History VideoGame / QuakeIIIArena

This game was designed almost exclusively with multiplayer mode in mind. Id had recognized the fact that the deathmatches were easily the most popular thing about ''Quake'' so far and created this entry as a virtual arena for competitive online matches. The single-player mode contained only a very basic story and was based around a series of tiers, with the player making their way to the final match against the Champion. In fact, the very term "ArenaShooter" [[TropeNamers has been coined]] after this game.

[[ExcusePlot The plot of the game]] is simple: Several warriors from all the corners of the galaxy duke it out to entertain [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien the Vadrigar]] and win the honour of being the most badass warrior of all time. Characters from several of Id's games, such as ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and the two previous ''Quake'' games, were present in it.

This game was designed almost exclusively with multiplayer mode in mind. Id had recognized the fact that the deathmatches were easily the most popular thing about ''Quake'' so far and created this entry as a virtual arena for competitive online matches. The single-player mode contained only a very basic story and was based around a series of tiers, with the player making their way to the final match against the Champion.

Like most PC games, ''III'' also has console versions. The first release was for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast in 2000, ported by Raster Software and published by Creator/{{Sega}}, and featured 4-player online crossplay versus Dreamcast and PC gamers. The second is called ''Quake III: Revolution'', and was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 in 2001, created by Creator/BullfrogProductions and published by Creator/ElectronicArts; this version features several elements (maps and characters) adapted from ''Team Arena'', along with a more mission-based single-player mode, and split-screen multiplayer for up to 4 players (sadly, it lacks mouse support and online play due to [[NoExportForYou the PS2's network adapter not being released outside of Japan until 2004]]). ''Revolution'' features several gamemodes alongside the traditional gamemodes from ''III''.

Finally, there's a UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade version called ''Quake Arena Arcade'', a joint effort by Id and Pi Studios released on December 15, 2010. This game contains some new maps and characters.

* SidelinedProtagonistCrossover: ''Team Arena''[='=]s Fritzkrieg is the closest thing to a ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein}}'' representative, as B.J. Blazkowicz himself is absent. ''VideoGame/QuakeChampions'' fixes this mistake.

[[ExcusePlot The plot of the game]] is simple: Several warriors from all the corners of the galaxy duke it out in order to entertain [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien the Vadrigar]], and win the honor of being the most badass warrior of all time. Characters from several of Id's games, such as ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and the two previous ''Quake'' games, were present in it.

This game was designed almost exclusively with multiplayer mode in mind. Id had recognized the fact that the deathmatches were easily the most popular thing about ''Quake'' so far, and created this entry as a virtual arena for competitive online matches. The single-player mode contained only a very basic story, and was based around a series of tiers, with the player making its way to the final match against the Champion.

The game has an ExpansionPack in the form of ''Quake III: Team Arena'', made by id themselves, which was focused on team games. Here you must choose a team and duke it out with the other clans. New features include the ability to give roles to your teammates, voice messages, being able to select a face in addition to a skin, three new weapons in the Nailgun, the Chaingun and the Prox Launcher, ''six'' new items in the game's own version of the Runes from ''Threewave CTF'' (here they're Ammo Regen, Doubler, Guard and Scout) as well as two new "holdable" items: the [[SuicideAttack Kamikaze]] and the Invulnerability Force Field. It also adds three new gamemodes, all of them team-based.

Like most PC games, ''III'' also has console versions. The first release was for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast in 2000, ported by Creator/RasterSoftware and published by Creator/{{Sega}}, and featured 4 player online crossplay versus Dreamcast and PC gamers. The second is called ''Quake III: Revolution'', and was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 in 2001, created by Creator/BullfrogProductions and published by Creator/ElectronicArts; this version features several elements (maps and characters) adapted from ''Team Arena'', along with a more mission-based single-player mode, and split-screen multiplayer for up to 4 players (sadly, it lacks mouse support and online play due to [[NoExportForYou the PS2's network adapter not being released outside of Japan until 2004]]). ''Revolution'' features several gamemodes alongside the traditional gamemodes from ''III''.

In 2010, Id released a free web browser version of ''Quake III: Arena'' called ''[[http://www.quakelive.com Quake Live]]'', which also added many new maps (especially [[AscendedFanfic third-party ones]]) and some extra game modes. This version was later released on Steam in 2014, and made as a paid game in 2015. Plenty of new modes were added since its announcement.

And finally there's a UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade version called ''Quake Arena Arcade'', a joint-effort by Id and Creator/PiStudios released in December 15, 2010. This game contains some new maps and characters.

All of this, of course, not counting the countless of ports and forks which have spawned ever since Id released the source code in 2005, which allowed [=Q3A=] to be played in virtually every device in existence (though not yet to ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' levels), as well as spawning many [[FollowTheLeader clones]] and derivative games such as ''VideoGame/AlienArena'', ''VideoGame/OpenArena'' and ''VideoGame/WorldOfPadman'', as well as former {{game mod}}s turned standalone games such as ''VideoGame/Q3Rally'' and ''VideoGame/UrbanTerror''.

* '''Free For All''': What other games call Deathmatch. Everyone for themselves, the one with the highest amount of frags at the end of the time period, or the one who reaches the frag limit wins. Introduced in ''III'', available in all installments.

* '''CaptureTheFlag''': The classic gamemode, played on symmetrical maps. Two teams, each with their own base, and a flag inside of it. The objective is to steal the enemy's flag and bring it to the own team's base. After touching the own flag with the enemy's, the team scores a capture. The team with the highest amount of captures wins. Introduced in ''III'', available in all installments.

* '''One Flag CTF:''' Regular CaptureTheFlag but with a twist: there's a neutral flag in the middle of the map. Both teams battle in order to bring this neutral flag to the enemy base and capture it. The team with most captures wins. Introduced in ''Team Arena''. Available also on ''Quake Live''.
* '''Harvester:''' Each of the team's base has a skull receptacle. The middle of the map contains a skull generator. Every time a player from a team frags an enemy, a skull with the color of the fragged player's team appears on this generator. The player's team can collect these skulls and deliver them to the enemy receptacle. Touching the enemy team's skull receptacle while carrying skulls grant points respective to the scorer's amount of skulls (i.e. capturing 3 skulls grants the team 3 points). The team with the highest amount of points at the end of the match wins. Available also on ''Quake Live''.
* '''Overload:''' Each base has an Obelisk, which is basically a metallic, skull-shaped monolith. Each team must infiltrate into the enemy's base and destroy this monolith. Doing so scores a point for that team. The team with the highest amount of points win.

* '''Team Possession:''' The team-based version of Possession. The holding times are added across the entire team. The team with the highest amount of flag holding wins.
* '''Elimination:''' There are several arenas on the map, and Deathmatches are played on all of them. The winner stays, the loser goes to another arena.

* '''Race:''' In this mode, all pickups are removed from the map, all players share the same spawning point, and carry infinite Plasma Gun, Rocket Launcher and Gauntlet. The objective is to pass through all the checkpoints and reach the end of the map. Enemies can be slowed but not killed.
* '''Clan Arena:''' Team-based, round-based gamemode. All pickups are removed, and all players start with full arsenal, full health and full armor. Then both teams go to war, with fragged players becoming spectators. The team whose members are the last standing scores a point. After 10 rounds, the winner is decided.

* ArcWelding: Characters, environments, and items that were previously exclusive to either of the first two games now appear alongside each other. These include Ranger, the more gothic & medieval settings, the Lightning Gun, and an invisibility power up from ''Quake'', together with Bitterman, the Railgun, and the Strogg villains from ''Quake II''.
* ArtificialBrilliance: In ''Team Arena'', ''Live'' and the console versions with actual support for ''Team Arena'' assets, bots will shoot the corpses of any Kamikaze-holding dead player, in order to prevent them from exploding.
* ArtificialStupidity: The game uses an AI system based on brushes (previously used in the Omicron AI mod for ''VideoGame/QuakeI'' and the Gladiator AI mod for ''VideoGame/QuakeII'') instead of waypoint-based systems. This, however, doesn't mean that the bots will play like humans. They cannot jump, use platforms (there's a reason of why Q3 lacks platform-based maps, and uses jumppads instead) and they cannot navigate their way onto items which take some kind of risk to get. This is also a problem in its SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/OpenArena''.
* AscendedGlitch: The Strafe Jump, a bug in the game's physics which allow players to gain higher speeds with constant jumping. By the time of ''Live'', it's even accounted in the training course.

* {{Blackground}}: The so-called "space maps", despite some of their names and classification, are ambiented in a pitch-black void with no stars or planets to be seen to actually be called "space maps". In fact, there aren't even ambient sounds, outside of those sounds emitted by the players as well as jumppads and teleporters.

* BraggingRightsReward: There are several awards obtained in-game and campaign-only post-game which don't bring any meaningful bonus:

* CherryTapping: Again, the game actually gives you a ''humiliation'' award for killing your opponent with the Gauntlet. This fact makes the otherwise useless Gauntlet a popular weapon, especially in ''Live'', where other players can see how many people you "humiliate" during all your game sessions.
* CompetitiveMultiplayer: One of the games that really started the multiplayer craze, it still has a dedicated "professional" competitive community to this day.

* DeathTrap: Some Deathmatch levels have these. They range from killing pendulums, to crushing platforms, to [[ExplosiveDecompression death pits and the void]].
* DevelopersForesight: In single player, curse at a bot. They'll comment on your potty mouth. Similarly, typing in racist slurs will have them ask if you're some sort of racist. Typing something religious will either get them on praising religion or throwing an insult at you. Really, there's a lot of topics it can handle, even though pretty loosely.

** This series of games feature characters from most of Id Software's major FPS games until its release date battling it out for supremacy, such as the SpaceMarine from VideoGame/{{Doom}}, the ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' dude (referred to as "Ranger"), and several characters from ''VideoGame/QuakeII'' including the generic Grunt, Bitterman (the protagonist of the main ''Quake II'' game), Major, and a [[GiantMook Strogg Tank]]. The only major missing figure is VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein}}'s B.J. Blazkowicz.[[note]]Well, him and VideoGame/CommanderKeen, but then again, HideYourChildren[[/note]] To make up for it, ''Team Arena'' adds Fritzkrieg, a reconstructed soldier from WWII.

* MutuallyExclusivePowerUps: The "holdables": Personal Teleporter and Medkit in vanilla [=Q3A=] and Kamikaze and Invulnerability (plus the [[DummiedOut unfinished and cut]] Portal) in ''Team Arena''. Players can use these [[UseItem at any time in the match]], but cannot carry up more than one holdable at a time. In order to pick up another holdable, the previous one must be used first.

* PaletteSwap: Multiple models have alternate skins, although they all have no more than two team textures. Bolded are the bots available in the vanilla campaign, the console-exclusive bots are in italic.

* PopStarComposer: Music/FrontLineAssembly composed some tracks for the main game. Music/SonicMayhem as well returning after doing soundtrack for Quake II.

* TournamentPlay: The longevity of the game in the competitive scene eventually led to the development of ''Live''.

** [[SuicideAttack Kamikaze]] (''Quake III: Team Arena''): Sacrifices its user causing an explosive blast that kills anyone on its radius.

** Sarge has been the center of many a promotional piece of artwork and is even the protagonist of the trailer and the final boss of the demo. In the full game proper? He's reduced to the first boss you take on.
** Klesk appears in the cover of ''Quake III: Revolution'' and early screenshots, but has no big role in the game other than being playable.
* BloodKnight: In the blurb, it says the gods wanted more entertainment, so they put you and the others there to fight, and even made you immortal so that not even ''death'' would release you from fighting.

** Point Release 1.32 comes with five maps: a CaptureTheFlag version of [[BossBattle q3tourney6 (The Very End Of You)]] called q3tourney6-ctf, and rearranged versions of four maps for TournamentPlay (pro-q3dm6, pro-q3dm13, pro-q3tourney2 and pro-q3tourney4). It also contains seven player models inspired by [[SelfInsertFic the game developers themselves]].

** And finally the character model [[https://www.bluesnews.com/s/8180/horny-model-released "Horny"]], the demon from ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'', created by Creator/BullfrogProductions (who developed the Playstation 2 version of ''Arena'') as a CrossPromotion between them and id themselves.
* DramaticAmmoDepletion: A heroic version happens at the opening cutscene, where Sarge is blasting monsters with his Chaingun, until he runs out of bullets ("Fuel Cell: Empty"), then he has no option but to hide behind a pillar.

* ExcusePlot: The game's plot goes like this: {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s kidnapped some of the greatest warriors and made them fight each other to death and redeath. You die? [[DeathIsNotPermanent They'll respawn you back]]. The best warrior will then challenge Xaero, the Arenas Eternal's champion. In the [=PS2=] version, you get to fight against the tournament's host directly, though.

** "Arena Gate", first level of Tier 1, has statues of Major and Visor; you meet Visor in Tier 5 and Major in Tier 6.
** "Hero's Keep", first level of Tier 3, has statues of Ranger, Major, Visor and Doom; you meet Doom in Tier 6.

* YourMom: These appear in random taunts the bots make, and some of them have unique reference to mommy. They can even reply to other player's chats, where the insult path include some one-liners such as "Your MOM!!"

* AscendedFanfic: Of a sort. [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:767 Two semi-official]] [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:889 mappacks]] were release for ''Team Arena'' under the supervision of Id's Paul Jaquays and Mr. Elusive. These contain ''Team Arena'' versions of some popular third-party maps such as [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:44 "Japanese Castles"]], [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:227 "Schadenfreude CTF"]], [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:567 "Crossed Paths"]] and [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:509 "An Iteration of Hell"]], as well as [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:528 "Smear Campaign"]], [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:3 "Courtyard Conundrum"]] from ''Threewave CTF'' and [[https://lvlworld.com/review/id:545 "Dynatron"]], plus a tweaked version of "Pyrmageddon".

* BondOneLiner: The characters rely on "uniformed" voice acting rather than text chat lines and there's significantly less one-liners than in the vanilla Q3, but they're still here.

** SpoonyBard: Ammo Regen. (Your ammunition regenerates... rather slowly)

* TimeTrial: Basically to what the singleplayer mode has been reduced - a series of free-to-choose challenges, in which you need to [[ScoringPoints score points]]. The time bonus, complete with the skill multiplier, deliver the biggest impact on the challenge's final score.

** The Overload gametype from ''Team Arena'' didn't made the cut.

** Cadavre, Pi and Fritzkrieg are left out of ''Live'' as well. The latter two are jarring since James and Janet ''did'' made the cut.

** The training maps are full of these. First of all, it's modelled after the Introduction difficulty map selection from ''VideoGame/{{Quake|I}}''. Then, by rocketjumping into the right places, players can discover [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} red key(card) of doooom!]] ([[spoiler:"You found a spooky secret!"]]), a poster of Orbb with Crash riding on it (OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH SNAP!), a support with "Method was here" written on it, [[SelfInsertFic a list of the Quake Live team]] and a [[BrutalBonusLevel secret, harder]] bonus challenge ([[spoiler:"You're my hero!"]]).

** The Vadrigar, the BigBad, was only mentioned in the PC version's instruction manual (where they are vaguely described as a deity or deities that "virtually nothing is known about" who gathered the player characters together to fight), and the announcer was merely a disembodied voice that announced gameplay statistics and had no identity. ''Revolution'' reveals them to be [[CompositeCharacter one and the same]] and upgrades them to being the FinalBoss.

* DamageSpongeBoss: Vadrigar has a whopping 400 health, on top of starting off with a protective shield that you have to destroy first.

* GimmickMatches: Most of the challenges in ''Arena Arcade'' take place in the other gamemodes aside of Free For All. Some of them have quirks, though, such as the low-gravity based challenges "High Flying", "Long Jump" and "Zero G".

** The "Short on Time" and "Hustle" challenges in ''Arena Arcade'' are about scoring the most frags in a short period of time.

[[ExcusePlot The plot of the game]] is simple: Several warriors from all the corners of the galaxy duke it out in order to entertain [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens the Vadrigar]], and win the honor of being the most badass warrior of all time. Characters from several of Id's games, such as ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and the two previous ''Quake'' games, were present in it.

* ExcusePlot: The game's plot goes like this: SufficientlyAdvancedAliens kidnapped some of the greatest warriors and made them fight each other to death and redeath. You die? [[DeathIsNotPermanent They'll respawn you back]]. The best warrior will then challenge Xaero, the Arenas Eternal's champion. In the [=PS2=] version, you get to fight against the tournament's host directly, though.

** [[AutoDoc Portable Medkit]]: Restores/overcharges its user's health by 100 HP.