Patch Info

Latest Patch: 3.20

Patch Location http://download.com.com/3000-2103-900744.html?tag=lst-0-5
Patch Location http://www.idsoftware.com/hot
Trial Version ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/idgames/idstuff/quake2/q2-314-demo-x86.exe
Info Site http://www.planetquake.com
Extra levels ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/idgames2/quake2/levels/

Running Servers

If you are running a WindowsXP machine, you will find that whenever someone leaves your server, your game will crash. To fix this, simply download the 3rd party release of the quake2.exe v3.21 here.
If you are running a Quake 2 Server on MSN Gaming Zone, or anywhere else for that matter, if you aren't already aware of it, there are some unscrupulous people using a program called q2msgs to flood and crash q2 game servers. Don't fret there is help. Download Squeaky Quake 2 here. Once you have it downloaded, unzip the file to your C:/quake2 dight=ory. You should then rename your original quake2.exe to quake2.old or something of that nature. Once that is completed, rename the squake2.exe to quake2.exe and you are set.

LAG: How to Tame the Beast

Listed are some of the ways to possibly but not necessarily, rid yourself of lag. You will be able to address some of the issues, but most likely, not all the issues. Just keep in mind that any attempt is better than no attempt, and if nothing else, you are now armed to slay the beast.

There are no guarantees that any of this information will improve your quality or speed of connection. I also take no responsibility for anything that may be adversely affected by the use of this information. If there is any portion that you don't feel qualified to do, contact a professional to assist you.

The Simple Things

Look for a good latency between you and the host of the game by left clicking and holding on the hosts name to see the current latency. Latency, also refered to as ping, is the amount of time it takes your computer to send a packet of information to another computer and a response be returned to your own, measured in millaseconds.
Go through the console commands and turn off some of the eye candy, i.e. particles, certain lighting effects, etc. Or get yourself an autoexec.cfg that is designed to these things for you. Tweak 3DPlenty of information for tweaking modems, drives, win9x, memory usage, etc. Links to drivers and initialization strings for cleaning connections as well. Specifically, check out tweakdun.
Check for more than one dial up number to you ISP for you area. Try any and all numbers to see if connections are better over one than the others.
Ask people in your area that use the internet and see what service they are using, what they are using there internet connection for and consider changing to a more desirable service provider.

The more Involved Stuff

If you use the line for your internet connection for data only, try making a voice call on it and listen for any noise, crackles and hisses. If you hear any call your phone company and request a line noise check. If a check is required, you should be given a report in some form containing the parameters of the check and the accepted ranges they may fall in.
If possible and it won't always be, check the rating of your current line run to your phone jacks. More than likely it's CAT 1 wiring. Find out the length of wiring required and replace with IWC Verified (UL) CAT-5 wiring. CAT 5 carries a higher impedence and more reliable signal. Infomation acquired from communications engineers.
If all else fails get a faster connection. Check pricing and availability of ISDN, DSL and/or cable. ISDN won't put you in high hosting range but will get you into a range to pick and choose the games you wish to join. DSL and cable, depending on your ISP can put you into hosting range.

THE MODS

The following instructions are for running mods from the console within the game. These require at least one or more restarts of the game. For instructions that require one or no restarts at all go back to home and consult the advanced area.

Host and launch the game as normal (you must be the host). Once you reach the game setup screen press the ~ key to go to console. Follow the instructions for the mod you wish to run out of the list. Restarting through multiplayer simply means pressing the ESC key and going to multiplayer and selecting start network game.

For any other information regarding necessary key bindings and miscellaneous information, please consult the readme file that came with the mod.

Be aware that some mods have seperate downloads for server files. It will not be necessary in all cases to use the "exec server.cfg" line if you do not get the seperate downloads. Also, the gamex86.dll's in the server downloads is sometimes more stable for hosting and I suggest getting them if they are available. In either case, the server gamex86.dll will work whether you host or join a game.

Just check the folder for the mod you wish to run and see if the server.cfg is present (for some mods the server.cfg is named differently, i.e. server.cfg for lithium is lithium.cfg).

50 MODS IN CURRENT LIST

3 TEAM CTF V1.11 http://3tctf.gamepoint.net
set game 3tctf
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

ACTION V1.0c (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://action.telefragged.com
set game action
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec inetserver.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart. If you wish to change any of the entries in the inetserver.cfg you will need to save as another name as the file is write protected. (suggest server.cfg)

AIRQUAKE V0.6 http://www.planetquake.com/ikq/airquake.htm
set game airq2
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

ASSASSINS V1.1 beta http://www.planetquake.com/assassins
set game assassin
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

ASSAULT V0.94 http://www.captured.com/assault
set game assault
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

ASSIMILATION V2.2 http://www.planetquake.com/assimilation
set game assim
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

BALANCE OF POWER V0.92 http://www.planetquake.com/bop
set game bop (Enter then restart through multiplayer)

BRAZEN V1.0 http://www.planetquake.com/brazen
set game brazen (Enter then restart through multiplayer)

CAPTURE V1.06c (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/kunani/capture
set game capture
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

CAPTURE THE FLAG V1.5 http://www.captured.com/q2ctf
set game ctf
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

CATCH THE CHICKEN V2.0 http://www.planetquake.com/chicken
set game ctc
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

CHAOS V1.11 (available on EXTREMETIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/chaotic
set game chaos
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

COUNTDOWN (No version number. Doesn't matter. It's done) http://www.planetquake.com/rxn/countdown
set game countdn
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

CRUSH DEPTH V1.1c http://www.planetquake.com/4thdimension
set game crush
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

CRY HAVOC V3.05 http://www.planetquake.com/cryhavoc
set game cryhavoc
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec deathmatch.cfg or teamplay.cfg (depending on your choice of play)
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

DUEL V2.0 http://www.planetquake.com/qdevels/duel
set game duel
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

ERASER V1.01 (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://impact.frag.com
set game eraser
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

FREEZE TAG V1.18c http://www.planetquake.com/freeze
set game freeze
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

GLOOM V1.0b http://www.planetquake.com/rxn/gloom
set game gloom
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

GAMERS XTREME (GX) V1.01 http://www.gamers.com/gxmod/news.asp
set game gxmod
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

HEADHUNTERS V1.20 http://www.planetquake.com/headhunters
set game hh
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

HOLYWARS V2.1 http://www.planetquake.com/holywars
set game holywars
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

HUNTER/HUNTED V1.0 http://www.planetquake.com/hunter
set game hunt
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

JAIL BREAK V2.3a (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/rxn/jail
set game jail
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

JUGGERNAUT (Retail) http://www.headgames.net
set game jugfull
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

KEYS 2 V1.94 http://www.planetquake.com/keys2
set game keys2
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec keys2.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

KICK V1.1a (available on EXTREMETIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/kick
set game kick
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

KING OF THE HILL (KOTH) V2.0 http://www.planetquake.com/osp
set game koth
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

LASERMINE CAPTURE THE FLAG V2.0 (overwrites current ctf files) http://www.captured.com/lasermine
set game ctf
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

LITHIUM V1.23 http://www.lithium.com
set game lithium
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec lithium.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

LOKI'S MINIONS CAPTURE THE FLAG V4.0 http://www.planetquake.com/lmctf
set game lmctf
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

MAD ROCKETS demo http://www.thecoven.com/dh.shtml
set game mademo
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

NIQ V1.95 http://www.planetquake.com/niq
set game niq
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec niq.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

PAINTBALL V2.0 beta1 http://http://www.captured.com/digitalpaint
set game pball
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

Obviously it is not possible to install the above and below mod at the same time since they both use the same folder name. For that reason, if you like them both, we suggest you keep the downloads.

POWERBALL V2.0 (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/powerball
set game pball
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

PRONDISX V1.1 http://www.planetquake.com/gameshow
set game prondisx
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

QPONG V1.1 http://www.planetquake.com/qpong
set game qpong
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
There is no included server dll file. There is however a program that will build one for you.

QWAR 2 V02.666 beta (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/shadowgate

set game qwar2
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

RAIL ARENA V1.2 (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/rail
set game rover
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

RED ROVER V1.0 (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/infinity
set game rover
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

REVENGE OF THE STROGGOS V1.32b2 http://www.planetquake.com/ros
set game ros
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

ROCKET ARENA V2.2 (available on EXTREMITIES NET PACK #1) http://www.planetquake.com/arena
set game arena
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec server.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

ROGUE aka GROUND ZERO (Retail)
set game rogue
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

SUPERHEROES II V1.01 http://www.planetquake.com/modsquad/super2
set game super
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
Hit the "t" key for communications and type in "the sun is a mass of incandescent gas" (without the quotes). Have fun with it and don't let the temporary flare up of solar tissue burn your backside.

TANGENTIAL V1.60 http://www.planetquake.com/tangential
set game tangential
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)
exec tangential.cfg
(After entering the above line the game will restart.)

URBAN DM V1.02 http://www.captured.com/urban
set game urbandm
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

VANILLA CTF V0.7 http://frag.com/vanctf
set game vanctf
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

WEAPONS OF DESTRUCTION V6.02 http://www.telefragged.com/weapons
set game weapons
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

XATRIX aka THE RECKONING (Retail)
set game xatrix
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)

ZAERO V1.1 (Retail) http://www.teamevolve.com
set game zaero
(Enter then restart through multiplayer)