QEXPO - FAQ

What is QExpo and when will it take place ?

QExpo is to Quake1 what a meeting like E3 is to game developers. It's a chance for all Quake1 coders, mappers, skinners and modelers to get together during a limited period of time (20th to 29th of July) to show their skills. Unlike E3, QExpo is a virtual meeting, that is, the meeting place is a site (http://qexpo.condemned.com) and not a "real" place. However, much like E3, QExpo also offers booths (even if virtual) and many opportunities for Quake1 fans to get together, during irc and Quakeworld parties.

 

Who's behind QExpo ?

QExpo is not the creation of one person, but of the core of the Quake1 coding and mapping communities. It's important to underline the fact that QExpo was designed by fans and for the fans, not in an attempt to make money in any manner. Among the people who played a role in the setting up of QExpo, one ought to mention Horn, Nane and JBallou, who designed the main QExpo site which will host the booths during the exhibition. Also to be mentionned are people like CocoT, FrikaC, LTH, Akuma and Koolio who played an important role in bringing ideas forward with the goal of making QExpo the most enjoyable event as possible.

 

What is there to see ?

The site you're browsing through right now is the official QExpo site. This is the place where all the action will be taking place during that very special week. First of all, this is the place via which you'll be able to reach the various hosted booths. Booths are like little sites inside the main QExpo site. Each of them are managed by a different Quake1 coder, mapper, skinner, modeler, or, more generaly, a Quake1 modding group. You will want to browse through and check these booths during the exhibition, because they will be the places where mod, map, model and skin releases will be announced. QExpo is indeed about everybody trying to release new material for the Quake1 community and sharing it with the world.

Next to booths, the site also offers news (mainly release announcements), reviews, articles, editorials and schedules for various irc and Quakeworld parties. It's the center of the whole event, a place to check again and again during the whole week.

 

Why did you guys set up QExpo ... isn't Quake1 dead ?

QExpo's main goal is to show the whole gaming community that Quake1 modders at large still have a lot to offer. Far from being dead, the Quake1 community has nothing to be jealous of the newer gaming communities, particularly once one consider the new opportunities opened by engine-coding. So QExpo's goal is to become a virtual showcase of the newest and freshest Quake1 modding news and, hopefuly, to bring some people back to Quake1 playing and modding. Of course, QExpo is also a chance for all modders to get together and have a good time with all the Quake1 fans via fun tourneys, competitions and forum/irc discussions.

 

How can I participate ?

As a Quake1 fan, being here is already like participating. Browse through the site, download the latest files, drop a note on the forums about them, write to the authors, join us on the QExpo channel, take part in Quakeworld parties ... you'll see that there are a lot of things you can do. Be sure to check the various schedules on the menu to be informed on the upcoming events.

As a modder (in that we include all the people that create add-ons for Quake1, be they maps, mods, engines, skins, textures, models ... etc), you can play a very active role in QExpo and, like many have already done, create your own booth for all the site surfers to see. In this way, you, too, will show that Quake1 still has a lot to offer. You'll not only be part of the party, you'll literaly be at the core of it.

 

What are the requirements to build a booth ?

There are several "rules" you should follow before asking us for a booth. First of all, you have to be sure your booth will be 100% quake-related. We won't accept any booth that has contents obviously unrelated to ID's classic shooter. Then, you'll have to be able to offer during that week something new and unreleased. With that we mean that we don't want the booth to be a mere link page to your site, itself offering mods that were released a long time ago. Fresh contents is the key here. Note that we do not "demand" downloadable files. Even though it *is* true that many of the booth-owners will indeed release files (mods,maps,engines ... etc), we also accept to give developers booth space to show things like screenshots, videos and/or demos but also reviews,articles and interviews. The only thing that we ask is, again, that this material be exclusive. We don't care what you make of it *after* QExpo, but if you show something during QExpo, we ask that no one else before has seen it.

As you will see, booths are created automatically. You get booth space as soon as you ask for it. However, that does NOT mean we don't keep an eye on applications and booth contents. If we find something suspicious in your booth or if you use your booth for something different from what it is intended for, it will be removed immediately and you will lose the right to create a new account. So be sure to keep your commercial spam, porn or warez away. We don't want it.

 

I have just applied for a booth ... what do I do now ?

Well, doh, you fill it with goodies ;) Seriously, now, you'll see that, once you log in, you have access to a blank form in which you can add the code that will make the booth page. The code you have to write or copy-paste in there is regular htm code. If you're using a program like Frontpage, for example, what you can do is write your text as you want it in the wysiwyg window of Frontpage, then copy-paste the html code into the booth's form window. If you're not using such program, then you can write the contents directly into the blank form, keeping in mind that you might need some tags such as the following : <b> blablabla </b> for bold , <u> blablabla </u> for underlined , <a href="http://www.link.com"> blablabla </a> for a link ... etc, etc. Those of you that are slightly familiar with web design will know what I'm talking about. Those are not are advised to use a wysiwyg html editor and copy-paste the htm code afterwards.

Of course your site doesn't need to be only one page with plain text. You can add pictures via "click here to upload images" and ask for additional pages via the "extra pages" button. To link to the images <img src = "url">. Use the URL you were given when you uploaded your image. If you forgot it, just go to the list of files. You can find that link on your booth page. To link to extra pages, simply use the preview link that is on your booth edit page. Don't worry, no one can view those pages except you until the expo is opened.

 

Where and how do I upload my files ?

 

This will be told closer to the QExpo (ie its still being worked on).

 

When in the week should I make my files available ?

This decision is left entirely up to you. However, before you settle on dates, you might want to take several things into consideration. Check the forums at Inside3d under the QExpo section. Look at what other people are doing on those days and add what you plan to do. This will help in two ways. First of all, it will enable us to keep on updating the main page on a daily basis and not give visitors the impression that QExpo is somehow "slow" on some days and not on others. Then, it will also mean better coverage for the files released. If everyone releases his/her stuff on the same day, surfers will be swamped by information and are likely not to download everything. Making your files available on a quieter day means that they will be spotted by all the members of the community a lot more easily. Another thing you might want to take into consideration are the various "themes" attached to each day of the exhibition. The themes can be seen in the schedule. If you realize that your mod, map, engine, model, skin, article, review, interview would fit into the thematic chosen for a particular day, you might want to consider releasing it on that day (doh).

 

What if I don't respect my schedule ? Will I be kicked from QExpo ?

No. Don't worry about it. We have to admit we really wish to see people respect their schedules (if only to make it easier for newsmen to update the main page), but we also realize that it's not always easy to meet dead-lines when it comes to modding. If you think that your release or article/review/interview will come one or two days later than scheduled, just be sure to drop a note to one or two journalists and tell them when you'll be able to make it. Remember that QExpo is "only" 10-day long, though. If you have a large-scale project to be released for QExpo, make sure your planning is well-thought and manageable during and, more importantly perhaps, *before*?the exhibition. Don't dissapoint Quake1 fans by cancelling everything you had mind simply because you were over-optimistic on your capacitites and about your free-time. It's better to keep quiet on a project and then please everybody with a "surprize" release than doing it the other way around.

 

I have my booth done ... but how will I get news to be posted on the main page ?

According to the schedule you will have provided, the various newsmen from the main page will regularly scan your site to see if there is any interesting announcement. News about the release of files, screenshots, articles, reviews and interviews will then be posted as quickly as possible on the main page by them. However, in case you decide to release something at an unusual or unscheduled time or in case you feel that newsmen have somehow "forgotten" you, don't be afraid to send a note to one or two of them indicating which news you'd like to see posted. Things will be done as fast as possible to meet your wishes.

 

How can I quickly get in touch with other Quakers, QExpo participants and QExpo "officials" ?

Next to mail, there are two possibilities for you to quickly get in touch with everybody involved in QExpo. First all, there is the QExpo Inside3D forum, where you can post any message related to QExpo or even Quake in general. Then there is also the official QExpo channel, over at innergamer : #qexpo on irc.innergamer.net. In case you want to be sure you're not missing any bit of info and chat opportunities, you can also check #qc on GamesNet, a regular meeting place for Quake1 mod and engine coders and #terrafusion on GamesNet, the nesting place for most Quake1 mappers.

 

I'd like to do even more than just a booth .. how can I help ?

For the moment, we don't really need any further help as far as the site is concerned. However, it's always good to know that there might be people willing to help in case something goes wrong with the people in charge. So feel free to send a mail to cocot.qexpo@caramail.com , stating the fields where you'd be willing to help. We won't answer you mail straight away but will contact you in case we fell we might need an extra hand.

But there are other ways with which you could help to make QExpo an unforgettable experience than helping us with the site and offering visitors a booth. As hinted at above, QExpo will also be the opportunity for fans to get to play together on on-line servers. If you own a game server and are willing to run Quake1 on it during QExpo, we'd greatly appreciate if you'd let us know. The more servers we have, the better. Quakeworld "parties" are scheduled for each day of the exhibition and you could easily add your party to the bunch by simply contacting us about it. We would also like to use this opportunity to run unsual mods and maps rarely played otherwise for lack of players. So if you're willing to run something a bit more special than regular deathmatch maps, that'd be even better. Drop us a note at cocot.qexpo@caramail with the date and time when you'll be ready to invite people over and we will happily add you to the Quakeworld parties list.

Other than that, you can of course set up any other event related to Quake and which, you think, might interest the community. Once again, you simply need to write us a mail about it and we'll echo the news on the main page.

 

What's the deal with these "Booth Babes" ?

E3 has its real booth babes, we decided we should allow developpers invited at QExpo to have their own virtual booth babes. Basically, that means you're allowed to offer pics of girls (or boys, if you're a girl) which you consider to be "mascots" for your booth. There are only three restrictions. First, we ask that these models have some relation with your booth. With that we mean, we'd prefer you to play around with pics to give the impression that these models really have something to do with you or Quake1 in general (you could add, for example, a logo on their t-shirt) than having pictures of models coming out of the blue. It's not reeeeeeally bad if you fail to do so, though, it's just that it'd be more fun. Second restriction : don't turn your booth into a picture gallery. Remember QExpo is first of all about ID's shooter, not sexy girls and boys. We suggest that you do not exceed the number of four new booth babes per day and that you don't keep all these pics on the main booth page. Third and important restriction : no p0rn or even nudity of any kind. Keep it at the level of good taste, people. Infringement on this last restriction will result in the automatic and irreversible cancellation of your booth, so please don't play around with it.