Most games sold today have multiplayer capabilities. Sometimes that features Internet play, though occasionally it is confined to a computer network. Game owners are used to seeing multiplay touted on the box, even though they may have never tried it. Quake III Arena will include features aimed at both veteran death-match players, as well as those who've never tried playing online. This will be the primary single-player aspect of the game.
Players can progress through ever-tougher opponents until they've beaten the best of the bots.
Hollenshead likens it to games such as Mortal Kombat. Once novices feel comfortable with death-match play, they'll be able to use a simple Web page to find a server on which to compete against others. Click on the server of choice, and the game automatically launches and connects. Carmack, working with fellow programmers John Cash and Brian Hook, designed and programmed the game's engine, which controls the overall look and behavior of the game. Designers Christian Antkow, Tim Willits, Paul Jaquays and Brandon James built the levels in which players wander.