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Difference between revisions of "Quake 4"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (corrected IGDB critics rating)
(Add TweakGuides link and DOOM 3's Font scaling fix (which works here))
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'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
 
{{ii}} This solution may cause speech lipsync to go out of sync, but gameplay should be unaffected. <code>r_swapinterval</code> controls VSync.
 
{{ii}} This solution may cause speech lipsync to go out of sync, but gameplay should be unaffected. <code>r_swapinterval</code> controls VSync.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Fix font scaling===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Configuration Files|ref={{cn|date=May 2019}}|fix=
 +
Add the lines to {{file|autoexec.cfg}} or change it in {{file|Quake4Config.cfg}}:
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<pre>seta gui_mediumFontLimit "0"
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seta gui_smallFontLimit "0"</pre>
 
}}
 
}}
  
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====False Dawn====
 
====False Dawn====
 
{{ii}} [http://www.moddb.com/mods/false-dawn/downloads False Dawn] is a non-linear, multiple-goal mission with up-to-date graphics (powered by Sikkmod).
 
{{ii}} [http://www.moddb.com/mods/false-dawn/downloads False Dawn] is a non-linear, multiple-goal mission with up-to-date graphics (powered by Sikkmod).
 +
 +
===Advanced tweaks===
 +
{{ii}} TweakGuides has created [https://tweakguides.pcgamingwiki.com/Quake4_1.html a comprehensive guide] for tweaking the game.
  
 
==System requirements==
 
==System requirements==

Revision as of 17:17, 7 April 2020

Quake 4
Quake 4 cover
Developers
Raven Software
id Software
Publishers
Activision
Bethesda Softworks
Engines
id Tech 4
Release dates
Windows October 18, 2005
Linux October 20, 2005
macOS (OS X) March 24, 2006
Reception
Metacritic 81
IGDB 75
Quake 4 on IGDB
Quake 4 guide on StrategyWiki
Quake 4 on MobyGames
Quake 4 on Wikipedia

Warnings

The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
Quake
Quake 1996
Quake II 1997
Quake III Arena 1999
Quake 4 2005
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars 2007
Quake Live 2010
Quake II RTX 2019
Quake Enhanced 2021
Quake Champions 2022
Quake II Enhanced 2023

Key points

The game does not properly recognize the available VRAM on modern graphics cards, and as such forces the game to use lower image quality settings. See Issues fixed to resolve.

General information

Quake Wiki - A detailed wiki for every Quake game made.
Planet Quake
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
SafeDisc v4.60 DRM was removed in Patch 1.4.2.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Amazon.com
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Amazon.com
Requires online activation
macOS (OS X)
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
No online play (LAN only).[1]
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Mac App Store
Icon overlay.png
macOS (OS X)
Steam
DRM-free after installation through Steam client (notes may include more details)
Can be run without the Steam client. Not available in Germany.
Windows
A free client provided by id allows Quake 4 to be played natively on Linux machines. It requires either a full retail copy or the demo to use it. Details can be found on the GamingOnLinux article.
A faithful higher quality icon can be found from IconArchive.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.4.2 (2007) is the latest version. GOG.com and Steam versions are already patched.
Patch 1.3.0 (2006)
Patch 1.2.0 (2006)
Patch 1.1.0 (2006. Bugged widescreen feature. Add support for multi core CPUs)

Quake 4 Tweaker

Allows you to change the FPS limit to above 62, fix texture issues on modern hardware, adjust the despawn time of corpses, change the FOV, skip intro videos and force custom display resolutions.
Only works with the steam and GOG versions.

Skip intro videos

Use Quake 4 Tweaker[2]
Use the +disconnect command line argument[2]

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\q4base\[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.quake4appstore/Data/Library/Application Support/Quake 4/q4base
Linux
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/2210/pfx/[Note 2]
This game does not follow the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\q4base\savegames\[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.quake4appstore/Data/Library/Application Support/Quake 4/q4base/savegames
Linux
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/2210/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game general video/audio settings.
In-game general video/audio settings.
In-game advanced video settings.
In-game advanced video settings.

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

Use Quake 4 Tweaker to force custom display resolutions[2]
Set custom resolution in configuration file[citation needed]
  1. Open <path-to-game>\q4base\Quake4Config.cfg.
  2. Search the line seta r_customHeight, replace with seta r_customHeight "768"
  3. Search the line seta r_customWidth, replace with seta r_customWidth "1366"
  4. Search the line seta r_mode, replace with seta r_mode "-1"
  5. Search the line seta r_aspectRatio, replace with seta r_aspectRatio "1".

Notes

Use seta r_aspectRatio "0" for 4:3, "1" for 16:9, and "2" for 16:10.

Anisotropic filtering (AF)

Set custom anisotropic filtering[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Create and open autoexec.cfg.
  3. Add seta image_anisotropy 16 for the highest quality.

Input settings

In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

In-game advanced audio settings.
In-game advanced audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Hidden EAX 4.0 mode is available by using Creative ALchemy and selecting Generic Hardware driver in sound options.[3] Currently broken in DSOAL v1.31a.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Czech
Only available in the European local retail release.
French
Hungarian
Fan translation.
Italian
Polish
Only available in Polish retail release.
Russian
Only available in Russian retail release.
Spanish

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D, DirectVR
Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
16 Versus
Online play
16 Versus

Connection types

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 27650
UDP 27650
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Poor image quality on modern systems

The game does not properly recognize the available VRAM on modern graphics cards, and as such forces the game to use lower image quality settings.
Use Quake 4 Tweaker[2]
Force high image quality[citation needed]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Create and open autoexec.cfg.
  3. Add the following and save.
seta image_downSize "0"
seta image_downSizeBump "0"
seta image_downSizeSpecular "0"
seta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR"
seta image_ignoreHighQuality "0"
seta image_roundDown "0"
seta image_useCompression "0"
seta image_useNormalCompression "0"
seta image_anisotropy "16"
seta image_lodbias "0"
seta r_renderer "best"
seta com_allowConsole "1"

Steam Overlay doesn't work

Run the Steam client as administrator[4]
Add registry key[5]
  1. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers.
  2. Right-click → New → String Value.
  3. Put the full path to Quake4.exe in the name, e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Quake 4\Quake4.exe.
  4. Open your newly created string and type in RUNASINVOKER and confirm it.

Sluggish mouse view

Use raw input[6]
  1. Open <path-to-game>\q4base\autoexec.cfg.
  2. Add the line in_mouse 2
  3. Save the changes.

ReShade overlay inaccessible to mouse

Bypass the game's mouse bind[7]
  1. Open <path-to-game>\q4base\Quake4Config.cfg.
  2. Search the line seta com_allowConsole and set the value to "1".
  3. Start the game.
  4. Press Alt+Tab to switch into windowed mode
  5. Press ~ to open the console
  6. Access the ReShade GUI

Microstutter

Instructions[8]
  1. Open <path-to-game>\q4base\autoexec.cfg.
  2. Add the following lines.
seta r_swapInterval "1"
seta com_fixedTic "1"

Notes

This solution may cause speech lipsync to go out of sync, but gameplay should be unaffected. r_swapinterval controls VSync.

Fix font scaling

Configuration Files[citation needed]

Add the lines to autoexec.cfg or change it in Quake4Config.cfg:

seta gui_mediumFontLimit "0"
seta gui_smallFontLimit "0"

Slow reloading when immediately retrying a level after being killed

Make it faster by increasing the graphics cache size.
  1. Open <path-to-game>\q4base\Quake4Config.cfg.
  2. Search the line seta image_cacheMegs "100" and increase the value (100 per default. 500 is OK for a computer having 4 GB RAM).

Issues unresolved

Poor performance/"slow-motion" effect on Nvidia cards

Quake 4 and other id Tech 4 games seem to suffer from some sort of driver-related issue on modern Nvidia GPU's that causes the game to go into what appears to be a "slow-motion" phrase during some intensive scenes, where the framerate technically remains the same but game logic is slowed down and negatively effects performance, and it persists even when using the microstutters fix and Quake 4 Tweaker. This issue's not known to affect all hardware configurations but a definitive fix is not currently available.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
OpenGL 2.0
ExecutablePPC 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
32-bit only.[9]
Linux

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio OpenAL
Anti-cheat PunkBuster

Modifications

Sikkmod

Sikkmod is a mod that was ported from Doom 3, which adds such effects as bloom, color grading, HDR and FXAA, and is easily configurable via the in-game menu.
The game's multi-core rendering may cause problems with this mod, disable that setting if there are graphical glitches.

False Dawn

False Dawn is a non-linear, multiple-goal mission with up-to-date graphics (powered by Sikkmod).

Advanced tweaks

TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for tweaking the game.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 2000
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
System memory (RAM) 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3.2 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon 9700
Nvidia GeForce3 Ti
64 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Windows 98 has been tested to work with Quake 4, but this is not officially supported.
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.6.8
Processor (CPU) 2.4 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3.5 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon HD 2600
Nvidia GeForce 8800
512 MB of VRAM
Linux
Minimum
Operating system (OS) Kernel 2.4.x, Kernel 2.6.x
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
System memory (RAM) 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Supported ATI chipsets: Radeon 9700 series, Radeon 9800 series, Radeon X300 series, Radeon X550 series, Radeon X600 series, Radeon X700 series, Radeon X800 series, Radeon X850 series
Supported Nvidia chipsets: GeForce 3/Ti series, GeForce 4/Ti series, GeForce FX series, GeForce 6 series, GeForce 7 series

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/2210/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (2210) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References