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About the game

Quake Live is a first-person shooter (FPS) video game by id Software designed to run on x86-based computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux that is downloaded and launched via a web browser plugin. It is a variant of its predecessor, Quake III Arena (Q3A). Quake Live is free to download and play. Additionally, there are subscription options that include more arenas, game types and game server options.

Technology

Quake Live runs an updated version of the id Tech 3 engine, granting a few graphical improvements like bloom. In addition to usability changes, Quake Live has a new, more streamlined HUD. The game is also censored to remove blood, gore, and satanic references that were found in Quake III Arena and is the only game in the series that was developed by id Software internally to be rated T by the ESRB.

Quake Live registration of a user account is available on the Quake Live website and free to anyone wishing to play. Currently supported platforms include Internet Explorer 7+, Mozilla Firefox 2+ and Safari 3+ web browsers running on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.4+ (Intel processor only), and Linux.[3] During the registration process the game and required browser plug-in is automatically downloaded. Updates to the game are continually released and automatically installed as the user logs in.

The browser plug-in does not make use of Flash to play the game.[4] The software is a modified version of Quake III Gold executed as native compiled code on the user's computer.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Quake Live consists of players attempting to frag more of their opponents than any other player or team in a given match. This is achieved by navigating a 3D environment and shooting other players with a variety of weapons, while collecting health, armor, weapons, ammo and various power-ups. As players get more advanced, they use other tricks and techniques such as rocket and strafe jumping.

Quake Live was released as a free version of Quake III: Gold[5] (Quake III and its expansion pack, Team Arena) available only through a web browser. Quake Live is backed financially by in-game advertising from IGA Worldwide.[6] Skill-based matchmaking is powered by a "metagame engine" developed by GaimTheory. Development of the match-making system was taken on by id Software after GaimTheory's collapse.

Game modes

Various game modes from Q3A return:

• Duel: Player versus player (1-on-1) combat. Whoever gets the most frags before the time is up wins. Free For All (FFA): Players engage in a match, where everyone fights for themselves. Whoever hits the frag limit first wins and ends the game. When the time limit expires, player with the most frags is the winner.
• Instagib: Free for All mode or TDM where players start with only a Railgun. There are no powerups around the map (ie. health, ammo, weapons). Instagib servers are unranked.
• Team Deathmatch (TDM): Same rules as Free for All but in this mode, two teams fight each other.
• Pro Team Deathmatch: a variation on Team Deathmatch for higher skilled players where some of the server settings are changed, such as the respawn time of weapons increased from 12 seconds to 30 seconds.
• Capture the Flag (CTF): Each team has a base, holding a flag. To earn points and win the game, a player must take the opposing team's flag and return it to their own base, while his team's flag is secure at his own base.
• InstaCTF: Similar to Instagib (i.e. railgun, lack of powerups, etc.) but in a CTF format. Instagib CTF servers are also unranked.
• Clan Arena (CA): Teambased gameplay where everyone starts fully equipped with full armor and weapons. When fragged, the player must wait for the next round to begin. Players can rocket jump and plasma climb with no health penalty.
• Freeze Tag (FT): (subscription only) A team based game mode combining elements of Clan Arena and Team Deathmatch. Rather than spectating when one is fragged, one is instead "frozen", and cannot respawn until a player on their team "thaws" them by standing adjacent to them for several seconds. When all players on one team are frozen, the other team wins the round.
• InstaFreeze (IFT): Similar to Instagib (i.e. railgun, lack of powerups, etc.) but in a FT format. Instagib FT servers are also unranked.