id Software fragments Quake Live community

[rec]

Quake Live has been a huge success amidst the Quake community as it united the players of old, and made it more convenient than ever for new players to get involved. Now though, leaving beta, id Software has decided that it's going to splinter the player-base by making many maps only playable by paying subscribers.


Quake Live was never going to remain free forever, but it was assumed that an elegant pay-to-play structure would be imposed. Instead, we see "Premium" and "Pro" members get access to maps that others won't. It's a crying shame that this clumsy, discrimination-by-content approach has been taken, falling in-line with everything gamers seem to hate about DLC from developers such as Infinity Ward, with Modern Warfare 2.

Regardless, there's no doubt that this web-based reincarnation of Quake 3 will have some serious longevity, thanks to the ladder system and the fact that the game is still tremendously fun. You can read the full subscription perk list in their official announcement.

On a final note, it seems the forums were 'reset' for launch, deleting all newbie guides and config posts, and of course all of the previous Quake Live discussion. What gives, guys?

[rec]

Article updated to correct those inaccuracies - thanks for pointing them out.

[Kawolski]

I tried to get back into it recently but it seemed dead. Was barely anyone playing in the local servers.

[rec]

They're quite busy at the time of writing this - I just popped in for a game.