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So you’re 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. You’ve played the computer until your joints ached and you want
something new. You’ve heard that multiplay over the Internet is the way to go, but
you’ve also quickly realized that it isn’t 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. I’ll cover all the basics and even go beyond the
basics. With my assistance you’ll be forging your way into the jungle in no time. But
first, we’ll need to make sure you have all the proper equipment.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
This part you most likely already have taken care of. If you’ve bought Quake 2 and it
runs fairly well on your computer then you shouldn’t 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
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 you’ve 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 don’t access the Internet through a modem? I’m 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 shouldn’t need to
worry about speed; in fact you’ll probably be the envy of most modem players!
ISP
For those of use who don’t get net access through work or school there’s 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 aren’t
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 or CompuServe, then generally 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 don’t 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 note that it is technically possible to play Quake
2 over AOL - but it is generally so sloooooow it's not worth the effort. However, I have
heard from AOL users who had 56 and even 33.6 connections who said they could get
satisfactory speeds over AOL, so you might want to give it a try.
I should also add that I have recieved e-mail from an MSN
user who says that he (with a 56k modem and using Dial Up Networking) has had no problems
playing Quake 2 over MSN.
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 user’s 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.
There are navigation links located at the bottom
of each page in this guide. A "Next" link will take you to the next
page in the guide. A "Previous" link will take you to the page
preceding the current page you are at in the guide.
Now that we know how this site works and that we have what
it takes (computer-wise) to play Quake 2 over the Internet, let’s start preparing!
Click the link below to go to the next page in the tutorial.
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