Stunning though today's games are, there may be no better demonstration of gaming's rapid technological growth than the ability to open up a browser window and play something that brought computers to their knees barely 10 years ago.
Quake Live
For: Various Web browsers (Windows PC/Macintosh/Linux)
From: id Software/Bethesda Softworks
Price: Free for basic account, $US24 a year for premium account, $US48 a year for pro account
But that's what Quake Live does: It takes the underpinnings of Quake III: Arena, builds a persistent community and modern interface around it, and, at its base level, gives the thing away to anybody willing to set up an account and download the plug-in needed to make it run.
Live's out-of-game particulars take place via a web portal that makes it easy to manage friends, build clans, customise characters and keep track of leaderboards, achievements, rewards and character experience.
Perhaps most pleasantly surprising, though, is a suite of tutorials and practice arenas that allow nervous newbies to practice against A.I. opponents, making Live as inviting to try out as it is easy to set up.
Live's release from beta status keeps it free to play on its base level, but for those who plan on digging in, the premium (20 additional maps, one extra mode, additional awards and clan/stat-tracking support) and pro (self-hosted server support, limited premium content sharing with friends, yet more additional awards and clan/stat-tracking support) subscription plans are available as well.
