John Carmack: I'm not real big on the celebrity bit, so I have just been quietly going about my work.
The process of building the new engine went much more smoothly than anything we have done before, because I was able to do all the groundwork while the rest of the company worked on TeamArena. By the time they were ready to work on it, things were basically functional. I did most of the early development work with a gutted version of Quake 3, which let me write a brand new renderer without having to rewrite file access code, console code, and all the other subsystems that make up a game. After the renderer was functional and the other programmers came off of TA and Wolf, the rest of the codebase got rewritten. Especially after our move to C++, there is very little code remaining from the Q3 codebase at this point.
The fundamental strategic decisions that I made at the start of the development really haven't changed at all. My continuing effort is going into making it clean, solid, and fast. As the artists and designers have built things with the engine, we have left most of our original performance budgets behind, so performance is still a big issue (but, wow, does it look great!).
The entire interview can be found here.-Dr.Gibbs
May 20, 2002: Threewave CTF 1.5 is now out. There are lots of new maps (8 total) and a few new gameplay modes. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 20, 2002: Æstats has been updated once again, this time to version 5.30. There are a lot of mods and games added to the utility, plus some fixes to some Quake 3 issues, so be sure to update yours. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 19, 2002: I completely rewrote the Quake 3 Map Builder's Guide and added a *ton* of content to it, so if you saw it before and thought it was too small, think again! Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 19, 2002: I added yet another map to the Quake 3 collection, H2SO4. You don't want to miss this one... check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 13, 2002: Game Loader, a loading utility for Quake 1, has been updated to version 1.4. Check out the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 11, 2002: I added 5 brand new maps to the Quake 3 map review archive! Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 8, 2002: A new Quake 1 map pack has been released. It features maps from the Classic 3D Games mapping competition (found here). You can download the map pack by clicking here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 6, 2002: Bid for Power 1.2, the popular Dragon Ball Z-based mod for Quake 3, has been released! Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 6, 2002: ArenaForge, an arena script generator made by yours truely, was updated a few months ago... but I failed to mention it here. It's now in version 1.1. Check out the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 6, 2002: Just letting you know that the monthly picks were updated. Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 6, 2002: Well, things have been a little slow around here lately, but this should make up for it: I have gotten some requests for some more Quake 1 stuff recently... well -- as you may already know -- if you ask for something, you'll probably get it! I added 5 new maps to the Quake 1 maps archive and another 23 action-packed screenshots to the Quake 1 screenshot archive for your viewing pleasure. Check out the screenshots here and the maps here!
-Dr.Gibbs
May 5, 2002: GTKRadiant was just updated to version 1.2.7. It is a very small update, but if you like to be on top of things you should go ahead and grab it :) They are promising more game support for games like SoFII, Quake 1, and Quake 2... so keep your eyes peeled. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 4, 2002: Well, if you haven't heard already, Doom 3 has been officially announced! It looks like id Software will be partenering with Activision once again, and it also looks like we'll be seeing plenty of info at E3 this year:
Santa Monica, CA - May 3, 2002 -id SoftwareTM and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Activision will be the worldwide licensed distributor for DOOM III, the latest installment in one of the most successful franchises in PC gaming history. Built on id's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine, DOOM III draws players into the most frightening and gripping 3D gaming experience ever created. DOOM III is currently in development for the PC by id Software and will debut at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Activision's booth #1224 in the South Hall.
The entire press release can be found here.-Dr.Gibbs
April 8, 2002: The long-awaited Quake 3 Fortress (Q3F) 2.0 is now available! To say that this was merely an update would be a serious understatement... check out their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 7, 2002: I purged the Quake 3 Screenshots archive -- I removed over 100 of the shots. There are still almost 200 screenshots, and since all of the less interesting ones were cleaned out they are even better than before! If you want one of the old screenshots for any reason, I still have them and I can send them to anyone. I also added some new shots. Check out the screenshots here!
-Dr.Gibbs
April 4, 2002: Quake 3 Radio, a program that adds a radio feature to Quake 3 (it's really useful for team matches), has been updated to version 1.2. Check out their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 3, 2002: Q3Offline has been updated to version - erm - 02.03.30.00 :) You can grab the new version right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 30, 2002: DeFRaG -- a solo Quake 3 mod that lets you test and improve your Q3 skillz -- has been updated so that it now works with the newest point release. Check out their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 24, 2002: Registration is now open for the second season of the CyberAthlete Amateur League's Threewave Classic CTF division. Registration lasts a couple of weeks, so get your clan together and check out the site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 20, 2002: GTKRadiant has been updated to version 1.2.6. Head on over to their files page to get the new version, or get it from our site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 20, 2002: Quake 3 Rally's beta mod has been updated to version 1.1. There are some pretty important fixes, so you definately need to download this one. Get it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 20, 2002: You may have noticed the site being a little slow recently... well, it's not my host, it's gamelists.net... their site went down again and has been down for days. Because of that, the gamelists.net buttons at the bottom aren't loading, and on some browsers the pages won't be displayed until they do... so I removed them for now. Everything should be back to normal. This seems to happen a lot to that site, I think they need a new host :)
-Dr.Gibbs
March 20, 2002: As promised, I recently wrote a review of the Quake 3 Rally 1.1. You can read the review right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 18, 2002: To spice up this otherwise uneventful month, I added some new Quake 1 screenshots. I saved them while I was making a cheat run through the single player mode while working on a mod... sure, they're slightly manufactured, but they're still really funny :) Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 14, 2002: The folks over at Navy Seals: Covert Operations have released a brand-spankin' new patch for their mod... it has some bug fixes and some new bots/maps. From what I can tell it doesn't have a version number, but I don't play it personally, so what do I know? :) Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 11, 2002: Alliance for Q3 is now in its final release, 3.3. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 9, 2002: For those of you who haven't heard, Paul Jacquays has decided to leave id Software. Here's his .PLAN:
FINAL THOUGHTS
A Time for Every Purpose
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" ...a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;"
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
I'll drop the bombshell here and get it over with. For me, this is a time to "pluck up what is planted."
Yesterday, March 7th marked the 5th anniversary of my joining id Software. So the timing of this message is somewhat ironic in nature. After much consideration and soul searching, I've decided to part ways with id. Today, March 8th, is my last day as an id Software employee.
After five years of making first person shooters like Quake2, Quake III Arena, and Quake III: Team Arena, I've come to the realization that my heart just isn't in it any more. For this reason, I've decided to make a slight shift in career direction and seek other design and development challenges. I have accepted a position with Ensemble Studios (the creators of the Age of Empires series and Age of Mythology) here in Dallas, and will be taking up my new duties with them in short order. I'm excited about the new job and I understand that the entire team there is excited to have me come on board.
I want to thank everyone who has made my id experience an interesting ride, including the guys here at id, Ms. Donna, and especially the friends I've made in the on-line mapping, modeling, and texturing communities.
Anyone who needs to contact me directly should still be able to do so through my id email address for a while yet. Or you can check for me up on the MapCenter forums.
Well, it has been fun, honest, but the time has come to power down this system, pack up a few remaining personal items, shake some hands, say my farewells, and head on out the door. Catch you all later.
-Paul
March 7, 1997 V March 8, 2002.
P.S. And don't worry about Doom, the guys who have been doing all the really cool stuff for the game are still busting their chops hard as ever on it.
I had the privilage of interviewing Paul awhile back, you can read that interview here. He will truely be missed :(-Dr.Gibbs
March 9, 2002: Today I posted a new strategy guide... this one is all about your playing environment. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 4, 2002: The new monthly picks are in! See what they are here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 4, 2002: I just added 4 new maps to the Quake 3 map database... check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 1, 2002: Quake 3 Rally Beta has been released! After such a long wait it should be well worth it... check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 1, 2002: Urban Terror 2.5 Beta has been released. There are quite a few important fixes, so be sure to update your version. It's a small download... grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 11, 2002: I just ran accross an interview with Oswald of the Urban Terror team on GameSpy... it's a pretty interesting read. Here's part of it:
GameSpy: Realism seems to be much more than a craze when you look at the online numbers of things like Urban Terror, Counter Strike, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein and so on. Was there a "theme track record" Silicon Ice looked at, that pointed to making the project what it is?
Oswald: At the start of development, during the Q3 test release, the idea was not nearly as broad scale as it is today. It began with the simple idea of creating a map pack, centered in real world environments and only the machine gun available when playing these maps. As you can see things have changed considerably!
We really began to take a interest and look at some of the other realism games/mods around the time of our Beta 2 development. One thing we did not want to do, was emulate Counter-Strike, by adding the bombing and hostage missions. But we did realize that gamers yearned for something more than just carnage and mayhem. We decided to include some game modes, like CTF, Capture and Hold and Follow the Leader, which would allow for gamers to work together as a team. Beta 3 will focus on objective based gaming. With successful gamers like MOHAA and RCTW, gamers have continued to supply us with many wonderful ideas for objective based gaming.
You can check out the interview here.-Dr.Gibbs
February 11, 2002: John Carmack just updated his .plan with a message to some perspective GeForce4 owners:
Do not buy a GeForce4-MX for Doom.
Nvidia has really made a mess of the naming conventions here. I always thought it was bad enough that GF2 was just a speed bumped GF1, while GF3 had significant architectural improvements over GF2. I expected GF4 to be the speed bumped GF3, but calling the NV17 GF4-MX really sucks.
Well, I guess that's not good news for my GF2 :)-Dr.Gibbs
February 8, 2002: The long-awaited Urban Terror 2.4 Beta has been released! I'm actually downloading it right now and, believe me, I wish you luck :) There's a list of mirrors right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 8, 2002: Whew! Well, I had the day off, and since I've been sick I didn't have anything better to do, so I updated and cleaned up the entire site. It took many, many hours, but it was worth it... there isn't a page on here that hasn't changed a little bit. The largest changes are listed here:
- Updated map review interface
- New screenshot of the month interface
- New submissions page... all of the submission pages that were divided by game and type have been compressed into one page. Those stupid forms never worked right anyway :)
- Lots of bug fixes with links and images
- Updated player's guides
- Removed screenshot HTML pages
There isn't any new content except for February's picks of the month, but I think you will find that the site is a little faster and easier to use now... enjoy :)-Dr.Gibbs
February 5, 2002: Just a small update... I went through all three mod pages and fixed up the lists a bit. I removed the old mods that were no longer around and sorted the lists by name. The Quake 1 and Quake 2 lists are kind of lacking in quantity, so if anyone knows of any Q1 or Q2 mods let me know :) Anyway, here they are: Quake 1, Quake 2, and Quake 3.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 4, 2002: Bid For Power has been "patched" to version 1.1... the new version is a small download that fixes quite a few bugs. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 3, 2002: I recently came accross an article on the Red Herring site about John Carmack... it's quite an interesting read. Here's part of it:
Mr. Carmack works a highly organized day, targeting specific goals that usually involve rooting out nasty bugs in his software code. In years past, he would code 80 hours a week; now he is so on top of his game that he works regular hours and spends another 30 hours a week figuring out how to make rockets take off and land vertically. He is even delegating some programming work to others for the first time in years.
"I have no doubt John is wired differently from the rest of us," says American McGee, a game designer who worked at Id and is now the chief creative officer of his own company, Carbon6 Entertainment, in Los Angeles. "John is a perfectionist in everything he does," adds Dennis Fong, who made his name as the best tournament player of Mr. Carmack's games. "He picks the areas where he wants to concentrate his attention and then he goes at it hard-core."
The rest of the article can be found here.-Dr.Gibbs
February 2, 2002: OSP has been updated to version 1.01... this is a pretty big release as a lot of bugs were addressed. Be sure to check it out! Read more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 1, 2002: OSP has been updated to version 1.01... this is a pretty big release as a lot of bugs were addressed. Be sure to check it out! Read more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 30, 2002: GTK Radiant has been getting a lot of attention these days... it's been updated to 1.2.1 and 1.2.4 within the last week :) You can grab it at their site here, or at the D-Zone's downloads page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 20, 2002: Just a note - there are two new picks of the month! Check them out here!
-Dr.Gibbs
January 20, 2002: Here's something you're bound to enjoy... I just added a whole horde of Quake 3 maps to the map reviews area: Vedrigar Revenge, Alatair Keep, Jumping to Contusions, Q3Melt, Brothers in Arms, Drift Away, and Theoretical Probability. Check them out right here!
-Dr.Gibbs
January 19, 2002: A demo of Sidrial, a science-fiction single and multiplayer total conversion for Quake 3, was just released. The demo has one single player map and supports multiplayer. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 14, 2002: Lots of updates this month :) ReactionQ3 1.1 Beta was just released! For more info, check out their website here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 13, 2002: Weapons Factory Arena for Quake 3 was just updated to version 3.3. It's available for Linux, Windows, and Mac. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 10, 2002: Threewave CTF 1.2 is now available. It's a hefty download (well over 100 megs), but it's worth it :) Check it out right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
