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December 8, 2003: Woops! My computer's motherboard died, and I haven't been able to do anything for the last week. I got everything working again, although I've managed to lose all my email somehow. I'm not checking any mail until I can get that worked out, so if you've emailed me, it might be a little while before you hear from me. Anyway, I've posted all the news I missed, and I should get that newsletter out once I work out all this other stuff (I guess it will be a December issue... lol).
-Dr.Gibbs
December 7, 2003: Darkplaces 20031118 has been released. The new version fixes a number of different bugs and adds some enhancements. You can grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 2, 2003: Ultimate Deathmatch for Quake 1 has been updated to version 1.82. It includes some small fixes to the mod. Check out the new release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 2, 2003: Yup, we have another birthday this week... Quake 3 was released on this day in 1999 -- that's another 4 years of fragging. Can you believe it's been that long?
-Dr.Gibbs
December 1, 2003: Lord Havoc has released a new version of Darkplaces, one of the engine mods available for Quake 1. The new release can be found here.
-Dr.Gibbs
December 1, 2003: Quake 2 was released on this day in 1997 -- that's 6 long years of fragging!
-Dr.Gibbs
November 27, 2003: Computer Gaming World has posted a new interview with John Camrack. The interview is focused on Doom 3, but it also touches on his life and what he plans to do in the future. You can check out the interview (it's a very good read) here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 26, 2003: There's a new version of CMPA out - 1.2 Beta. This is a pretty big release. A new gametype, Hoonymode, has been added, and CTF was changed drastically. The new release is available here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 25, 2003: PunkBuster 1.054 has been released. Yours should have been updated automatically, but, if you're like me, you can't ever get the auto-download to work... in that case, you can grab the new copy here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 23, 2003: Ultimate Deathmatch for Quake 1 has been updated to version 1.80. There is another version, 1.90, in the works. Check out the new release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 23, 2003: I've finally gotten some stuff done around here! There's a new map in the Quake 2 map reviews section (leray25), and another in Quake 3's map reviews (Akom5). You can check them out here (Quake 2) and here (Quake 3). A new mod review is on the way this week, so keep your eyes out.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 23, 2003: QuArK 6.4.0 Alpha 2 has been released. The new update includes some pretty significant bug fixes, as well as some new features. You can grab the new download here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 19, 2003: LordHavoc's DarkPlaces mod for Quake 1 has been updated to build 20031119. A lot of bugs have been addressed, including a fix for the orinted sprites that were causing problems in certain mods. Check out the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 10, 2003: Quake 3 Fortress 2.3 is finally out! The new update includes 6 new maps and plenty of improvements on gameplay. You can get the new version, along with a full list of updates, here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 8, 2003: The JoeQuake engine mod has been updated to 0.13. The latest release includes a number of bug fixes and improvements. There's a full list of changes available in the ZIP. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 4, 2003: A new CTF mod for Quake 3 called New Expert CTF is now available. XCTF 1.0 is under a meg, but it adds some nice features to CTF. These features include a grappling hook, regenerating ammo, and more. You can get the new mod here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 2, 2003: OpenMEX Alpha 2 is now available. This new version of the open-source game archive tool adds additional support for HALO, Lock On, and Sacrifice. You can learn more about the software and download the latest version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 1, 2003: Game Force One has a new interview with Tony Ray of EvenBalance -- the man who created Punk Buster. There's all kinds of information about Punk Buster, its history, and more. You can check out the interview here.
-Dr.Gibbs
November 1, 2003: Well, it's another new month... sometime in the next week or two, I should be able to get some of that new content up. I will also be sending out a newsletter. The bad addresses have been purged from the list again, so if you don't get this month's issue, you'll have to subscribe again. Have a good one!
-Dr.Gibbs
October 28, 2003: True Combat 1.1, an update to the realism total conversion for Quake 3, has been released. This new version isn't a patch for the mod, but rather a set of 7 new maps made by players. You can grab the new download here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 21, 2003: Qockey 1.01 has been released. The Quake 3 mod is, in a word, multiplayer hockey for Quake 3. This latest update fixes a client connection issue. It's available here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 21, 2003: Wow... I finally get things moving around here again, and then I get smacked with some kind of mutant death-virus from hell. I've been so sick the last week and a half that I haven't even been able to get out of bed. Anyway, I'm starting to feel a little better, so I should be able to start working on updating everything. I think I might skip October's newsletter, though. Anyway, there are a couple new maps and a new mod that I'm planning on adding... those should be up pretty soon.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 17, 2003: Alias, the producers of Maya, have decided to release a free version of the software entitled Maya Personal Learning Edition 5. This release gives students and hobbyists a way to learn the software before using it in their careers or classes. This new tool has been added to the Quake 3 Downloads section. You can also find it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 13, 2003: A new Quake 2 map called The Heebee Geebees has been added to the Quake 2 map archive. You can check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 12, 2003: GTKRadiant 1.3.12 has been completed. The new release features a number of bug fixes, as well as support for a couple new games. The editor has now been split into two downloads, one for Raven titles and another for the remaining games. Be sure to grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 10, 2003: A new mod, Quake II Evolved, has just been released today. The new enhancement adds a Quake 3-style menu, more advanced models, and better special effects to the Quake 2 engine. You can read all about the mod here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 10, 2003: Silicon Ice Development has finished Urban Terror 3.1. The 30-meg patch fixes a number of problems from the original 3.0 release. For more information, go here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 8, 2003: I've been away for about a month now, but I'm finally getting things back together. I haven't had much time to work on the site lately, but I've caught up on all the news updates I missed. There's a lot of new stuff that's waiting for my attention, so I'll try to get it all up sometime in the next week or two. Don't worry, I'm not dead... it just looks that way =)
-Dr.Gibbs
October 6, 2003: A new version of QuArK has been released, lovingly entitled 6.4.0 Alpha 1. The new version includes a pretty substantial list of updates. You can read all about the changes and grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 4, 2003: Navy Seals: Covert Operation has been updated to version 1.9. This newest release of the realism-based mod brings plenty of improvements and fixes. The new files (for all operating systems) can be found here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 4, 2003: FuhQuake 0.30 has been updated to Build 585. The new release addresses a number of bugs that were found in the previous 0.30 release. You can get a full list of fixes, along with the new files, here.
-Dr.Gibbs
October 1, 2003: A brand-spankin'-new Quake 3 mod has been released (we don't see as many of those anymore!). It's called Fortress Evolution, and it's a class-based mod that brings the classic QuakeWorld physics to Quake 3. The newest version is an alpha, but there are some active servers around. You can get more information here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 17, 2003: The folks over at PlanetQuake managed to get ahold of Tim Willits for an interview concerning level design in Doom 3... there's quite a bit of new stuff about how the gameplay will be addressed. It's definitely worth the read! Check out the entire interview here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 10, 2003: I added the new monthly picks for September. You can gram 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 9, 2003: Q3Pong Arena 2.0 has been released. The mod brings the classic game of Pong to the world of Quake 3 by allowing players to toss a large ball back and forth using shotguns. You can read more about the mod and grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2003: Q3Map2 2.5.7 has been released. The new version includes a lot of bug fixes, a couple new features, and some small changes. You can download the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2003: A new Quake 1 single player map, And All That Could Have Been, has been released. The map is a medium-sized tech-style piece that's very reminiscent of Quake 2. You can see some screenshots and grab the new map here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 3, 2003: Version 1.01 of CreatorsDream has been released. This mod lets you to make changes to Quake 1's code even if you don't have a clue what you're doing. It's a pretty neat mod to play around with. You can read all about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 10, 2003: I added the new monthly picks for September. You can gram 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2003: Q3Map2 2.5.7 has been released. The new version includes a lot of bug fixes, a couple new features, and some small changes. You can download the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 4, 2003: A new Quake 1 single player map, And All That Could Have Been, has been released. The map is a medium-sized tech-style piece that's very reminiscent of Quake 2. You can see some screenshots and grab the new map here.
-Dr.Gibbs
September 3, 2003: Version 1.01 of CreatorsDream has been released. This mod lets you to make changes to Quake 1's code even if you don't have a clue what you're doing. It's a pretty neat mod to play around with. You can read all about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 23, 2003: Today, I uploaded four new map reviews. For Quake 3, there's a new version of Akom3... and, for Quake 2, there are a few new maps from LeRay. They're all worth taking a look at. The Quake 3 map is here, and the Quake 2 maps are right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 21, 2003: The newest snapshot of QuArK is know available. This brings the game editor to version 6.4. You can read more about the release and grab the new snapshot here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 17, 2003: QuakeCon has come and gone, and the results of the three main tournaments are in. You can check out the results, along with lots of demos to prove them, right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 13, 2003: QuakeCon 2003 will be up and rolling tomorrow (hopefully!), and Todd Hollenshead has added some thoughts about this year's event in his latest .plan update:
Here it is already time for QuakeCon 2003. While the festivities officially start on Thursday there are quite a few folks already helping with setting up what will be the biggest QuakeCon ever. It looks like the weather is going to give us a break this year and we'll mark the first QuakeCon I can remember where we won't hit 100 degrees.
New for this year will be the location in Downtown Dallas at the Adam's Mark Hotel and Conference Center which gives us tons more room for more cool stuff. And our sponsors are really outdoing themselves to help us make sure that everyone that comes out sees cool new games and gear, has a good time, and probably picks up some free stuff, too.
The BYOC will be the biggest yet, with room for up to 2000 PCs. The reservation list is booked up, but first-come-first-serve starts Thursday afternoon if you didn't get on the list. The keynote is Friday afternoon, and tournament finals, awards ceremony and party are all Saturday night. But the fragging is non-stop Thursday to Sunday 24 hours a day.
And, of course, we will be unveiling DOOM 3 multiplayer for the first time. And everyone will be able to play it, too.
For more information, details, directions, etc. the website is www.quakecon.org. There's no charge to attend, so come on out. I look forward to seeing everyone there this year.
Well, as Todd said, check out the QuakeCon website here.-Dr.Gibbs
August 11, 2003: If you haven't heard already, the rumors of Graeme Devine leaving id Software have been confirmed. The four-year id veteran has left the company in order to take up a new job at Ensemble Studios, where Paul Jaquays and a few other id Software employees are currently working. Devine joined the id team in 1999.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 10, 2003: Urban Terror 3 was released successfully, and the 322 MB file is going to be well worth the hard drive space... be sure to grab the new mod right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 9, 2003: I just added a new map to the Quake 1 map reviews section... it's called Stormland. You can check the map out right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 9, 2003: Urban Terror 3 is finally here! Well, almost... today is the day of its scheduled release. I think I know what most of you are going to be doing tonight. You can get more information about the upcoming release right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 7, 2003: Reaction Quake 3 recently made a post about a new movie called Vengence of the Wicked, a Machinima tribute to the mod. You can grab the video here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 7, 2003: Quake2maX, a Quake 2 mod that brings all kinds of enhancements to the game, has been updated to version 0.43. The mod includes improvements to the user interface, OpenGL engine, special effects, and more. You can read more about it and download the newest release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
August 5, 2003: A new version of Stardate: Night Time's Bouncer Please! was released today. The new film is NOT a sequal to the first one, but an improved version of the same script. You can grab the new movie from the Stardate: Night Time site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 27, 2003: 3d[Power] has released an interesting arcade-style game called Need For Kill that brings Quake 3 into the 2D world. It even has a map editor called NFKRadiant. It's still under development, but you can get a beta version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 26, 2003: The Ultimate Deathmatch 1.71 patch was released today... this small release fixes a couple problems with the pet Fiends. You can grab that update right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 26, 2003: It's been awhile since any updates have been made to the Quake 3 screenshots section, so I figured I'd throw a few in there I had laying around. I added a couple dozen new ones, and you can check those out right here. The new ones start on the last row and go through page 20.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 18, 2003: Ydnar has released a new version of Q3Map2, lovingly entitled 2.5.5 Test 10. If you're a Q3Map fan, be sure to grab the new release. More information is available here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 17, 2003: As promised in this month's newsletter, I finished the new strategy guide on 1v1. It covers six different ways you can improve your tournament games, and also includes a detailed guide on choosing the right weapons. It's been uploaded, and you can find it right here. Enjoy!
-Dr.Gibbs
July 17, 2003: Ultimate Deathmatch 1.70 has been released. This large update includes a lot of bug fixes and improvements in gameplay. You can read all about the mod and grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 16, 2003: The Quake Retexturing Project has released yet another set of 32 new textures... they've really been going crazy these last few weeks! According to their update, the tech_xx textures look a little goofy since they don't all match, but supposedly they will be fixing this soon. Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 15, 2003: Niflheim: Souls Feast, a total conversion for Quake 3, has finally been released. According to the modders, this is a sequel to the Niflheim 2D shooter developed by MISTIC Software in 2000. The story is focused around Hel, a mistress of Hell who must fight her way through all the layers of Hell in order to gain her freedom. It's a really original mod that includes loads of new maps, characters, and even a multiplayer mode. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 15, 2003: Vertigo Software has released their newest project, a version of Quake 2 that was ported to Microsoft's .NET platform using C++. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate that you can successfully port software programmed in C to the C++ platform (which is more flexible) without sacrificing performance. You can get all the details about the project here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 11, 2003: Tenebrae 1.04 was just released today. The new version of the engine mod includes a number of fixes and a few improvements. You can grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 10, 2003: Wired News recently published an article on machinima. If you're a fan of the genre, it probably doesn't have much you don't already know, but it's an interesting read. Here's a clip from it:
Known as machinima ("machine cinema"), the relatively new, no-budget genre has yet to produce a blockbuster of Finding Nemo proportions. However, machinima is maturing so rapidly, some predict it will soon be a major force in animation, especially with the imminent arrival of a new generation of hardware and software promising an era of photo-realistic "cinematic computing."
You can read the rest of the article here.-Dr.Gibbs
July 6, 2003: A new tech-style single player episode called Assult has been released for Quake 1. The new campaign includes six new maps, as well as some new enemies and textures. You can grab the new pack (as well as browse through some screenshots) right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 2, 2003: xCTF 1.0 has just been released. The new mod is a twist on classic CTF that allows each team to hide their own flag somewhere on the map at the beginning of each round. Teams have to find the enemy flag before they can capture it. It also includes some other extra modes such as instagib. You can read more about the new mod and download it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 1, 2003: Fred Nilsson of id Software has released two new maps for Quake 3, called "mpteam9" and "pro-q3tourney7". The Team Arena map, mpteam9, is apparently an evolution of q3tourney6_ctf, the Space CTF map that comes with Quake 3. The pro map is an abandoned project that slightly resembles The Edge from Quake 2. You can grab the maps here (mpteam9) and here (pro-q3tourney7).
-Dr.Gibbs
July 1, 2003: The folks over at True Combat have released a patch to their recent 1.0 Beta release. This new patch fixes a number of problems, mostly addressing some issues with cheating. Some modifications were made to a few of the weapons, as well. You can grab the new update right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
July 1, 2003: The Quake Episode 1 Retexturing Project has treated us to another fairly big release, this one including 14 new textures by RaRe.P and Sean M. The new additions feature gloss and bump mapping, of course. To get more information and download the new textures, visit the QE1RP site here. It also seems like they're holding a contest for a design for their new logo... I guess you might want to check that out if you have any talent when it comes to graphic design :)
-Dr.Gibbs
July 1, 2003: I was going to send out the newsletter on the first of the month for the first time in... umm... years? Seems like it usually gets out sometime in the middle of each month. Anyway, for some reason my SMTP server is down tonight, so I can't send it out. It should be coming eventually. I added the new monthly picks for July, and you can check those out right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 26, 2003: Just a small update... I gave the main game pages a bit of a facelift (it should be much easier to find what you're looking for now). I also updated the Quake 3 downloads page with the new versions of GTKRadiant, and cleaned up the page a little. It's nothing Earth-shattering, but I thought you'd like to know SOMETHING has been going on :)
-Dr.Gibbs
June 25, 2003: Today, I added 24 new screenshots to the Quake 1 screenshot archive... the new ones are, of course, worth a look. They take up a couple pages, and they start right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 22, 2003: The QE1 Retexturing Project recently received a large update that added 16 new textures to the collection. The new textures can be used with Quake 1 while running engine mods like TeleJano or TeneBrae. This update totals 4 MB in size, and can be found right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 18, 2003: The AI Cafe released a brand new mod called Run. The primary goal in this mod is to dribble or kick a ball into your opponent's goal. It includes three different maps, and is supposedly based on the well-known QPong. You can read all about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 15, 2003: Two new Quake 1 single player maps, GunCotton and Twisted Fate, have been reviewed at Underworldfan's. The maps both received fairly good scores. You can find them here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 13, 2003: True Combat 1.0 has been released. The new total conversion turns Quake 3 into a combat simulator, offering realistic weapons and tactics. You can grab the 80-meg download here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 10, 2003: Sorry it's been a little slow this month :) I'm sending out the newsletter today, and I also added June's monthly picks. You can check those out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 9, 2003: The Speed Demos Archive has released the results of its recent Quake 1 speed run contest. The winners are Martin Selinus and Anders Nordensten. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 4, 2003: The official date for QuakeCon registration has been announced, and there is now a list of available tournaments:
- The Return to Castle Wolfenstein Team Tournament
- The QUAKE III Arena 1 vs. 1 Championships
- The QUAKE III Arena Capture the Flag Championship
- The Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory Open
Registration will be June 9. You can read all the details here.-Dr.Gibbs
June 3, 2003: I added another new map to the Quake 3 map reviews area -- this one's called Sewage Treatment Plant. It's an interesting find, so don't miss it. If you're looking for the new monthly picks, they should be here in a couple days. You can check out that map here.
-Dr.Gibbs
June 3, 2003: A new mod called Flag Raiders has been released. The new CTF add-on turns the classic teamplay mode into a race against time. For more information, check out the mod's site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 27, 2003: CPMA has been updated to version 1.11. There are quite a few improvements, as well as a lot of fixes for issues with previous versions. For more information, head on over here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 27, 2003: Rocket Arena 1.65 has been released. It includes a number of bug fixes from the 1.6 release. You can grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 23, 2003: Today I went ahead and added another 2 maps to the Quake 3 map reviews area. They include another CTF map and an interesting one for DM. Check out the new maps right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 23, 2003: I recently received a heads-up from Claymore about a fairly new site called The Demo Squad. The site features more than 100 different Quake 2 mutiplayer demos organized into 7 different categories. You can check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 20, 2003: A new version of PunkBuster is now out... 1.034. It fixes a nasty bug that throws players into spec mode when it shouldn't. The new version should download automatically, of you can get it from the EvenBalance site by clicking here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 15, 2003: Lots of Doom 3 news this month! GameSpy posted an article today that covers John Carmack's discussion at E3. Here's a short part of it:
Amidst the noise and bustle of the Expo, it was a relief to get into the relative quiet of a conference room. On stage sat John Carmack, id Software co-founder and arguably the most influential gaming graphics programmer in the world. He was there to talk about DOOM 3, as part of a public interview hosted by Newsweek technology editor N'gal Croal, but DOOM 3 was only part of the discussion. During his hour-and-a-half talk, Carmack touched on the problems associated with building graphically intense titles, the time needed to create modern content, challenges faced by small developers, and even eclectic topics such as rocketry or creating an online "metaverse."
You can read the rest of it here.-Dr.Gibbs
May 13, 2003: An official press release has been made stating quite simply that id Software has received permission to port Doom 3 to the X-Box console. It may not mean much to PC gamers, but it does mean that Doom 3 will get a lot more attention. Here's the entire release:
id Software Confirms Doom 3 For Xbox
Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 19:39 GMT
id SoftwareTM and Activision confirmed today that id Software's DOOM 3TM, the most anticipated game of the year, is headed to the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.
Built on id's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine, DOOM 3 draws players into the most terrifying and riveting 3D gaming experience ever created. id Software and Activision will feature a new trailer of the PC version at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, beginning Wednesday, May 14, in Activision's booth #1224 in the South Hall.
First released in 1993, DOOM is widely recognized as the catalyst for the first-person action genre. Since its inception, the franchise has been one of the industry's best-selling PC series. A release date for DOOM 3 for Xbox is not available.
There aren't a whole lot of details yet, so we'll have to stay tuned for more info.-Dr.Gibbs
May 12, 2003: USA Today posted an article about Doom 3 today. It doesn't really discuss anything we haven't already heard, but it's an interesting read:
Doom III promises to redefine the video game genre made famous by the groundbreaking Doom in 1993 — the "first-person shooter," in which players see through the eyes of heavily armed characters as they fire their way through enemy-filled levels. Back then, many other firms licensed Doom's software "engine," or core programming, as the foundation of their own first-person shooters. Many are expected to do so again for the for-now PC-only Doom III.
Grab the whole thing here.-Dr.Gibbs
May 10, 2003: Umm, somehow May's screenshot pick was never uploaded... the problem has been fixed now, though. Thanks to those of you who reported that little goof-up. If you were looking for it before, you can check it out now. Sorry about that.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 9, 2003: I just added two new CTF maps to the Quake 3 Map Reviews archive - they're both interesting remakes of a couple of Quake 3's packaged maps. Read more about them here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 9, 2003: Stardate: Night Time has released a new machinima flick called Bouncer Please! The new film was created with the Quake 2 engine, and the team says its their best animation yet. It doesn't require Quake 2 to be viewed. You can see it right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 7, 2003: Activision made a press release today that lists every game they will be showing at E3. The list includes, of course, our beloved Doom 3:
"DOOM III(TM)" -- id Software's terrifying battle with the forces of Hell. A massive demonic invasion has overwhelmed the UAC's Mars Research Facility leaving only chaos and horror in its wake. As one of only a few survivors, players must struggle with shock, fear, and an all-out assault on their senses as they fight their way to Hell and back, in an epic clash against pure evil. "DOOM III" has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PC)
I'm putting my money on "M". You can read the entire press release here.-Dr.Gibbs
May 6, 2003: Big news! I just uploaded the first edition of the Quake 2 Mapper's Guide. The site has been without the guide since it was founded, but after 4 years, there's finally one here. In addition, I made some much-needed updates to the downloads sections, adding some tools like PakScape and newer versions of Worldcraft. Grab the Quake 2 Mapper's Guide here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 4, 2003: Telejano, a Quake 1 engine mod, has been updated to version 7.2. You can read all about the mod and grab the update here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 4, 2003: FuhQuake, the QuakeWorld mod that features tons of console and gameplay updates, was just updated to version 0.28. It includes a number of improvements. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 2, 2003: I just uploaded this month's Monthly Picks, and as always, they're well worth a look (why else would I put them there?). Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
May 1, 2003: Recently, NoESCape released a new engine mod called Quake 2 Pwrweapons. The mod includes a ton of new and updated weapons, along with some new items. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 30, 2003: Xtreme Arena 1.16 has been released... it's a pretty big update that includes a new user interface, a new weapon, and even a new game mode. You can read more about the mod here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 30, 2003: GameSpot just released an interview with Tim Willits, id's lead designer, about Doom 3. The interview doesn't contain much that we don't already know, but it's an interesting read (hey, we'll take anything we can get, right?) Here's part of it:
GS: We all know that the focus is on Doom III's single-player component, but tell us what the current multiplayer plans are and where they stand right now.
TW: Our focus hasn't changed--we're putting all our resources into developing an unbelievable single-player experience. We will, however, include a multiplayer component that includes game types like deathmatch and last man standing. There is nothing more visceral than competing against another human player, particularly in a first-person game. However, this experience is going to be very different from something like Quake III Arena. Doom III multiplayer is incredibly intense, and the light and shadows play a much bigger role in the gameplay. Never before in a multiplayer game have players had to worry about their shadow and whether or not it has revealed their position, or been able to shoot out lights so they can hide in the darkness. This alone adds a level of reality, depth, and atmosphere that is again going to redefine expectations about how a multiplayer game should look and feel.
You can see the whole thing (along with some new screenshots) here.-Dr.Gibbs
April 29, 2003: Whew. Lots of mod updates this month. Just in case you haven't had enough yet, Reaction Quake 3 has also received a boost... 3.1 was just released, and it boasts a pretty extensive list of improvements. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 26, 2003: Industri, the first Quake 1 single player episode to ever be created with Tenebrae, was just released today. Grab the new episode and check out some screenshots here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 26, 2003: Rocket Arena 3 1.6 was just released today - the new version is a big update that fixes a load of issues, adds some really useful features, and also offers the usual improvements. Read all about it and grab the newest version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 25, 2003: Tanx 2, a third-person deathmatch arcade mod for Quake 1, has been updated with a new version, Alpha 3. You can test out the mod (still under development, of course) right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 18, 2003: CPMA 1.1 has been released, and along with it we get a new map pack... there are plenty of improvements, and of course the map pack makes it worth the download. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 17, 2003: A new map pack for Weapons Factory Arena 3.5b was released today... it includes 8 brand new goodies for your fragging pleasure. Get the details here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 16, 2003: Wired Magazine's new issue features a lengthy article about the new Doom. It features some id Software history, as well as a look at their offices. Here's a clip:
From the day his mother took him for a TRS-80 programming course when he was in the fifth grade, John Carmack dedicated himself to creating compelling computer graphics. After being thrown into a juvenile home for stealing an Apple II at age 14, he took the opportunity to create Wraith, a sprawling role-playing game that emulated the ambitious Ultima franchise. In 1990, while working at Softdisk, the Shreveport, Louisiana-based software company where he met his future id partners, the 19-year-old Carmack figured out how to bring side-scrolling to the PC so he could re-create the arcade action of Super Mario Brothers 3. He used the same breakthrough on id's first best-seller, Commander Keen.
You can read the whole piece here.-Dr.Gibbs
April 16, 2003: There's a new DM map in the Quake 3 Map Reviews area called Citadel Insatiable. On a side note, all the map review areas have the improved thumbnail navigation that was recently added to the screenshot pages. Check out the new map right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 8, 2003: Start saving! QuakeCon 2003 reservations opened today, and there's plenty of info being released about this year's event. Here's what Todd Hollenshead has to say:
Whoever said size doesn’t matter has never been to QuakeCon," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "We won’t turn away our fans. Last year we hit our capacity, but we’re increasing the BYOC nearly 50% to 2000 gamers, and we expect more than 4,000 attendees for the four day party.
Grab all the details here!-Dr.Gibbs
April 8, 2003: The Quake 1 mod Dark Places has been updated once again... Build 20030408 was just released. The new version includes a few fixes for smaller bugs that have been found. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 8, 2003: There's some new code in all three screenshot archives that will open the screens in smaller popup windows... this should help navigation a lot. I'll be doing the same thing to the map review archives pretty soon, and any other pages that may have thumbnails. Just thought you'd like to know that something's been improved around here :)
-Dr.Gibbs
April 7, 2003: Today I uploaded a brand new Quake 3 strategy guide called "Capture the Game". The guide covers all kinds of different tactics for CTF players, and teaches you how to work with your team to win the game. It's all right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 6, 2003: I just added 4 new maps to the Quake 3 Map Reviews archive... three of them are CTF maps, and one of them is DM. There are now more than 50 maps in the archive. Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 6, 2003: It's been kind of slow the last week... well, to spice things up a bit I added the new monthly picks today. They're both worth a look, so grab 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 1, 2003: The long-awaited Pax Imperia mission pack for Quake 2 has finally been released! The new single player mission brings us 8 new maps, more than 2500 enemies, and a great new story to follow. You can grab the mission pack along with its new engine here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 1, 2003: Giex Beta 3 has been released... the new version of the cooperative mode mod inclues an extensive list of additions and fixes. You can learn more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
April 1, 2003: QuArK has recently been updated to 6.3.0. The new release fixes a couple of minor bugs and adds a few new features. And, no, this isn't a lame April Fool's joke :) Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 24, 2003: A new stable version of GTKRadiant has been released, bringing the editor to 1.2.13. Remember, this is the stable release... 1.3 was a beta. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 21, 2003: EvenBalance released a new PunkBuster version yesterday... it includes a new client package as well as a new server version. The autodownload should have caught it, but if it didn't you can grab the new release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 18, 2003: Xtreme Arena 1.12 was just released today. The update includes some new features, as well as fixes for older problems. You can read more about the mod here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 17, 2003: In addition to the new Quake 2 map reviews, I've also added half a dozen Quake 1 maps... check them out in the Quake 1 section here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 16, 2003: The Quake 2 map reviews section has been laced with half a dozen new treats... well, the maps aren't exactly new, but they've never been featured here, anyway :) Grab 'em here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 16, 2003: I just uploaded yet another Quake 1 article... this feature is a short review of the popular mod Rune Quake. You can find it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 15, 2003: Told you there'd be lots of new stuff :) I just added 42 new screenshots to the Quake 2 archive... this more than doubled its size. The new shots are all worth a look, because there's some really incredible action in there. Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 14, 2003: As promised, I completed a new Quake 1 strategy guide called "Meet the Family". It covers all you ever wanted to know about Quake 1's monsters. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 13, 2003: The development release of GTKRadiant has been updated to version 1.3.6. The new release fixes some minor bugs. Once again, if you're mapping for Quake 3 you probably want to avoid this version unless you're interested in testing it. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 13, 2003: GGI recently announced that they are looking for beta testers for their massively multiplayer FPS based on the Quake 2 engine, Urban Dominion. They will be accepting 200 applicants. If you're interested, you can fill out an application on their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 13, 2003: Today I configured and installed a completely new search tool for the site. I think you'll find that this one is a *lot* better than the horrible piece of junk that was on here before :) There's going to be a lot of other new stuff in the coming week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!
-Dr.Gibbs
March 11, 2003: Big news for mappers... GTKRadiant 1.3 has been released. The editor now supports Half-Life. There aren't a whole lot of changes other than that, and the new release is still experimental, so Quakers may want to hold off on it for now (unless you're interested in testing for bugs). Read more about the new release here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 9, 2003: There's a new map in the Quake 3 Map Reviews archive... this one is an interesting one based on a guitar factory. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 9, 2003: The monthly picks have been updated for March! This month, we've got a Quake 1 mod and a screenshot from Q3DM17. Also, the March edition of the newsletter will be mailed out today. Check out the new picks here. To learn more about the newsletter, visit the official page here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 9, 2003: OSP 1.03a, a server-side only update, has been released. It fixes a few issues with the 1.03 server and isn't needed for clients. If you run a server with OSP, be sure to get the update here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 7, 2003: The long-awaited Western Quake 3 Beta 2 has finally been released! The new version includes a ton of improvements, of course. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 5, 2003: I was out of commission for awhile (in the middle of moving again), so I wasn't able to update the site for a couple weeks... well, I'm back, and news will start coming again. Today I added the news from the time I was gone so you wouldn't miss out on anything important. Check out the news archives to see what was missed in February!
-Dr.Gibbs
March 3, 2003: QuakeSkills has completed a three-part interview with id Software's retired map designer Paul Jaquays. The lengthy feature covers all kinds of information about mapping, id Software, and Paul's life and career. Here's a sample of the series:
QS: During your years at Coleco, you were involved in porting a lot of influential games, many of them arcade hits. Was there any one title that was especially challenging to port to the ColecoVision platform? What made it such a challenge?
Jaquays: Two titles come to mind as being difficult. The first was Donkey Kong, primarily because it was the first game we did for ColecoVision. I had already done a conversion of this arcade game to work as a "table top" electronic game (working with Jay Belsky to figure out timing and vacuum fluorescent display layout), so I was pretty familiar with the game. When we started the ColecoVision version, we were inventing the processes and procedure for documenting game play, converting arcade graphics and game play (most arcade games of the day were done on vertically oriented monitors) to have the same look and feel on the horizontal television screen. At toy fair in 1982, we had a totally faked up demo, which if I remember correctly, was done with an Apple 2 computer driving the TI video chip to produce the graphics on screen. It was one of those "ignore that man behind the curtain" type productions. But it worked and we went on to make ColecoVision a success. The other particularly difficult implementation was ColecoVision Zaxxon. That game was one of the first games (if memory serves me correct) to do diagonal scrolling over an orthogonal game world. Working with the clever programmers at 4D Interactive (Basically four talented programmer guys from Minnesota whose first names began with the letter "D"), our artists devised pattern tiles that would appear to scroll down the screen (albeit in 4 pixel chunks). We used sprite characters in some places, for more complex objects, or to add a little bit of highlight or shading to enhance the 3D look.
The interviews will take awhile to read, but it's well worth it. Catch them all here.-Dr.Gibbs
March 2, 2003: A patch for Suicidal Tendences (version 1.5.9) has been released. The update fixes a couple problems with the previous release and includes improved monster AI. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
March 2, 2003: OSP 1.03 has been released. This small update to the tournament-style mod fixes a few issues that were found in the recent 1.02 release. Check out the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 26, 2003: DarkPlaces, a mod and engine enhancement for Quake 1, has been updated to a new version. The new release includes quite a few fixes over its previous counterpart. You can read more about the mod and download the newest version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 25, 2003: Action Quake 2 has been updated with a new version called the AQ2 LTKTBM Edition. The new download includes a lot of improvements, including a new stand-alone feature -- it doesn't require Quake 2 to be played. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 24, 2003: If you've been wondering why exactly the WCG Organizing Committee dropped Quake 3 from its selection of games, your wait is over... the committee recently released an official statement offering the reasons Quake 3 has been dropped. Here's a quick clip from it:
First the WCG Organizing Committee would like to express its gratitude to the Quake player community for their active participation and interest to date. This decision was an extremely difficult one to make, and much internal as well as external debate was undergone before reaching the conclusion. It is a shame that we cannot address the Quake fans around the world this year, however, we will always continue to monitor the international game scene to update our official games, and thus Quake may see a resurgence in the years to come.
You can read the full release here.-Dr.Gibbs
February 18, 2003: This is a good one for anyone who happens to be a webmaster... a new script called InfoApp has been released. The code allows you to put real-time server information for a specific server into an HTML document without requiring a plugin. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 18, 2003: Telejano 7 has finally been released! The new version of the Quake 1 engine modification includes a ton of new features, updates, and bug fixes. It's a very small download (only about a meg), but it provides a whole world of enhancements to the Quake 1 environment. You can read more about the mod or get the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 17, 2003: The new monthly picks for February are in... they include yet another Q3DM17 screenshot and a Quake 1 mod you've probably never heard of before :) Check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 17, 2003: Orange Smoothie Productions has finally released the long-awaited OSP 1.02. The release contains plenty of fixes and improvements. Grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 17, 2003: GTKRadiant has been updated to version 1.2.12. The new release doesn't have quite as many improvements as 1.2.11 did, but it fixes some important problems. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 14, 2003: Ultimate Deathmatch 1.5 has been released. The Quake 1 mod lets you do all kinds of fun stuff in real time which makes for some pretty interesting matches. You can read more about the mod and download the latest version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 13, 2003: EvenBalance has once again updated the PunkBuster server software. As always, admins can download the newest version from EB's master server. Read more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 12, 2003: A collection of 15 brand new screenshots have been added to the Quake 3 screenshot archive, bringing the total count to 213. There are plenty of new gibs and incredible high-flying action... be sure to check them out! The new shots start here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 12, 2003: A new Quake 3 mod called Tempest has been released. The new mod brings four new gameplay modes to Quake that were inspired by other games like Unreal Tournament 2003. Instagib and Excessive are also included. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 12, 2003: FuhQuake 0.27 build 355 has been released. This classic QuakeWorld client mainly provides fixes for small bugs. You can read more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 9, 2003: The record for player towers was broken... a 54-player tower was created on Q3DM19 on a server in Portugal. Check out the screenshot here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 7, 2003: A small fix to Quake2Forge 0.2 has been released. The new version includes some files that were missing from the original release (oops!). You can read more about this engine modification or download the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 7, 2003: Ydnar has released a new version of Q3Map - this brings the compiler to 3.2.38. This is a pretty significant update, as it includes a lot of enhancements and bug fixes. Get it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 1, 2003: The Tenebrae site has been updated with some plans for future versions of the engine modification. It looks like Tenebrae will no longer support Quake 1 - they will be changing their concentration to Quake 3. Read more about it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 1, 2003: The PunkBuster 1.022 server has been released on the EvenBalance master servers, as well as on their PunkBuster download pages. The new server is an update of the recently released 1.020, which includes numerous updates to the program. If you have auto-update disabled, you definitely need to grab this - if your setup updates automatically, you should already have it. You can find it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
February 1, 2003: John Carmack has updated his .plan file with some technical info concerning the new nVidia NV30 and ATI R300 chipsets. If you're interested in what the big man himself has to say about the two new cards, check out his .plan here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 25, 2003: The Quake Episode 1 (QE1) Retexturing Project has pumped out another update to their texture package. This update is a separate download from the main pack. It contains 16 new textures for use with engine mods like TeleJano or TeneBrae. Grab it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 25, 2003: Ydnar's Q3Map has been updated yet again, this time to version 2.3.37. This one has quite a few fixes over the previous version. You can find the new file here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 21, 2003: The monthly picks are in, albeit a little late... the newsletter was also sent out today. The mailing lists were rebuilt again, so if you're supposed to be receiving it but you didn't, you can either let me know or just subscribe again. Check out the new picks here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 19, 2003: Q2ICE, a Quake 2 client designed to improve the game's stability and user interface functionality, has been updated to version 1.10. You can grab the new version here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 18, 2003: Urban Terror 2.6a has been released... this small update only brings one new map with it (ut_sanctuary), but it features a number of fixes as well as weapon updates. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 16, 2003: Weapons Factory Arena has been updated to version 3.5b. While there aren't any big changes, there is a bounty of small updates to maps and the code itself. You can download the new version and see a complete list of changes here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 15, 2003: There's a new strategy guide lurking in the Quake 3 Articles area... this one covers the basics of Team Arena. This new feature is an updated version of the Team Arena Player's Guide that used to be on the old site. You can find it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 15, 2003: Ydnar's Q3Map has been updated to version 2.3.35. You can find the new file here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 13, 2003: There are two new Quake 3 maps in the reviews area. Check them both out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 12, 2003: I've uploaded a little treat for you... a new Quake 3 strategy guide. It's a fun read, because it has a bit of a twist... it teaches you how to annoy your opponents as much as humanly possible. Best of all, it doesn't require cheating. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 12, 2003: A new version of Quake 3's PunkBuster Server was released to the master servers for testing today. If you're a server admin and you're interested in testing it, visit their site here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 12, 2003: There's been a lot to talk about in the Quake 1 engine mod community these days... the QE1 (Episode 1) Retexturing Project has released a set of 32 new textures for the Quake 1 engine. They feature both bumpmaps and glossmaps, plus support for normalmaps for use with TeneBrae. They can also be used with TeleJano or most other engine enhancements. Grab the pack here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 11, 2003: Three new weapon skins have been released by the Padman crew. You have to see them to believe them, so check them out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 11, 2003: Version 2.0 of the QFrag mod is now available. The new version includes a lot of fixes and enhancements. You can find it here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 10, 2003: The new year seems to have brought a barrage of mod updates with it... Ultra Freeze Tag has been updated to version 1.1. You grab that here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 10, 2003: The Nameless Mod, a small weapons mod for Quake 1, has been updated to version beta 1.5. The new version includes some new weapons, and more. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 8, 2003: A new Quake 2 total conversion is in the house... it's called Code Red: Battle for Earth. It places you in the near future as the commander of a resistance movement... your job? To discover what exactly the aliens want from Earth. You can get more information or download the mod here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 6, 2003: TeleJano Quake, an engine modification for Quake 1, has been updated to version 6.6. The new version includes bug fixes and enhancements, of course, and also a new model pack the features high quality models, skins, and sounds. You can download it all right here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 6, 2003: According to Oswald, Silicon Ice Development has big plans for Urban Terror in 2003 in the form of a brand new version of the mod. Here's a clip from their news section:
We do have some big plans for 2003, as we usually have each previous year when it comes to Urban Terror. Aside from some intermediate updates, we are looking at releasing an all new version of the mod later in the year (You might know it as Beta 3), that will include new models, animations, skins and levels, just to highlight a few areas. We are also in the process of interviewing and adding some new development team members to SID. We are also talking to some of the community members to assist development team in creating or updating levels that are featured in our releases. Rumor also has it there will be an all new map depot up and running soon. More details as they are made available.
You can get more information about the team and their future plans here.-Dr.Gibbs
January 4, 2003: CPMA 1.0 for Quake 3 has been released. The new version has a lot of new material, including a new map pack. For those of you who have never had CPMA before, there's a version available that includes all the previous map packs as well. Check it out here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 3, 2003: A new addition for D-Day: Normandy has been released for Quake 2. The official Inland Campaign includes 7 new maps for your fragging pleasure. The add-on requires a small patch to play, but it should be included with the maps. Grab it all here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 3, 2003: Tigger-oN has published an interesting how-to guide that explains all the details of using GtkRadiant to build maps for the Quake 1 engine. It's quite detailed and should be easy to follow for just about anyone. You can get the guide here.
-Dr.Gibbs
January 1, 2003: Well, once again, it's a new year... and once again, we managed to survive. There are going to be quite a few updates to the site in the next couple of months, so keep your eyes peeled. With Doom 3 and Quake 4 on their way, this could prove to be a very interesting year!
-Dr.Gibbs
