aRQ-Lite (pronounced "arc-lite", after the bomb used by the US military), is an improved version of Tomaz' Clean Quake source.  My prime goal in starting this project is to create an improved version of Tomaz' Clean source, which is better documented for the new programmer/programmer new to the Quake engine, and to make a good jumping off point for those wishing to create their own version of the Quake engine.  I have played with the vast majority of releases of most major engines.  The one drawback has been that when working with engine X, trying to implement the tutorials found on the net is usually impossible, as the code has morphed so greatly.

The Quake editing community is quite unique.  If you look around, you will find that people have written the QuakeC Reference Manual, the Quake Map Specs, and several other in depth documents that assist the newcomer in modifying and programming Quake.  This level of detail was unique for it's time, and it even seems that there hasn't been a gaming technology since that has had this level of user commitment to it.

John Carmack and id Software have been kind enough to let us into their inner sanctum, and see the magic behind the curtain.  Carmack was shooting from the hip as he developed Quake, and many people such as Lord Havoc, Tomaz, Spike, Tei and Fuh (plus many others...too many to mention them all) have dramatically improved what was given to the community.  And every single enhancement is similarly available to the entire community.  I would like to give something back.

I want to create an engine that is "tutorial friendly".  I want to create an engine that is well documented, so someone new to game programming can better understand what's going on.  I don't want to greatly change the original engine...merely fix bugs and gear it towards today's hardware.

If anyone is interested, I would very greatly like to have contribution on this project from others!

Here are the desired goals of aRQ-Lite:

• Improve code comments/documentation to make it easier for newbie's to work with
• Remove unnecessary features such as modem support...things never used anymore
• Add basic key features which are "virtually required" in this day and age, such as model and frame interpolation
• Do not add anything that is not really essential
• Designed for today's PC's - GL only, WinQuake already nuked

My initial intent was to work the project in three phases: Remove all the unnecessary stuff, Add in the essentials, Document.  Although there has been a little expressed interest, it wasn't as much as I was hoping for.

Head over to the Files page for the latest release.