How to play Quake online multiplayer/deathmatch (with friends)

I will try to show you how to play Quake online/multiplayer as simply as I can. I am writing this guide because I had a hard time even finding anything on how to play quake online with friends. There may be other, or better ways of doing this, but this is the way that I found, and I just thought that I would share. I also really want more people to play this game online, and I think that more people would play it if only they knew how to connect or play online.

Introduction

In this guide Ill show you my favorite way of playing quake multiplayer. This includes installing ezQuake, and going to QuakeServers.net to choose a server to play on. These are both optional steps. If you wish, you can just use normal vanilla Quake or Quakeworld, just make sure you are in the same section on the QuakeServers website when choosing a server.

You also don't have to use QuakeServers.net, if you wish you can connect directly to a friends IP address. I would only use this method if you are playing with people you know and trust!

Just follow the steps below, and replace a server IP address with your friends IP address. (or have them use your IP address)

Step 1: Install ezQuake

ezQuake is a VERY simple to install source port, that adds a lot of extra options and makes connecting to servers and friends a bit easier.

Install by downloading the zip file from ezquake.com

Open the zip file and add the ezquake.exe to the quake game directory. Put it in the same location as the Winquake.exe file that is in the quake directory.

Optional: (but recommended)
If you want to be able to open ezquake through steam. Rename the ezquake.exe file to Winquake.exe, and rename the original Winquake.exe to something else, or delete it.

I rename mine to Winquake(orig) before renaming the ezquake.exe to Winquake.exe.





Notes:
You may be able to just do this with vanilla quake but, this is the way that Ive done it, so its the way that Im gonna talk about. It should be very similar just slight some slight differences.

Step 2: Finding a server on QuakeServers.net

To find a server to play on, go to the website Quakeservers.net

Make sure you find a server that is in the Quake, or Quakeworld section of the site.

I also would recommend being careful of which server you choose to play on, a few of them may be a bit sketchy. Make sure its in the country closest to you for best ping/latency. Also you will want to make sure, that it is the right game type and map that you want to play before choosing it.

Now that you have found a server that you (and/or your friends) would like to play on, write down, or remember the IP address of that server.





Note:
Sometimes a server wont work and I will have to choose a different one to try, very rarely though.

Also, if you are playing with people you trust, you can connect directly to your friends IP address, then that way you wouldnt even need a server to connect to, just enter your friends IP address (instead of a QuakeServers IP), or have them connect to yours.

Step 3: Entering the IP address

Now that you have chosen a server, and written down the IP address of the server you would like to play in, launch ezquake. (if you havent already)


At the main menu go down to multiplayer, select it.

Select join game.

You will now be in the servers section of ezquake.

Press the Insert key to add a server to the join-able server list.

Type in the IP address of the server that you chose to play on from QuakeServers.net



Press enter.

The name of the server that you chose to play in should pop up.

Press J to join the server.



Notes:
If you cant connect to the server you chose, make sure that you are typing everything exactly the same as the IP address on Quakeservers.net. Watch out for colons, one time I entered a period instead of a colon and it would not connect. There are a couple servers that wont work for some reason, but very few.

Conclusion

Now you should be able to connect to quake servers, and have your friends be able to connect to them as well.

I wrote this because I love Quake, and most all old school games like it, and I just really wish more people played them, or even knew how to play them online.


If you like playing old school games with other people online, feel free to join the new discord server Old School Multiplayer Network https://discord.gg/dvegMXGqhJ

It was made to have a place to find other people to play older games with. Anyone is welcome.


Notes about ezQuake:
There is suppose to be a way to just simply get a quake server browser in ezQuake, but I could not figure it out, or for the life of me, find any information on how to set it up. So that is why I made this guide, as I want people to always be able to play this game online and with friends. If anyone knows how to setup the server browser that is in ezquake, please leave a message!


If anyone has anything to add or any questions to ask, feel free to post and Ill try my best to get back to you. Thanks for reading my guide!