Quake Live [kind of] coming to the Mac!
In a perfect world, this online gaming environment would have arrived simultaneously alongside the Windows version. The paradise we live in, however, is somewhat more complicated and, of course, that means compromises.
There’s Quake 4 for Mac ($40, Amazon), but that’s just slightly less geriatric than Unreal Tournament 2004. Which makes one wonder just how much longer the rest of us must wait for fresh first person killing to be brought to the fairer platform.
The answer is likewise complex with the word “soon” and phrase “don’t start holding your breath” equally applicable.
Wikipedia describes Quake III Arena thusly:
Unlike its predecessors, Q3A does not have a plot-based single-player campaign. Instead, it simulates the multiplayer experience with computer controlled players known as bots. The game’s story is brief—’the greatest warriors of all time fight for the amusement of a race called the Vadrigar in the Arena Eternal.’
That said, QuakeLive, which is based on 1999’s seminal Quake III Arena, has been worked out for Windows and id Software, this game franchise’s creator and caretaker, has said that browser-based fragging for Mac and Linux users is coming August 18th. Moreover, the fairer platform is said to be id’s top priority, though here again there’s a compromise in how it’s being delivered.
Macworld reports that the online version of the game won’t run on Safari, but only Firefox for the Mac and Linux. With launch just around the corner, as you might expect, testing is well along.
Unfortunately, sources to date haven’t said what the Mac system requirements will be, though Windows users must have a 2GHz Core 2 Duo and at least an nVidia GeForce 7 or ATI Radeon X1800, which are relatively most requirements.
Aside from system requirements that should be nominal, the other good news is that QuakeLive will be free.
Looking forward to fragging online a la Quake? I’m reserving judgment until I can feel the splatter…
What’s your take?
Related Posts:
