Version 3.1.2000
S I L V E R S T R E A M 'S
Q U A K E ]I[ A R E N A
F A Q
Unofficial Quake 3 Arena FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Compiled By: SilverStream [AGQ3]
E-mail: cqyyong@hotmail.com
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[1] Introduction
[1.1] About
[1.2] Contact
[1.3] Credits
[1.4] Notices
[1.4.1] Disclaimer
[1.4.2] Distribution
[1.4.3] Trademark/Copyright
[2] Quake 3 Arena-Frequently Asked Questions
[2.1] General
[2.1.1] Backflip Jumps
[2.1.2] CD-Check and CD-Key
[2.1.3] Changing FOV
[2.1.4] Console
[2.1.5] Controllers
[2.1.6] Curved Surfaces
[2.1.7] EAX/A3D
[2.1.8] Force Feedback
[2.1.9] Frames-Per-Second
[2.1.10] Game Engine
[2.1.11] Levels/Maps
[2.1.12] Medals
[2.1.13] PAK Format
[2.1.14] Power-Ups
[2.1.14.1] Armor
[2.1.14.2] Health
[2.1.14.3] Others
[2.1.15] Playing/Recording Demos
[2.1.16] Quake 3 Game Credits
[2.1.17] Quake 3 Demo
[2.1.18] Screenshots
[2.1.19] System Requirements
[2.1.20] Third Person Perspective
[2.1.21] Versions
[2.1.22] Weapons
[2.1.22.1] About
[2.1.22.2] Descriptions
[2.1.22.3] Rail Gun
[2.1.22.4] Special Jumps
[2.2] Single-Player
[2.2.1] Bots
[2.2.1.1] About
[2.2.1.2] Description
[2.2.2] Bot Autochat
[2.2.3] Cheats
[2.2.4] Difficulty Levels
[2.2.5] Saving
[2.3] Multi-Player
[2.3.1] Changing Color Name
[2.3.2] Modes
[2.3.2.1] Capture-The-Flag
[2.3.2.2] Free-For-All
[2.3.2.3] Team Deathmatch
[2.3.2.4] Tournament
[2.3.3] Options
[2.3.3.1] Internet
[2.3.3.2] LAN
[2.3.4] Ping
[2.3.5] Server-Hosting
[3] Modifications
[4] Editing
[4.1] CFG Files
[4.2] PK3 Files
[5] Official Releases
[6] Troubleshooting
[6.1] Before Getting Started
[6.1.1] Help System
[6.1.2] Scandisk/Defrag
[6.2] Bugs/Errors
[6.3] CD-Key Issues
[6.4] Directx
[6.5] PC Hardware
[6.5.1] CD-ROM
[6.5.2] Controller
[6.5.3] CPU
[6.5.4] Memory
[6.5.5] Modem
[6.5.5.1]: Dual 56K
[6.5.6] Sound
[6.5.7] Video
[6.5.7.1] 3dfx
[6.5.7.2] Multiple 3D Cards
[6.5.7.3] NVidia
[7] Improving Performance
[7.1] Q3A Tweaks
[7.1.1] CFG File
[7.1.2] Video Settings
[7.2] PC Tweaks
[7.2.1] CPU Overclocking
[7.2.2] Multiplayer
[7.2.2.1] Netgraph
[7.2.2.2] Modem
[7.2.2.3] Rate
[7.2.3] Windows 9x
[7.2.3.1] Ctrl-Alt-Del
[7.2.3.2] Defrag
[7.2.3.3] Scandisk
[7.2.3.4] Swap File
[7.3] Updates
[7.3.1] Drivers
[7.3.2] PC
[7.3.3] Quake 3 Arena
[8] Internet Resources
[8.1] Forums
[8.2] Utilities
[8.3] Web Sites
[9] History
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
=========================
CHAPTER [1]: INTRODUCTION
=========================
[1.1]: About
============
Thanks for picking up a copy of my FAQ and welcome to the first
release of my unofficial Quake3 Arena F.A.Q. "Unofficial" means it's not
supported or endorsed by id Software or Activision. "F.A.Q" stands for
"Frequently Asked Questions". I hope to update this FAQ regularly and
you can always find it on the website http://www.agqx.org or request it
in the newsgroup alt.games.quake3
For the latest version of this FAQ, visit my webpage:
http://www.geocities.com/cqyyong/quake3.htm
[1.2]: Contact
==============
If you have anything you would like to add to the Q3FAQ, kindly
contact me at this email: cqyyong@hotmail.com I only check my mail
occasionally (once a week or even longer) so it might take some time before
my reply reaches you.
If you have questions on Q3A, feel free to post it on alt.games.quake3
in Usenet (as long as it's not an "illegal" question--warez, cd-key)
[1.3]: Credits
==============
First and foremost to id Software, who are the producers of Q3A.
They have consistently churned out many solid games over the years
(Wolfestein 3D, Doom, Quake) and IMO one of the best game companies
ever. Keep up the great work guys!!!
Also to alt.games.quake3 on Usenet. Much information in this FAQ
came from the many cool dudes at AGQ3, who are always willing to lend a
helping hand.
To Activision, the publisher of Q3A.
Thanks to HQH for allowing me the use of his Half-Life FAQ Table of
Contents and information in this FAQ, and for his help in many areas of
this Q3A FAQ.
Last, but not least, to all the people who have contributed in one
way or another to this Q3A FAQ. I appreciate your help and this includes
you too, who is reading this FAQ right now!
[1.4]: Notices
==============
[1.4.1] Disclaimer
------------------
DISCLAIMER: I have NOT verified all information in this FAQ and
I will NOT be held responsible should something bad happens to your
computer (blows up etc), social life etc. This FAQ is purely "as-is",
i.e. YOU USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
[1.4.2] Distribution
--------------------
I. Sending copies
A. The copies are exact and complete
B. The copies give credit to the author
C. The copies are in the original form
II. Distributing this work
A. Remains original from work and should not be edited
B. Does not charge a fee for copying or distribution
III. Distributed form includes the author's notes and information
A. The distributed form is not in any magazine or
within software (permission may be obtained from author)
[1.4.3] Trademark/Copyright
---------------------------
Quake 3 Arena:
(C) 1999 Id Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Quake III Arena, QIIIA,
and the id Software name are trademarks of Id Software, Inc. in all
countries in which this game is distributed. Activision is a registered
trademark of Activision, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are
properties of their respective owners.
FAQ:
Me!!! SilverStream [AGQ3]
My current gaming rig (just in case you're interested):
Compaq Presario 4810
Pentium 1 233MHz
32MB SDRAM
Creative Graphics Blaster Exxtreme Permedia2 PCI 4MB
PowerColor Voodoo2 Reference Board 12MB
24x IDE CD-ROM
4GB HDD
Windows 95 OSR2
15" monitor at 800*600 16-bit
Generic keyboard, mouse, speakers etc.
====================
CHAPTER [2]: Q3A FAQ
====================
[2.1] General
=============
[2.1.1]: Backflip Jumps
-----------------------
You actually do this automatically when you run back and jump.
Obviously it's only visible to other players (unless you use the 3rd
person view--visit section 2.1.18 for more information)
[2.1.2]: CD-Check and CD-Key
----------------------------
2 methods are incorporated in Q3A to prevent piracy:
CD-check (CD must be in the drive in single-player mode)
CD-Key (authentication with id's servers, for multiplayer)
For CD-key issues, visit section 6.3 for more information.
[2.1.3]: Changing FOV
---------------------
Use the console command "/cg_fov" (default is 90) to change your
field of view. Lower values=zoom in, higher values=zoom out. Don't use
too extreme values or you'll get motion sickness :-)
[2.1.4]: Console
----------------
Use the ~key to gain access to the console. Here's a quick tip:
press a key and then the TAB key to view a list of available commands
for that particular key.
[2.1.5]: Controllers
--------------------
The best control method IMO is the keyboard and mouse although
many will beg to differ. Joysticks are supported but the joystick code
in Q3A is currently not as good as that in Q2.
[2.1.6]: Curved Surfaces
------------------------
To control the curvature of surfaces, use the console command
"/r_subdivisions" (values from 1-999) Higher numbers yield more blocky
surfaces.
[2.1.7]: EAX/A3D
----------------
EAX is unsupported in Q3A, unlike A3D. I do not recommend them
as they introduce a performance hit in the game.
[2.1.8]: Force Feedback
-----------------------
No Quake game (including Q3A) supports FF because John Carmack
(programmer of Q3A) has publically stated that FF is a gimmick that he
can live without. You can still use your FF joystick with the game,
but you won't get any force effects while playing.
[2.1.9]: Frames-Per-Second
--------------------------
Type in "/cg_drawfps 1" at the console to display your framerate
at the uppermost right corner of your screen. You should preferably
have >30 fps consistent for optimum play.
[2.1.10]: Game Engine
--------------------
The game engine used in Q3A is known as the "Trinity" engine,
and is written by John Carmack of id Software.
[2.1.11]: Levels/Maps
---------------------
In single-player, the maps are arranged in tiers, consisting
of several maps each. Altogether there are 31 maps available straight
from the CD (30 standard, 1 secret)
Maps From The CD:
-Q3DM0 Introduction
-Q3DM1 Arena Gate
-Q3DM2 House of Pain
-Q3DM3 Arena of Death
-Q3DM4 The Place of Many Deaths
-Q3DM5 The Forgotten Place
-Q3DM6 The Camping Grounds
-Q3DM7 Temple of Retribution
-Q3DM8 Brimstone Abbey
-Q3DM9 Hero's Keep
-Q3DM10 The Nameless Place
-Q3DM11 Deva Station
-Q3DM12 The Dredwerkz
-Q3DM13 Lost World
-Q3DM14 Grim Dungeons
-Q3DM15 Demon Keep
-Q3DM16 The Bouncy Map
-Q3DM17 The Longest Yard
-Q3DM18 Space Chamber
-Q3DM19 Apocalypse Void
-Q3Tourney1 Powerstation 0218
-Q3Tourney2 The Proving Grounds
-Q3Tourney3 Hell's Gate
-Q3Tourney4 Vertical Vengeance
-Q3Tourney5 Fatal Instinct
-Q3Tourney6 The Very End of You
-Q3CTF1 Dueling Keeps
-Q3CTF2 Troubled Waters
-Q3CTF3 The StrongHold
-Q3CTF4 Space CTF
-Test_BigBox (secret)
To access the secret level "Test_BigBox", type this in the console:
/map test_bigbox
id Software's Tim Willits gives a clarification about the "authors"
for each level in Quake III Arena:
"Many people want to know which level designer designed which map.
This is not exactly an easy question to answer. Unlike previous id games
the designers are not separate individuals working on "their" maps without
cooperation from anyone else. In order for a company to create truly great
maps all the designers must learn to work together. The team of designers
we have now is by far the best team originated group that has ever worked
at id. There are no maps in Quake3 that were developed by only one person.
Some maps were touched by as many as four different people. Expect this
design trend to continue and look forward to id creating some of the best
maps around."
[2.1.12]: Medals
-----------------
Medals measure and instantly reward outstanding combat performance.
You have to meet a minimum quota in battle in order to achieve them. There
are a total of 6 medals available in the game.
What are the medals awarded and the requirements to get them?
-Accuracy; percentage of hits-to-shots greater than 50%
-Excellent; making two frags made within two seconds
-Frags; get 100 frags
-Gauntlet; score a frag with the gauntlet
-Impressive; get two consecutive rails
-Perfect; win a match without being fragged at all
[2.1.13]: PAK Format
--------------------
The .pak/.pk3 format used by Q3A is identical to a .zip file. You
can unpack and package pak files in Q3A using this method:
Rename it to pak0.zip
Download/Install winzip (http://www.winzip.com/)
Unzip it
Do your editing
Create a new blank zip file
Make sure compression is set to NONE
Make sure INCLUDE SUBFOLDERS is checked
Make sure INCLUDE SYSTEM AND HIDDEN FILES is checked
Make sure everything else is _unchecked_
Click on add. Add the root files (the files in the pak0 folder) with the
ADD button.
Then add all the FOLDERS in the PAK0 folder with the ADD WITH WILDCARDS
button.
Rename the file back to pak0.pk3
[2.1.14]: Power-Ups
-------------------
A list of some power-ups available in Quake 3 Arena.
[2.1.14.1] Armor
````````````````
Armor is very important in reducing damage done by an opponent's
shot. You can achieve a maximum armor rating of 200 before it automatically
and gradually decreases to 100.
Types and description:
-Armor Shards (+5), green fragments
-Combat Armor (+50), shiny yellow vest
-Heavy Armor (+100), shiny red vest
[2.1.14.2] Health
`````````````````
You will definitely be receiving damage in matches, so track
these health powerups to restore your health. You can achieve a maximum
health rating of 200 before it automatically and gradually decreases
to 100.
Types and description:
-Green (+5, beyond maximum)
-Yellow (+25 to a maximum of 100)
-Gold (+50 to a maximum of 100)
[2.1.14.3] Others
`````````````````
There are a total of 7 power-ups, which remain in effect for a
certain amount of time, available.
Types and description:
-Battle Suit, protection from lava/slime/drowning/splash damage
-Flight, only available in multiplayer games
-Haste, increases movement speed and rate of fire
-Invisibility, almost impossible to detect visually
-Mega Health, increases health by 100
-Quad Damage, triples damage done by weapons
-Regeneration, increases health gradually to a max. of 200 or until time
runs out
[2.1.15]: Playing/Recording Demo
--------------------------------
To record a demo, just type in "/record demo-name.dm3" in the console
and "/stoprecord" to stop it.
To play a demo, just type in "/demo demo-name.dm3".
In both cases, "demo-name" refers to the demo we're concerned with.
[2.1.16]: Quake 3 Game Credits
------------------------------
(From the Q3A Manual)
id Software
Programming-John Carmack, John Cash
Art-Adrian Carmack, Kevin Cloud, Paul Steed, Kenneth Scott
Game Designer-Graeme Devine
Level Design-Tim Willits, Christian Antkow, Paul Jaquays
CEO-Todd Hollenshead
Director of Business Development-Katherine Anna Kang
Biz Assist and id Mom-Donna Jackson
Special Thanks to Eric Webb
Bot AI by Jan Paul van Waveren
Menu Interface by Raster Productions
CTF and Linux conversion by David Kirsch
Map Editor by Robert A. Duffy
GL Setup by Dan Teven and Chris Hecker
Additional programming by Brian Hook
Additional level design by Brandon James and Kaai Cluney
Quake III Arena Music by Sonic Mayhem www.sonicmayhem.com
Quake III Arena Music by Front Line Assembly
Sound Design by Soundelux Showorks
Bot Combat Responses composed by R. A. Salvatore and Seven Swords
Bot Chat Responses by Steve Winter
Certain Cinematics by Digital Anvil, Inc
Motion Capture by Pyros Pictures, House Of Moves, and LocoMotion Studios
id Software logo animation by Jake Rodgers
Manual by William W. Connors
Manual and Package Design by Focus 2
Illustrations by John Mueller
Additional Testing by Steve Gibson and Sean Martin
DISTRIBUTED BY ACTIVISION
Director, Global Brand Management - Dusty Welch
Producer - Marty Stratton
Production Testing - Steve Rosenthal, Steve Elwell, Steve Boisvert, Chad
Bordwell, Hector Guerrero, Chris Owens, Michael Stephan
Brand Manager - Kevin Kraff
Manual Production - Ignited Minds: Mike Rivera and Sylvia Orzel
QA Project Lead - Dan Hagerty
QA Senior Lead - Matthew Powers
QA Testers - Matthew Beal, Tracy Boland, Steve Boisvert, Chad Bordwell,
Patrick Bowman, Michael Denny, Neils Eike, Joe Favazza, Damien Fischer,
Todd Jones, Danny Lee, Matthew Morton, Matthew Nelson, Tanya Oviedo,
Chris Owens, Chad Siedhoff, Michael Stephan, Sadat Valentine, Eric Zimmerman
Thanks - Mitch Lasky, Derek McLeish, Jim Summers, Jason Wong
[2.1.17]: Quake 3 Final Demo
----------------------------
Here are some mirrors to the Q3A Final demo (47megs), in case you
haven't got the full game yet.
-http://www.quake3arena.com/demo/index.html
-http://www.fileplanet.com/index.asp?file=34621
-http://www.bluesnews.com/files/idstuff/quake3/win32/q3ademo.shtml
[2.1.18]: Screenshots
---------------------
Just hit F11 during the game. The screenshots will be dumped into
your baseq3/screenshots folder in sequence (shot0000, shot0001...) The
screenshots are saved in targa format (.tga) which you can view with an
external third party program eg. Paintshop Pro.
[2.1.19]: System Requirements
-----------------------------
Please note that this is the bare minimum required to run the
game at a playable framerate.
(Win32 Version)
3-D Hardware Accelerator with full OpenGL support
Pentium 233mmx + 8 MB Video Card or
Pentium II 266 + 4 MB Video Card or
AMD K6-2 350 + 4 MB Video Card
64 MB RAM
25 MB hard-disk space + 45 MB swap-file
4x CD-ROM drive
DX3-compatible sound card
Mouse, keyboard
Windows 95/98/NT 4.0
Multiplayer:
Internet (TCP/IP) or LAN (TCP/IP and IPX)
28.8 Kbps modem
[2.1.20]: Third Person Perspective
----------------------------------
Type in "/cg_thirdperson 1" in the console to play the game ala
Tomb Raider. Crosshairs are not available in this mode though.
Experience with the /cg_thirdpersonrange/angle commands to get the
view you like best.
[2.1.21]: Versions
------------------
There are currently 2 versions of Q3A available--the "regular"
(normal box) and the "elite" (tin box). The price is the same though.
Note: There is no "platinum" version of Q3A. It does not exist
at all and was sparked off by rumors in AGQ3.
[2.1.22]: Weapons
-----------------
Some detailed information on the weaponry available in Q3A.
[2.1.22]: About
`````````````````
How many weapons are given in the game?
-9 (not all are available in certain maps)
What are the weapons?
-Gauntlet
-Machine Gun
-Shot Gun
-Plasma Gun
-Grenade Launcher
-Rocket Launcher
-Lightning Gun
-Rail Gun
-BFG-10K
[2.1.22.2]: Descriptions
````````````````````````
-Gauntlet: Melee saw-blade, requires no ammunition
-Machine Gun: High rate of fire; spawn weapon
-Shot Gun: Since the early days of Doom
-Plasma Gun: Rapidly fires plasma pulses; inflicts splash damage
-Grenade Launcher: Just like the Q1 version
-Rocket Launcher: Inflicts splash damage in blast radius
-Lightning Gun: Generates a stroke of electricity; short range
-Rail Gun: Slow reloading; incredible damage; requires precise aiming
-BFG-10K: The Big Frickin' Gun. More powerful version of the plasma gun
[2.1.22.3]: Rail Gun
````````````````````
Most people prefer the rail trail in Q2, but the reason it wasn't
implemented in Q3A was because the current rail uses 3000 polygons, when
it shot across the screen (with the q2 rail) people with slow computers
would freeze.
There are 4 variables working with the railgun fire: check these
out and experiment:
/cg_railTrailTime
/r_railwidth
/r_railcorewidth
/r_railsegmentlength
The railgun trail might be fixed in a later patch but this is
purely a guess.
[2.1.22.4]: Special Jumps
`````````````````````````
You can jump higher than normal by performing a Rocket-Jump.
Here's how to do it: look straight down and simulataneously jump and
fire a rocket on the ground beneath. This will propel you to greater
heights previously unreachable.
Variants include: BFG-jump, grenade-jump, Quad-rocket-jump
(make sure you have loads of health and armor for the last one)
A strafe jump propels you further than a normal forward jump.
To perform it, just press strafe left/right and jump simultaneously,
all the while holding the forward key. You can build up your speed
gradually over long distances by repeatedly doing strafe jumps.
[2.2]: Single Player
====================
[2.2.1]: Bots
-------------
[2.2.1.1]: About
`````````````````
The single-player mode of Quake 3 Arena pits you against computer
controlled opponents known as bots. There are a total of 32 available for
you to fight.
[2.2.1.2]: Description
``````````````````````
Names of bots available:
-Anarki -Doom -Major -Slash
-Angel -Gorre -Mynx -Sorlag
-Biker -Grunt -Orbb -Stripe
-Bitterman -Hossman -Patroit -TankJr
-Bones -Hunter -Phobos -Uriel
-Cadavre -Keel -Ranger -Visor
-Crash -Klesk -Razor -Wrack
-Daemia -Lucy -Sarge -Xaero
Doom-Space Marine of Doom
Ranger-From Quake 1
Xaero is the last boss and he is extremely hard to defeat (even
with "I Want To Win" setting).
[2.2.2]: Bot Autochat
---------------------
Sick of the talkative bots? Use the console command "/bot_nochat 1"
to disable bot autochat.
[2.2.3]: Cheats
---------------
Type in "/devmap mapname" at the console. During gameplay, type
at the console "/god" for infinite energy or "/give all" for all weapons
and ammo.
On the other hand, it has been said that the best "cheat" is still
skill and practice :)
[2.2.4]: Difficulty Levels
--------------------------
There are 5 difficulty levels to choose from. The higher the
level, the more intelligent and accurate the bots are. Ranked in consecutive
order: "I can Win", "Bring It On", "Hurt Me Plenty", "Hardcore" and
"Nightmare".
[2.2.5]: Saving
---------------
If more than one person is playing singleplayer on your version of
Quake 3 Arena and you want to keep your game intact, simply rename the
"q3config.cfg" file to something else. When you start the game, you'll
have to re-enter your CD-Key, but the singleplayer settings will be reset.
To restore your game, simply change the name of the file back.
[2.3]Multi-Player
=================
[2.3.1]: Changing Name Color
----------------------------
In the name area of player setup...
Type in these codes for the color you want:
^1=RED
^2=GREEN
^3=YELLOW
^4=BLUE
^5=AQUA
^6=PURPLE
^7=WHITE
For example, "^1Doom" will give you a red "Doom", and "^6Frag"
will give you a purple "Frag".
[2.3.2]: Modes
--------------
A list of the multiplayer modes available in Q3A.
[2.3.2.1]: Capture-The-Flag
```````````````````````````
Get into the opposing team's home base, grab its flag, and run
home to score. Teamwork is essential--some people guarding the flag, others
guarding the doorway, I hope you get the idea.
[2.3.2.2]: Free-For-All
```````````````````````
This is the classic form of Deathmatch. It's every man, woman, and
sinister alien being for him/her/itself as the players frag everything that
moves to get the most points.
[2.3.2.3]: Team Deathmatch
``````````````````````````
It's Red against Blue in a coordinated contest of carnage. Two teams
of players work to control the arena and score the most frags on their foes.
[2.3.2.4]: Tournament
`````````````````````
Players fight each other one-on-one, while future foes watch as
spectators. The watchers wait their turns to be the challenger who wrests
control of arena from the most recent victor.
[2.3.3]: Options
----------------
[2.3.3.1]: Internet
```````````````````
Q3A is much more fun online than with bots. For beginners, the
setting-up process is actually quite simple.
Go to Multiplayer, then Specify. Just type in the IP address of
an online server and its port, and click Fight.
[2.3.3.2]: LAN
``````````````
If you're new to LAN, then please visit this site for more
information on LAN games: http://www.lanparty.com
[2.3.4]: Ping
-------------
Ping is the amount of time that a packet of information takes
to travel from the client to the server. It is measured in milliseconds
(1/1000 of a second). This situation as a whole is termed lag/latency.
Factors resulting in lag:
I. Quality of hardware (Faster computer=less lag)
II.Quality of internet connection (modem)
III.Quality of ISP (internet service provider)
Ping values can range from 0 to 9999ms. If it actually does reach
9999ms, then it's declared that the server is not available. Generally,
a reasonably playable online game should have a ping of <250ms. Values
of >400 can result in almost unplayable games.
There are 2 categories of online gamers:
I. LPBs (Low-Ping-Bastage)
-those with pings <150ms; usually use higher-quality internet connections
eg. cable, ISDN
II.HPBs (High-Ping-Bastage)
-those with pings >150ms; usually use lower-quality internet connections
eg. analog modems (56kbps and below)
Things to take note of:
If you're a LPB joining a server where most players are HPBs, it
is generally considered polite to ask first if they mind.
If you're a HPB on a server where there are LPBs, never whine
about your ping when you lose. You can always leave and join another
server.
You can view your ping during a multiplayer game by pressing
the F1 key.
For more information, visit sections 6.5.5 and 7.2.2.
[2.3.5]: Server-Hosting
-----------------------
Here are some links related to server-hosting for Linux & NT:
-Quake III Arena Server Setup Guide for Linux & NT
http://www.3dgw.com/guides/q3a/
-Quake III Arena Linux Dedicated server Binary
http://www.quake3world.com/files/linuxq3ded-1_11-i386_tar.gz
==========================
CHAPTER [3]: MODIFICATIONS
==========================
None as of yet.
====================
CHAPTER [4]: EDITING
====================
[4.1]: CFG Files
================
Use Notepad to view the contents of the q3config.cfg file.
[4.2]: PK3 Files
================
Use a Zip program to view the contents of the .pk3 file. I recommend
Winzip, a great shareware utility at http://www.winzip.com.
==============================
CHAPTER [5]: OFFICIAL RELEASES
==============================
No patches as of yet.
============================
CHAPTER [6]: TROUBLESHOOTING
============================
[6.1]: Before Getting Started
=============================
[6.1.1]: Help System
--------------------
Make sure you take a look at the included Q3A help system. This can
help to solve many common problems that you might be experiencing.
To view it, just insert your Q3A CD and select "Help" on the
autorun screen.
[6.1.2]: Scandisk/Defrag
------------------------
It is recommended that you use ScanDisk to scan for HDD errors
and use Disk Defragmenter to defragment your HDD. Visit sections 7.2.4.3
for defragmentation information, and section 7.2.4.2 for ScanDisk
information.
[6.2]: Bugs/Errors
==================
[6.3]: CD-Key Issues
====================
Remember to enter your CD key in lower case letters. If you do this
through the menu it's automatic, but if you set it from the console, upper
case letters will not work.
Please post all your CD-key problems to Activision/id Software and
NOT the AGQ3 newsgroup.
Just a reminder, do NOT email me or post on AGQ3 asking/begging
for CD-keys. You will NOT get them. Prepare to get flamed if you continue
to do so.
[6.4]: Directx
==============
The latest, Microsoft release Direct X7. DX7 is on the Quake 3 CD.
You can get the latest version of Direct X via:
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/
If you have any trouble with Direct X x.x, then you can remove
Direct X x.x by getting a program at:
http://www.ebrink.com/dxun/Direct.htm
[6.5]: PC Hardware
==================
[6.5.1]: CD-ROM
---------------
CD-ROM speed doesn't matter much if you've installed the full
version of Q3 as the CD is only used for authentication purposes in the
single-player game.
Updating your CD-ROM drivers would generally help. Go to
your CD-ROM manufacture's web site and download any new released
drivers for your CD-ROM drives.
[6.5.2]: Controller
-------------------
For PS2 mouse users, there's a utility called PS2rate written by
Juha Kujala. This little program will basically adjust the sampling rate
for a PS/2 mouse to equal or surpass that of the USB mouse.
You can get PS2rate at:
http://www.rocketdownload.com/Details/Util/ps2rate.htm
[6.5.3]: CPU
------------
Quake 2 offically supports Intel and AMD processors. SMP is supported
too. To activate it, type in "/r_smp 1" in the console.
[6.5.4]: Memory
---------------
Quake 3 Arena has a memory requirement of 64megs. While this might
be sufficient for most users, my recommendation is to aim for 128megs-
you'll get a lot less disk-thrashing and better performance.
The console command "comhunkmegs" allows you to specify the amount
of physical RAM for Q3A's use. Here's how to use it:
READ CAREFULLY...
I. Go to Start->Run->Browse to your Q3A folder
II. Click on the quake3.exe icon and select "Open"
III. The box should say "C:/program files/quake3arena/quake3.exe" (with quotes)
IV. OUTSIDE the quotes, add a space, then +set com_hunkMegs x
V. Then hit "OK"; Q3A will launch
VI. After the game loads type in the console /com_hunkMegs and hit enter
It should say used x default 56
Where x refers to the amount of RAM you want to use for Q3A.
NOTE: It is NOT recommended to use a value of x more than 3/4 of your
available physical RAM.
[6.5.5]: Modem
--------------
Always update your modem drivers to the latest.
From HQH's Half-Life FAQ:
"Winmodem is not the best choice for online gaming. In fact, they
just plain out suck. The reason is that Winmodem relies on the CPU
to do most of it's job. That's a major no-no, and a small performance
hit to your overall PC speed. Avoid getting a Winmodem at all cost.
Don't care if it's a low price. Get cheap stuff, suffer cheap stuff's
consequences. Go and buy a regular modem, and make sure it's not a
Winmodem."
If the Windows 9x computer isn't showing the correct connection
speed when connected to the internet, follow these steps.
1. Click on the Start button
2. Go to Settings and select Control Panel
3. Double-click the System icon
4. Select the Device Manager tab
5. Click the [+] next to Modem and double-click the modem you use
6. Select the Connection tab and click the Advanced button
7. In the Extra Settings field, add "W2" without the quotes (if settings are
already present in the Extra Settings field, add "&W2" to the end of the
current settings)
8. Click the OK button to exit the Advanced Connection Settings
9. Click the OK button to exit the modem properties box
10. Click the OK button to exit the System Properties box
11. Reconnect. Dial-up Networking should now display your current connect
speed.
[6.5.5.1]: Dual 56K
```````````````````
Channel bonding has no effect on ping ie. no matter how many 56K
connections you use, your ping will still be that of a single 56K.
This translates to ISDN as well. Using 2B channels has no better
latency than 1B channel.
[6.5.6]: Sound
--------------
Quake 3 Arena officially supports Aureal's A3D. Creative Lab's
Environmental Audio (EAX), the other major contender, is not supported.
[6.5.7]: Video
--------------
You MUST have a 3D-accelerator to play Q3A since software rendering
is not included in the game. Q3A takes advantage of OpenGL to perform
hardware-rendering.
[6.5.7.1]: 3dfx
```````````````
Q3A supports 3dfx cards by OpenGL. Choose Voodoo instead of default
driver to let your Voodoo x cards run as your hardware acceleration.
Please update your 3dfx video card with the latest drivers. Currently
the latest reference drivers are the DX7 beta drivers. You can get them at:
http://www.3dfxgamers.com
If you get this error: "Mutual exclusion prohibits this", then
this means that there are two programs try to use the Voodoo 2 card at
the same time. Do Ctrl+Alt+Del to see if anything else is using your
Voodoo 2 card.
[6.5.7.2]: Multiple 3D Cards
````````````````````````````
Go to http://www.3dfiles.com/utility/ and go under Multiple
Video Cards section. Click the link and it should give you multiple
programs to choose from to let you switch from 3D cards, like the
TNT/Voodoo x for an example.
[6.5.7.3]: NVidia
`````````````````
Video too dark with your TNT2 card?
-Try adding this line to your autoexec.cfg file in your Q3A\baseq3
folder seta r_gamma "1.900000"
=================================
CHAPTER [7]: IMPROVING PERFOMANCE
=================================
[7.1]: Q3A Tweaks
=================
[7.1.1]: CFG File
-----------------
[7.1.2]: Video Settings
-----------------------
You should experiment with the detail settings in Q3A to find
one that balances between speed and detail. Go to Settings->System to do
so. I recommend the highest setting on "Texture Detail" only for high-end
video cards eg. Voodoo3 or TNT2 as this might drastically reduce your
framerate.
Go to Settings->Game Options to adjust several game options.
If you want to gain maximum speed in your game, set them all to "OFF".
[7.2]: PC Tweaks
=================
[7.2.1]: CPU Overclocking
-------------------------
You can push a processor past its limit by a process known as
overclocking. This refers to the changing of your CPU speed if your
motherboard supports modification of the FSB (Front Side Bus) and perhaps
the multiplier. Multipliers are generally locked, so FSB is the only way to
overclock the CPU. Consult the motherboard's manual if the option to change
FSB is available.
Eg. A Celeron 300 can be overclocked to 450MHz. Since the Celeron
300 A (w/L2 128KB cache) is stuck on 4.5 multiplier, to get 450MHz you would
have to change the FSB 66MHz to 100MHz.
This can be quite dangerous and may "fry" your system so make sure
you get someone experienced to help you if you're a newbie. Be warned that
this will definitely invalidate your warranty so proceed at your own risk.
Also, due to the extra heating produced, the lifespan of your system may
be shortened. Thus, a cooling device eg. a fan or heatsink is a MUST to
prolong your processor's lifespan and reduce crashes.
As stated in the disclaimer, I am not responsible should you fry
your system after overclocking it. Be warned, YOU OVERCLOCK AT YOUR
OWN RISK.
[7.2.2]: Multiplayer
--------------------
[7.2.2.1]: Netgraph
```````````````````
[7.2.2.2]: Modem
```````````````````
Optimising internet connections:
-http://home.inreach.com/echevarr/html/history.htm
Registry tweaks for cable-modem users:
-http://www.speedguide.net
Tweaking guide for online gaming for modems/isdn:
-http://www.savageuk.com/faq.htm
Connection tweaks for Q3A:
-http://www.upsetchaps.com/quake3guide/AquaQuake3Guide.html
[7.2.2.3]: Rate
```````````````
[7.2.3]: Windows 9x
-------------------
[7.2.3.1]: Ctrl-Alt-Del
```````````````````````
Use this command and close everything (ESPECIALLY Find-Fast) except
"Explorer" and "Systray".
This is to free up system resources to speed up the game. If you have
MS Internet Explorer, turn off Active Desktop and revert back to Classic
Desktop. I recommend you set wallpaper to "none" as this takes up valuable
RAM too.
[7.2.3.2]: Defrag
`````````````````
Hard-drives store information in clusters on its platters. Over
time, the information may be broken up into different physical regions of
the drive and thus slow down disk access.
Make sure you defragment your hard-drive regularly (at least once
a month) to keep it uncluttered and in tip-top condition. Go to
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter.
[7.2.3.3]: Scandisk
```````````````````
Go to Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Scandisk. Be sure
to scan your hard-drive regularly to keep it free of errors.
A note: Make sure that you run ScanDisk prior to Disk Defragmenter.
From HQH's HL FAQ:
After loading ScanDisk, make sure you select the option
'Standard' under 'Type of Test'. Also, make sure you check every HDD
listed in the box. Now, click the button 'Advanced...' and enable the
following recommended options:
1. Display Summary: Always
2. Log File: No Log
3. Cross-Linked Files: Delete
4. Lost File Fragments: Free
5. Check Files For: Invalid File Names
Invalid Dates And Times
Duplicate Names
Run ScanDisk with those options enabled and fix any errors that
are given. Always delete cross-linked files, always free up lost file
fragments, and always fix invalid things. Most of these errors are useless
to bring them back, so do what's best for your HDD(s).
[7.2.3.4]: Swap File
````````````````````
Locating the swapfile on a different partition on the same physical
hard-drive as Windows will degrade overall system performance, and is not
a good idea.
The heads have to keep jumping from partition to partition every
time Windows reads/writes to the swap-this is very inefficient. Best option is
to locate the swapfile on a different physical HD than Windows (if you have 2+
HDs), or on the same partition as Windows if you only have 1 HD.
[7.3]: Updates
==============
[7.3.1]: Drivers
----------------
Very, very important. Get the latest drivers for your videocard,
soundcard, CD-ROM, modem etc. to squeeze the maximum performance from them.
Besides improving performance, new drivers usually fix problems present
in the drivers that shipped with your product.
[7.3.2]: PC
-----------
If you use Windows 9x, be sure to visit Windows Update Online at
http://windows.update.com to download the latest fixes and service packs.
Upgrading is dreaded by many PC owners. However, if you want Q3A
to fly on your system, you might have to make the occasional upgrade. Q3A
is a RAM hog and I recommend 128 MB to be the optimum. Processor-wise, the
faster the better, as always in id games :) Videocard-wise, a Voodoo2 is
considered as the bare minimum for playable framerates.
[7.3.3]: Quake 3 Arena
----------------------
id Software has not released any patches for Q3A as of the time of
release of this FAQ.
===============================
CHAPTER [8]: INTERNET RESOURCES
===============================
[8.1]: Forums
=============
alt.games.quake3
-newsgroup for Quake 3 Arena
alt.binaries.games.quake
-newsgroup for Quake binary files
[8.2]: Utilities
================
-BSP Entity Extractor
http://www.inside3d.com/qip/
-GameSpy (Lists and pings servers)
http://www.gamespy.com
-GLSetup (installs the latest GL drivers for your 3D card)
http://www.glsetup.com
-MD3 Model Viewers
http://fragland.net/md3view
http://www.planetquake.com/thebind/scripts2.htm
http://www.q3arena.net/mentalvortex/md3view/
-QRec v1.00 (automatic unlimited demo recorder)
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~otser
-Quake 3 Arena Wallpaper
http://www.quake3world.com/files/
-Servarena (Dedicated server launching front-end)
http://www.ipns.com/persona/servarena/download.html
[8.3]: Web Sites
================
http://www.agqx.org
-Website of alt.games.quake1/2/3
http://www.gamespot.com/guides/q3a_gg/
-Gamespot's guide to Q3A
http://www.quake3arena.com
-Official site of Quake 3 Arena
http://www.idsoftware.com
-Producer of Quake 3 Arena
http://members.xoom.com/HQH51/index.htm
-Home of HQH's Half-Life FAQ
http://www.planetquake.com
-Gigantic site covering Quake 1, 2 and 3
http://www.quake3world.com
-The site included in the Q3A Start menu.
http://www.tweak3d.net
-Information on tweaking video cards, modems etc.
http://members.xoom.com/HQH51/links.html
-HQH's links to several overclocking sites
====================
CHAPTER [9]: HISTORY
====================
11th December 1999 Beta Release
16th December 1999 First Release
3rd January 2000 Version 3.1.2000
Happy Fraggin'!!!
See you in AGQ3!
--
SilverStream [AGQ3]
"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
--George Bernard Shaw
Get the Quake 3 Arena FAQ at http://www.geocities.com/cqyyong/quake3.htm