id Software Rocks the Nation from the Heart of Texas with QuakeCon 99 is a press release announcing the return of QuakeCon, this year as an official id event, offering the "first official tournament for Quake III Arena." Thanks CalBear at FiringSquad. Break out your cricket shoes, the event is slated for August 6-8, 1999 in Mesquite, Texas. Here's part of the release:

MESQUITE, Texas, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Id Software(TM), a leading independent developer of entertainment software, today announced details surrounding the official QUAKECON 99 event scheduled to invade Mesquite, Texas on August 6-8, 1999. QUAKECON 99 offers QUAKE® fans from around the world the ultimate opportunity to quench their quest for survival with the first official tournament featuring id Software's groundbreaking 3-D title, QUAKE III Arena(TM).

QUAKECON 99 will be co-sponsored by Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI - news), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD - news), Apple Computer (Nasdaq: APPL - news), and ATI Technologies (Toronto: ATY - news; Nasdaq: ATYTF - news).

"QUAKECON 99 is a tribute to both new and lifelong fans of a phenomenon generated by id games," said CEO of id Software, Todd Hollenshead. "QUAKECON 99 is the perfect opportunity to showcase this remarkable fervor by inviting fans from all over the world to meet the QUAKE III Arena challenge."

QUAKECON 99 is the event QUAKE players have been waiting for -- the ultimate opportunity to frag in the intense multiplayer world of id's newest prodigy, QUAKE III Arena. Attendance is free and limited to 1000 enthusiasts. Like-minded souls will gather for intense deathmatch competitions throughout the event. In addition to the main tournament, QUAKECON 99 will offer journalists attending the event a chance to test their skills against each other during the exclusive QUAKECON 99 tournament held for media.

"The QUAKE phenomenon has swept the world and the frenzy will continue with QUAKE III Arena at QUAKECON 99," states Eric Johnson, senior vice president of marketing for Activision, Inc. "QUAKE III Arena will let gamers take their QUAKE experience to new heights of interactivity and mayhem with amazing single and multiplayer-action gameplay."

Along with the competitions, QUAKECON 99 will also host a variety of gaming workshops conducted by the team behind the success and cultural phenomenon that is id Software. Topics will range from discussions on level design and programming to the insightful detail of art sketching and mod creations.