Hubbry Logo
Quake (series)Quake (series)Main
Open search
Quake (series)
Community hub
Quake (series)
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Quake (series)
Quake (series)
Quake (series)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Quake
GenreFirst-person shooter
Developersid Software
Raven Software
Hyperion Entertainment
Bullfrog Productions
Lobotomy Software
Raster Productions
Hammerhead
PublisherGT Interactive
(1996–1997)
Activision
(1997–2009)
Electronic Arts
(2001) (Quake III Revolution)
Electronic Arts Square
(2001) (Quake III Revolution Japanese version)
Bethesda Softworks
(2010–present)
Nvidia
(2019) (Quake II RTX)
Other
PlatformsMS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Dreamcast, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
First releaseQuake
June 22, 1996
Latest releaseQuake Champions
August 22, 2017

Quake is a series of first-person shooter video games, developed by id Software and, as of 2010, published by Bethesda Softworks. The series is composed of Quake and its nonlinear, standalone sequels, which vary in setting and plot.

Quake was created as a successor franchise to id's highly successful Doom series, which had begun in 1993. As a new series, it built upon the fast-paced gameplay, game engine, and 3D graphics capabilities of Doom.[1] It also expanded upon the multiplayer capabilities of Doom by introducing online multiplayer over the internet. This contributed to the popularity of the Quake series and characterized it as a figurehead in online gaming.[2]

Games

[edit]
Release timeline
1996Quake
1997I: Scourge of Armagon
I: Dissolution of Eternity
Quake II
1998II: The Reckoning
II: Ground Zero
1999Quake III Arena
2000III: Team Arena
2001–2004
2005Quake 4
2006
2007Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
2008–2009
2010III: Live
2011–2015
2016I: Dimension of the Past
2017Quake Champions
2018–2020
2021I: Dimension of the Machine
2022
2023II: Call of the Machine

Every game in the Quake franchise shares a basis in first-person shooter gameplay. However, the series lacks a singular narrative across all of its entries. Two major storylines exist within the franchise, as well as the Arena series, which focuses primarily on multiplayer gameplay.

Original storyline

[edit]

The game's original plot focused on the player character, later known as "Ranger" in Quake III Arena, who travels across alternate dimensions to stop an enemy code-named "Quake". The game takes place in a Lovecraftian setting with a mixture of dark fantasy, pseudo-medieval, and science fiction elements.[3][4]

Quake II storyline

[edit]

Shifting the series to a science fiction theme, Quake II and its sequels chronicle the war between humanity and the cybernetic alien race known as the Strogg.[5]

Arena series

[edit]

Quake III Arena and its successors focus on competitive multiplayer rather than a single-player experience. These games de-emphasized the setting of the first two installments while still retaining continuity with them and crossing over with id's Doom franchise. Quake Champions, in particular, is heavily influenced by the mythology of the original game.[6]

Reception

[edit]
Aggregate review scores
Game GameRankings Metacritic
Quake (SAT) 64%[9] (PC) 94[7]
(N64) 74[8]
Quake Mission Pack No. 1: Scourge of Armagon (PC) 82%[10]
Quake Mission Pack No. 2: Dissolution of Eternity (PC) 83%[11]
Quake II (PC) 87%[12]
(N64) 81%[13]
(PS) 79%[14]
Quake II Mission Pack: The Reckoning (PC) 69%[15]
Quake II Mission Pack: Ground Zero (PC) 65%[16]
Quake III Arena (PC) 83%[20] (DC) 93[17]
(PS2) 84[18]
(X360) 69[19]
Quake III: Team Arena (PC) 69[21]
Quake 4 (PC) 81[22]
(X360) 75[23]
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC) 84[24]
(X360) 69[25]
(PS3) 60[26]

Since its first release, the series has received mostly positive reviews.

Quake,[27][28][29] Quake II,[30][31][32] and Quake III Arena[33][34] have all been considered by various video game journalists and magazines to be among the greatest video games of all time.

Controversy

[edit]

Like Doom, the Quake series initially received controversy due to containing high amounts of graphic violence. Public and media outcry over Quake and other violent video games peaked after the Columbine High School massacre occurred on April 20, 1999, and it became known that perpetrators Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were avid players of both Doom and Quake. This finding prompted claims from media outlets that violent video games caused negative psychological effects on children that made them more aggressive and accepting of violence.[35][36]

id Software co-founder John Romero later stated in a 2013 interview that the company and its developers had never intended to "offend people or shock people" with their games.[37]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Quake (series)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Quake is a franchise of video games primarily developed by , debuting with the original Quake in 1996 as a groundbreaking title featuring fully three-dimensional polygonal environments, axial rotation, and networked multiplayer deathmatch modes. Subsequent entries expanded the series' scope, with (1997) shifting to a science-fiction narrative involving humanity's conflict against the cybernetic Strogg alien race, while (1999) emphasized competitive arena-style multiplayer, establishing precedents for modern through events like . Later titles, developed under after acquiring in 2009, include (2005), Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (2007), and (2017), a multiplayer-focused game reviving classic mechanics with hero abilities. The series' defining engines powered not only Quake games but also licensed titles like and influenced broader industry shifts toward immersive 3D worlds, contributing to the evolution of shooters such as and , and earning induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2025 for pioneering mouse-aimed FPS gameplay. Though commercially successful and critically acclaimed for technical innovation, the franchise faced early controversies over graphic violence akin to predecessor Doom, prompting debates on media effects despite lacking empirical evidence of causal harm to players.

Development History

Origins at id Software

id Software, founded in 1991 by John Carmack, John Romero, Adrian Carmack, and Tom Hall, achieved commercial success with Doom II: Hell on Earth, released on October 10, 1994, which sold millions of copies and solidified the company's reputation for innovative first-person shooters using sprite-based 2.5D engines. Following this, the nine-person team at id explored options for their next title, initially considering a sequel built on Doom's toolset in line with prior rapid iterations like the Commander Keen trilogy, but ultimately pivoting to a project codenamed Quake that would demand a fully polygonal 3D engine. Early concepts for Quake drew from an abandoned 1991 RPG prototype titled The Fight for Justice, envisioned as a fantasy adventure, but the team lacked expertise in RPG mechanics and shifted toward a format to leverage their strengths in fast-paced action and technological advancement. Public announcement came in the 1994 issue of Computer Gaming World, describing Quake as a fantasy-themed game featuring a Thor-like protagonist wielding a massive , marking id's first major reveal in four years since internal prototyping discussions. On December 1, 1994, Romero posted on outlining an ambitious vision: "the most disquieting and upsetting game on the planet," emphasizing intense multiplayer deathmatches over single-player campaigns, with levels designed for pure combat arenas. Technological origins centered on Carmack's drive for true , departing from Doom's sector-based limitations to enable , vertical geometry, and sloped surfaces; in late 1994, id acquired an SGI Indigo2 workstation and Alias software for , while early engine prototyping began in January 1995 with the QuakeEd editor. Thematically, Romero drew inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror, shifting from Doom's military motifs to gothic, eldritch environments with slipgates for , aiming for a scriptable engine supporting multiplayer and . Key early contributors included Carmack on core programming, Romero on design and tools, on level architecture since his 1993 hire, and on additional level design, though internal tensions over design direction foreshadowed later conflicts.

Engine Development and Technological Milestones

The Quake series engines originated with id Tech 2, developed by id Software primarily by John Carmack for the 1996 Quake release, representing the company's first fully three-dimensional polygonal rendering system, departing from the sector-based 2.5D architecture of the earlier Doom engine (id Tech 1). This engine employed binary space partitioning (BSP) trees to partition level geometry into hierarchical nodes, optimizing visibility determination and collision detection to handle complex, sloped surfaces and multi-level environments at interactive frame rates on mid-1990s hardware like Pentium processors. It supported multiple rendering paths, including software rasterization for broad compatibility and hardware acceleration via OpenGL 1.1, Glide for 3dfx Voodoo cards, and later Direct3D, achieving up to 640x480 resolution at 30-60 FPS with thousands of polygons on screen. The engine's client-server networking architecture separated prediction and interpolation for player movement, minimizing latency in multiplayer sessions and establishing a foundation for competitive online play. For Quake II in December 1997, iterated on with enhancements focused on visual realism and performance, introducing colored lightmaps generated via radiosity computation for non-uniform illumination, replacing Quake's monochromatic dynamic lights and enabling atmospheric effects like colored spotlights and volumetric fog. Procedural skyboxes and improved texture compression reduced memory demands, while refined BSP handling supported larger outdoor areas and higher counts for enemy models, all while maintaining 60 FPS targets on consumer GPUs. These updates prioritized scalability across hardware, with as the primary accelerated renderer, influencing licensed titles like and Kingpin. id Tech 3, unveiled with in December 1999, advanced rendering capabilities by incorporating Bezier patch surfaces for smooth, spline-based curves—the first implementation in a commercial —allowing designers to create organic terrain and architecture without excessive polygon faceting. The engine optimized for multiplayer arenas with a fast renderer supporting multitexturing, vertex skinning for skeletal animations via the format (up to 255 bones per model), and bot AI driven by scriptable behaviors for offline practice. Released as open-source GPL code in 2005, it fostered extensive and ports, powering over 50 licensed games and demonstrating longevity through community-maintained derivatives like ioquake3. Subsequent entries shifted to id Tech 4 for (October 2005) and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (September 2007), adapting the engine's unified lighting model with stencil shadow volumes for dynamic, per-pixel shadows cast by all geometry, eliminating precomputed lightmaps for more responsive environments at the cost of higher GPU demands. id Tech 4 integrated rigid-body physics via custom solvers for destructible objects and vehicles, with emphasizing corridor-based campaigns and Quake Wars extending to large-scale vehicular combat on maps up to 16 km². Splash Damage's modifications for Quake Wars incorporated megatexturing, a virtual texturing system streaming massive, seamless texture datasets (up to 128 GB per map) to support expansive outdoor battles without traditional mipmapping artifacts. Quake Champions (2017) departed from pure id Tech lineage, utilizing a hybrid engine blending elements (such as advanced particle effects and occlusion culling) with Saber Interactive's Saber3D for character rendering and animation, optimized for arena-style matches with API support added in 2017 for cross-platform efficiency on modern hardware. This approach prioritized 120+ FPS esports performance over graphical fidelity, reflecting id Software's post-acquisition focus under Bethesda on hybrid technologies for rapid iteration.

Shifts in Ownership and Studio Evolution

, the creator of the Quake series, operated independently from its founding in 1991 until June 24, 2009, when acquired the studio, integrating it as a alongside . This shift allowed id to concentrate on core engine and gameplay development while ZeniMax handled publishing and distribution for titles like the upcoming Rage, with the deal preserving id's creative autonomy but aligning its franchises, including Quake, under centralized corporate oversight. Post-acquisition, id continued evolving its proprietary engines, licensing them to external developers for Quake spin-offs such as (developed by using ) and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (by ), reflecting a transition from in-house exclusivity to broader ecosystem collaboration. Internal studio evolution included key departures that reshaped leadership; co-founder left in early 1997 amid creative disputes, founding to pursue ambitious projects like . , id's technical cornerstone, resigned as CTO in November 2013 to join Oculus VR, focusing on hardware rather than traditional game engines. These changes shifted id toward a more streamlined operation under ZeniMax, emphasizing technological iteration over expansive team structures, which sustained Quake's multiplayer legacy in titles like (2017). On September 21, 2020, Microsoft announced its $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, finalizing the deal in March 2021 and bringing id Software into Xbox Game Studios. This latest ownership transition enabled enhanced cross-platform support for Quake remasters and re-releases via services like Xbox Game Pass, while id retained operational focus on first-person shooter innovation, now backed by Microsoft's resources for long-term IP stewardship.

Games in the Series

Quake (1996) and Expansions

Quake is a first-person shooter video game developed by id Software and published by GT Interactive, with its shareware version released on January 9, 1996, and the full retail version on June 22, 1996, for MS-DOS. The game utilizes the proprietary Quake engine, which supported fully polygonal 3D environments, dynamic lighting, and networked multiplayer, marking a shift from the 2.5D sprite-based worlds of prior id titles like Doom. In single-player mode, players control an unnamed marine known as Ranger, navigating 32 levels across four episodes set in a Lovecraftian dimension invaded by eldritch entities led by Shub-Niggurath; objectives involve traversing gothic castles, eldritch fortresses, and elder worlds to collect runes and defeat bosses using weapons like the shotgun, nailgun, and rocket launcher. Multiplayer focuses on deathmatch arenas supporting up to 16 players over LAN or modem, emphasizing fast-paced, skill-based combat that influenced competitive FPS esports. The game's reception highlighted its technical innovations, with the 3D engine enabling smoother navigation and via QuakeC scripting, though the single-player narrative was critiqued as secondary to multiplayer's replayability. Ports followed for platforms including Mac OS (September 1996), , and (1998), alongside a 1997 PlayStation version with adjusted levels for console hardware. Two official mission packs extended the base game. Quake Mission Pack No. 1: Scourge of Armagon, developed by Hipnotic Interactive and released February 28, 1997, introduces 22 single-player levels, new monsters like the and , and weapons such as the Sunstaff and proximity mines, centered on combating Armagon's mechanical army. Quake Mission Pack No. 2: Dissolution of Eternity, developed by and released March 31, 1997, adds 15 single-player levels, time-travel mechanics across eras, and entities like the Shambler variants, with weapons including the laser cannon and plague, focusing on a plot involving a rogue AI and dimensional rifts. Both packs integrate seamlessly with the Quake engine, supporting multiplayer maps and mods, and were bundled in later re-releases.

Quake II (1997) and Expansions

Quake II, developed by id Software and published by Activision, was released on December 9, 1997, for Microsoft Windows. The game marked a departure from the Lovecraftian horror themes of its predecessor, introducing a military science fiction storyline set in the year 2065, where humanity faces invasion by the cybernetic Strogg species. Players control Bitterman, a human marine and the sole survivor of a crashed dropship on the Strogg homeworld of Stroggos, tasked with sabotaging enemy facilities, gathering intelligence, and ultimately assassinating the Strogg leader, the Makron. The title utilized id Tech 2, an evolution of the original Quake engine featuring out-of-the-box OpenGL hardware acceleration, colored dynamic lighting, and patch-based curved surfaces for more organic geometry, enabling enhanced visual fidelity and performance on 3D accelerators like 3dfx Voodoo cards. Gameplay emphasized fast-paced, corridor-based combat against diverse Strogg foes, including gladiators, gunners, and tanks, with an arsenal of weapons such as the and BFG10K, alongside improved enemy AI that incorporated flanking maneuvers and environmental awareness. Multiplayer modes supported deathmatch and teamplay over LAN or early connections, contributing to its competitive longevity, while single-player levels progressed through industrial Strogg complexes culminating in the bio-mechanical core. Quake II received acclaim for its technical advancements and atmospheric , including industrial ambient tracks, solidifying id Software's influence on the genre. The game's expansions, officially titled mission packs, extended the campaign with new levels, weapons, and enemies while maintaining compatibility with the base engine. Mission Pack: The Reckoning, developed by Xatrix Entertainment and released on May 31, 1998, shifted focus to Lieutenant Joker, who leads an to a Strogg-occupied base to dismantle their invasion fleet; it introduced 32 new levels, weapons like the proximity mine launcher, and boss encounters such as the Shuttle Pilot, though some critics noted repetitive level design amid the added content volume. Mission Pack: Ground Zero, developed by and released on August 31, 1998, continued the narrative with a infiltrating Strogg production facilities, featuring 40 levels, enemies including wall-crawling mines and pop-out turrets, and weapons such as the Ion Ripper plasma gun, praised for denser enemy placements but critiqued for occasional backtracking and maze-like navigation. Both packs were published under id Software's oversight and sold as budget expansions, enhancing replayability without altering core mechanics.

Quake III Arena (1999)

is a video game developed by and published by for Microsoft Windows on December 2, 1999. Unlike its predecessors, which emphasized single-player campaigns with narrative elements, prioritizes competitive multiplayer arena-style deathmatches, with single-player modes serving primarily as bot-driven practice sessions rather than story-driven experiences. The game features character models from prior Quake titles but places them in gladiatorial combat scenarios across abstract arenas, accompanied by an industrial soundtrack composed by Sonic Mayhem and Assembly's . The title was built on the engine, an evolution of prior id engines that introduced spline-based curved surfaces for more organic geometry, a system for advanced , and optimized client-server networking via a snapshot-based prediction model to minimize latency in multiplayer. Development emphasized technological advancements for online play, following the multiplayer success of at events like , with a public beta released after an early hardware vendor leak to refine and balance. Core gameplay revolves around fast-paced, skill-based using weapons like the for precision sniping and the for area denial, alongside power-ups such as quad damage for temporary invincibility multipliers. Multiplayer supports modes including free-for-all deathmatch, team deathmatch, one-on-one tournament duels, and , with maps designed for verticality and item control to reward movement mastery like strafe-jumping. Single-player pits players against AI bots employing sophisticated and algorithms for route navigation and tactics in complex 3D environments, enabling offline honing of skills without human opponents. Reception highlighted the game's technical prowess, particularly its responsive multiplayer and extensibility, which fostered a lasting competitive scene; it achieved sales exceeding 100,000 units in the UK alone by 2000, earning a Silver award from the and Leisure Software Publishers Association. The engine's influence extended beyond Quake III, powering titles like and – Elite Force due to its robustness in rendering and multiplayer handling.

Quake 4 (2005) and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (2007)

Quake 4, developed primarily by with technical support from , was released for Microsoft Windows on October 18, 2005, followed by versions for , Mac OS X, and . The game utilizes , the engine originally developed for , which enables advanced lighting, physics, and large-scale environments. Its single-player campaign continues the narrative from , casting players as Matthew Kane, a marine in Rhino Squad leading an invasion of the Strogg homeworld Stroggos to halt the alien threat after their assaults on ; Kane is captured, subjected to cybernetic conversion, and must fight from within enemy ranks to destroy the Strogg leadership. Gameplay emphasizes fast-paced first-person shooting with new elements like drivable vehicles, squad-based objectives, and horror-tinged sequences during the protagonist's transformation, alongside multiplayer deathmatch and team modes supporting up to 16 players. Reception for the PC version was generally favorable, with a Metacritic aggregate score of 81/100 based on 62 critic reviews praising its intense combat, atmospheric levels, and technical achievements, though some critiqued repetitive enemy AI and linear level design. Console ports received more mixed feedback due to control issues and scaled-down visuals. The title marked a return to story-driven sci-fi shooting after 's arena focus, bridging 's invasion lore with expanded Strogg physiology details. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, developed by and published by , launched for Windows on September 28, 2007, with subsequent releases for , Mac OS X, , and Xbox 360. Built on a modified engine incorporating megatexture technology for expansive terrains, it serves as a prequel to set in 2065 during the initial Strogg invasion of Earth, pitting human Global Defense Forces (GDF) against the cybernetic Strogg in asymmetric team-based conflicts. Unlike prior entries, it omits a single-player campaign in favor of persistent multiplayer matches emphasizing class-based roles (e.g., , , ), deployable structures, , , and tiered objectives like base building and resource control on maps supporting up to 32 players on PC or 16 on consoles. The PC edition earned strong reviews, aggregating 84/100 on Metacritic from 55 critics for its strategic depth, vehicular combat, and large-scale battles reminiscent of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, though console adaptations faced criticism for reduced player counts and matchmaking limitations. Its focus on cooperative objectives and faction-specific abilities innovated Quake's multiplayer legacy, fostering replayability through progression systems unlocking abilities, but sustained player interest waned post-launch, with current Steam peaks below 50 concurrent users.

Quake Champions (2017) and Quake Live (2010)

Quake Champions is a multiplayer-only developed by and published by , emphasizing competitive deathmatch gameplay with and skill-based combat central to the Quake legacy. The title introduced selectable "champions"—characters with passive abilities, active powers, and unique movement traits—marking a shift toward hero-shooter mechanics while preserving Quake's fast-paced, weapon-focused arena style over traditional classless play. It launched in on on August 22, 2017, initially requiring purchase of a Champions Pack for full access to characters and cosmetics, before transitioning to on August 10, 2018, with optional microtransactions for progression and unlocks. Full release occurred on August 18, 2022, after five years of beta testing and iterative updates that refined , balance, and server stability. Game modes include instagib, clan arena, and free-for-all, supporting up to 8 players per match on maps redrawn from prior Quake titles with modern visuals via the engine. Champions like Ranger (strafe-jump specialist) and Anarki (speed-boost roller) encourage strategic picks based on map control and team synergy, though core movement physics remain unaltered from Quake III for competitive purity. Reception noted praise for fluid gunplay and potential, evidenced by integrated tournaments, but criticism arose over ability clutter diluting pure skill expression and paywalls gating content during . user reviews aggregate to 73% positive from over 38,000 submissions, reflecting sustained appeal among arena shooter enthusiasts despite broader market shifts toward battle royales. As of 2025, Quake Champions maintains a niche player base with daily peaks around 380 concurrent users on , supported by periodic patches like the Mid-Winter Update addressing weapon visuals and ability fixes. Player retention has declined amid from newer titles, averaging under 250 monthly, yet remains viable in core regions with low latency caps under 150 ms. Community events and battle passes continue, underscoring Bethesda's commitment to longevity over single-player expansion. Quake Live functions as a dedicated multiplayer revival of , developed by and published by , prioritizing browser-agnostic online competition with enhanced anti-cheat and automated matchmaking absent in the 1999 original. Initially conceived as a web-based port leveraging , it evolved into a standalone client following closed beta in 2008 and open beta from February 24, 2009, achieving full release on August 6, 2010, for Windows, macOS, and . The game replicates Quake III's rocket jumps, precision, and mode variety—such as (1v1/2v2) and free-for-all—while adding spectator tools, rankings, and server browsers for organized play. Technical updates included optimized rendering for modern hardware and integrated voice chat, fostering longevity in esports circuits like without altering balance-defining elements like 100 health starts or item respawns. Unlike expansions in earlier Quake entries, eschewed narrative content, focusing solely on multiplayer fidelity to id's arena formula. reviews stand at 85% positive from 15,000 users, lauding its timeless netplay and against bloated contemporaries. In 2025, Quake Live sustains higher engagement than , averaging 256 daily players with peaks near 500, driven by veteran communities and LAN events analyzing pro duels in modes like strafe-jumping contests. Maintenance persists via Bethesda's infrastructure, with no major overhauls but stable servers supporting over 100 maps and custom mods through legacy compatibility. Its endurance stems from uncompromised mechanics, outpacing newer iterations in pure competitive metrics despite lacking fresh content pipelines.

Remasters and Modern Re-releases

In 2021, , in collaboration with and , released an enhanced edition of the original Quake, providing upgraded visuals with support for , widescreen aspect ratios, improved lighting, and dynamic shadows while preserving the unmodified 1996 experience through seamless toggling between original and enhanced modes. This version launched on August 19, 2021, for Windows PC via and Bethesda.net, , , and , with free updates for prior owners on those platforms and extending playability to and Xbox Series X/S. The release incorporated the original expansions—Scourge of Armagon, Dissolution of Eternity, and Arcane Dimensions—as well as a new single-player campaign, Dimension of the Machine, comprising 10 levels developed by , emphasizing Lovecraftian machine constructs and enemy encounters. Quake II followed with its own enhanced edition on August 10, 2023, again led by under id Software's oversight, featuring refined character models, enhanced animations, expanded gore effects, and upscaled textures alongside restored multiplayer maps and bots for local and online play. Available initially on the same platforms as the Quake remaster—PC, /5, /Series X/S, and —it included the original expansions (The Reckoning and Ground Zero) and introduced Call of the Machine, a new four-mission campaign extending the Strogg invasion narrative with fresh weapons and bosses. Cross-play functionality was added for multiplayer across PC and consoles, with performance optimizations targeting 60 frames per second at higher resolutions. Later entries like have seen digital re-releases primarily through since 2007, updated to patch version 1.32 with support via community configurations, but without a dedicated graphical or new content additions equivalent to the earlier titles. and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars remain available on legacy PC platforms like without modern console ports or enhancements as of 2025, while functions as a with ongoing updates rather than a . These efforts by , id Software's parent company since 2009, have focused on preserving core mechanics amid hardware advancements, enabling accessibility on current-generation systems without altering foundational design elements like fast-paced movement or mod compatibility.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Single-Player Campaign Elements

The single-player campaigns in the Quake series primarily feature in Quake (1996), (1997), and (2005), where players control a lone advancing through linear sequences of levels filled with encounters, key pickups, and objective-based progression such as activating switches, destroying generators, or reaching extraction points. These modes emphasize , with and sourced from defeated foes or environmental secrets, alongside power-ups like quad damage for temporary invincibility and enhanced firepower. Campaigns integrate environmental hazards, such as lava pits or , requiring strategic movement and weapon selection amid corridor-based and open-area combat. In , the player assumes the role of Bitterman, a crash-landing on the Strogg Stroggos during "Operation Alien Overlord" to counter an invasion by the cybernetic Strogg race harvesting human resources for their war machine. The campaign spans 35 levels organized into seven units—starting with the Outer Base landing zone and progressing through facilities like the , Research Facility, and Security Complex—escalating to assaults on the massive Big Gun orbital cannon and the Makron, the Strogg leader housed in a fortified . Key mechanics include precision shots for headshots on armored enemies like Gunners and Gladiators, alongside squad-based radio briefings that outline objectives such as disabling power grids or securing data nodes. Quake 4 extends this narrative with Matthew Kane, a Marine from Rhino , commanding the second human on Stroggos amid a desperate counteroffensive. Divided into five acts—Gaining a Foothold (initial planetary descent and bunker clearances), Operation Advantage ( carrier operations and canyon traversals), Kane of the Strogg (captivity, partial Stroggification via processing facilities granting enhanced abilities like dark vision), Operation Last Hope (infiltration of the core linking Strogg forces), and Confrontation (final Makron duel)—the campaign incorporates squad AI companions for cover fire, deployable gun barrages, and vehicular segments in hovertanks against swarms of Iron Maidens and Stream Protectors. Boss encounters, such as the Tetranode guardian, demand pattern recognition and deployment, blending horror elements from forced cybernetic conversion with tactical commands. Later entries like (1999) deprioritize dedicated campaigns, substituting bot-driven tournament simulations mimicking multiplayer arenas for practice rather than story progression, reflecting id Software's pivot toward competitive play. Expansions such as The Reckoning and Ground Zero for add 20-25 levels each, introducing new weapons like the proximity mine launcher and enemies such as plague puppets, extending the core invasion arc with side objectives like escorting civilians or sabotaging supply lines.

Multiplayer Modes and Competitive Features

The Quake series established multiplayer as a core pillar, with the original 1996 release innovating fully networked 3D deathmatch gameplay that supported up to 16 players in free-for-all or modes, leveraging client-server for real-time online battles unprecedented in FPS titles at the time. This foundation emphasized raw skill through movement mechanics like strafe jumping and , enabling high-speed aerial combat without reliance on single-player progression. Subsequent entries expanded modes to include Team Deathmatch, where balanced teams accumulate kills for victory; (CTF), requiring squads to seize and return an opposing flag while defending their own, originating from popular Quake mods and standardized in later titles; and or Duel formats for bracket-style 1v1 elimination. and incorporated these alongside variants like Arena CTF and DeadZone, a zone-control mode blending objective and elimination play. Quake III Arena (1999) shifted focus to pure competitive multiplayer, omitting a traditional campaign to prioritize arena-style matches with extensive customization for field of view, model details, and bots, fostering a professional scene through events like QuakeCon, where Duel tournaments drew prize pools exceeding $100,000 by 2000 and produced legends such as players earning six-figure sums in a single year. Circuit events like the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) amplified this, with Quake III's low-latency netcode and mods like Challenge ProMode Arena (CPMA) enabling precise, tournament-grade features such as enhanced physics and scoring for modes including Clan Arena and Freeze Tag. Later titles like Quake Champions (2017) integrated hero abilities with traditional modes—Duel for 1v1, 2v2 team play, and Sacrifice (later iterated into tourney variants)—while introducing ranked leagues, seasonal rewards, and esports integration via the Quake World Championship, which featured group stages and qualifiers with structured prize distributions up to $200,000 across formats. Quake Live extended Quake III's legacy with browser-accessible servers and cross-platform support, sustaining competitive ladders into the 2010s through community-hosted events. These elements, combined with open modding for custom maps and rulesets, solidified Quake's influence on arena FPS esports, prioritizing mechanical depth over narrative or accessibility concessions.

Modding Capabilities and Community Extensions

The Quake series incorporated modding support from its debut, with supplying utilities like level editors and the for altering gameplay logic, weapons, and entities in Quake (1996). This built-in extensibility allowed early community creations such as custom deathmatch arenas and total conversions, fostering a vibrant scene that extended the game's longevity beyond official content. The release of Quake's client on December 21, 1999, under the GNU General Public License marked a pivotal advancement, permitting recompilation and enhancement for modern hardware while preserving compatibility with original assets. Community developers produced numerous source ports, including DarkPlaces (initially released in 2004), which introduced dynamic lighting, particle effects, and rendering to elevate visual without altering core mechanics, and QuakeSpasm, emphasizing to the 1996 DOS version alongside multitexturing and improved input handling. These ports enabled seamless integration of thousands of user-generated maps and mods, with repositories hosting over 10,000 custom levels by the early 2000s. Influential mods emerged from this ecosystem, such as Team Fortress (1996), a class-based team shooter that introduced specialized roles like and , amassing millions of downloads and shaping multiplayer design in subsequent games. Single-player expansions like Arcane Dimensions (2019) added expansive campaigns with new enemies, puzzles, and Lovecraftian themes, while multiplayer variants such as emphasized arena-style combat with respawn mechanics. Subsequent titles built on this foundation: Quake II's source code release in 2001 spurred ports like Yamagi Quake II, enhancing networking and rendering, while Quake III Arena's PK3 archive format simplified asset replacement, yielding mods like CPMA (Challenge ProMode Arena, 2004), which refined competitive play with client-side predictions and scripting for tuning. The 2021 Quake remaster incorporated native mod browser support and console commands for loading community content, revitalizing extensions for contemporary platforms including Vulkan rendering via ports like vkQuake. This enduring infrastructure has sustained annual mod releases, with communities maintaining archives of over 5,000 Quake III mods as of 2023.

Storylines and Lore

Core Narrative of the Original Quake

The original Quake, released on June 22, 1996, by , features a minimalist centered on interdimensional warfare initiated through experimental technology known as slipgates. The player assumes the role of an unnamed military operative, retrospectively identified as Ranger in later series entries, who is summoned to a secret installation following reports of enemy incursions. A commander briefs the operative that an adversary codenamed Quake has deployed slipgates to infiltrate human bases with death squads for sabotage, theft, and abduction, potentially originating from another dimension; the mission, designated Operation Counterstrike, authorizes the operative to pursue and neutralize Quake using a slipgate tuned to his realm. Following the briefing, the installation comes under attack, leaving the operative as the apparent sole survivor amid the chaos of invading forces comprising ogres, fiends, and other monstrous entities. The operative activates the facility's slipgate, transporting into Quake's domain to counter the invasion at its source. The campaign unfolds across four episodes, each representing a distinct eldritch dimension accessed via slipgates at episode conclusions: Dimension of the Doomed (medieval castle-like structures), Realm of (occult ruins), Netherworld ( labyrinths), and The Elder World (ancient, otherworldly fortresses). Progression involves navigating levels infested with biomechanical horrors such as zombies, knights, and shamblers, while collecting four elemental —Rune of Earth Magic, Rune of , Rune of Magic, and Rune of Elder Magic—that unlock deeper insights into the threat. The progressively reveal , a Lovecraftian entity inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's mythos, as the orchestrating force behind Quake's operations, intent on supplanting 's lifeforms through dimensional conquest. Inter-episode texts detail this escalation: the rune prompts acquisition of the others; identifies as the overlord; Hell Magic fortifies resolve against her legions; and Elder Magic exposes her genocidal ambitions. With all assembled, the operative confronts in her spawning domain, defeating the entity in a climactic battle involving summoned spawn and direct assaults, thereby halting the invasion and positioning the operative as 's defender. The narrative emphasizes survival and combat over exposition, with environmental storytelling through rune pedestal discoveries and terse manual interludes underscoring causal links between slipgate misuse and the unleashing of ancient, malevolent powers.

Divergence in Quake II's Sci-Fi Setting

Quake II, released by on December 9, 1997, markedly diverges from the original Quake's narrative framework by adopting a self-contained storyline unconnected to the predecessor's events or cosmology. While the 1996 Quake involved a navigating slipgate portals to combat eldritch abominations and an ancient entity in a blend of and fantasy dimensions, Quake II relocates the conflict to a realistic interstellar where humanity mounts a desperate counterinvasion against the Strogg, a hive-minded race of cybernetic conquerors originating from the planet Stroggos. This pivot eliminates all or Lovecraftian motifs, replacing them with themes of technological assimilation, human augmentation horrors, and tactical espionage amid industrial alien architecture. The protagonist, an elite marine known internally as Bitterman, crash-lands on Stroggos during "Operation: Alien Overlord," a United Planetary Defense Force (UPDF) assault aimed at neutralizing the Stroggos' planet-killing "Big Gun" superweapon targeted at . Gameplay unfolds across Strogg facilities, from surface outposts to subterranean processing plants where captured humans undergo forced cybernetic conversion into "" and gladiatorial combatants. Key antagonists include biomechanical foot soldiers like the Enforcer and Gunner, escalating to elite units such as the Gladiator in powered exosuits, culminating in vehicular assaults and a showdown with the Makron, the Stroggos' supreme warlord housed in a colossal fusion of machinery and harvested organic tissue. logs and audio briefings frame the campaign as a high-stakes sabotage mission, emphasizing human resilience against an enemy that sustains its war machine through harvested biomass and relentless industrial output. This setting shift stemmed from id Software's decision to develop Quake II as a standalone project rather than a lore-bound continuation, initially under a different working title before adopting the Quake branding for commercial leverage following the original's success. The change facilitated a focus on narrative-driven single-player progression over the abstract, multiplayer-centric exploration of Quake I, with environmental storytelling conveyed through destructible machinery, conveyor-belt human processing lines, and radio intercepts detailing the Strogg invasion's toll on Earth—estimated to have claimed billions in prior assaults. Expansions like The Reckoning (May 1998) and Ground Zero (September 1998) extend this universe by introducing anti-Strogg resistance factions and prototype weapons, reinforcing the sci-fi militarism without referencing prior Quake elements. Quake II's lore thus establishes a precedent for the series' later entries, particularly Quake 4 (2005), which directly continues the Strogg War arc, while arena-focused titles like Quake III Arena (1999) further eschew continuity in favor of abstracted combat.

Arena-Focused Entries and Minimalist Storytelling

Quake III Arena, released on December 2, 1999, by , exemplifies the series' shift toward pure arena combat, eschewing a traditional single-player campaign in favor of bot-driven matches that simulate multiplayer frenzy. The game's narrative framework is deliberately sparse: combatants from diverse origins are compelled to fight eternally in arenas overseen by the enigmatic Vadrigar, alien entities who orchestrate the violence for their amusement, with victory granting illusory freedom or continued subjugation. This minimalist setup, conveyed through introductory taunts, model descriptions, and in-game quotes rather than cutscenes or missions, prioritizes mechanical purity—fast-paced movement, precision, and jumps—over lore depth, allowing players to engage in deathmatches without narrative interruption. Quake Champions, launched in beta on April 6, 2017, by and as a title, revives this arena ethos with asymmetrical hero abilities drawn from across Quake's multiverse, yet maintains storytelling restraint to foreground competitive play. Character backstories—unlocked via lore scrolls detailing origins like Ranger's human marine heritage or Goroth's demonic conquests—are presented as modular flavor, integrated into loadouts and voice lines but not forming a cohesive campaign; the overarching premise involves Elder Gods summoning champions to battle over artifacts in slipgate-connected arenas, emphasizing individual agency in transient matches over serialized plot. This approach echoes Quake III's design philosophy, where narrative serves as a lightweight scaffold for replayable multiplayer, with expansions like providing optional depth without altering core gameplay loops. Both titles underscore the series' arena-focused evolution by treating story as emergent from player actions—frags, contests, and map control—rather than prescriptive events, fostering longevity through community tournaments over scripted progression. This minimalism contrasts with campaign-heavy entries like , enabling technical innovations in networking and balance to shine unencumbered by plot demands, while inviting modders to layer custom narratives atop the skeletal canon.

Technical Innovations

Advancements in 3D Rendering and Physics

The original Quake (1996), powered by , introduced fully real-time in a , utilizing (BSP) trees to organize level geometry and compute potentially visible sets (PVS) during preprocessing, which limited per-frame polygon processing to a few hundred for efficient software rendering on era hardware. This approach enabled front-to-back traversal of polygons, reducing overdraw via edge-list rasterization where each pixel was drawn once, contrasting with prior engines like Doom's sector-based system. Lighting employed precomputed lightmaps on a 16-pixel grid for static shadows and dynamic sources without runtime recalculation costs, while player models shifted to true polygonal meshes with for depth integration, eliminating 2D sprites and allowing arbitrary 3D movement. Quake II (1997), using , advanced rendering by incorporating hardware acceleration through the API, which improved performance for complex scenes and enabled multitexturing for enhanced detail without solely relying on software pipelines. Lightmaps saw refinements for better blending with dynamic elements, supporting larger polygonal models and environments while maintaining compatibility with 's BSP foundations. In physics, the series emphasized server-authoritative simulation to prevent desynchronization, with Quake's engine handling basic rigid-body collisions and movement via data-driven Quake-C scripting, but early multiplayer suffered from latency-induced "warping." QuakeWorld, a 1996 multiplayer patch for Quake, pioneered , where the client locally simulates player inputs (e.g., acceleration, friction, and gravity) to immediately reflect actions, compensating for by reconciling with server updates and minimizing perceived lag in fast-paced combat. This deterministic prediction model, requiring identical physics across client and server, became foundational for responsive online FPS gameplay. Quake III Arena (1999), on id Tech 3, further innovated rendering with spline-based Bézier patches for curved surfaces, tessellated into triangles at runtime for organic geometry like rounded tunnels, marking the first commercial engine to implement such subdivision for real-time performance. Shaders were introduced to define surface properties beyond basic textures, supporting effects like environment mapping and specular highlights, while optimizations such as the fast inverse square root algorithm accelerated lighting and normalization calculations. Physics retained arcade-style movement with refined prediction and entity interpolation for smoother multiplayer, enabling techniques like air-strafing and rocket-assisted jumps that defined arena shooter dynamics, though without advanced ragdoll or soft-body simulation. These features prioritized 60 FPS consistency on consumer hardware, influencing subsequent engines' balance of visual fidelity and simulation speed.

Networking Protocols and Server Architecture

The original Quake (1996) employed a client-server networking model over UDP, with the server broadcasting complete game state updates to clients at regular intervals, enabling multiplayer sessions via LAN or early connections. This Netquake protocol handled initial connections via TCP for reliability before switching to UDP for gameplay data, prioritizing low-latency transmission of player inputs and entity positions despite potential . Servers could operate in listen mode (integrated with a client) or as dedicated instances, supporting up to 16 players, though high latency on dial-up modems often degraded responsiveness. To address these limitations, released QuakeWorld on December 17, 1996, introducing a revamped protocol with enhanced , lag compensation, and to simulate smoother movement over unreliable connections. led the overhaul, implementing variable-rate updates and better handling of network jitter, which reduced perceived latency for competitive play even on 28.8 kbps modems. The architecture separated server logic more robustly, allowing dedicated servers to prioritize authoritative simulation while clients extrapolated positions locally, marking a foundational shift toward latency-tolerant designs in online FPS games. Quake II (1997) refined this with a modular client-server separation, running the server (QSP) and client (QCP) as distinct processes communicating via UDP sockets, incorporating for entity prediction and point-of-view latency compensation to align hit detection with client perspectives. The protocol supported for incremental updates, reducing bandwidth for maps with up to 32 players, and emphasized dedicated servers for stable hosting, though it retained vulnerabilities to packet duplication without advanced reliability layers. Quake III Arena (1999) advanced the model further with a UDP-only protocol using snapshots—partial, delta-compressed game states sent at 20 Hz—combined with adaptive Huffman encoding to minimize bandwidth while ensuring clients could reconstruct authoritative views via reliable message queuing. Clients issued movement commands per frame, with the server simulating physics deterministically and applying lag compensation for fair combat resolution, supporting up to 32 players in a scalable architecture that influenced subsequent engines. This evolution across the series prioritized authoritative server simulation over alternatives, enabling robust multiplayer scalability but requiring ongoing optimizations for varying network conditions.

Source Code Release and Open-Source Legacy

In December 1999, id Software released the source code for the original Quake engine (retrospectively known as id Tech 2) under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later, enabling developers to modify, port, and distribute derivative works. This move, spearheaded by lead programmer John Carmack, aimed to foster innovation and accessibility for the aging codebase, as the engine had been superseded by newer technology and no longer generated revenue for id. The release included complete builds for Windows and Linux variants, such as WinQuake and GLQuake, facilitating compilation with tools like Visual C++ 6.0. The Quake II engine source code followed on December 22, 2001, also under GPL v2.0 or later, covering version 3.21 and supporting cross-platform development. Similarly, the Quake III Arena engine was open-sourced in August 2005, extending the practice to id's subsequent titles and emphasizing modifiability for non-commercial use. These releases excluded proprietary assets like models and textures, requiring users to supply original game data, which preserved id's intellectual property while liberating the core technology. The open-sourcing initiative spurred a robust of community-driven source ports and enhanced engines, ensuring the series' compatibility with modern hardware and operating systems long after official support ended. Notable examples include DarkPlaces, which added dynamic lighting, shaders, and particle effects while maintaining compatibility with original content; QuakeSpasm, a minimalist port focused on accuracy and multi-platform support including mobile devices; and , which improved rendering and networking for Quake II. These efforts have preserved gameplay fidelity, fixed long-standing bugs, and enabled enhancements like higher resolutions and widescreen support without altering core mechanics. This legacy extends to game preservation and independent development, as the GPL-licensed code has influenced countless projects, from retro emulators to custom multiplayer servers, demonstrating the causal value of open access in sustaining software viability against technological obsolescence. Community ports have collectively supported platforms ranging from Raspberry Pi to high-end GPUs, with active maintenance as of 2025 via repositories and forums. By decoupling engine evolution from commercial constraints, id's releases exemplified a model where empirical community contributions outperform centralized updates in longevity and adaptability.

Reception and Commercial Success

Critical Acclaim and Review Scores

The Quake series earned strong critical praise upon release, particularly for its technical innovations in , fluid movement mechanics, and multiplayer deathmatch modes, which set benchmarks for the genre. Early entries like the original Quake (1996) were lauded for immersive environments and atmospheric horror elements, with reviewers describing it as "as good as PC gaming gets" due to its blend of graphics, sound, and enemy AI. Aggregated scores reflect this, with Quake achieving a Metascore of 94 out of 100 based on nine critic reviews. Similarly, (1997) received acclaim for refining single-player campaigns with sci-fi narratives and balanced weaponry, often cited as one of the best games of its era despite lacking a formal Metascore from contemporaneous reviews; retrospective analyses affirm its enduring quality in gameplay satisfaction and enemy design. Subsequent arena-focused titles maintained high regard for competitive play. Quake III Arena (1999) garnered a Metascore of 93 out of 100 from 25 critics, praised for its "damn near perfect" online multiplayer that emphasized skill over narrative, influencing future esports titles. Quake 4 (2005) shifted toward story-driven elements but scored lower at 81 out of 100 across 62 reviews, with critics noting frenetic action yet critiquing unbalanced difficulty and prolonged campaigns featuring "bullet sponge" enemies. Spin-offs like Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (2007) earned an 84 out of 100 from 52 reviews, commended for large-scale team-based objectives pitting human forces against Strogg invaders, though some faulted its departure from core Quake purity.
GameRelease YearPlatformMetascore (Critic Reviews)
Quake1996PC94 (9)
1997PCAcclaimed (no aggregate)
1999PC93 (25)
2005PC81 (62)
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars2007PC84 (52)
Later releases faced mixed reception amid free-to-play models and early access launches. Quake Champions (2017) lacked a full Metascore due to limited critic coverage during its beta phase, though user feedback highlighted fast-paced arena combat with character abilities; professional reviews were sparse, focusing on its revival of classic movement shooters but noting concerns. Remasters, such as Quake Remastered (2021), scored 81 out of 100, appreciated for preserving original challenges while adding modern visuals, though some critiqued minimal innovations. Overall, the series' acclaim stems from empirical strengths in performance and replayability, with diminishing scores in later entries reflecting genre saturation and shifts from minimalist design.

Sales Data and Market Performance

The original Quake (1996) sold 373,000 retail copies in the United States during its first 12 months, generating $18 million in revenue there, per market tracker PC Data. By early 2000, cumulative U.S. sales reached approximately 550,000 units, reflecting strong initial performance driven by its distribution model that broadened accessibility beyond retail purchases. Quake II (1997) achieved over 1 million units sold worldwide by 2002, with U.S. sales alone hitting about 610,000 copies by 2000. This marked a commercial peak for the series, bolstered by expanded platforms including consoles and its shift to a sci-fi narrative that appealed to a widening audience amid the FPS genre's growth. Quake III Arena (1999) sold over 50,000 copies in its first three days and approximately 168,000 units in North America from January to October 2000, earning $7.65 million in the region. Expectations for 1 million total sales were not fully met in core markets, though multiplayer focus sustained revenue through expansions like Team Arena and ports. Later entries underperformed relative to predecessors. Quake 4 (2005) earned a "Silver" sales certification in the UK for at least 100,000 units, indicating modest uptake amid competition from titles like Doom 3. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (2007) sold roughly 100,000 copies, hampered by niche multiplayer emphasis and platform fragmentation. Quake Champions (2017), a free-to-play title, generated an estimated $20.3 million in gross revenue primarily via microtransactions, with 2.7 million units distributed, though player retention lagged behind expectations for sustained esports viability. The 2021 Quake remaster and 2023 remaster contributed to renewed interest, topping sales charts on platforms like during launch windows, but specific figures remain undisclosed by . Overall, the series' early commercial strength—fueled by technical innovation and —waned as market saturation in FPS titles prioritized broader narratives and accessibility over pure arena combat, with total franchise sales across mainline games estimated below contemporaries like Doom.

Longevity Through Community and Ports

The release of the source code on December 21, 1999, under the GNU General Public License by id Software's enabled extensive community-driven enhancements, including source ports that adapted the game to modern operating systems and hardware, thereby sustaining playability decades after initial launch. These ports, such as those improving rendering with features like and support for new graphics APIs, addressed limitations in the original engine and fostered ongoing efforts that extended single-player campaigns and multiplayer modes. Community maintenance of servers and modifications has preserved multiplayer viability, with QuakeWorld variants like KTX running on approximately 90% of active QuakeWorld servers as of 2025, supporting free-for-all and cooperative play without requiring additional setup. Quake Live, a browser-based revival of Quake III Arena's multiplayer, maintains a concurrent player base averaging around 382 on as of late 2025, surpassing Quake Champions in monthly averages for seven consecutive months ending in June 2025, reflecting sustained interest in arena-style competition. Custom servers for the 2021 Quake remaster, such as those hosting addons via repositories, integrate community-created content like expanded single-player mods, further bridging original assets with contemporary accessibility. Official ports and remasters have reinforced this endurance by reintroducing the series to current platforms; Bethesda's Quake remaster launched on August 19, 2021, for PC, , , and , with backward compatibility for PS5 and Series X/S, incorporating updates like a PvE Horde mode added on December 2, 2021. Similarly, Quake II's remastered edition arrived unexpectedly on August 10, 2023, across PS4/PS5, , Switch, and PC, preserving core while adding enhancements compatible with existing community mods. These efforts, combined with the open-source foundation, have ensured the series' engines influence persists in derivative projects and active player ecosystems, independent of ongoing commercial support.

Cultural and Industry Impact

Role in Pioneering eSports and Online Multiplayer

The Quake series, beginning with the original game's release on June 22, 1996, established foundational mechanics for online multiplayer in first-person shooters through its client-server architecture, which supported deathmatch modes over TCP/IP networks and enabled persistent servers for ongoing competitive sessions. This shift from Doom's model to dedicated servers reduced latency issues and allowed for scalable, spectator-friendly play, directly facilitating the transition from casual LAN parties to structured online competitions. The release of QuakeWorld on December 9, 1996, further optimized these features with rewritten networking code tailored for , incorporating predictive client-side movement and to minimize perceived lag, which became a benchmark for competitive FPS . This patch transformed Quake into a viable platform for remote duels and team matches, drawing thousands of players into organized ladders and fostering the emergence of skill-based rankings that prefigured modern ecosystems. Early tournaments underscored Quake's pioneering status: the inaugural QuakeCon in August 1996 gathered around 30 fans for a LAN event at a hotel, marking one of the first large-scale, community-driven competitive gatherings for an online-capable FPS. This evolved into the Red Annihilation event in May 1997, featuring over 2,000 online qualifiers across the and recognized as among the earliest national-scale competitions with structured brackets. The (CPL), founded in 1997, hosted its debut Quake tournament in July 1998 with 256 entrants competing for prizes, establishing professional circuits with cash awards totaling thousands of dollars and setting precedents for player sponsorships and global travel in . These events demonstrated Quake's causal role in professionalizing gaming by proving viability for spectator events, media coverage, and revenue models centered on skill mastery rather than single-player narratives.

Influence on FPS Genre Evolution

Quake, released on June 22, 1996, by , advanced the genre by implementing fully polygonal 3D environments via the id Tech 2 engine, overcoming the sector-based limitations of predecessors such as Doom. This enabled vertical aiming, dynamic jumping across multi-level structures, and rudimentary physics for player and enemy interactions, expanding tactical depth and level complexity in FPS design. The game's physics-driven movement mechanics, including strafe-jumping for momentum acceleration and rocket-jumping for explosive propulsion, introduced a of high-velocity, skill-intensive navigation that rewarded precise control over simplistic run-and-gun playstyles. These techniques, leveraging air strafing and self-damage for gains in speed and height, became foundational to shooters, influencing titles emphasizing mechanical proficiency and aerial maneuvers. Quake's deathmatch multiplayer, accommodating up to eight players over LAN or nascent online networks, shifted focus toward symmetric, competitive with a steep skill ceiling, popularizing terms like "frag" for kills and fostering early through the first national tournament in , won by Dennis "Thresh" Fong. Subsequent entries, notably in 1999, optimized these elements with refined and balanced arenas, cementing the archetype's emphasis on twitch reflexes and item control, while the series' engines propagated innovations like modular and advanced rendering to derivatives including GoldSrc-powered and .

Contributions to Modding Culture and Independent Development

The Quake series, beginning with the 1996 release of the original game, was engineered by to facilitate extensive player modifications, extending the modular file structure and tool accessibility first popularized in Doom. , a custom integrated into the engine, empowered modders to alter mechanics, weapons, enemies, and levels without recompiling the core executable, fostering a rapid proliferation of custom content from launch. This design choice directly responded to the modding enthusiasm observed in prior titles, positioning Quake as a platform for community-driven evolution rather than a static product. Prominent early modifications exemplified the series' influence on multiplayer innovation and genre hybridization. The 1996 Team Fortress mod, developed by three Australian players, introduced class-based team combat to Quake, diverging from deathmatch norms and emphasizing strategy over pure reflexes; it amassed over 100,000 downloads within months and evolved through iterations on Quake II, ultimately spawning the standalone Team Fortress Classic in 1999 and influencing Valve's Team Fortress 2 in 2007. Other mods, such as those pioneering capture-the-flag objectives, standardized competitive formats that persisted across FPS titles, while single-player total conversions like the 2000 Nehahra Project—featuring over a dozen custom levels, new monsters, and narrative expansions—demonstrated the engine's versatility for storytelling beyond id's campaigns. These efforts not only extended Quake's replayability but also cultivated skills in level design, AI scripting, and networking among hobbyists. The December 1999 release of the Quake engine source code by under the GNU General Public License marked a pivotal shift, opening the codebase for legal redistribution, to new platforms, and engine enhancements. This enabled source ports like DarkPlaces (2000 onward), which added dynamic lighting and shader support, and FTE QuakeWorld, improving multiplayer responsiveness; by 2021, such ports sustained active communities producing content compatible with modern hardware. The GPL stipulation required derivative works to remain open-source, democratizing access and preventing lock-in, which contrasted with industry norms and encouraged iterative improvements over two decades. Quake's modding ecosystem seeded independent development by transforming amateur creators into professional studios and standalone projects. Modders from Team Fortress founded TF Software (later acquired by ), parlaying their mod into commercial viability and highlighting how Quake's tools bridged hobbyist experimentation to viable pipelines. Similarly, total conversions evolved into releases like (2006), a free asymmetric multiplayer game derived from Quake II and Quake III mods emphasizing evolution mechanics, which inspired further indies in the genre. This legacy persisted, with Quake mods influencing indie titles through shared techniques in and multiplayer , while the source releases provided a low-barrier entry for aspiring developers studying real-time and physics—foundational to engines like those in early Unity prototypes. By prioritizing openness over control, id Software's approach empirically validated as a causal pathway to , yielding a corpus of community-maintained assets that outlasted official support.

Controversies and Debates

Allegations of Violence Causation and Empirical Rebuttals

The release of Quake in 1996, featuring graphic gameplay with and rapid-fire weaponry, drew immediate criticism for promoting , particularly amid broader debates over interactive media. Public outcry intensified following the shooting on April 20, 1999, where perpetrators were reported to have played titles including Doom and Quake, leading commentators and victims' families to allege that such games desensitized players to and provided tactical training for real-world attacks. In June 2001, families of Columbine victims filed a $5 billion lawsuit against and other developers, claiming Quake and similar titles contributed to the massacre by simulating killing mechanics that mirrored the shooters' actions. 's CEO Todd Hollenshead publicly rejected the claims, arguing the suit lacked evidence of causation and relied on post-hoc correlations. Further allegations surfaced internationally; in December 1999, banned Quake alongside Doom and other first-person shooters after a violent rampage in , with authorities citing the games as inspirational factors in youth aggression. Activist Jack Thompson, a prominent critic of violent media, targeted id Software's portfolio in campaigns during the early 2000s, asserting that Quake's immersive violence fostered aggressive tendencies in children, though his broader efforts often conflated correlation with causation without isolating game-specific effects. These claims echoed anecdotal narratives from parents and politicians, who pointed to Quake's multiplayer deathmatches and Lovecraftian gore as culturally corrosive, but lacked controlled empirical support at the time. Empirical research has consistently failed to substantiate a causal link between playing violent video games like Quake and real-world violent behavior. A 2020 review by the American Psychological Association concluded there is insufficient scientific evidence linking violent video games to increased violent acts, emphasizing that laboratory measures of short-term aggression do not predict societal violence rates. Similarly, a 2019 University of Oxford study of over 1,000 adolescents found no association between time spent playing violent games and aggressive outcomes, controlling for prior behavioral traits. Longitudinal analyses, including those examining U.S. youth over decades, show violent crime rates declining sharply—from 758 per 100,000 in 1991 to 363 per 100,000 by 2019—concurrent with rising video game popularity, contradicting claims of causal harm. Meta-analyses of experimental data further indicate that while games may temporarily elevate arousal or hostile thoughts, these effects dissipate quickly and do not translate to criminal violence, with selection bias in self-reporting often inflating perceived risks. Critics of the allegations highlight methodological flaws in early studies purporting links, such as reliance on non-violent proxies for (e.g., pressing buttons harder) rather than criminal acts, and failure to account for confounding variables like family environment or media exposure. Investigations into mass shooters, including Columbine, reveal video games as minor factors compared to ideological motivations, issues, and access to firearms, with statistical reviews finding games absent or peripheral in most perpetrators' profiles. Thus, while Quake fueled moral panics, rigorous evidence supports its classification as entertainment without demonstrated causal role in violence.

Competitive Scene Integrity and Cheating Issues

The competitive multiplayer scene of the Quake series, particularly in titles like and , has faced persistent challenges from cheating, including aimbots, wallhacks, and auto-shooting exploits that enable unnatural precision and visibility through obstacles. These issues threaten match integrity, as demonstrated in online leagues and LAN events where suspicious plays, such as perfect tracking shots visible in slowed-down footage, prompt community scrutiny via player-of-view (POV) reviews and demo . Early reliance on community-driven detection, rather than robust automated systems, allowed skilled cheaters to evade initial detection but often led to eventual exposure through statistical anomalies or eyewitness reports. In Quake III Arena and Quake Live, PunkBuster served as the primary anti-cheat from around 2003 onward, scanning for injected code and issuing bans, though it faced criticism for false positives, invasive monitoring, and bypasses by advanced hacks. Administrators supplemented this with manual bans based on CD keys and server logs, fostering a culture of vigilance in competitive circles like ESR leagues, where cheaters were frequently ousted after thorough investigations. Quake Champions initially employed FairFight, a behavioral analytics tool deemed ineffective against blatant cheats, leading to widespread player frustration and reports of unchecked aimbotters in ranked modes as late as 2018. Notable scandals underscore the risks to professional integrity. In the early 2000s Quake duel scene, player SombrA faced lasting reputational damage after an auto-uploaded screenshot revealed wallhack usage, confirming long-held suspicions and highlighting vulnerabilities in client-side verification. Similarly, during the 2020 02's tournament, runner-up Akiles was publicly accused of cheating by esports commentator Thorin after forgetting to disable an exploit mid-match, resulting in community backlash and calls for stricter pre-event checks. In 2022, DancheZzor qualified for using alternate accounts after prior bans for tournament cheating, exposing gaps in alias detection and prompting demands for hardware ID bans. Such incidents, including suspicions at QPL involving player GNIK, have led to disqualifications and event exclusions, though accusations occasionally stem from high skill levels mistaken for hacks. Efforts to bolster integrity evolved with ' July 2021 update, introducing anti-tamper security and exploit mitigations that reduced reported cheating incidents, as verified by Bethesda's patch notes. Despite these measures, the scene's small, dedicated player base maintains oversight through platforms like ESR and , where bans for repeat offenders like Viper—caught via multiple account creations—reinforce deterrence. Overall, while erodes trust, the Quake community's emphasis on verifiable and rapid response has preserved competitive viability, distinguishing it from genres with more automated but flawed systems.

Corporate Decisions on Expansions and Remasters

authorized third-party developers to produce official mission packs for Quake and , enabling additional content distribution through publishers GT Interactive and while the internal team focused on engine advancements for future titles. For Quake, Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon, developed by Hipnotic Interactive (also known as TeamTNT), added 22 new levels, weapons like the proximity mine, and enemies such as the , releasing on October 31, 1997. Mission Pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity, developed by , introduced 25 levels, new monsters including the plague, and mechanics like zero-gravity environments, launching on June 30, 1997. For Quake II, similarly licensed expansions to . Quake II Mission Pack: The Reckoning expanded the campaign with 18 single-player levels, seven deathmatch arenas, new weapons like the blaster, and bosses such as the Gladiator fusion, releasing on May 29, 1998. Quake II Mission Pack: Ground Zero followed with 15 levels, vehicular combat elements, and enemies including the tanker, debuting on , 1998. These packs, priced at approximately $20-30 each, extended single-player campaigns by 5-10 hours and supported multiplayer, contributing to sustained sales amid the original games' strong performance exceeding 1 million units combined by 1998. Following id Software's acquisition by (parent of ) in 2009, corporate priorities shifted toward revitalizing back-catalog titles for modern hardware. Bethesda commissioned to remaster Quake for its 25th anniversary, releasing the enhanced edition on August 19, 2021, across PC, consoles, and ; it integrates both original mission packs, restores Trent Reznor's soundtrack under license, adds widescreen support, dynamic lighting, , and a new expansion Dimension of the Machine developed by with five levels. The project emphasized fidelity to the source code while incorporating quality-of-life improvements like improved AI and mod support, without overhauling core mechanics. Bethesda extended this approach to Quake II with a 2023 re-release on August 10, announced at , bundling The Reckoning and Ground Zero alongside enhancements such as upscaled models, AI refinements for better , 4K/120Hz support on capable platforms, and cross-play multiplayer. Unlike full remakes, these updates preserved original and level geometry, prioritizing accessibility and preservation over reinvention; sales data from the Quake remaster, which charted in top 10 on shortly after launch, likely informed the rapid follow-up, demonstrating viability in leveraging nostalgia-driven demand amid declining new FPS development costs for legacy ports. No official expansions or remasters have been pursued for Quake III Arena or later entries as of 2025, with resources allocated instead to ongoing support for Quake Champions.

References

  1. https://bethesda.net/en/game/quake
  2. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/how-quake-changed-video-games-forever-187984/
  3. https://quake.bethesda.net/
  4. https://www.idsoftware.com/
  5. https://bethesda.net/en/article/6RyyqWw9oceoWIasiEOYCa/quake-world-championships-finals-recap
  6. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/quake-finally-makes-it-into-the-world-videogame-hall-of-fame/
  7. https://medium.com/counterarts/everything-changed-with-quake-2fa3a56999ae
  8. https://www.shacknews.com/article/124731/the-making-of-quake-part-1-we-are-the-wind
  9. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/as-i-quake-i-turns-20-john-romero-looks-back-at-how-it-all-started
  10. https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-quake/
  11. https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/the-history-of-the-id-tech-engine/
  12. https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Id_Tech_2
  13. https://www.moddb.com/engines/quake-engine
  14. https://www.moddb.com/engines/id-tech-2
  15. https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/a-graphical-history-of-id-tech-three-decades-of-cutting-edge-graphics-and-game-engine-technologies/
  16. https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Quake_II
  17. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-game-engine-to-feature-spline-based-curved-surfaces
  18. https://fabiensanglard.net/quake3/
  19. https://www.mobygames.com/group/4051/3d-engine-id-tech-4/
  20. https://download.nvidia.com/downloads/nZone/theway/TheWay_Issue9_Screen.pdf
  21. https://www.tweaktown.com/news/53381/quake-champions-running-id-tech-6-engine/index.html
  22. https://hothardware.com/news/id-bringing-vulkan-to-quake-champions-id-tech-6-saber-engine-hybrid
  23. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zenimax-acquires-id-software
  24. https://www.cnbc.com/2009/06/25/zenimax-media-buys-id-software-maker-of-doom.html
  25. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/24/zenimax-acquires-id-software
  26. https://www.cbr.com/quake-id-software-john-romero/
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_VUiQt0OFA
  28. https://news.microsoft.com/source/2020/09/21/microsoft-to-acquire-zenimax-media-and-its-game-publisher-bethesda-softworks/
  29. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkane/2020/09/21/microsoft-acquires-bethesda-and-zenimax-for-75-billion/
  30. https://www.geekwire.com/2020/analysis-microsofts-acquisition-bethesda-massive-disruption-video-game-industry/
  31. https://www.indiedb.com/company/id-software/engines
  32. https://www.quakeworld.nu/wiki/Quake_%28Game%29
  33. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2310/Quake/
  34. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake-mission-pack-no-1-scourge-of-armagon/
  35. https://gamesystemrequirements.com/game/quake-mission-pack-2-dissolution-of-eternity
  36. https://www.mobygames.com/game/4326/quake-mission-pack-no-2-dissolution-of-eternity/releases/
  37. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2320/Quake_II/
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0228756/plotsummary/
  39. https://bethesda.net/game/quakeii
  40. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake-ii/
  41. https://www.[metacritic](/page/Metacritic).com/game/quake-ii-mission-pack-the-reckoning/
  42. https://www.[metacritic](/page/Metacritic).com/game/quake-ii-mission-pack-ground-zero/
  43. https://steamdb.info/app/2330/info/
  44. https://steamdb.info/app/2340/info/
  45. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/192047-quake-iii-arena/data
  46. https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/120355-why-was-quake-3-arena-multiplayer-only/
  47. https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Quake_III_Arena
  48. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240430519_The_Quake_III_Arena_Bot
  49. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2210/Quake_4/
  50. https://www.cdgr.ucsb.edu/database/resource/2159
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304599/plotsummary/
  52. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake-4/
  53. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Enemy_Territory:_Quake_Wars
  54. https://www.splashdamage.com/games/enemy-territory-quake-wars/
  55. https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/04/enemy-territory-quake-wars-head-to-head
  56. https://www.metacritic.com/game/enemy-territory-quake-wars/
  57. https://steamdb.info/app/10000/charts/
  58. https://store.steampowered.com/app/611500/Quake_Champions/
  59. https://www.redbull.com/us-en/quake-champions-pc-interview
  60. https://www.ign.com/articles/quake-champions-finally-exits-early-access-five-years-after-its-release
  61. https://steamdb.info/app/611500/charts/
  62. https://steamcharts.com/app/611500
  63. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/611500/view/525333670813237507
  64. https://www.plusforward.net/post/86386/Quake-Live-leads-Quake-Champions-in-average-player-count-for-7-months/
  65. https://store.steampowered.com/app/282440/Quake_Live/
  66. https://www.quakelive.com/
  67. https://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Quake_Live
  68. https://steamdb.info/app/282440/charts/
  69. https://steamcharts.com/app/282440
  70. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Quake_Enhanced
  71. https://www.polygon.com/22632775/quake-remaster-release-date-pc-ps4-xbox-switch-quakecon/
  72. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps4/329029-quake-remastered/data
  73. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Quake_II_Enhanced
  74. https://www.ign.com/games/quake-ii-remaster
  75. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2200/Quake_III_Arena/
  76. https://www.ign.com/games/quake-ii
  77. https://www.mobygames.com/game/405/quake-ii/
  78. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/quake-4-walkthrough/1100-6136475/
  79. https://www.trueachievements.com/game/Quake-4/walkthrough/3
  80. https://www.gog.com/blog/the-legendary-quake-is-over-25-years-old/
  81. https://www.museumofplay.org/games/quake/
  82. https://gameinformer.com/games/quake_champions/b/pc/archive/2016/07/04/what-you-need-to-know-about-quake-champions.aspx
  83. https://www.esportsearnings.com/games/159-quake-iii-arena
  84. https://www.esportsearnings.com/games/159-quake-iii-arena/largest-tournaments
  85. https://tl.net/forum/starcraft-2/324077-a-history-of-esports?page=7
  86. https://playmorepromode.com/
  87. https://escharts.com/news/quake-esports-elder-statesman-found-space-niche-offering
  88. https://www.redbull.com/us-en/quakecon-retrospective-interviews
  89. https://www.redbull.com/us-en/quake-champions-what-pros-love-or-dont
  90. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2635180062
  91. https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Quake
  92. https://github.com/id-Software/Quake
  93. https://www.slipseer.com/index.php?threads/quake-engines-source-ports-a-beginners-guide.11/
  94. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2583706563
  95. https://www.pcgamer.com/the-most-influential-quake-mod-of-all-time-is-back/
  96. https://discuss.quaddicted.com/t/quaddicteds-top-maps-and-mods-of-all-time/2938
  97. https://lvlworld.com/thread/27/2
  98. https://quakewiki.org/wiki/Quake_story
  99. https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/manual
  100. https://www.escapistmagazine.com/is-quake-2-a-sequel-to-quake/
  101. https://lowendmac.com/2016/quake-2-first-person-shooters-at-their-best/
  102. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena
  103. https://www.ign.com/games/quake-iii-arena/walkthroughs
  104. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1119983098
  105. https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Quake_Champions
  106. https://setthetape.com/2018/06/08/quake-champions-comic-review/
  107. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNfnToLmUfA
  108. https://coagulopath.com/quake-iii-arena/
  109. https://www.bluesnews.com/abrash/chap70.shtml
  110. https://fabiensanglard.net/quakeSource/quakeSourcePrediction.php
  111. https://www.jfedor.org/quake3/
  112. https://www.gamers.org/dEngine/quake/spec/quake-spec34/qkspec_8.htm
  113. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/how-i-quake-i-came-to-one-of-the-world-s-first-online-game-services
  114. https://www.quakeworld.nu/about
  115. https://fabiensanglard.net/quakeSource/johnc-log.aug.htm
  116. https://dondeq2.com/2017/10/11/the-history-of-quakeworld-a-look-back-at-the-making-of-one-of-the-most-important-advancements-in-multiplayer-gaming-by-john-jcal-callaham/
  117. https://www.gamers.org/dEngine/quake2/Q2DP/Q2DP_Network/Q2DP_Network-2.html
  118. https://fabiensanglard.net/quake3/network.php
  119. https://github.com/id-Software/Quake-2
  120. https://github.com/id-Software/Quake-III-Arena
  121. https://quakeengines.github.io/
  122. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake/
  123. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake-iii-arena-1999/
  124. https://www.metacritic.com/game/quake-remastered/
  125. https://the-official-horror-games-collection.fandom.com/wiki/Quake_%281996%29
  126. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/quake-iii-sales-through-the-roof/1100-2440372/
  127. https://levvvel.com/quake-ii-statistics/
  128. https://steamcommunity.com/app/611500/discussions/0/1743343017614979026/
  129. https://www.reddit.com/r/quake/comments/rqm2qg/why_was_quake_wars_removed_from_steam/
  130. https://app.sensortower.com/vgi/game/quake-champions
  131. https://www.reddit.com/r/QuakeChampions/comments/1dcolc4/my_impression_idsoftware_no_longer_believes_quake/
  132. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4546056
  133. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25247715
  134. https://www.quakeworld.nu/wiki/Qwrookie
  135. https://github.com/kexquake/addons
  136. https://bethesda.net/ru/article/53tAlMd4N1Aptp9PvdxWD/quake-release-notes-and-faq
  137. https://www.oldgamehermit.com/2023/11/dlc-review-quake-ii-remaster-update/
  138. https://www.opiumpulses.com/article/337/how-quake-helped-define-the-gaming-industry
  139. https://www.redbull.com/us-en/quake-champions-is-shaping-up-as-an-esports-contender
  140. https://www.quakeworld.nu/wiki/QuakeWorld
  141. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11936147
  142. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/the-history-and-people-of-quakecon
  143. https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/articles/hardware/history-of-esports.html
  144. https://liquipedia.net/arenafps/CPL/1998/CPL
  145. https://www.esportsearnings.com/leagues/118-cyberathlete-professional-league
  146. https://tech.yahoo.com/gaming/articles/29-years-ago-fps-gaming-220016214.html
  147. https://blog.playstation.com/2021/08/19/quantifying-quake-how-the-dark-fantasy-fps-changed-games-forever/
  148. https://www.gamesradar.com/why-quake-iii-arena-one-greatest-games-ever-made/
  149. https://www.shacknews.com/article/103827/threading-the-needle-the-making-of-quake-team-fortress
  150. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/quake-renaissance-a-short-history-of-25-years-of-quake-modding
  151. https://www.neogaf.com/threads/quake-and-doom-prove-that-releasing-the-source-code-to-your-games-is-the-best-choice-a-developer-could-make.1640583/
  152. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/quake-renaissance-where-is-quake-and-how-did-it-get-here
  153. https://ncac.org/resource/a-timeline-of-video-game-controversies
  154. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/29/technology/news-watch-game-makers-on-the-defensive-after-the-columbine-shootings.html
  155. https://www.the-independent.com/news/business/news/school-massacre-families-to-sue-creators-of-violent-games-9137768.html
  156. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/id-responds-to-columbine-lawsuit/1100-2712409/
  157. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/03/violent-video-games-behavior
  158. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-02-13-violent-video-games-found-not-be-associated-adolescent-aggression
  159. https://fortune.com/2023/05/02/stanford-researchers-scoured-every-reputable-study-link-between-video-games-gun-violence-politics-mental-health-dupee-thvar-vasan/
  160. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229959787_Research_on_the_Effects_of_Violent_Video_Games_A_Critical_Analysis
  161. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790614/
  162. https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/10/17101232/a-brief-history-of-video-game-violence-blame/
  163. https://www.esreality.com/post/2955700/cheating-at-qpl-finals/
  164. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27791240
  165. https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-people-cheating-at-quake-iii/160434
  166. https://www.esreality.com/post/2965551/psa-stay-away-from-q3retro-admin-cheating-with-proof/
  167. https://steamcommunity.com/app/611500/discussions/0/1726450077623917750/
  168. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpkbD_aAo4I
  169. https://www.esreality.com/post/2956631/thorin-the-quake-expert-calls-02s-runner-up-akiles-a-cheater/
  170. https://www.reddit.com/r/QuakeChampions/comments/sx3ml8/danchezzor_known_cheater_qualified_for_quakecon/
  171. https://quake.bethesda.net/en/news/2WsLdFFKtoQRmjvrKUebWA
  172. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwWCZbQV9Uc
  173. https://www.mobygames.com/game/4315/quake-mission-pack-no-i-scourge-of-armagon/
  174. https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Quake_Mission_Pack_2:_Dissolution_of_Eternity
  175. https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/Quake_II_Mission_Pack:_Ground_Zero
  176. https://bethesda.net/article/40MBmNhJV3lzyV8c0IOIx3/quake-returns-with-an-enhanced-re-release-for-modern-platforms-available-now
  177. https://bethesda.net/article/450N8MVDARIvpjK8nbhKlF/quake-ii-release-notes-and-faq
  178. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egGNauVWls0
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.