As someone who owns the full, registered version of ARDI, a Mac OS emulator, I was pretty surprised when rumors started popping up that this was able to run the recently released Mac Q3Test. To clarify: it will not run! ARDI doesn't emulate a PowerPC, which is required for the file to run (this includes the recently released ARDI 2.0.) Coincidentally, the ARDI page was recently updated to clarify this:

An incorrect rumor on the net listed Executor as running Q3Test, the test-version of Quake 3 that was made available for the Macintosh before Linux and Windows. Our site has been swamped as people try to download our demo to test this. Q3Test requires a PowerPC, and Executor does not currently run any Mac applications that require a PowerPC.

In what seems to be a reaction to feedback about his recent .plan update about Macintoshes, John Carmack made another large update to his .plan on the Mac, discussing the source of the performance figures he mentioned, and clarifying what he meant about the Mac OS. Here's a chunk of the large update:

...So, clearly, hand tuned asm code can make either platform pull ahead. It also shows that the two platforms are at least fairly close in performance. I never said macs were SLOW, just not quite as fast as the best intel systems.

Quake3 doesn't software rasterize, so there isn't any great place for lots of asm code (the great place is in the OpenGL driver). The code is essentially identical on all platforms.

Q3 is definitely faster on a wintel system than a macos system. When the wintel version is released, everyone will be independantly repeating that measurement.

Even this measurement isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison, because the OpenGL driver and 3D card are still a significant variance. The two can be broken out farther: Q3 can be run without 3D output to test just the identical compiled code. Wintel is still faster, although somewhat less so...

<snip>

"Sucks" is a subjective description that can be dismissed as opinion. Note that I have NEVER said that the hardware sucks, or the user interface sucks, just that the mac OPERATING SYSTEM sucks.

"Faster", when qualified with testing conditions, is objective, and all the wishing in the world doesn't change it.

Objectivity and quantification are the paths to improvement.

I will be very happy if Apple can produce a desktop system that is faster than anything else you can get. I respect good engineering from any source. Altivec should be better than the PIII extensions (trinary ops -- yeah!). The upcoming system architectures look good. They have a shot at it, but they won't make it if they complacently think "oh, we are already faster than any pc system".

My twin turbo F50 can still be outrun at the dragstrip by much cheaper race cars. Many ferrari owners would not dare set foot at a drag strip, because they fear objective measurements that may not show their important possession in the best light. I would rather have the facts, so I can base future decisions on logical grounds.

It's a Sunday, so it's time for our weekly round up of commentary from our readers. In this week's bag are letters about the Mac-only release of Q3Test, and a whole lot more about the Colorado shootings, including one from MamaBlue, and one from someone close to one of the victims. It makes for a great read, so head on over there.

• Sharky Extreme News is reporting that Leadtek is now shipping its S320 II TNT2 accelerators, making them the first TNT2's on the streets. If you are looking for more dope on this chipset, GA-Source reviews the Maxi Gamer Xentor, Guillemot's TNT2 offering.
• H-Oda!'s software downloads page has new versions of about all of their PC tweaking/overclocking utilities, including new versions of the SoftFSB Windows front-side bus overclocker, WCPUID, WCPUL2 (adjusts L2 cache latency), CPUCLK (real-time clock speed checker), WPCREDIT (edits PCI configuration register), and WPCRSET (changes the PCI configuration register). These programs are for experienced users only. Thanks Tweak3D.
• Here's the correct URL for the Mesa 3D Graphics Library, required for the Voodoo MacQ3ATest tip posted earlier (story). Thanks John.
• FPS3D.COM reviews the 3DfxCool VoodooCooler.

The Aliens vs Predator FAQ on the Aliens vs Predator Network has been updated with new info on the upcoming first-person shooter from Fox Interactive that pits aliens, predators, and space marines in combat against each other. The FAQ contains info classified as spoilers for those of you in need of refrigeration, and there are some spiffy new screenshots showing off action from the game as well. Thanks Apache.

A new version 1.01 of the SiN ReDeMpTiOn bot is now available. Thanks Ritualistic.

GA-Source interviews Jack Mamais talking to the director of Heavy Gear 2 about Activision's upcoming game of giant robot combat.

Make Your Voodoo Card Work With Q3Test is an article on how Mac G3 owners with Voodoo cards can get the MacQ3ATest running (the only cards with out-of-the-"box" support are the ATI Rage line).

A couple of readers have written in to point out that though Windows users cannot play a client with the just-released Win32 server (story), since the .pak files are now in .zip format (as was mentioned in a few .plan updates long ago), it is now easy for curious Windows users to take a peek at the art assets in the Q3ATest. Thanks Spork and datahead.

The unofficial Half-Life FAQ housed on this page has been updated to version 4.24.

The AirQuake II site has a new version 0.8 of this amazing modification for Quake II that puts you behind the joystick of your own jet aircraft (among other things). The new release offers new toys to choose from like five new fighters, four new bombers, and three new helicopters, as well as a new tank, and goodies like jammers and stealth modes.

The Quake 3 Arena page has been updated with word of a Quake III Test Server List to list and locate Q3ATest servers. Thanks Q3Arena.net. Here's the lowdown:

We've whipped up a quick webpage that will show you a list of Q3Test servers reporting to our master server. It's really ugly at the moment (read: It's functional) and we'll tidy it up tommorow.

Remember, if you are running a Q3Test server, and would like for it to report to our master server, make sure you start the server with +set dedicated 2

http://underworld.idsoftware.com/cgi-win/q3aservers.exe/

The Quake 3 Arena site has the Win32 server release of the Quake III Arena test release, which will allow you to run a server (only). Here's a local copy and mirrors of the 21 MB Q3ATest Win32 server. Here's the lowdown:

This version of the test allows you to run Win32 dedicated servers only. It does not let you play the test locally on the Win32 machine. We highly recommend Windows NT as a good stable environment for dedicated servers. Windows 95/98 will run, but will be prone to more problems.

This Quake 3 on Macintosh site has a few tips for running Q3ATest on a Mac, as well as screenshots of MacQ3ATest. There are also some more shots on this page and on Q3Arena.net.

The new installment of the always entertaining PyroPimps Show features a conversation with Adam Pletcher and Dave Baranec from Volition about the upcoming just-announced Descent FreeSpace 2, as well as "too much other nonsense" (their words). RealPlayer required.

• A new version of the GLQuake Commando scripting program for GL Quake (1) is out...
• iXBT ASUS AGP-V3800 Review (TNT2). Thanks Tweak3D, where they have posted some TNT2 overclocking results of their own.
• Hot Hardware has overclocked a Voodoo3 to 200 MHz.
• The German RIVA pages ASUS AGP-V3800TVR preview.
• Intel Xeon 500MHz Processors Review on the Review Zone.
• Speedy 3D reviews the Card Cooler.
• AMD K7 500 trounces Pentium III-500 is a speculative TheRegister article based on some leaked info. Thanks AMD Zone.

There's an Xtom 3D demo for download at 3DFiles.Com, a demo of a game they describe as a "typical 3D arcade shooter."

Enternet Global Network page has a new 646 Alpha build of the EGN server-browser/ICQ-esque chat client. Thanks BetaNews.

Next-Generation Online's Anachronox Preview is up, one of those short 3dfx game of the week dealies. Thanks Apache.

Sharky Extreme's First Glimpse at Homeworld looks at this upcoming action/strategy hybrid from Relic Entertainment.

The Æstats Page has a new version of this log file analyzer for 3D Shooters that offers stats/ranking output in HTML. The new version features support for Half-Life 1.0.0.9.

A report on Thresh's FiringSquad gives the outcome of a challenge placed against them by the bold souls at 3DGN, all the way to the point in the second match where they used nothing but hand grenades.

• Game Development Search Engine offers yahoo style listings of related links...
• The PQ Skins Tutorial has been updated with an editorial article titled "Here Come the Bastards" which "discusses the dangers of being recruited by start-up game companies over the internet who may be out to take advantage of your inexperience"...
• There's an X-Wing Alliance strategy guide on MakeItSimple.Com...

Wow, an awful lot of you wanted to know if I was serious or not about buying a Mac yesterday, including OzNet who wrote in: "traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! traitor!!! =)" I presume the smiley was sincere, and he was kidding (but you never know). Anyway, I was kidding myself, even if he wasn't. I guess if the Win32 release is to follow soon enough I can wait for that to come out...probably .

Link of the Day: The Uncanny MacOS Page. I've been waiting for the perfect time to use that one.