Quake2.com logo by Walter |2| Costinak


Wednesday, March 4, 1998
Quake2 v3.14 Source Released
John Cash made a quick and to the point update in his .plan about the source being released. You can grab it from ftp.idsoftware.com, or from Blue, who hasgraciously hosted a copy there ;).

Quick Note (oops)
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the news date was wrong for most of today, if you didn'tnotice, we had two separate Tuesday updates... oops... my mind just hasn't been the same since the war, or something...

NetGuy

YAQ2
Crisys fills us in:
A new site has started up at http://www.cal.shaw.wave.ca/~crisys for Q2 info. Right now it's incredibly small, contains primarily info on what I'm doing on it and the current ip of my server. Important stuff like upgrades are always going to be there, and other stuff on mods and levels will be coming within the next week or so. I would love to get some traffic going on the Q2 server. It has a 12 player limit and it runs the Lithium .90 mod. There's a 40 frag limit and a 20 minute time limit. The server stats are on the main page of the site using the Q2plug from id. Be forewarned that the ip address changes from time to time, but the current address (assuming I'm at home to check it) will always be posted there first.

Believe me, I know that there's a distinct lack of graphics and funky cool stuff there, but when I get the place filled with some more content, I'll be working on the design until it's really easy to find stuff (no more than one click away). As for content, I would like it to be sort of a most-in-one deal with bot, mod, and level reviews, current Q2 info and news (like upgrades, new TC's, etc.), and a base for some projects I'm working on like DM levels and texture editing.

Submissions and suggestions are always welcome, so maybe drop in some time!

YAQ!
Fields Of War
A new version of Fields of War has been released.

Blaze

New Eraser Bot Released
Ridah over at Team Impact has released v0.7 of his popular Eraser Bot. This new version has a whole ton of new features including Advanced Squadron AI, Increased Intelligence, Faster AI, a configurable chat system, etc. Here's the link to the Win95 Installer and the zipped version.

Fields of War Released
Version 0.6 of the Fields of War Mod has been released. This version includes a working teamplay and a new map with a King of the Hill style goal.

Quake2 WinAMP Conversion
Deathace has given the popular mp3 player, WinAMP a facelift with a Quake2 twist. Drop by his site and check it out.

PCGamer Contest Rules Revised
The rules to PCGamer's Quake2 Contest have been revised a bit, anyone having questions about this should check out the revised section 8 over at the rules page.

Zoid Interview
Quake2CTF.com has posted an interview that they did with Zoid (developer of both Capture the Flag and the Linux Quake2 updates).

Quake2/CTF Tournament
There's word of a Quake2/CTF tournament being started up... if you're interested check it out here.

New Sites and Movements
Help Wanted
NetGuy

Tuesday, March 3, 1998
Quake2 Version 3.14 Released
id has released version 3.14 for Quake2. Details on what has been fixed and changed in this version from v3.13 can be found in John Cash's .plan. Mod authors rejoice! Cash also notes that the source will be released tonight as well. (thanks to Redwood for the file sizes)

Quake2 CTF Version 1.02 Released
Right on the heels of the Quake2 v3.14 release, Zoid has released the update for Capture The Flag. You can get it from idsoftware's ftp: PCGamer Quake2 Contest
We got a note from PCGamer announcing their big Quake2 Contest, here's the release:
Here at PC Gamer, our inhuman Quake II skills have left us looking for a new challenge. What can we say? We dominate every deathmatch, and we're masters of Capture the Flag (just ask our neighbors at boot, who still wear our footprints on their foreheads). Before our godlike superiority takes all the fun out of Quake II, we're hoping you'll come to our rescue with some new mods for our favorite multi-player game. And just to sweeten the deal, we've come up with a little contest.

If you can create a team-based mod that truly enthralls the PC Gamer staff -- that inspires us to forego sleep, abandon friends and family, and commit any number of B-felonies for just another hour of play -- we'll give you $2,000. That's right -- two gees, baby. And we've got some other nifty prizes too. Check it out!

Here are how the prizes break down:
· Grand Prize Winner: Two thousand bucks (oh, yeah!), plus a copy of Quake II signed by the fine folks at id Software; a 3Dfx T-shirt, and a one-year subscription to PC Gamer.

· Second Place: A 3D Blaster Voodoo II 3D accelerator from 3Dfx and Creative Labs; a 3Dfx T-shirt and a one-year subscription to PC Gamer.

· Third Place: A 3Dfx backpack/duffel bag, a 3Dfx T-shirt; and a one-year subscription to PC Gamer.

· Fourth Place: A 3Dfx backpack/duffel bag; a 3Dfx T-shirt; and a one-year subscription to PC Gamer.

· Fifth Place: A 3Dfx T-shirt; a one-year subscription to PC Gamer; and a sexy Quake II hat.

· Sixth thru Tenth Place: A Quake II hat and a 3Dfx T-shirt.

· All top ten finalists will receive a jumbo Quake II promo box, a Quake II T-shirt, and a PC Gamer T-shirt, plus other goodies like PC Gamer bumper stickers and tattoos. So get cracking, Sparky!
Please note that this contest is for TEAM BASED mods only. Single-player total conversions will not be considered. For full details and the official rules, jump to the official PC Gamer Quake 2 contest web page at: http://www.pcgamer.com/contests/quake2.html
Quake2Plug Browser Plugin Released
id has released a Quake2 compatible version of QPlug, the browser plugin that allows webmasters to post the status of their Quake2 servers right on their webpage. I've put Q2Plug up on our servers page. It now shows the status of our quake2 server here, Stroggos.Quake2.com. We don't have a local copy of the plugin itsself here, but you can get it at RedWood's.

Q2/CTF LAN Party Announced
The Sniper Network Gaming Group has announced their new Q2/CTF LAN event, here's a clip from the message:
We've just announced our next event, a big Q2 / CTF event, and thought that some of your visitors would be interested in hearing about it. The Sniper Network Gaming Group is a non-profit group based in Vancouver, BC. For more information, visit our website at http://www.sniper.net or e-mail Grimoire@rogers.wave.ca.
Orange Updated
A new version of Orange for Quake2 has been released. You can get it here (also known as the world's longest url :).

New Rocket Arena Release
Rocket Arena version 2.098 server software has been released. This new version is now 3.13 compatible and has loads of new features. Surf on over to the Rocket Arena page for details and the download.

PowerBall Patch
A patch for the popular Powerball Mod has been released. This makes it 3.13 compatible.

New CRBot Released
A new v3.13 compatible version of the CRBot has been released, using the 3.13 hack that mod authors have been taking advantage of. You can find the new release here.

The Tactics and Psychology of Q2
Version 2.0 of The Tactics and Psychology of Q2 has been released. This version contains a new section covering the basics of Capture the Flag. You can get the direct download here.

Help Wanted
Hosted Sites Update
NetGuy

Monday, March 2, 1998
New Quake2 Site Opens
TerraFusion is a new site that has just opened its doors to the community. Not just a Quake2 site, this one is geared towards amateur Deathmatch and CTF level designers. They will be hosting their own Quake2 server, that will host new DM maps every week. Swing by and see what they've got going on...

Quake2 Capture the Flag Stuff
Zoid Mini-Interview
Speaking of Capture the Flag, Zoid answered a few CTF 1.01 questions over at Tejaz Clan's Homepage. Some of the issues mentioned are the scoring system and the grapple sound bug. Thanks BigLare.

Quake2 PAK and WAL Manager
If you've been wishing for one tool that could handle both Quake2 PAK files and WAL's, then you're in luck. qWAL-Lite has been released over at its webpage. This utility is free (hence the Lite version).

New Lithium Release
Whitefang has updated the Lithium Mod to v.90. This update This update also makes it compatible with both 3.12 and 3.13.

Quake Community Celeb Portraits up at QuakeEasel
The QuakeEasel has posted up some warped pics of sCary, Joost Schuur, and Redwood. Drop by and check out how they look suited up in Quake2 gear!

Hosted Sites Update
3.13 compatibility revisited (updated)
As we reported yesterday, mods can now be made to work with 3.13 in the meanwhile, as they wait for the source release from id. Also, mods made to work with 3.13 are 3.12 compatible as well, so the term 3.12/3.13 compatible is more accurate. However, there can be occasional crashes as a result of this since this is not the "right way" to do it. Here's the current (and growing) list of mods that have been made 3.12/3.13 compatible.

  • The Eraser Bot author Ridah plans to have a 3.12/3.13 compatible version up within the next 24 hours (drool).
  • Requiem
  • Battle of the Sexes
  • Cluster mod (build 0395)
  • Rocket Arena 2 programmer crt has got a 3.12/3.13 compatible version running at reaper.stanford.edu. If the id source is not released soon he will publically release it, but for now it is only on that server.

    New QStat
    QStat, the server status utility used far and wide to generate those server lists you folks use, has hit version 2.1z. If you are a QStat nut, you should go get it.

    TeamFortress info
    Because of the large number of TeamFortress levels on ftp.cdrom.com in the /pub/idgames2/levels/team_fortress directory, it has been subdivided alphabetically by Joost Schuur. This may break download links on various websites, so check and update your links. He invites comments to be mailed to him.

    What's in a name?
    That which we call a rose by any other name would still.... OK, er, down to what I was going to say. Surfed on over to the GameSpy web site and found that our old buddy Slipgate has been of some assistance to them. He updated the MapData.txt that comes with GameSpy 1.52 to include the names of the Quake 2 Threewave CTF levels and the Quake 2 deathmatch levels, and even the megabase levels. If you want to save yourself the trouble of doing this, you can grab a zipped up copy of the one he made right here (link leads to GameSpy.com's local copy). One caveat it mentions Slipgate told them on the news page is that there is a CTF map titled Outlands and a single player Quake 2 map by the same name, so he titled the CTF level as "Outlands (CTF)" instead of just "Outlands."

    On the GameSpy front, it looks like GameSpy 2.0, though slightly delayed by the Real LivesTM of the programmers, should be coming pretty soon now. The preview on the website looks pretty slick. Also, they have a new custom tab up in their tabs library that lets you filter out all but cooperative games in Quake 2, for those coop nuts out there.

    NetGuy

    Sunday, March 1, 1998
    Bot news a plenty!
    Our hosted site Quake 2 Bot Epidemic has gotten an exclusive preview of an unreleased alpha of the Oak II bot, and they find it rather good :). Speaking of Oak II, its own page reports that the first version should be out a few days after the source release of version 3.13 (unknown how the new ability to make mods work with 3.13 influences this tentative date just yet).

    Zumlin
    Don't quite remember if we mentioned this before, but Team Impact's website has up a new plugin player model by Sumaleth, titled Zumlin. If you are unfamiliar with Team Impact (the artists currently known as Ridah and Sumaleth) their work includes: Quake Rally (Quake 1), Quess (Quake 1), Eraser bot, and Morbo, the first player plugin model by them, plus some other less known stuff. Zumlin adds to their resume nicely :).

    Marriage of the mods
    RuiNation is apparently now making a hybrid of thier CTF mod for Quake 2 and Rocket Arena, aptly titled RuiNation CTF Arena.

    NetGuy - burning that old midnight oil

    QeRadiant Build 45
    QeRadiant build 45 is up at     The QE-Radiant website.

    Mailbag
    Paubo has updated the mailbag, this time without techie questions.

    Mods hit version 3.13
    Thanks to the     aforementioned info on Inside 3D, mods are now becoming compatible with 3.13. Here's the ones we know of so far:

  • Requiem
  • Battle of the Sexes (you are advised to read the page for info on the update and warnings pertaining to it)

    Quake 2 3.13 compatibility and mods
    There's news on     Inside 3D (February 28th news) on how mod authors can get their mods working with Quake 2 version 3.13 for now even though the source hasn't been released.

    Another TC
    w00! TC's keep showing up. Word up on the latest:

    I want to announce yet another TC. What I've got planned is a TC set in the "Best of" Cyberpunk environment. Have character classes, realistic and complex environments, a real world city coupled with a Cyberspace system where you "fight" with programs rather than guns, and much, much more! It's called Yoru City (where everything takes place). We've got a web site up at: http://www.burbclave.net/~yoru/. While I've got some side helpers, we still need help in every aspect of the game. So, if you dig CP and want to help, drop me a line.

    - Cyber Steve
    Poll
    The Bot Epidemic is having a poll. Go check it out!

    Crackwhore Contest
    Paul Steed updated his .plan to say that he has pics of the winner of the Crackwhore contest. Guys, be sure to check these out. :)

    Blaze

    TFCon 98
    Don't forget that TFCon 98 starts March 23 in Australia, and Team Fortress 2 (The artist formerly known as Team Fortress for Quake 2) will be finally unveiled there. Super cool :).

    Cluster stuff
    The Cluster mod is at version 0.4 pre release (works with Quake 2 3.10). After the source release they will release version 0.4's "normal" release.

    Are names fun or not fun?
    Check out     Inside 3D for some information regarding the "fun names" issue, along with an IRC log of a discussion about the issue of whether to include them or not. The general consensus reached at the end of the log is that it would be nice to be a server side support option so servers that were alright with them could enable them, like in QuakeWorld.

    Editor stuffs
  • The qED Prefab Park has expanded to cover QOOLE prefabs as well.
  • Ravages of Radiant has some QE-Radiant tutorials up.

    Strategy revisited
    Wow.... what an interesting and long name for a Quake 2 strategy guide. The guide itself aint all that shabby either :). Check out     Tactics and Psychology of Quake 2.

    Ghost writer...

    Ridah Interview
    There's a interview of Ridah, creator of the Eraser bot, up here.

    Eraser Launch Program
    w00, read on:
    Hi,
    I've made a program called Eraser Launch. It is basically a visual front end to be used with the Eraser Bot. It's page is at..
    http://www.msu.edu/user/hollosyt/elaunch/ Yes, I do have permission from Ridah to release this program.

    Thanks,
    Tim "LinT" Hollosy
    Hostile Partial Conversion
    Yet another conversion is up. This one sounds pretty amazing:
    Hostile.

    A new Quake 2 Partial Conversion from the brains (he has two) of Jeff Garstecki (Ultimate Rally modeller, Deconstruct webmaster, Fuel PPM Maker), Hostile is a multi-player team game which uses an enhanced AI system similar to Ridah's Eraser Bot (but programmed by our very own SKWiD) and is played on urban based levels from a Judge Dredd or Burton's Batman artistic viewpoint.

    The web site (run by professional nutcase Richard "QBS" Smith) has been up and running for a little less than a month now, but has been kept from the eyes of the public until significant content was available. There's now a ton of screenshots to look at, some AI demos to download and a chance to see an alternative style of news reporting.

    Hostile is going to be one hell of a PC and has a plot based around the BFG - what more could you ask for?

    Use the magical pogo stick which came with your computer to bounce across to http://www.frag.com/deconstruct/hostile before it's too late.

    We await your arrival with baited breath, Bagpuss
     Baited breath? I think he's been hangin' around NetGuy too much. Or something. :)

    Hosted Site Updates
    CTF Walkthroughs
    There are demo format walktroughs of the CTF levels available at: http://www.unclespanky.com/assassin.

    MegaCity1
    A new Judge Dredd TC, called MegaCity1 (hm...) is currently in process. Word from TorQ:
    Hello All, A new conversion is in development based on the 2000ad British Comic Character Judge Dredd and the world of MegaCity1 where he was the law. The Team and the site is a bit light in information at present but I have just started with the idea now I need to build the team. This will be a multiplayer conversion only, may adapt to single player later. Here is what I want to achieve:

  • o A total conversion of Quake 2 into a Judge Dredd universe
  • o New player models to look more like the comic book judges
  • o Perp skins of famous characters from the Dredd Universe
  • o Working Bikes! - Dont know the feasibility of this but hell I would like to see it possible that you can jump on them and drive.
  • o Maps of famous area's of MegaCity1
  • o Authentic weapons from Lawgivers, grapnels, bike cannons, etc
  • o New textures from the comics


  • I am no programmer myself but I am the one with the vision and I have time to co-ordinate it all.

    I need your help so if you can make maps, models, skins, sounds, ideas etc please email me.

    The Site URL is : http://www.llamanet.net/justice/mc1_index.html

    TorQ - justice@llamanet.net
    • Members Needed
    Clan Dark Spire needs some members. Go check it out!

    Syndicates.net
    Syndicates.net has undergone a very neat looking facelift.

    The Arsenal
    The Arsenal Devolpment Group has started on a "homicidal" TC, which sounds pretty cool.

    New Bot Stuff
    Word from Darrin:
    I just wanted to let you know that I have just put up a site pertaining to my up and coming client-side bot for Quake 2: Pandora Bot. The site features a section that has COMPLETE details on the Q2 networking protocol including server-to-client messages and client-to-server messages.

    I thought this might be some information that you'd like to share with the people who visit your site. The URL is http://www.opt-sci.Arizona.EDU/Pandora/. Please take a look, and let me know what you think.

    Thanks...
    Battle of The Sexes 2.7.3
    This in from Spinoza:
    New to this version are many gameplay enhancements thanks to the excellent suggestions from the many BotS players out there, also a Class Strategy Guide written by PAIN is now online:

    *** WARNING: This still uses Quake2 v3.10... This will NOT work with Quake2 v3.12! This is because id has not released the new source code yet. This is a server side only release. ***
    New Features
    ------------
    1) Snipers and Infiltrators now have silent footsteps

    2) Added explosion effect to Kamikazee suicide

    3) Lessened effect of Nurse's flash grenades and added slight dizzying effect

    4) All men start out with a rapid-fire shotgun in addition to their primary weapon. They also get a round of shells to start out with.

    5) It now costs 10 cells for a Nurse to poison health and 10 cells to apply antidote

    6) Men can throw twice as far as women. Keep in mind, the longer you hold the grenade, the further you throw it.

    7) Environment suit gives much more protection against lava now. Lava still does small amounts of damage if you stand in it, but you can search lava much more easily if you have an environment suit on. Captains can create environment suits.

    8) Changes to Berzerker. Moves slower, Rage is based on (Health / 10) = number of Rage seconds, Removed grapple, Chaingun is stronger when firing at full blast

    9) Changed many attributes of all classes and genders. All changes are reflected in the new Class Strategy Guide written by PAIN online at "www.quake2.com/spinoza"

    Bugs Fixed
    ----------
    1) Fixed a couple of bugs in the Captain menu system

    2) Sniper starts out with silencer in inventory. The Sniper must use the item to activate the silencer.

    3) Fixed bug with regenerating health for Nurse

    4) Fixed problem of scoreboard not being removed when using "cmd autoid" or in observer/chasecam mode

    5) Fixed bug with new goal entity

    Check out the full details on the website.

    www.quake2.com/spinoza
    Sounds good. :)

    Blaze

    Archives