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Quake Live hosts free-to-play arena battles on Steam today
Id Software's free-to-play arena FPS Quake Live unlocks on Steam later today, bringing its '90s-styled twitch gameplay to an expanded audience. Based on the popular Quake 3 Arena, Quake Live originally premiered in 2010, and currently features over a dozen gameplay modes across 100 featured deathmatch levels. The core game is free for all players, while subscribers receive access to a broad selection of Create Match options and clan features. [Image: Id Software]
Railguns at the ready, Quake Live hits Steam 'soon'
Free-to-play shooter Quake Live is coming to Steam "soon," some four years after it first hit browsers. Bethesda Softworks Vice-President Pete Hines announced the news at Quakecon yesterday, though he didn't put a date on the Steam release. Meanwhile on the game's website, id Software revealed the Steam version supports subscriptions to the Quake Live premium service, which among other perks offers access to all the arenas and gametypes. Players can also choose to port their Quake Live account over to the Steam account. After releasing a standalone client earlier this year, id Software has more changes in store for its on-railguns shooter. The developer also revealed plans for an update that it claims will bring about "some big gameplay changes" for the first time in the game's history. The update, among other tweaks, is due to drop ahead of the Steam release. "We want to ensure that FPS fans who check out the game on Steam have more fun in their first match than the current gameplay systems allow," wrote web programmer Mike Rubits. "We're not talking too much about specific changes yet, especially since the changes need to be taken as one whole package in order to be effective, but we will be iterating internally over the next few weeks to see what works." [Image: Bethedsa Softworks]
Bethesda deploys standalone client for id's Quake Live
The standalone version of online free-to-play shooter Quake Live, announced back in November, is available for download today – just in time for a weekend of relaxing fragging. Existing players will find a conversion launcher available next time they boot up Quake Live, while all new players will be prompted to download the standalone client when they visit the Quake Live website and register. All profile data and stats have transitioned over to the standalone game. Quake Live, first revealed in 2007 as Quake Zero, is a free-to-play version of Quake 3. The game offers optional premium subscriptions yielding additional arenas, clan support and queue and in-game advertisement bypassing. An FAQ has been posted over on the Bethesda Blog to help ease the transition.
Quake Live goes standalone this year
Quake Live, id Software's free-to-play version of its hyper-competitive FPS, will begin the transition from browser-based experience to complete standalone game, available by the end of the year. id Software says that Google Chrome's movement to do away with plugins, as well as Firefox's changes to how it will handle plugins, has fueled its decision to go standalone. Active players will only need install a launcher that will update existing local game files - Mac and Linux will no longer be supported in the standalone version - and all player stats are transferable. Quake Live was first announced in 2007 as Quake Zero, a browser-based version of Quake 3.
Free premium week on Quake Live, new content
Quake Live is receiving a hefty load of new premium content and, to celebrate, it's all free for a week. The classic shooter gains five new game modes, including one-flag CTF, Domination (territory control), Red Rover (zombies) and more. The update also packs in four maps, two from Quake Arena Arcade and two inspired by the popular Campgrounds map.The content will be free to all Quake Live users through this Sunday, May 6. The $1.99 per month premium wall goes back up after that, so get it while the gettin's good. Head over to the Bethesda Blog for details on all the new maps and modes.
Quake now acceptable in Germany
Quake, id Software's 1996 classic, has been removed from Germany's list of indexed titles, a category created by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM) which makes games commercially equivalent to porn. A historically significant milestone of technical and game design, Quake's freedom follows in the footsteps of the recently rated DOOM and DOOM 2. Bethesda Softworks, whose parent company acquired id Software in 2009, told us after the DOOM titles passed the BPjM that an appeal of indexing is allowed after 10 years. [Thanks, Timo]
MV Guide: May 23 - 29, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, Livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.) Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!
Quake Arena Arcade now on XBLA for $15, Quake Live introduces 'Premium Pak 5'
As we guessed earlier, Quake Arena Arcade's price on Xbox Live Arcade is considerably less than the cost of a second-hand Dreamcast, broadband adapter and copy of Quake 3 Arena -- it's now available on the Marketplace for 1200 MS Points ($15). In other Quake news, Quake Live has been updated with "Premium Pak 5," an expansion that adds five new arenas (two are holiday themed), and "new Premium Duel Scoreboards." Two of the five new arenas are community-created, and both of the holiday maps are remakes of earlier Quake multiplayer levels. "Silent Night" updates "Distant Screams" from Team Arena, while "Winter's Edge" is a remake of "The Edge" from Quake 2. Several other, smaller tweaks have been made, though the list is sadly devoid of virtual santa caps.
Quake Live 'Premium Pak 4' update adds new maps, new server settings
Browser-based frag-em-up Quake Live keeps chugging along, as id's gone and announced the addition of some new premium content. Through "Premium Pak 4," players can access two new maps (Evolution and Three Story), along with 20 new premium awards and some advanced server mechanics, allowing players to customize matches by setting certain modifiers on or off -- runes, gravity, weapon switch speed and more. Finally, the introductory match against Crash has been removed for new players, who will instead be "placed in an assessment period before skill matching begins to take place." We're sure Crash is most happy about that new feature. If you're lost on all of this talk of "premium," then you likely missed out on the new subscriptions. Read up on that here and be sure to hit the link below if you're looking for the full patch notes. Or just hit up Quake Live if you're looking to shoot some stuff. Don't be embarrassed: we all feel that way every now and again.
Quake Live offers free premium access until Sep. 26
If you've been mulling over the decision to snag a premium subscription to Quake Live, now's your chance to see what you're missing. Bethesda has announced that all Quake Live users can try out a premium subscription for free from now until September 26. Additionally, those who purchase an annual Premium or Pro subscription to the service during the promotion will receive an additional month free. The offer ends at 11:59pm ET on September 26, so grab a rail gun and get cracking.
All grown up: Quake Live out of beta, got a job (offering subscription plans)
Like that good-for-nothing kid who won't leave the house and get a job, Quake Live – id Software's mostly free-to-play browser-based FPS – is moving on. Granted, having been announced three years ago this month and only being playable to the public since last February, Quake Live is a little ... mature for its age. But id just revealed via parent company Bethesda's blog (that's still weird, isn't it?) that Quake Live "has officially exited beta." While that beta tag may have meant things weren't always rock-solid on the stability front, it also meant things were totally free on the "how do I pay for this" front. While the 'Standard' version is, and will remain, free-to-play, id is introducing two new tiers of for-pay play: The premium subscription, which will run you $24 each year, nabs you 20 "Premium-only" maps, a combination of all-new and classic Quake maps; a "freeze tag" game mode; the ability to "create your own clan and join up to five separate clans"; and more. The pro subscription will run you $48 each year, will nab you all of the premium features along with "the ability to start your own game server, specify a server location, determine the game mode and invite who you want to join you"; and the generous ability to invite three friends with free memberships to join you in any premium-level map. For most players, we imagine the free option will be more than enough to satisfy any quick rail-gunning urges. If not, well, you've got your choice of alternatives. One final alternative for that rail-gunning urge: the somehow-still-not-out Quake Arena Arcade. We've put a line into Bethesda on that one.
Quake Live update makes it easier to frag friends
Worried about Stranger Danger in Quake Live? Well, the still-in-beta browser-based frag-em-up has been updated, allowing would-be murderers the ability to invite friends to their match or join their pals' sessions currently in progress. Why you would want to hurt your friends in this manner, we'll never know. On a less backstabbery note, this update brings another interesting change that's currently only in private testing: the "Start a Match" feature. This particular function grants leagues and players the ability to start their own servers. Then, you can set the game to have no password, enable invite-only servers and even designate your own map cycle. Sadly, there's no word as of when this will be available to all participants. For the full list of changes in the latest update, hit up the Quake Live forums. [Via Bethesda Blog]
Facebook nabbing its first FPS: Brave Arms
Our biggest gripe with Facebook "games" most times is the lack of actual gameplay involved in them. Things like Mafia Wars seem much more like stat management spreadsheets couched in a social networking medium rather than games with a social media component. That said, it seems that 3G Studios is bringing a full on 3D shooter to the website in Brave Arms, announced this week and set for a March launch. As the screenshot above corroborates, Brave Arms puts players in the first-person perspective for a Team Fortress 2-eque cartoony death match. CEO James Kosta says in the press release announcing the game that, "Our new title, Brave Arms, will bring first-person shooter games to the masses." Snarkier, meaner bloggers might mention games like Doom, Quake, Halo, or Call of Duty at this point, but we wouldn't do that. Nope. No sir. We'd just say something like, "How has EA not jumped on Facebook with Battlefield Heroes, nonetheless id Software/Bethesda with Quake Live?" As you might imagine with this type of free-to-play fare, there will be some form of microtransactions, though nothing has been explicitly detailed just yet. %Gallery-84846%[Via Games.com]
Quake Live's 'Silent Night' map adds festive fragging fun
Click image to deck the halls with larger images This time of year is usually one of peace and safe comfort for just about everyone. The same can't be said for the land of Quake Live, where id Software has injected some Yuletide spirit into the browser-based frag-em-up's usual industrial surroundings. For two weeks, players can enjoy a Christmas-themed remake of Team Arena map "Distant Screams," now named "Silent Night." This update doesn't add particularly festive weapons to the mix, but the fresh coat of winter wonderland paint is certainly welcome. Nothing tops off the Christmas spirit tank like a little rocket play beneath giant candy canes and a star-filled sky, after all. %Gallery-80909% [Via CVG]
Quake Live adds support for Mac, Linux
Despite our best intentions, we at Joystiq have been pretty lax about sinking the hours we thought we would into the browser-based Quake Live. But perhaps we'll be more dilligent about it now that the whole gang can get involved. Via the game's forums, id announced Tuesday that support had been added to the game for Linux and Mac users Currently, Mac players are limited to playing through Safari, though id says that the Firefox/Mac combo will soon be a workable configuration. [Via Big Download]
Carmack says ad-based model not working for Quake Live
In addition to announcing support for Quake Live on Mac and Linux, John Carmack admitted that the current ad-based model wasn't exactly working for the game. To assuage the problem, id Software will soon be offering a subscription model in addition to the free-to-play model currently in place."The in-game advertising stuff has not been big business .... [it's] not going to be able to carry the project," Carmack said. Dually, he noted that while a subscription service will be offered, the game will never go exclusively "pay-to-play." According to Shacknews, the subscription model will allow players to create and host private server matches.This all sounds good to us -- now maybe all the hardcore Quake Live players will play in private servers and allow us to get a single shot off.
Mac and Linux users joining Quake Live community August 18
Has your ultra-hip, Justin Long-approved operating system kept you from joining in the Quake Live online gib-fest? 1UP recently reported on a recent QuakeCon 2009 announcement which should bring some joy to your empty, empty life -- on Tuesday, August 18, the title will be patched to allow Mac and Linux users to access the game's web-based bounty. Since the service's launch, this has by far been the most requested feature from free-to-play FPS lovers worldwide. It's nice to see id deliver on its promise to incorporate the non-Windows contingency.Of course, we're still running a version of Digital UNIX circa 1995, so we might just be permanently S.O.L.
John Carmack 'very interested' in other id Software iPhone resurrections
We already knew that recently bought by Bethesda company id Software are looking at a hefty lineup of upcoming iPhone games, but after speaking with company co-founder John Carmack this morning, we found out a little bit more about the potential for more classic reboots, like Doom Resurrection, in the future. "It really depends on how this one is received by consumers before we can make any plans, but I'm very interested in the prospect," Carmack told Joystiq.Apparently, he's most interested in seeing this treatment for Quake, though he also noted that Quake 3 Arena is still "possible" on Apple's handheld. Why not Quake Live on Apple's OS X, Mr. Carmack? Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could ask. It is high on his "high priority" list though, right? So we've got something then? John? Hello? Please?
Quake Live getting a new map every week for six weeks
As promised in an a forum post earlier in the month, id will be rolling out new maps for their successful in-browser shooter Quake Live in the near, near future. However, we didn't really expect their benevolence to come in such enormous portions -- starting tomorrow, they'll be adding a new map to the game every week for six weeks. Why, that's ... hold on. (Carry the one, find the square root, find the value of B ...) That's six maps!Tomorrow's new battleground is a remake of Hidden Fortress, ripped from the Dreamcast version of Quake III Arena. id has promised to include more classic maps in its upcoming downloadable salvo, so keep your eyes peeled for more familiar fragging grounds over the next month and a half.
Quake Live update adding new maps, Mac and Linux support coming soon
We understand that much of the appeal for id's free-to-play browser shooter Quake Live comes from the rich veins of nostalgia that lie therein -- but that doesn't mean we don't expect the game to improve upon the franchise's roots. Fortunately, id Software just clued in their forumgoers to a few welcome additions coming to Live in an update that's due out mid-May -- an update that will bring new maps, tutorial modes and better mid-match team balancing.However, the forum post also mentioned a ton of changes they're planning on rolling out in the near future, like the addition of Mac and Linux support, private servers and matches, and the revivification of awards and leaderboards. For further details on their plans for improvement, check out id's latest forum update![Via Big Download]
