Split screen multiplayer

How to setup your game for split screen multiplayer.
For people who remember great times with friends around their TVs playing Quake 3 Arena on PS2 or Dreamcast.
Or for people who don't, but want to play a bit of oldschool classic with drunk friends/girlfriends.
As bonus - this guide will help you with convenient solution for controller setup and also tell you how to play Q3A on linux/macos.

Instead of introduction

I've started to write this guide long ago because process of playing quake 3 in split screen involved compiling mint-arena from source code. Basically I decided to write the guide because it's not that obvious for common folk and I wanted to provide clean and simple step-by-step guide. Yeap, Spearmint fork of ioquake3 wasn't released back then, so there was ton of text how to compile it from source code. And that stuff could melt your brain cells.
Now it's out and has drawn most of the guide as obsolete, so I scrapped it and started from scratch. With 700% more pictures! I dunno if it'd be usefull for anyone, but I hope it will. At least for my friends. If I had any in the first place.

Sorry for english that bites.

What do you need

1) A PC. Yeap, single one. May be of potato horsepower, Quake 3 is old but gold. Or something PCMasterRace like this beast:



2) Quake 3 Arena copy. Don't pirate it. Please. Or I'll find you.
How definitely legit version looks like:



3) Controllers. Seriously. Up to 4.



Healthy tip: Don't play deathmatch with keyboard and mouse against your controller-wielding friend. His/her controller may end up in your secret area. Based on my experience - it's not pleasant and you don't want this.

4) Friends. Not imaginary ones. Some real cool_guys.jpg
That's how they probably look like (I don't have any):



Everything is in check? Good, now rocketjump to the next section.

Getting the right source port or whatever it's called

There is only one for split screen support, you silly. It's called Spearmint engine. It's a fork of ioquake3 source code modification of Quake 3 engine.

Go to http://clover.moe/spearmint/
See Miku.
Scroll down until you see the download section.

How to download the right stuff:
Windows stands for Windows. If you have Microsoft Windows - download stuff for Windows. No, not microwave window (it doesn't support controllers. I tried once). For your convenience that's how the box looks:



If you do not have Windows I can't help you, I can't figure it out myself. Too bad I don't speak penguin. No, I don't speak hipster either, so figure how to run it on your apples by yourself Neuton.

Installing and configuring

All you need to do is unpack that archive file you've downloaded from spearmint.pw into your quake 3 arena folder. You are all set. Now turn on or plug your controllers and launch spearmint main exe.

For Big Picture support rename spearmint executive file into Quake3.exe so it could be launched through steam just like vanilla quake3. Note that you need to disable 'in-game community' in Quake 3 Arena properties in your steam library because in-game overlay is incompatible with Quake 3. Yes, sadly, you won't be able to make screenshots or broadcast your gameplay through steam, just use grandad methods. Also this way Steam will track your game time. The great thing about Steam isn’t playing the games, it’s showing everyone online that I do.



Main menu can be controlled with gamepad. So it's pretty Big Picture friendly.
Don't forget to setup player profiles and controllers in options. It's rather simple, I'm sure you'll figure this out in no time even without my annoyance. You'll just need to associate every player with it's own controller and then bind every button. You can name players, select models and railgun trail colour for each one if you want.

Tips for CoD lovers: jump should go on shoulder buttons or triggers.
Also d-pad could be used for direct selection of your favorite weapons. Choose weapons with convenience!

In conclusion

Now the most difficult part: You need to invite your friends over, sit around that huge TV and have some oldschool nerdgasm. Or make friends and then invite them over for some oldschool nerdgasm.

Thank you for your time. Also, disclaimer and stuff you don't need to read.

I did nothing. And I own nothing. Everything is someone else intellectual property. I stole this guide (not really) and posted it here to feel good like I actually created something in my life.

By the way. That branding image (picture of xbox one controller) is mine and I have a ton of rights to it. Over 9000 copyright stuff registered in over 90 countries, don't steal it.

Don't forget to tell your friends about Spearmint engine and how you could humiliate them with controller right in your room (oh gosh). Spread the word and have great fun with quad damage.

If you came for Dreamcast experience - you might be interested in Dreamcast map pack too.
http://www.fileplanet.com/61677/60000/fileinfo/Q3A-Dreamcast-Map-Pack

p.s.: Please no elitism over here. LAN parties are hard to plan when you are grownup, not many people has four PCs at their houses, and a lot of people have one or two controllers they could bring with them to your place (and they probably know how to use them). And with split screen Quake 3 Arena you can have this great entertainment option always at hand. There is a lot of uses for good ol' split screen multiplayer. If you are so entitled because you can't play for some personal preference - go post it on your facebook, not here. I've put some effort into this (not really), stay civil.
Quake is love. Quake is life.

[Gee_Pike]

Bought a Steamdeck for work travel, but after a year finally turning it into a docked couch co-op BEAST! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks!!!! 😁🔥

[popipopipopopipo]

to change sensitivity for another player u need to add 2/3/4 before command
1 player
cg_yawspeedanalog -> x axis speed
cg_pitchspeedanalog -> y axis speed

2 player
2cg_yawspeedanalog -> x axis speed
2cg_pitchspeedanalog -> y axis speed

[Ethanrex]

Do I put the spearmint files into the baseq3 folder?

[dr4ft ♱✮♱]

anyone who wants to play some quake?

[D1|DarK3Rdayz|LogitechGaming]

i love spearmint quake, i literally now have a console pc built and this is one of the local games i have installed, inlcuding the 1.32e patch and more. such a great mod! not if only i could get it to work with CPMA, RA3 and some others...

[bfg reaps]

i have no money, hmm well time to find a friend that has quake 3 copy orr pirate the game

[Headless Chicken]

Ok I've set it up and now both controllers control the first player. Do I need a specific controller configuration in steam for it to work?

[kakolykia]

man, it is awesome, i lold

[ඞ amogus ඞ]

I have a question...how would it be piracy if someone plays Quake 3 on their Android phone? It's not available for the OS officially and without owning a PC how exactly would you be able to purchase it and send over the game files to your phone without the operating system you need to even install it much less download it.

[Ms.Bunny0²]

@arcangelking This is a source port, specifically for Quake 3.

@SkullCruncher technically speaking, it should work, and any addon content for Q3 that is usable regardless of engine.