Introduction |
So youre ready to take the plunge? You were like so many of us when you purchased Quake 2 and were quickly drawn into its enveloping 3D environment and atmosphere. Perhaps now, though, the single player missions are growing tired and familiar. Youve played the computer until your joints ached and you want something new. Youve heard that multiplay over the Internet is the way to go, but youve also quickly realized that it isnt as easy as it sounds. Fear not!
This site has been designed to dispel any and all fears you may have about Quake 2 multiplayer. Ill cover all the basics and even go beyond the basics. With my assistance youll be forging your way into the jungle in no time. But first, well need to make sure you have all the proper equipment.
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
This part you most likely already have taken care of. If
youve bought Quake 2 and it runs fairly well on your
computer then you shouldnt have any trouble on the system
side. Just to cover all our bases though here are the minimum
system requirements for Quake 2, as recommend by id Software
(the creators of Quake 2):
English Language version of
Windows 95 or NT 4.0 with 100% compatible system
Pentium 90mhz processor (130mhz recommend)
16 megs RAM (24 recommend)
100% Sound Blaster Compatible sound card
Quad speed CD ROM
25 - 400 MB hard disk space
MULTIPLAYER
REQUIREMENTS
The fact that you can play Quake 2 on your PC does not
guarantee that you can play it over the Internet. If you
dont meet all of the requirements I list below then it may
be unlikely, or impossible, for you to play Quake 2 multiplayer.
Modem
The minimum speed recommend for playing Quake 2 over the
Internet is a 28.8 kps. This is a very average modem speed
nowadays. If youve got a 33.6, 56k, ISDN, or a cable modem
all the better, but if all you have is a 28.8 then that will be
enough.
Networks
What if you dont access the Internet through a modem?
Im speaking to those people who get their Internet
connections through a network at work or school perhaps. Instead
of a modem you use a Ethernet card to connect to your network. As
long as your connection is fast enough (we have T1 access at my
college) you shouldnt need to worry about speed; in fact
youll probably be the envy of most modem players!
ISP
For those of use who dont get net access through work or
school theres ISPs, which stands for Internet Service
Provider. The only thing that need concern you about your ISP is
its quality. Do you frequently have speed and connection problems
when surfing the net? Those problems might also translate to
trouble playing Quake 2 over the Internet.
Make sure you have a quality ISP. If local ISPs arent to your taste then there are several National ISPs that have dialups in most American cities. Some well known national ISPs are ATT Worldnet, Mindspring, & Earthlink. (I personally use Worldnet and have had little or no trouble with them). Local ISPs may also be a good choice if you prefer more personal, homegrown service. You can find an ISP in your town by checking with The List.
One VERY Important Note!
If you are accessing the Internet through one of the big on-line
services like America On-Line, CompuServe, or MSN then you CANNOT
play Quake 2 multiplayer. These services are different than ISPs
because they do not provide a "true" connection to the
Internet. They can be fine for e-mail and web surfing but when it
comes to shooting it up with 32 of your favorite friends over the
net they dont make the cut. If you are a member of these
services then I recommend either switching to an ISP or
subscribing to an ISP and keeping your on-line service
subscription. For example, AOL has a billing plan that lets you
access their service through an ISP and pay only $10 a month for
accessing AOL (since you use your ISP for dialup and Internet
access).
I should also note that it is technically possible to play Quake 2 over AOL - but it is so sloooooow it's not worth the effort.
HOW
THIS SITE WORKS
Before we continue I should make some mention about the layout of
this site and how to best use it. The navigation bar to your left
is essentially a users guide for this tutorial. All of the
pages in this tutorial are linked to inside the blue navigation
box. It is laid out in sequential order just like a table of
contents. Thus you should follow the guide in sequential order.
For example, you should read all the pages in Part 1 before
preceding onto Part 2.
Also, the navigation bar contains a few links to other pages that arent part of the tutorial itself, such as the help section. You are free to visit them at your leisure.
Now that we know how this site works and that we have what it takes (computer-wise) to play Quake 2 over the Internet, lets start preparing! Click the link below to go to the next page in the tutorial.