March 22nd 2005, Quakecon ten is announced. Celebrating a decade of peace, love and rockets. The oldschool lan gears up for its testimonial year and celebration of all things ID Software, but could this be the last we see of Quakecon in the format its become known and loved for?
May 27th 2006, Quakecon 11 is no nearer than its ever been and the idea big cash prize lans has changed around Quakecon's eyes. Quakecon now, is possibly the ONLY 1 off lan event left in the competitive gaming calender. The pro gaming world is becoming very used to the World Tour format of a stop in each country and over the next 12 months three different organisations (CPL, Kode5 & WSVG) will all offer multiple lan events spanning all over the globe, throw in ESWC and WCG with their national qualification and Quakecon is now unique.
It wasnt always like this though... Roll the clock back to Quakecon 2003 and look at your gaming calender. CPL Summer was just weeks before Quakecon, plus Quakecon could happily boast a rivalry with the CPL. Through the love hate relationship of CPL boss Angel Munoz with ID Software and then the rivalry between staff of the events, the actions of each event were vitally important to competitive gaming. Quakecon had its place alongside the CPL on the gaming hierarchy and it could afford to be fussy.
In 2003 Quakecon dropped TsN (unofficially) because of its decision to cover the CPL that year, resulting in somewhat unknown and unproven XCast taking to the microphone for that event. This just one year after the legendary performances of TsN casters like djWHEAT for Quake and WarWitch for RTCW, performances that are milestones in their now extensive careers.
Quakecon could proudly swagger in the face of its competition, because it had its prestige in the gaming world, and its tournaments continued to bring out the best in their games, and there was the same magic about Quakecon as there is about Christmas.
There is no denying that Quakecon is unique, to steal the line that G4Tech stole from djWHEAT, the BYOC really is the "heart and soul of the event", and the competitions must bow down to the family atmosphere of the event. Quakecon staff are one big family, attendees travel from all around the states to meet up at the event and it is a highlight in peoples calendars.
All of the above is owed in no small part to the business plan, or bottomless pockets of ID Software. Yes Quakecon is a marketing event, and could well be viewed as an ID trade show. However their heavy funding made it so incorruptible and even ID could afford to have principles in one of the most expensive cities in the States, at peak season, in a hotel that apparently is visible from space. Everything is bigger in Texas and the bill for Quakecon is no different.
However, you've got fewer qualms spending such an amount of money when you've such a passion for your games and their communities. John Carmack personified this in 1997 by handing Thresh his very own Ferrari as a prize in the Microsoft Red Annihiliation tournament. However are we about to see the end of the LAN as we know it?
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that Quake 4 was not the game people hoped it would be, and you'll be lucky to get John Carmack's toy ferrari outta him for that game. Game Developers and publishers around the globe are not making the money they were 18 months ago, and when your games arent selling, then mindsets move from expensive hobbies like Quakecon and back to bread and butter issues of paying the bills and making sure you're still filthy rich.
With ID lacking a widely acclaimed successful title for possibly 5 years now, dating back to RTCW's release in 2001 and the failure to successfully purchase Activision, from the outside it certainly looks like purse strings must be tightened.
In early 2006 Quakecon were quoted as saying that they were currently exploring other options for Quakecon 11. Including moving the LAN out of Texas, and most importantly the Gaylord Ranch. This is in vast contrast to the announcement by the CPL of last year, who proudly announced they had agreed a 3 year deal with the venue to house the CPL summer. Speaking of the CPL, Angel Munoz made peace with ID and is now using Quake 4 at the CPL events, along with WSVG and ESWC.
This all means that Quakecon no longer needs to be trade show for ID Software, as the CPL and other organisations are now fulfilling that role for them again after a few years of only ESWC and GGL running prestige lan events with ID games.
So with Quakecon possibly looking outside of Texas, and the other LAN events doing ID's advertising and PR for them, all suggests that one of the most secretive gaming organisations may well be looking to change the model that proudly gives it prestige and honour, no matter the year, no matter the game.
May 27th 2006, Quakecon 11 is no nearer than its ever been and the idea big cash prize lans has changed around Quakecon's eyes. Quakecon now, is possibly the ONLY 1 off lan event left in the competitive gaming calender. The pro gaming world is becoming very used to the World Tour format of a stop in each country and over the next 12 months three different organisations (CPL, Kode5 & WSVG) will all offer multiple lan events spanning all over the globe, throw in ESWC and WCG with their national qualification and Quakecon is now unique.
It wasnt always like this though... Roll the clock back to Quakecon 2003 and look at your gaming calender. CPL Summer was just weeks before Quakecon, plus Quakecon could happily boast a rivalry with the CPL. Through the love hate relationship of CPL boss Angel Munoz with ID Software and then the rivalry between staff of the events, the actions of each event were vitally important to competitive gaming. Quakecon had its place alongside the CPL on the gaming hierarchy and it could afford to be fussy.
In 2003 Quakecon dropped TsN (unofficially) because of its decision to cover the CPL that year, resulting in somewhat unknown and unproven XCast taking to the microphone for that event. This just one year after the legendary performances of TsN casters like djWHEAT for Quake and WarWitch for RTCW, performances that are milestones in their now extensive careers.
Quakecon could proudly swagger in the face of its competition, because it had its prestige in the gaming world, and its tournaments continued to bring out the best in their games, and there was the same magic about Quakecon as there is about Christmas.
There is no denying that Quakecon is unique, to steal the line that G4Tech stole from djWHEAT, the BYOC really is the "heart and soul of the event", and the competitions must bow down to the family atmosphere of the event. Quakecon staff are one big family, attendees travel from all around the states to meet up at the event and it is a highlight in peoples calendars.
All of the above is owed in no small part to the business plan, or bottomless pockets of ID Software. Yes Quakecon is a marketing event, and could well be viewed as an ID trade show. However their heavy funding made it so incorruptible and even ID could afford to have principles in one of the most expensive cities in the States, at peak season, in a hotel that apparently is visible from space. Everything is bigger in Texas and the bill for Quakecon is no different.
However, you've got fewer qualms spending such an amount of money when you've such a passion for your games and their communities. John Carmack personified this in 1997 by handing Thresh his very own Ferrari as a prize in the Microsoft Red Annihiliation tournament. However are we about to see the end of the LAN as we know it?
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that Quake 4 was not the game people hoped it would be, and you'll be lucky to get John Carmack's toy ferrari outta him for that game. Game Developers and publishers around the globe are not making the money they were 18 months ago, and when your games arent selling, then mindsets move from expensive hobbies like Quakecon and back to bread and butter issues of paying the bills and making sure you're still filthy rich.
With ID lacking a widely acclaimed successful title for possibly 5 years now, dating back to RTCW's release in 2001 and the failure to successfully purchase Activision, from the outside it certainly looks like purse strings must be tightened.
In early 2006 Quakecon were quoted as saying that they were currently exploring other options for Quakecon 11. Including moving the LAN out of Texas, and most importantly the Gaylord Ranch. This is in vast contrast to the announcement by the CPL of last year, who proudly announced they had agreed a 3 year deal with the venue to house the CPL summer. Speaking of the CPL, Angel Munoz made peace with ID and is now using Quake 4 at the CPL events, along with WSVG and ESWC.
This all means that Quakecon no longer needs to be trade show for ID Software, as the CPL and other organisations are now fulfilling that role for them again after a few years of only ESWC and GGL running prestige lan events with ID games.
So with Quakecon possibly looking outside of Texas, and the other LAN events doing ID's advertising and PR for them, all suggests that one of the most secretive gaming organisations may well be looking to change the model that proudly gives it prestige and honour, no matter the year, no matter the game.
