With the source code of Jake2 (the Java port of the Quake II code released under GPL), I've been able to create a Java client that is dedicated to connecting anyone who wants to play Action Quake at any time on nearly any computer. The requirements are very tame (anything over 1GHz and a half gig of RAM is more than enough) and the client is under constant development by myself and my ragtag team of old Action Quake fans.
You just need:
Latest version of Java
A computer made in the past decade
About 130MB of hard drive space
The easiest way to play is to head on over to http://www.actionquakeonline.com/aqo, read the How to Play if you wish, or jump right in with the Play It Now button. You will be given an option of which mode to play (these modes and much more are explained in How to Play). These browser menus are linked to small (jnlp) files (http://java.sun.com/developer/technical ... ming/jnlp/) which directly connect you to the servers hosting the games. If the server you pick is full, it will automatically redirect you to the next one of the same gametype that is not full. (One issue that I've yet to fix is that the game always crashes the first time you launch it; no worries, just click the same button you pressed previously and the game will work properly)
Currently, there are over 30 servers available to play on, and with a click of the mouse, a small download (I recommend the Full download to keep misc. downloading files from the server to a minimum), you can join in. The main web page, http://www.actionquakeonline.com/ keeps a running tab on which servers are empty, full and in between, so you can choose the server you want to play on by clicking on the server banner. It is completely browser and Java-based and run, no need to download 3rd party apps.
It is currently in beta stage, so there are some missing items (most notably, a few HUD icons, main title screen icons, tutorial map for new players) but you can setup your player, controls, video preferences and join in on any server I have up. These items and other small issues are on the Fixit list and we do plan on getting to them as soon as possible.
Here are some things I already realize, so you don't have to beat a dead horse
----1. I realize the game is ugly and the graphics are dated. This is Quake II, not Bad Company 2. It's built for speed and gameplay, not graphics
2. I realize there's plenty of bugs and missing icons/textures; these problems will be solved in updates that will occur automatically whenever you use the program
3. All of the tools and technologies I've used to make this setup are under a version of GPL (Quake II source code, Jake2 source code, Action Quake source code), so this setup is just as legal as any mod done for any engine
Please, leave feedback and constructive criticism in this thread if you wish. This is not a finished product, so I need your help to make it better! Thanks
BTW: This port audience is not focused on you guys. You all already use the game to its fullest potential with custom binds/aliases, special graphics settings and custom clients. The target audience is new people who have never or rarely played an FPS game at all and this is an attempt to make it as painless as possible to play.
