Point Release Woes

Since last week's release of the Quake II Point Release v3.12 patch, gamers have been downloading the patch file from our servers - and from everywhere else on the Web. Having a fast T1 helps, but when the servers on the other end have maxed out, you're more likely to score a date with Claudia Schiffer than get the patch.

For all those players who have the patch installed, word on the Web is that the patch has a few significant bugs, the first of which is a server bug that for no apparent reason crashes Quake II servers running the 3.12 version.

On the GameSpot Quake II server this problem has surfaced all too frequently. Also, a few gamers have e-mailed GameSpot News that they can't even start Quake II after the patch is installed because of a message that says "Error During Initialization."

One suggested solution is that you should delete the file gamex86.dll and then reinstall the 3.12 patch.

Id Software's John Carmack is well aware of the problems, and id is currently working on a 3.13 patch to fix the problems. Reasons for the problems have to do with the way the original Quake C code has changed to a more straightforward use of C. Carmack repurposed some of the original code for the gamex86 file and says that there should have been more time to design around the change in code.

One interesting element in this scenario concerns Activision's (Quake II's publisher) and id's protocol for patch testing and distribution. Apparently, when id delivers code to Activision, id adds no new features to the game - id only focuses on the upcoming patch.

During patch testing, id fixes bugs in the upcoming patch and Activision reports any new bugs that it finds to id. Id's Barrett Alexander said that "in many cases , id and Activision found the same bugs."

With future patch releases, Carmack said that id will release the patches as betas, stating in his current plan file, "A dozen professional testers or 50 amature testers just can't compare to the thousands of players who will download a beta on the first day."

Apart from the bugs, the eight new deathmatch levels are great for blasting fellow fraggers. Since the GameSpot server keeps going down, though, gamers will have to wait for the 3.13 patch to fully appreciate the work that went into the massive new levels. Alexander said that the problem with servers (which was attributed to a memory leak) was remedied in under 24 hours and is now being tested by Activision.

When can the 3.13 patch be expected? Id's policy of "when it's done" still stands, but the new patch should be released shortly.