Quake Live Turns to Subscriptions

iD Software LLC, the company behind the free to play online FPS Quake Live, announced today that they are going to be offering a “Premium” and “Pro” subscriptions for Quake Live.

Up to now, Quake Live has always been free, and as it runs in your browser you have always been able to play online against other people across the globe whenever you want. During a recent QuakeCon Keynote, iD Founder John Carmack announced that in-game advertising hasn’t been enough to fully support the game.

“The in-game advertising stuff has not been big business. That’s not going to be able to carry the project.”

Quake Live’s Premium Subscription is going to cost $1.99 a month and for that you get:

• Access to 20 QUAKE LIVE Premium only maps at launch with more to come. Premium maps are a combination of brand new maps and frequently requested community favorites from previous QUAKE games such as Aerowalk, Theater of Pain, Japanese Castles, and Realm of Steel Rats;
• An all new ‘Freeze Tag’ game mode;
• Exclusive premium level awards;
• Create your own clan and join up to five separate clans;
• Custom QUAKE LIVE profile wallpaper; and
• Match statistics stored for six months.

Quake Live’s Pro Subscription cost’s $3.99 a month and you get:

• The ability to start your own game server, specify a server location, determine the game mode and invite who you want to join you;
• With the Pro Subscription, you can invite three friends with Standard level memberships to play with you in any Premium level map;
• Exclusive pro awards;
• Create your own clan and join up to ten separate clans; and
• Match statistics stored for 12 months.

For those not willing to subscribe to either of the two packages above, then the standard game is still going to be free. All you need to play is an Internet Connection, an account at QuakeLive.com and the Quake Live Plugin!

SOURCE: DigiLounge