Quake III Arena Sunday

Quake III Arena Has Gone Gold is a press release on Yahoo that announces the already-confirmed gold status of the game, and gives the officially corrected release date for the game so many of us have been trying to pin down, since the original December 12 date sounded a bit too conservative (thanks Shugashack). Here's an excerpt of the release, which says that the game will be in stores December 5, this Sunday (not that that makes much sense, either):
MESQUITE, Texas, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI - news) and id Software(TM) have announced today that Quake III Arena(TM) has gone gold. Developed by id Software, Quake III Arena is the third installment of one of the most popular computer game franchises of all time and is designed to be the final word in online multiplayer mayhem. The title, which has been sent into manufacturing, is expected to be available on December 5, 1999 at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

QUAKE III Arena is poised to take the world by storm with the most advanced 3-D engine and viciously satisfying gameplay to date. The game features the quality and excitement of id's past blockbusters along with more action, more intensity and more grandeur.

"Quake III Arena goes beyond being a computer game, and is a cultural phenomenon unto itself," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software. "With QUAKE III Arena, players can expect to experience all of the frenetic excitement, visceral gameplay and mind-blowing visuals that have become the hallmark of id titles."

QUAKE III Arena's enhanced graphics engine displays realistic 3-D environments using advanced features such as curved surface rendering and high detail textures. QUAKE III Arena will amaze fans all over the world with visual features such as moody, atmospheric use of fog and specular lighting.

The title offers revolutionary features that will enhance the single player game for the ultimate in 3-D entertainment. Incredibly sophisticated simulated warriors, or "bots," will challenge players to push their abilities to the limit of human endurance. Each of the game's 32 distinct bot characters fight with a different style and finesse, causing players to adapt and learn new combat skills. Should gamers survive the single player portion of QUAKE III Arena, the multiplayer experience is bound to demolish even the toughest hardcore gamer.

Armed with an arsenal of nine weapons, QUAKE III Arena's new deathmatch style gives gamers the heart-thumping action they demand. Players will build upon their experience through the game's 26 deathmatch and four capture-the-flag levels while utilizing their own unique abilities to guide them through battles. From sophisticated computer generated foes to the challenge of other players, QUAKE III Arena will redefine the head-to-head battle experience that spawned a cultural phenomenon.