Demos
A demo is a recording of one player's perspective during a game. Many first-person shooters will play a demo when the game has begun, but before you actually begin to play. Quake and both of its Mission Packs begin in this manner. I would not, however, define the cinematic beginnings of Hexen 2, Quake 2, or Jedi Knight as a demo. These cut scenes involve levels and character animation not present in the game itself. In the case of Jedi Knight, the cut scenes also include actors portraying characters from the game.
At its most elemental level, a demo is useful as a way of showing other players your perspective during a match. However, over time the demo has been revolutionized into a teaching tool and a form of entertainment. Many have recorded short demos that showcase a particular technique or route on a specific level. Others have recorded demos showing where all the secrets are located on a particular level. These demos proved a superior way of explaining complex information about a convoluted level. Others have used the demo format as a form of self-expression, creating mini movies that can be played inside of the game.
Spotlight
Demoland
Demoland is the ultimate collection of Quake demos on the internet. Not only does this site contain hundreds of demo, it also has then organized by rating, level, point of view, and number of players. The site was originally created by Jeff Blaine, but has been updated and reworked by Patrick Cupka, the man behind The Void.
To play a demo. The commands to begin a demo may vary from game to game. Below is a brief overview on how to watch demos on Quake:
1. Download the zipped demo file.
2. Unzip the demo into your "quake\id1" directory.
3. For demos that use a special mod, like Capture the Flag, you will need to load the specialty .pak file. For example, your command line to begin the program might read "quake -game ctf".
4. Once the game has begun, bring down the console (The "~" key)
5. Type "playdemo ****.dem", where "****" represents the demo name. For example, the command might read "playdemo e1m1run1.dem".
6. Press enter.Demos for Quake require slightly different steps:
1. Download the zipped demo file.
2. Unzip the demo into your "quake2\baseq2\demos" directory.
3. Once the game has begun, bring down the console (The "~" key)
5. Type "map *****.dm2", where "****" represents the demo name. For example, the command might read "map demo1.dm2".
6. Press enter.Some demos, such as Torn Apart II, require different or additional steps. Always refer to the "readme " file before attempting to use any file or program.
Last update: January 01, 1998
This page is maintained by Darren L. Tabor,
aka DaKoTa