Attention all Quake Live clans and players, the GGL has ladders open (sanctioned by the AGP) for 4v4 Clan Arena, 4v4 CTF, 4v4 TDM, and Duel. Use this link: http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=Channel&method=view&channel=11697 and simpy click on "competitions" on the left side to find the mod you and your clan would like to compete in.GGL has some new ladders up on their site for you to join!
Start: 08/29/2009 09:30 Timezone: America/New York This months QuakeWorld TWCTF extravaganza is this weekend and the theme is Star Wars! Visit http://twctf.org for the server and mod details.
Check out the video: http://www.quakeunity.com/file=2922 Julie Stepan mingles with the nerds waiting in the BYOC registration line. If you haven''t been to QuakeCon before, you''d be surprised of the amount of crazy people which turn out for the event. We have some costumed crazies and a guy who looks like John Carmack. Sit back and enjoy...
Video Download: http://www.quakeunity.com/file=2919The John Carmack keynote address while very long, was a pretty interesting talk which ranged from topics such as the ZeniMax buyout of id Software, the expansion of id Software, Rage, QuakeLive, iPhone game development, and many technical topics which are beyond my capacity to outline. For a compete viewing of everything Carmack had to say, be sure to check back soon for a complete video of his keynote. The video is currently being worked on.Concerning the buyout of id Software by ZeniMax, Carmack said he had to look up who ZeniMax was online when discussions on the deal started. Overall, he is very pleased with the takeover for many reasons. Carmack's main reason was the lack of support from publishers to third party developers such as id Software. "id Software used to be Activision's FPS guy", but now the company owns the extremely popular Call of Duty series which receives a much higher priority over any FPS title id would release. Being a small independent company, there were certain projects just could not take on themselves. They had to take a cautious approach to many projects because they were directly financing them. Being part of a larger company now, id will be free to take on larger risks and projects. What Carmack hopes will be there working relationship with also was discussed. Carmack said that id has much to learn from ZeniMax such as their sucess in the marketing and downloadable content arenas.On the topic of Rage, Carmack said most of the major technical parts of the game have already been finished. Much of the working being done now involves polishing the game and designing the vast array of user interfaces the game will feature. The game has been id Software's longest development project to date, even beating out the time it took to produce DOOM3. Carmack did go off on a small tangent on how some of the text sizes in the game were too small for someone with bad vision such as himself. Overall, he seemed very pleased with the production cycle so far. If you were wondering if there are any Rage beta testers somewhere, Carmack let us know that a small group of people are already hard at work testing the game . He added that it will be the most rigorous testing any id game has undergone before. He made it clear though that id won't be heavily influenced by design comments these testers might give. id already knows the direction they want to take on Rage. Some interesting notes . The first level of the game will be the last to be made. While this does have its disadvantages, it does allow the designers to have a much better idea when the designing the level that will set the tone for the entire game.While Carmack isn't a sentimental guy at all, he did reminisce about the good old days when id Software was a much smaller company. The development of Rage has skyrocketed the number of employees at id Software to somewhere around ninety. Carmack himself does not even know all of the employees by appearance, let alone by name.If you have followed the Carmack keynotes over the past few years, you are well aware that Carmack really enjoys developing cell phone games. He said that developing these games has been both a fun and profitable endeavor for id. He really enjoys that he is able to do a vast majority of the work himself, unlike Rage which has a massive amount of team members. Currently, Carmack seems solely focused on developing games for the iPhone. The limitations they encounter on regular cell phones is becoming too much of a bother. The development cycle is so short that id plans to schedule new game releases every other month. Carmack even discussed the possibility that id would stop developing games for the Java and Brew platforms to focus solely on the iPhone.
Video Download: http://www.quakeunity.com/file=2920The id Software press conference at QuakeCon was again a non event as it was last year. First on stand was id Software President Todd Hollenshead who promoted a bunch of id Mobile titles for the iPhone such as Wolfenstein RPG and Doom Resurrection. To further entice gamers to buy the titles, Todd announced that the prices were being dropped to $0.99 and $2.99 respectively. Anyone interested in any DOOM4 was sadly disappointed. Todd said to stay tuned for QuakeCon 2010 for more information. On the topic of Rage, id unveiled a new trailer which was pretty cool. Todd also announced that Tim Willits and Matt Hooper will be showing off live Rage play tomorrow at an event.Following Todd, Marty Stratton, the producer on QuakeLive came on the stage to announce a handful of new awards for QuakeLive players here at QuakeCon. He also announced that players in the BYOC here at QuakeCon have access to the Linux and MAC versions of QuakeLive. Everyone will be able to download the QuakeLive ports starting Tuesday.
QuakeUnity, the premiere Quake download and news website, today announced it will offer expansive coverage of QuakeCon 2009. QuakeUnity will be working with the crew of QuakeLive.TV, the popular QuakeLive tournament coverage website, to bring you player interviews and analysis of the event.As part of our coverage, QuakeUnity will offer true high definition video of the all the press conferences including the first look at RAGE and Brink, John Carmack’s keynote and the id Software press conference. QuakeUnity and QuakeLive.TV will also be producing daily commentary videos along providing player, vendor, and attendee interviews. Video coverage will be hosted by Julie Stepan, a correspondent for shows on ESPN and OCTANE TV. Conventional coverage including news updates, pictures, and articles will also be available during the event.On the competitive side, QuakeLive.TV will be bringing you live streaming coverage of all the action happening in the BYOC. Tournament coverage will include: QuakeLive King of the Hill 1v1, Quake Live 2v2 TDM, ETQW 4v4 BYOC, and QUAKE LIVE 1v1 for Younger Gamers.
"QuakeUnity, formally PlanetQuake3.net, has a long history of providing some of the best video coverage of QuakeCon. This year, we will again provide the best coverage in the fastest time possible,” said Roger LaMarca, Editor-in-Chief of QuakeUnity. “We are really excited about working with the crew of QuakeLive.TV. They have done an amazing job with their online coverage of QuakeLive. I’m glad we will have the chance to pool our coverage resources together.” said Roger. “QuakeLive.TV is looking forward to working with the QuakeUnity crew. For years, they have kept their finger on the pulse of the Quake community. Teaming up for QuakeCon coverage was a natural choice to meet our goal to provide the best convention coverage possible,” said Steve “GreasedScotsman” Huff, Lead Shoutcaster at QuakeLive.TV
Finally, id Software has announced a list of the events happening at QuakeCon 2009. In addition to hosting daily exhibits, North America’s largest LAN party, and professional gaming broadcasts from the coverage lounge, QuakeCon 2009 event highlights include the first public demonstrations of RAGE and Brink, the id Software press conference, John Carmack’s keynote address, a talk by Todd Howard and of course, the QUAKE LIVE Tournament Finals. Here are the highlights:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13:
- 3:30pm – Main Stage id Software Press Conference id Software welcomes thousands of attendees to QuakeCon 2009 and offers exclusive insight into the studio’s latest development projects and exciting announcements.
- 4:00pm – Main Stage John Carmack Keynote John Carmack, technical director of id Software, offers his annual keynote address and audience Q&A, with topics ranging from the state of graphics hardware and the development of idTech5, to his ventures into rocket science.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
- 11:30am – 12:00pm – Main Stage Fatal1ty Presentation Supercharge your gaming experience using Sound, Memory and PSUs. Creative and OCZ will be doing a dialog skit explaining the importance of sound in gaming to create an immersive experience...
- 1:00pm – 2:00pm – Main Stage Brink™ First Public Demonstration Previously shown only to media and behind closed doors, Splash Damage CEO and game director, Paul Wedgwood, will offer the first public, live gameplay demonstration of the highly anticipated first-person shooter...
- 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Event Stage Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard Todd Howard takes you behind the scenes and offers some insights into the game-making process at Bethesda Game Studios...
- 5:00pm – 6:30pm – Main Stage NVIDIA Presentation Join NVIDIA as we look for the Superheroes of Quakecon - the ordinary mortals who can reveal their extraordinary powers and abilities. Relevant skills and the advanced equipment will be handsomely rewarded!
- 6:30pm – 7:30pm – Exhibit Hall Event Stage Fatal1ty Challenge Come try your luck against Jonathan Fatal1ty Wendel in a QUAKE 4 shootout challenge for fun. Fatal1ty products and swag to be given away!
- 7:00pm – 7:30pm – Main Stage Escalation Studios’ Tom Mustaine With discussion, insight, and Q&A, Escalation Studios owner, Tom Mustaine, provides the “411” on the development of DOOM Resurrection for the iPhone.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
- 12:00pm – 1:30pm – Main Stage Hardware Workshop by PC Perspective Hosting a revitalized hardware workshop at Quakecon 2009, PC Perspective (www.pcper.com) will take an in-depth look at the best current and future gaming hardware available...
- 2:30pm – 3:00pm – Main Stage RAGE™ - First Public Demo RAGE creative director, Tim Willits, and lead designer, Matt Hooper, drop the top on id Software’s revolutionary new game RAGE, with the first ever public demonstration of live gameplay.
- 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Exhibit Hall Event Stage Fatal1ty Challenge
- 6:00pm – 9:00pm – Main Stage QUAKE LIVE Tournament Finals Watch the world’s best professional gamers go toe-to-toe in the exciting conclusion of the Intel Masters and Open Championship tournaments as well as the Capture the Flag Championships, all presented live on stage and over the Internet. $50,000 in cash will be awarded in this professional gaming slug-fest.
There's a press release on the official QuakeCon site detailing the QuakeLive tournaments at QuakeCon 2009.
MESQUITE, Texas - July 15, 2009 - QuakeCon once again becomes the center of the professional gaming universe from August 13 - 16, 2009, as the best players in the world set their sights on Dallas, TX, and a chance to walk away with their share of one of the richest prize pools in professional gaming. With $50,000 in cold, hard cash on the line, more than 200 top professional and up-and-coming players will clash in three days of fierce QUAKE LIVE Duel and Capture the Flag championship tournaments. Broadcasting live from the tournament floor and over the Internet, shoutcasting legends djWHEAT and TosspoT will go wire-to-wire, capturing all of the energy, excitement and behind-the-scenes drama, with live match coverage, player interviews and expert analysis. Totally free and open to the public, QuakeCon offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the greatest and most famous players in the world competing in the purest form of online competition at the coolest fan-based gaming event on planet Earth. More than 6,000 people are expected to visit the four-day LAN party, competition, exhibition and party.
The QuakeCon site has been updated with information about the map pools for this year's QuakeLive tournament. Complete details about the tournament format, rules and prize money will be announced on Monday. Map selection will be handled in a new way this year where each player or team will have the opportunity to select a map within the first two rounds of play - before any maps are discarded. For the QUAKE LIVE duel tournaments, the map pool will consist of:
Tonight the guys at QuakeLive.tv will have coverage of the NGL CTF Finals between Fires of Judaism and Et Cetera.This will be a rematch of the winners bracket final which FoJ won 2-1. Coverage of the match will begin at 9pm EDT. Your casters for tonight's action will be GreasedScotsman and TGM. Be sure to tune in live.
