Id Software has just released a new beta version of its popular first person shooter, Quake 3 Arena. Released simultaneously for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, the new version — 1.29f beta — sports various improvements over previous releases — it appears to be a fairly significant update, too.
Quake 3 Arena is the landmark first-person shooter developed by the same studio that created Doom. The game has been out for about a year and a half, and its engine has been licensed by a number of third-party developers who have in turn used the technology to create their own 3D action games, some of which have come to the Mac — like Star Trek: Voyager — Elite Force, Heavy Metal FAKK 2, and the forthcoming Mac conversion of American McGee’s Alice.
The game’s developers note the following changes in Quake 3 Arena 1.29f beta:
Long time Quake 3 Arena enthusiasts may be interested to note that the Mac release of this version is specifically for Mac OS X; historically, Id Software has released versions for Mac OS prior to X.
“A Mac ‘Classic’ release is not available at this time, but we will have an official release when this release moves out of a beta state,” said Id Software.
Id Software designer and project manager Graeme Devine is one of the company’s resident Macintosh enthusiasts — he’s a regular figure at Macworld Expos and has been evangelizing Mac OS X and Mac hardware for a while now.
Apparently Devine has also received many comments and queries from Mac users looking for a Quake 3 Arena build for Mac OS versions prior to X, as well, judging from his recent exasperated comment in his .plan file:
“The Mac OS Classic build is coming! Sheeeesh!”
Visit the official Quake 3 Arena Web site for links to the Macintosh version of the 1.29f beta update.