It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

This time, it's Quake! Or more precisely, QTest, the alpha-test
released to the public 30 years ago (plus or minus a few days; it was
released February 24 1996). It was mostly intended as a technology
test for the engine, shipping with only a few deathmatch maps and a
lot of bugs.

It was still extremely popular, although I myself don't remember if I downloaded it before or after I actually played the released version
of the game.

While I was never that impressed with Quake-the-game, it undoubtedly
marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, not only for its 3D
technology, but also for a lot of QOL features we now take for granted
(like an in-game console, or the ability to change resolutions on the
fly, or easy multiplayer). And, in a way, QTest heralded the 'early
access' releases that are so popular today.

So, for the third time, let's raise a glass to yet another legacy
software program for making it to the big three-oh!



(And I'll see you all in 115 days to celebrate the proper release of
Quake 1 shareware! ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to
his unders :)

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

This time, it's Quake! Or more precisely, QTest, the alpha-test
released to the public 30 years ago (plus or minus a few days; it was >released February 24 1996). It was mostly intended as a technology
test for the engine, shipping with only a few deathmatch maps and a
lot of bugs.

It was still extremely popular, although I myself don't remember if I >downloaded it before or after I actually played the released version
of the game.

While I was never that impressed with Quake-the-game, it undoubtedly
marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, not only for its 3D
technology, but also for a lot of QOL features we now take for granted
(like an in-game console, or the ability to change resolutions on the
fly, or easy multiplayer). And, in a way, QTest heralded the 'early
access' releases that are so popular today.

So, for the third time, let's raise a glass to yet another legacy
software program for making it to the big three-oh!

(And I'll see you all in 115 days to celebrate the proper release of
Quake 1 shareware! ;-)

* --

Funny. I was released on February 24th, 1958 :-)

-pw

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to
his unders :)

Or a big deathmatch game with this newgroup's people. :)
--
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." --Matthew 22:37-39. Ant doesn't even love himself! Slammy outty humpy day!
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:38:24 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to
his unders :)

Or a big deathmatch game with this newgroup's people. :)

Well at that point I think it would be more like the Special Olympics
:)

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2/26/2026 8:53 PM, Rin Stowleigh wrote:

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:38:24 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to
his unders :)

Or a big deathmatch game with this newgroup's people. :)

Well at that point I think it would be more like the Special Olympics
:)

Yeah-PW has been trying American Truck Simulator for years now
and STILL hasn't figured out how to get the fucking truck out
of the garage. Many major retards here. Spalls plays the game
with mouse + keyboard. I guess British people are too cheap to
buy peripherals like a steering wheel & pedals.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:29:40 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

This time, it's Quake! Or more precisely, QTest, the alpha-test
released to the public 30 years ago (plus or minus a few days; it was >>released February 24 1996). It was mostly intended as a technology
test for the engine, shipping with only a few deathmatch maps and a
lot of bugs.

It was still extremely popular, although I myself don't remember if I >>downloaded it before or after I actually played the released version
of the game.

While I was never that impressed with Quake-the-game, it undoubtedly
marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, not only for its 3D >>technology, but also for a lot of QOL features we now take for granted >>(like an in-game console, or the ability to change resolutions on the
fly, or easy multiplayer). And, in a way, QTest heralded the 'early
access' releases that are so popular today.

So, for the third time, let's raise a glass to yet another legacy
software program for making it to the big three-oh!



(And I'll see you all in 115 days to celebrate the proper release of
Quake 1 shareware! ;-)

* --

Funny. I was released on February 24th, 1958 :-)

Maybe you were developed as someone expected to play QTest 38 years
later. Are you sure your parentage isn't anyone involved with Quakes development team?

Young Carmack: Imma gonna create the greatest game ever and release it
in 1996... but who's gonna play it? Wait, I've got an idea!



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2/27/2026 10:44 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:29:40 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

This time, it's Quake! Or more precisely, QTest, the alpha-test
released to the public 30 years ago (plus or minus a few days; it was
released February 24 1996). It was mostly intended as a technology
test for the engine, shipping with only a few deathmatch maps and a
lot of bugs.

It was still extremely popular, although I myself don't remember if I
downloaded it before or after I actually played the released version
of the game.

While I was never that impressed with Quake-the-game, it undoubtedly
marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, not only for its 3D
technology, but also for a lot of QOL features we now take for granted
(like an in-game console, or the ability to change resolutions on the
fly, or easy multiplayer). And, in a way, QTest heralded the 'early
access' releases that are so popular today.

So, for the third time, let's raise a glass to yet another legacy
software program for making it to the big three-oh!



(And I'll see you all in 115 days to celebrate the proper release of
Quake 1 shareware! ;-)

* --

Funny. I was released on February 24th, 1958 :-)

Maybe you were developed as someone expected to play QTest 38 years
later. Are you sure your parentage isn't anyone involved with Quakes development team?

Young Carmack: Imma gonna create the greatest game ever and release it
in 1996... but who's gonna play it? Wait, I've got an idea!

The best part of PW ran down the crack of his Momma's ass.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:27:16 -0500, bill_wilson <bill_w@aol.com>
wrote:

On 2/26/2026 8:53 PM, Rin Stowleigh wrote:

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:38:24 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)! >>>

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to >>>> his unders :)

Or a big deathmatch game with this newgroup's people. :)

Well at that point I think it would be more like the Special Olympics
:)

Yeah-PW has been trying American Truck Simulator for years now
and STILL hasn't figured out how to get the fucking truck out
of the garage. Many major retards here. Spalls plays the game
with mouse + keyboard. I guess British people are too cheap to
buy peripherals like a steering wheel & pedals.

Many years ago I remember having a minor debate with someone here
about how playing driving games that support analog throttle sucked
when playing with a keyboard, because adjusting throttle with on/off
keyboard taps gave such poor / spotty control even if it gave the
player the illusion of decent control over their speed... I really
don't remember if it was Spalls or not. but I stand by that idea if
anyone cares about a decent driving experience, they shouldn't be
doing that. At the same time it's probably okay to keep doing that,
as long as they're not under the delusion that they're having a decent
or remotely realistic driving experience. But hell if they're having
fun doing that, have at it. I do it all the time in games like
Battlefield where driving realism isn't the point... I'm usually
jumping in vehicles that are (by the games design) okay to be driven
at full throttle at all times.

I usually just grab my wired Xbox controller for use of the the
trigger in games that benefit from decent throttle control. I do have
a decent Logitech wheel but its in a closet and I haven't used it in
10 years just because I guess I'm not a fan of the inconvenience of
setup and tear down.

As far as Spalls, I don't think he's British. I could be wrong but
I'm a reasonably well traveled guy that can usually detect that
quickly even in someone's typed messages and I never got a UK vibe
from him.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:16:19 -0500, Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com>
wrote:

As far as Spalls, I don't think he's British. I could be wrong but
I'm a reasonably well traveled guy that can usually detect that
quickly even in someone's typed messages and I never got a UK vibe
from him.

And besides, the honorable Mr. Rob, the now mysteriously absent Andrew McPherson (not sure where he made off to) and and some other
upstanding members of this NG have been British so let's don't blame
anything on that :)

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:44:30 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:29:40 -0700, PW <noneused@noneused.net> said
this thing:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson >><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

This time, it's Quake! Or more precisely, QTest, the alpha-test
released to the public 30 years ago (plus or minus a few days; it was >>>released February 24 1996). It was mostly intended as a technology
test for the engine, shipping with only a few deathmatch maps and a
lot of bugs.

It was still extremely popular, although I myself don't remember if I >>>downloaded it before or after I actually played the released version
of the game.

While I was never that impressed with Quake-the-game, it undoubtedly >>>marked the beginning of a new era in gaming, not only for its 3D >>>technology, but also for a lot of QOL features we now take for granted >>>(like an in-game console, or the ability to change resolutions on the >>>fly, or easy multiplayer). And, in a way, QTest heralded the 'early >>>access' releases that are so popular today.

So, for the third time, let's raise a glass to yet another legacy >>>software program for making it to the big three-oh!



(And I'll see you all in 115 days to celebrate the proper release of >>>Quake 1 shareware! ;-)

* --

Funny. I was released on February 24th, 1958 :-)

Maybe you were developed as someone expected to play QTest 38 years
later. Are you sure your parentage isn't anyone involved with Quakes >development team?

Young Carmack: Imma gonna create the greatest game ever and release it
in 1996... but who's gonna play it? Wait, I've got an idea!

*-

I don't know!

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 01:38 this Friday (GMT):

Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:14:52 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

It's birthday season, apparently (and I'm still late in reporting it)!

To celebrate, you and I should set up a 1-on-1 online frag cage match
and post the Youtube result for all the on-lookers here :)

We can call it the RinSpalls Olympics... Ah fuck it you know what?
I'll even give ya first billing ... It's the SpallsRin Olympics then
.... A good leader knows always when like to give and show generous to
his unders :)

Or a big deathmatch game with this newgroup's people. :)

Sounds fun, though I haven't actually played the game much :P I'd
definitely watch the recap of the 1v1 if you go through with that,
though!
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)