Quake: how the future of tech was already here in the late 90s

From accelerating GPUs to tight-knit digital communities, our current world was significantly catalyzed by a multiplayer game

Gaming had a broader impact on today’s world and business leaders than you might know about. Some areas this occurred in are obvious like RTS (real time strategy) games that taught young people very practical strategic thinking. I wrote on this briefly before. Your nerdy friends now in their 30s/40s are intimately aware.

But in the late 1990s a FPS (first person shooter) computer game emerged that not only revolutionized the gaming industry but also offered a prophetic glimpse into the future of computing and with it, much of our modern lives. Quake, developed by id Software and released in 1996, wasn't just another time-killer, it was a catalyst for technological and social change. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. Lots of things start out looking like a toy.

To briefly illustrate how much alpha was here: an ambitious Quake player paying attention who purchased $5,000 of NVIDIA stock when they acquired 3DFX in 2002 is now sitting on >1.1 million today. All they had to do is think to themselves 'yeah, games are cool and will probably get better.' They likely had a 3DFX chip in their computer at that time and visually saw the evolution of graphics engines play out in front of them. The future is generally here, it’s just not evenly distributed, as the saying goes. GPUs now power much of the world daily well beyond gaming.

So, gamers who delved into the world of Quake beyond the game itself found themselves inadvertently preparing for the tech landscape of tomorrow. Let's go through some ways Quake foreshadowed key trends that would become ubiquitous in the years to come. Perhaps this will help you consider what is already here today that’s a glimpse of the future (more on this at the end of the post).

LAN games were precursor to esports

Pioneering LAN (Local Area Network) Quake wasn't just about battling monsters and adversaries in virtual worlds, it was also what fostered in-person multiplayer gaming experiences. In the late '90s/early 2000s, before esports was a thing, multiplayer gaming often meant gathering friends in the same physical space, connecting computers via LAN cables, and immersing themselves in frenetic matches. Setting up LAN parties became a rite of passage for gamers, requiring them to learn the intricacies of network configurations, router setups, file sharing and more. The esports industry is now worth from several billion to >10B annually depending how you calculate it. Quake was critical for it to exist, it’s just official, sponsored and formalized now.

Quake geeks frequently built their own systems and became hardware pros

The old reliable 939 pin board

Serious gamers wanted the latest hardware, and to be able to have full control over their systems to get the most out of them. Quake was a demanding game and having an edge in performance mattered. Old school gamers not only built their own rigs, but learned how to tweak computer BIOS settings, overlocked processors, built elaborate cooling systems etc in order to get the most out of their machine. This hardware 101 was integral for young folk to become interested in computer science, and was in my estimation (having been in the trenches) a big part of what inspired a DIY culture that spawned untold companies and innovations.

You would be hard pressed to find a passionate gamer in the 90s/2000s who hadn’t at least opened their PC to upgrade RAM. Many of them went on to start billion dollar companies, or at the least help create them. A concern I continue to have in the age of mobile is the lack of hardware culture and understanding (you can’t open and take apart your device) and even Apple machines are mostly unserviceable independently. It’s sad we’re creating a world where most users are basically hardware illiterate.

Server-side innovations - WinQuake walked so online gaming could run

QuakeSpy let users discover games at any point, without knowing about them beforehand

With the release of WinQuake, a Windows-compatible version of the game, players gained access to a new frontier: an open world of online servers. Connecting to servers allowed gamers to engage in multiplayer matches with opponents from different geographic locations, and play various styles of the game (deathmatch, capture the flag, team fortress etc).

Initially, accessing these servers wasn't as simple as clicking a button; it required a basic understanding of networking protocols and server-client interactions. Ambitious gamers who sought to host their own servers or customize gameplay experiences delved into the intricacies of network administration, inadvertently acquiring skills that would become highly-valued in the digital age. The total market cap of companies in the online gaming space is in the 100s of billions, trillions if you count Microsoft. It could have been something different than Quake that kicked off the multiplayer boom and networking innovations, but it was indeed Quake.

Social media precursors: the rise of gaming forums

Social media isn’t new just because forums are now in pastel colors and on mobile

Long before the advent of mainstream social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Quake enthusiasts found their online community hubs in the form of internet forums. These forums served as virtual meeting places where players exchanged strategies, posted memes, and discussed the latest developments in the Quake universe. From modding tutorials to player-run tournaments, Quake forums facilitated collaboration and camaraderie among gamers, foreshadowing the social dynamics that would later define the digital landscape. It turns out, being a gaming nerd and part of a community gave you many of the skills to run social media marketing for a company a decade later.

GL Quake: pushing the boundaries of GPU development

I mentioned how much a gaming nerd could have made purchasing NVIDIA shares when they were consolidating competitors. In addition to its profound impact on multiplayer gaming and online communities, Quake played a pivotal role in driving the advancement of graphics processing technology. In the late 1990s, the visuals showcased in Quake were groundbreaking, pushing the boundaries of real-time 3D rendering (GL Quake). However, achieving such visual fidelity came with significant technical challenges, prompting manufacturers to accelerate the development of more powerful and efficient graphics hardware. This symbiotic relationship between game developers and GPU makers fueled a cycle of innovation, with each pushing the other to new heights. This all paved the way for the stunning visual experiences we now enjoy in modern gaming, AI, media production and more.

Game design empowerment: Quake's level editor

One of Quake's most enduring legacies is the embrace of user-generated maps through its level editor. This powerful tool allowed players to unleash their creativity and design custom maps for the game. By providing gamers with the means to shape their own gaming experiences, Quake empowered a generation of amateur game designers and modders. The modding community that emerged around Quake spawned countless fan-made creations, from imaginative maps to total conversion mods, showcasing the transformative potential of user-generated content in gaming. This DIY ethos would later find expression in platforms like Steam Workshop and Minecraft, where players continue to shape and enrich the gaming experience through their creations. Creative skills developed here are transferrable to a number of areas and industries.

Parting thoughts

Ambitious gamers who immersed themselves in the world of Quake unwittingly prepared themselves for a digital landscape that would be defined by connectivity, community, and creativity. As we reflect on the legacy of Quake, we recognize its profound influence on the evolution of computing and enduring impact on the way we play, connect, and create.

It’s noteworthy of what’s not here: the expensive gaming controllers for Quake and other games are now dead and the companies making those products are mostly gone. They were highly touted but the best players never used really them, they stuck with simple keyboard and mouse which was ultimately the most simple and effective. Pro gamers knew fancy joysticks and input controllers were more novelty than real utility. So don’t get too excited about VR, it could meet the same fate (as I wrote, I’m not buying the hype there just yet).

My other wonder is how much of the above potential for exploration has been removed by today’s mobile games or more ‘finished’ experiences, where less direction and creativity is needed by end users, and what, if any lessons the more ambitious players will learn. I am sure there are some, even if Quake and the 90s internet were true pioneers of an untamed space. Seeing the answers here may be similarly profitable over the long term.

Bonus content: I found a really cool vlog on the history of Quake and company that built it, definitely worth a watch if you’re curious about learning more about this story.