Big Download Blog

Released 13 years ago today, id Software self-published the first version of Quake, allowing folks to download the first episode for free but making people send money to mail order a disk for the full version. Later in 2006 GT Interactive, who published id's Doom games to retail stores, also released Quake to stores. It would be the last time id would work with GT Interactive.

In many ways, Quake was a 3D remake of the Doom titles. There was a shell of a storyline involving the player character's Space Marine going through Slipgates to fight extra-dimensional creatures. Otherwise the game played like Doom with four episodes. With a mixture of art settings in the levels (future, gothic horror and fantasy) and creatures ranging from zombied marines to grenade packing hulks, the game didn't really have an theme. Same for the weapons which included things like the rail gun and electrical gun and (of course) rocket launchers.

Quake used a full 3D engine that was later modified to use the then new 3D accelrator graphics chips that were just beginning to be used in PCs. While the game used the Internet for its multiplayer matches, it wasn't consistant on normal 56k dial up modems. A major update to the game, Quakeworld, allowed for much smoother connections for Internet play. 22/06/09