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Quake

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Template:Infobox game/row/macporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/linporter
Quake
Quake cover
Developers
id Software
Mission Pack 1 Hipnotic Interactive
Mission Pack 2 Rogue Entertainment
Publishers
GT Interactive
Mac OS MacSoft
Linux Macmillan Digital Publishing USA
Engines
Quake engine
Release dates
DOS June 22, 1996
Mac OS (Classic) 1997
Windows January 22, 1997
Linux May 20, 1999
Quake guide on StrategyWiki
Quake on Wikipedia
Quake
Quake 1996
Quake II 1997
Quake III Arena 1999
Quake 4 2005
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars 2007
Quake Live 2010
Quake II RTX 2019
Quake Enhanced 2021
Quake Champions 2022
Quake II Enhanced 2023

This page is for the original Quake. For Valve's GoldSrc multi-player remake, see Deathmatch Classic.

Key points

Engine is open source with modern multi-platform ports available; see Source ports
The Steam version lacks the original soundtrack; see Restore music playback
Vanilla Quake sometimes has trouble running on modern machines. It is recommended to use a Source port

General information

Quake Wiki - A detailed wiki for every Quake game made.
Quake Owner's Manual (Steam Community) - A very detailed guide on configuring Quake
Func_Msgboard - The mapper hub, new map releases, technique improvements.
bit7.org/quake (archived) - Community site with extensive mirrors section, reviews and details on editions of the game.
Inside3d - The modder hub, QuakeC tutorials and an active forum.
Quaddicted - Great collection of categorized and rated single player maps as well as a ton of general information and history.
QuakeOne - Original network style multiplayer hub, player community.
QuakeWorld nu - QuakeWorld multiplayer hub, competitive player community.
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
DRM-free
Without modifications CD is required for in-game music
DOS
Windows
Mac OS
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
See Steam below
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Quake: The Offering. Pre-packaged with nGlide (GLQuake) and DOSBox (software mode). Due to legal reasons, the in-game soundtrack in .ogg format is excluded, but is still included as disk images.[1]
Windows
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Quake: The Offering
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Does not come with game soundtrack; see Restore music playback. Also, the version of GLQuake included (v0.95) is outdated. See GLQuake for a download link of the latest version (v0.97).
Windows
Quake: The Offering includes the base game along with all expansions.

DLC and expansion packs

The Sega Saturn console port has four exclusive secret levels: Purgatorium, Hell's Aerie, The Coliseum, and Watery Grave. It also contains an exclusive unlockable, "Dank & Scuz", which is a story set in the Quake milieu and presented in the form of a slide show with voice acting. The Nintendo 64 version also contains an exclusive deathmatch level, The Court of Death.
Name Notes
Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon
DOS
Windows
Mission Pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity
DOS
Windows
DOPA An extra episode created by MachineGames and released for free as a gift for the game's 20th anniversary.[2] Considered semi-official.
DOS
Windows
Linux
Mac OS
Several unofficial add-ons were also released. Full list available here at the Quake wiki.

Official versions

Qtest

A technology test released on February 24, 1996, a few months before the full release. Meant to showcase the multiplayer and level themes of the full game. Includes 3 maps and many elements of the game that were either cut or changed for the final release.

The tech test can be downloaded from PCGamingWiki.

Further details can be found on Quake Wiki.

Quake

The original DOS version. Can only be run in MS-DOS (or DOSBox for newer systems). Fullscreen only.

Quake (shareware)

This version is the official demo for the game (besides Qtest). Only the first episode ("Dimension of the Doomed") is available to play.

The shareware can be downloaded from PCGamingWiki.

Also, the shareware PAK file can be downloaded separately from the main release (to be used with source ports).

WinQuake

This version is optimized to run under Windows 95/98 as an independent exe file. Allows the game to appear in a window and screen resolutions can be selected in-game.

It can be downloaded from PCGamingWiki.

GLQuake

A special version of WinQuake that was designed to run with 3D accelerators (now known as graphics cards), unlike Quake and WinQuake, where all graphics rendering and game logic calculations were done by the CPU only. Rendered with OpenGL, it improves the overall look of Quake greatly (smoothed textures, transparent water, etc.) and allows widescreen resolutions and higher FOVs. Screen resolutions need to be entered in via console commands before launch.

This port also has a few regressions; it does not support overbright lighting[3] and has weaker colored lighting than software rendered Quake.

For a complete list of differences between GLQuake and software rendered Quake:[4]

It can be downloaded from PCGamingWiki.

QuakeWorld

A multiplayer only version of Quake specifically designed to play over the Internet. A version using OpenGL rendering is also available (GLQuakeWorld). See Quake or QuakeWorld? for specifics.

VQuake

The first hardware accelerated version of Quake, released shortly before GLQuake. This MS-DOS port is specifically designed for the Vérité chipset by short-lived company Rendition, using their proprietary Speedy3D API. Uniquely for the time, this version offered edge anti-aliasing, adjustable from 0 to 7, covering various combinations of world, object and particle polygons.

As there is no emulation of this hardware available, this port cannot be played on modern computers.

Essential improvements

Getting started

Today, Quake is primarily played with modified engines which make use of modern technology and operating systems. Installing them is as simple as extracting them into the same folder you can find WinQuake.exe and running the modified engine's exe. For multiplayer all you need is to pull down the console (~) and type connect <server address or ip>.

Many modern engines have a setting for mouse looking in their options menu, but if it doesn't exist you can enable it from the console by entering +mlook. The plus sign in front of the mlook is a modifier that means "enable". You can disable it later with -mlook. Same rule for crosshairs, if it's not available in the menus, enable it with the crosshair 1 command.

From the options menu, you may also want to set Always Run to On and set Lookstrafe and Lookspring to Off.

This video guide explains the basics you will need in order to get Quake working with a modern engine. Later sections on this page go into deeper detail on each subject.

Source ports

Name Description
DarkPlaces DarkPlaces is a 2nd common port for new players which adds modern graphical features such as realtime shadowmaps, bloom, and normalmapping. It also supports both the netQuake, and QuakeWorld networking protocols, as well as its own. It scales well on visual effects from the modern to the classic and sports fast rendering for modern GPUs. It has some problems with mods that depend on the original Quake's bugs that the engine has fixed.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
DirectQ (Archived) DirectQ is a Direct3d oriented engine with a few tweaks to the menu but little to graphical improvements, it simply runs on DirectX instead of OpenGL. It mostly resembles the classic look with some quirks such as the HUD being based on Nintendo 64 version, outside of that it performs excellently. Note that this source port is no longer under active development. The latest release is v1.9.
Windows
Fruitz of Dojo Quake A Cocoa port of the engine; it allows Quake and QuakeWorld to be played on modern Macs. Also includes their OpenGL equivalents with the download. A more graphically advanced companion, TenebraeQuake is also available. Older versions of both can be downloaded here (warning, adult content!)
macOS (OS X)
FTEQuakeWorld FTEQuakeWorld is targeted at QuakeWorld players while adding support for other Quake engine games. It features enhanced visuals, voice chat support, and better modding capability for QuakeWorld servers.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
nQuake nQuake is a complete QuakeWorld package, designed to quickly get into multiplayer with all the required features in a modern context. You can also optionally install a pack during installation to enhance the overall look of the game.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
ezQuake A more lean version of nQuake.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
QuakeSpasm QuakeSpasm is a descendant of FitzQuake which like that engine, it focuses on fixing bugs and stability, lifting engine limits such as maximum items and geometry detail and restoring the missing functionality that the original software renderer had but the OpenGL renderer lacked. Unlike many other engines, QuakeSpasm does not alter the style of the original game and doesn't fix game-changing bugs that affects mods. The most commonly used source port in the community.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Ultimate Quake Patch Designed for the Steam version of Quake but is also compatible with retail versions by changing the install path of the mod. It includes Darkplaces along with the soundtrack. However, the source port included uses an outdated version and the Scourge of Armagon soundtrack is badly ripped.
Windows
vkQuake vkQuake is a Quake 1 port using Vulkan instead of OpenGL for rendering. It is based on the popular QuakeSpasm port and runs all mods compatible with it like Arcane Dimensions or In The Shadows. Compared to QuakeSpasm vkQuake also features a software Quake like underwater effect, has better color precision, generates mipmap for water surfaces at runtime and has native support for anti-aliasing and AF. It is the current best source port for modern GPUs with Vulkan support.
Windows
Linux
Mark V Forked from FitzQuake, Mark V also contains features from other source ports such as JoeQuake or ProQuake. Besides that it also has their own such as support for Nehahra mod, copy & paste in console, saving multiplayer games, external texture and .vis support, extended coop features, software mode inspired by WinQuake and many more. As for the music, it only supports CD audio and the external MP3 files.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Quake "Epsilon" Quake Epsilon is a graphically enhanced build of shareware Quake 1 for Windows/Linux/Mac, which can be upgraded to the full version of Quake along with it's mission packs Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity by copying the full-version .pak files into the correct folders.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Installers and launchers

Quake Injector: Automatic installer for mods and maps

Quake Injector is a Java-based client for the Quaddicted single player map and mod database that runs on Windows, OS X and Linux. It provides the ability to install and uninstall maps and mods (with their requirements/dependencies) from the site directly on Quake with a single click and includes information about each mod, such as release data, rating (from the Quaddicted editor), title, authors, a brief description (from the editor) and screenshot. Also it can (with varying levels of success) figure out if there are known maps already installed.

Quake Injector does not provide access to every map released for Quake (it has no support for multiplayer maps, for example, unless they come as part of a singleplayer map pack or they are singleplayer maps in addition to multiplayer), but it is very close to that and provides an easy method to try new maps and mods.

Please note that under Linux (and maybe OS X, depending on the file system) many older maps will need manual editing of their filenames because the original files contained mixed case or upper case letters.

MiniQL

MiniQL is a small Quake launcher that provides an easy front-end to running any user map or original map by scanning Quake and mod archive files (PAK files) and displaying all maps to select from. It can also be used to supply default variables (such as fov) and screen resolution when starting the game.

MiniQL can be downloaded from here.

Texture packs

List and discussions of additional texture packs can be found here.

Transparent Water

Use Vispatch (Mac version available here) to patch vanilla data (some mods already include said patches to data). Use the command r_wateralpha with any value below 1.0 to enable the effects. Note some engines wont remember this value and will require it to be added to the autoexec.cfg.

Sound packs

A sound pack for April Fools can be found here, though it does little more than distort the audio.

Tips for running the official versions

A complete list of console commands:[5] Technical info by id software:[6] For GLQuake: As the included opengl32.dll is a 3dfx-specific MiniGL wrapper, it should be deleted on systems not using 3dfx cards.

Graphics settings

The game uses non-power of two textures for models, which were supported by the software renderer, but not by the OpenGL renderer. Therefore, textures in OpenGL have to be resized to a power of two; this is controlled through the console command gl_round_down. By default this is set to 1, which downsamples textures to the nearest power of two, reducing quality noticeably in the process. This was used due to limitations of contemporary 3D hardware, although the readme for GLQuake claims that setting it to 0 (which will upscale to the next higher power of two instead) will run well even on a contemporary 4 MB 3DFX Voodoo Graphics.[7] GLQuake also defaults to gl_flashblend 1, which uses a transparent shaded sphere around lightsources such as explosions in place of real dynamic lighting. Setting gl_flashblend 0 will use dynamic lighting similar to the software renderer.

Novelty rendering features

Experimental rendering features referenced in the readme include r_wateralpha (0-1, default 1), with a recommended 0.7 for slightly translucent water. This is said in the readme to not work with standard maps, as they are not processed with this in mind. Shadows can be set with r_shadows 1, and mirrors activated with r_mirroralpha 0.3, which only affects one texture in the "easy" starting hall.

Software rendering improvements

For the software rendered versions, the only available real tweak is d_mipscale 0, which processes textures at highest quality for all distances. This can cause the RAM icon to pop up in the game, the fix for this is supposedly showram 0 or -surfcachesize xx (with xx being a big enough number).[8]

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.
In-game screen resolution settings for WinQuake.
In-game screen resolution settings for WinQuake.
In-game screen resolution settings for GLQuake.
In-game screen resolution settings for GLQuake.

Template:Video settings

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Xbox 360 Controller support

Using existing joystick support, it is possible to add support for XInput-based controllers.

A list of configurations for the devices can be found in the Files section.

It will not add triggers support for XInput-based controllers as Quake treats them as axes and won't allow to map them. As a workaround XInput-to-DirectInput wrapper can be used, such as XInput Plus (actual tool is in English).

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

VR support

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
4 Co-op, Versus
Use the FTE Quakeworld source port.
LAN play
16 Co-op, Versus
Online play
16 Co-op, Versus
For modern Internet support and other extra multiplayer-centric features, a source port is required. See Source ports.

Connection types

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 26000
UDP 26000
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
This is the default port used. It can be changed in-game by the user

Issues fixed

Restore music playback

Steam

The Steam version lacks the original soundtrack.
Restore OST (Steam)[citation needed]
  • Install Ultimate Quake Patch to restore music to the Steam version and add the features of the DarkPlaces engine.
If you prefer to use the original engine you can download the soundtrack from the Steam forums. Either burn a new CD from the image file or use a CD emulator like WinCDEmu to mount the image.

GOG.com

The GOG.com version includes the soundtrack, but by default it is only set up for use with the DOS version under DOSBox.
Restore OST (GOG.com)[citation needed]
  1. Install a virtual CD software, e.g. WinCDEmu.
  2. Mount the CD images in the installation folder with WinCDEmu.

Source ports

Some Quake engines can play music files to give you a soundtrack during the game.
Restore OST (modern engines)[10]
  1. Download the soundtrack files for the campaign and mission packs.
  2. Place id1, hipnotic, and rogue folders in the installation folder.

Black screen with DarkPlaces engine (GOG.com)

Remove opengl32.dll[11]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename opengl32.dll.

Running the original GLQuake

The original OpenGL version of Quake may not run on some systems with Nvidia graphics cards.
Enable extension limit[citation needed]
  1. Download and run NVIDIA Profile Inspector.
  2. Search and open the game profile.
  3. Set Extension limit to On.
  4. Run Glquake.exe with the -no8bit command line argument.
Fix extension limit issues[12]
  1. Edit Glquake.exe with a hex editor.
  2. Search for GL_EXTENSIONS.
  3. Select the %s in that line and replace these two letters with two spaces.

Current music track plays the next one before the loop (GOG.com)

This happens with the incorrect CUE sheet that was included. It happens only with the main game and the Dissolution of Eternity. Scourge of Armagon is not affected by this.
Use fixed game.cue sheets[citation needed]
  1. Download Fixed game.cue sheets for Quake The Offering.
  2. Unpack both of these files to the installation folder.

Music does not loop

Fix CD audio looping[13]
  1. Rip your game CD-ROM's music. .ogg and .mp3 codecs should be fully supported
  2. Install patched _inmm.dll and open its main folder.
  3. Go to <path-to-game> and drag your game executable on _inmmconf.exe.
  4. Copy the newly created .exe back to the old position (backup and overwrite old one if needed)
  5. Open _inmmconf.exe and set DirectShow player for default file type in the method tab
  6. Add your previously ripped audio tracks in the _inmm.ini tab
  7. Press the save button and provide it your <path-to-game>

Notes

Further explanations are available on gemot encubed.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
OpenGL 1
Software renderer
DOS video modes VGA
ExecutablePPC16-bit 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
Linux
Mac OS (Classic)

Quake or QuakeWorld?

When Quake initially launched its netcode was not optimized for the dial-up connections of the time, and so consequently QuakeWorld was created, a separate exe for the game which was multiplayer only with adjusted physics and severely revamped netcode. As personal internet connections improved, the original Quake protocol became more relevant. The original, non-QuakeWorld version, is now often referred to as NetQuake, and there is a divide as to which to play. Serious competitive players are very sensitive to the differences between them, however for the starting out player the differences will be barely noticeable, and the experienced but more casual players play whichever, simply going for servers where a fun time can be had.

Mods

SUPERQOT

See SUPERHOT for details.

Team Fortress

Was originally a Quake mod. See Team Fortress for details.

Small Mod compilation (SMC)

Adds an number of interesting changes to gameplay as well as small aesthetic ones, such as footstep sounds. See here for details.

Installing and using mods

Mods are accessed via an amendment system, where you tell the engine where to look first for game data, and then it falls back to the default subfolder (id1) for the base game. The subfolder root for the mod will either have a progs.dat file, or a .pak or .pk3 file.

Installing a mod[citation needed]
  1. Extract the mod from the compressed folder.
    • If the mod does not come in a folder after extracting, create a new one and place all the mod files into it.
  2. Move the mod folder into <path-to-game>.
Running a mod[citation needed]

Notes

Most source ports provide bug fixes to the original Quake engine. Some of these fixes may break compatibility with certain mods, rendering them unplayable (unreachable items floating in the air, enemies falling out of the world, etc.).
Many modern mods for Quake require a source port to run, as they break the original engine limitations (larger maps, more enemies, more scripting commands, etc.).
Mod creators will state this requirement in the mod page or README file (if available).

Installing and playing custom maps

Installing a custom map[citation needed]
  1. In the Id1 folder (located in the main Quake folder), create a folder named maps.
  2. Extract the map files (usually a BSP and a text file) from the compressed folder into the maps folder.

Notes

For maps requiring mods to function, create the maps folder inside the folder for the mod.
Running a custom map[citation needed]
  • Use the +map <name of the BSP file (excluding the extension)> command line argument.
  • Alternatively, the -map <name of the BSP file (excluding the extension)> command can be used in the in-game console (~).
    • Ex: +map jawbreak / -map jawbreak runs the Jawbreaker map by Matt Sefton

System requirements

DOS
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 5.0
Processor (CPU) Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz
Intel Pentium 75 MHz
System memory (RAM) 8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 80 MB
Video card (GPU) VGA
Mac OS
Minimum
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU) PowerPC 601
System memory (RAM) 16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 95
Processor (CPU) Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz
Intel Pentium 75 MHz
System memory (RAM) 16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 80 MB
Video card (GPU) VGA
Linux
Minimum
Operating system (OS) Kernel 2.0.x
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium
System memory (RAM) 16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/2310/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (2310) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References