Quake Live Public Beta Launches To High Demand

x1n933k writes "For anybody who was sitting on top of Quake Live's website today, clicking refresh and waiting for it to open, you can now browse over and join the fun. Unfortunately you'll have to hold in a queue: 'Here we are all dressed up and nowhere to go. Don't worry, to make sure everyone can enjoy the game we have activated our super secret Queue system, which keeps the server from being overloaded and affecting the website.' I've been waiting 40 minutes and now up to 591, after starting from 9982 but have been playing Quake 3 to kill time." The queue bounced up over 15,000, and as of this posting, is down to about 7,000. It moves pretty quickly, and there's an explanatory tour to watch while you wait. Reader Rogerpq3 contributes an interview with id's John Carmack and Marty Stratton, in which they discuss the game's technology and server infrastructure, as well as their thoughts on mod support.

plugin required

[shird]

I just waited in queue for 5 minutes or so, only to be taken to a 'download plugin' page, which probably isn't compatible with my browser Opera.

I don't get it, this game requires a plugin to play? If you require players to download and run client side non-sandboxed code, why not just have a standalone client rather than playing through your web browser?

It's a .msi installer too, so probably requires admin access. So what's the point of this?

Re:plugin required

[Anonymous Coward]

REALLY?

I had honestly thought this was going to be a java or flash built in-browser game.

Man, that sucks.

Re:Terrible.

[drik00]

What part of "BETA" don't you understand? You expect a beta version for three platforms INSTEAD of someone using their head and putting together a beta for the most popular platform while they work out the kinks?

And yes, I'm a linux user, but I have common sense.

J

Windows Only, glade I waited 30 minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

Well apparently its Windows only, would have assumed the website would not keep you waiting for 35 minutes only to have you download a "Windows Only" plugin, would think a simple OS check would return that your platform was not supported and save you the time. Kind of eliminates the benefit of a browser plugin, if that plugin only supports 1 platform.

Re:plugin required

[Brian Gordon]

Wait what? How is an in-browser version any better than the standard Quake 3 if you have to download and install a plugin? "Reduces code" doesn't make sense, they've already written the lobby code and it's in Q3A. "Reduces the amount of time" is also nonsense; it takes less than 10 seconds to start Q3TA and connect to a server.. I'm not playing an fps in my browser when I can fire up the real game.