Quake Live: Free to play, ad supported
Why Quake Live isn’t a free game: because there’s a $1,500 gaming computer sitting on the desk.
Pros:
- Free to play and the advertisements are not intrusive.
- It runs or will run on almost any PC.*
- Quake Live is quick and simple to get started with. The game itself downloads while players play a practice match against the computer.
- The social and community features are well done. It’s easy to track friends and join them in matches.
- The achievements system is well done, adds challenges, and contributes to replay value.
- Tons of maps and several game types also keep replay value high.
- Match-making based on skill level helps to keep a level playing field.
- Finding a match that interests a player and offers the game type they want is dead simple. One of the best mergers of a server browser/match making system that I’ve ever seen.
- It claims to be web browser-based, but requires an installer that runs outside of the web browser. **
- The game does not seem to cope well with latency. Any little bump in latency or lag will result in a deteriorated play experience.
- Game-play is twitch-based and fast. This limits the game to a niche audience.
- The text output onto the UI is tough to read and follow.
- The graphics are dated and special effects are lacking.
Quake Live significantly lowers the barrier for entry into the FPS gaming genre and as a game that is meant to be played in a web browser, it’s good. For those players lacking an up to date gaming rig, Quake Live is a golden opportunity. For those players with an up to date rig, like me, Quake Live feels dated. I have always believed in quality of game play over eye candy, but when I can pick up games like Team Fortress 2 or Unreal Tournament III for $10-$20, Quake Live loses ground. However, free is free and Quake Live delivers exactly as it has promised and offers a FREE escape for a few minutes of FPS fun. For that, I give it two thumbs up. So, go give it a try!
*as of this writing, only a Windows installer is available, but they are working on Linux and MAC versions.
**the installer installs a plug-in based on the web browser being used. For me, it was Firefox, which normally can install plug-ins without the need to download an installer and regardless of what operating system I am using at the time.
If I gave you a free DVD player would you say it wasnt free because you need a screen to view it and DVD's to play on it? :)
ReplyDeleteYou listed the game being twitch, and the graphics being dated as CONS? What part of QUAKE don't you understand? It's a freaking FPS game, no duh its twitch, and it's QUAKE, you know, an OLD game?
ReplyDeleteJust because you have to do a download doesn't mean it's not really a web based game. I mean after all you have to download flash to watch video why wouldn't you have to download something to play a 3d shooter.
ReplyDeleteI agree those other games are great but to me what makes QuakeLive great is that I can jump in and play a game in a few minutes and be done in one match. I could be done with a single quakelive match in the time it takes to get UT3 or TF2 up and running. And a lot of times these days that's about all I have time for.
@Glen
ReplyDeleteYes, I would. See my original post about free puppies.
@Anon
Yes, the graphics are a con for the game.
Secondly, I was aiming more at the fact that the game play type puts the game in a niche in a market that offers gamers specifically what they want. These are no longer the days of only a couple major FPS games to play and its definitely a con to have such a niche game.
@Dizz
I completely understand your point about the download, but is Quake Live trying to be another Java/Flash or is it trying to be a product that uses such things. It annoys me that I have to download anything to get functionality on the web and in my book nothing is truly browser based until a simple click of a link brings me directly to the "software" with no additional strings attached outside of my browser and web standards.
quit being so fussy and enjoy the game
ReplyDelete