We also run a server for the classic first person shooter, Quake II, in addition to all of our other projects. This page will help you get your computer running and connected to our server, which is regularly maintained and updated. If you have any suggestions or questions, its best to post about them in the general sections of the forums. However, you can also reach the admin of the Q2 server by emailing walrii at editingarchive.com

First you'll need the full retail version of Quake 2. Either dig up your old copy or buy one for dirt cheap off of the internet somewhere. Perhaps just take (with permission!) a friend's copy. The game is so old, he/she likely won't care. Then, do a full install of Quake II (about 400 megs of space it'll use) and then update (by going here) to the latest 3.20 version, which includes Capture The Flag.

Now, you should be good to go and join the EA server. Simply bring down your console with the tilde key ("~") and then type "connect editingarchive.com" and you should be in game. The server will give you any textures, models, or maps that it is running and that you do not have, so no need to install any map packs. If you'd like, now that you're in game it's a good time to adjust you settings. Because Q2 is rather old, you should be able to turn up the resolution pretty high and still have a good frame rate. In almost all cases, you will want to use the "default OpenGL" video driver. Don't bother looking for a DirectX video driver cause there isn't one.

Try either posting in the forums your request to play some Q2 (giving a few days notice) or idle and chat in the IRC channel and politely ask someone to play with you. Sometimes a game will just start up without any notice what so ever. Another good way to play Q2 is with a server monitor such as (the appropriately named) Server Watch. Once installed and configured, it'll monitor any Quake II server you want (along with dozens of other games) and play a sound or flash in the system tray whenever someone joins the server, letting you know to join if you'd like to play with someone. If you don't like Server Watch you could also try another similar program such as Gamespy Arcade.

Id has since released the source code of Quake II, letting developers make additions and changes to the classic FPS. While these are technically unnecessary for you to play, they are highly recommended and still in development. Here are the ones that we recommend:

• R1Q2 - R1CHs Enhanced Quake II Client / Server : More of a bugfix for Q2 than a radical change, this client / server focuses on "providing stability, security and speed whilst remaining fully compatible with existing mods and other clients." This is highly recommended for all players over the default client. It even has an autoupdate feature.
• Quake II Evolved : This client is a "high end graphical update to id Softwares Quake 2." That being said, its requirements are not dangerously high, and the upgrade in graphics is very desirable. If you've got a modern PC or laptop, try this one out.
• Quake2Max : Quake2Max, like Quake2Evolved, is another client that heavily upgrades Quake 2's graphics engine. Some people have reported problems with Q2Max version 0.45 hanging when trying to play multiplayer, so try it out, if it doesn't work perfectly, use another recommended client or try an older version of Q2Max. This client also includes high resolution textures to replace some of the outdated Q2 default textures. NOTE: As of June 12th, 2006, Quake2Max development has officially stopped, and no further development is expected.

Some Quake2Evolved screenshots:



Some Quake2Max screenshots:

Maplist on EditingArchive.com Quake 2 server:

Here is the current map rotation on the server. Note that some maps have been renamed to avoid problems with filenames being too long.
citadel, unholy, jdab, esc (aka EscherTowers.bsp), pan (aka panzer_tly.bsp), and sim9.

Also on the server (but not in map rotation) is ftechfinal.

The server is setup to handle 24 people at max with a timelimit of 25 minutes and a fraglimit of 25 frags.