QuakeCon 2026 - 30 Years of Quake

[gulliver-trans]

I haven't been to a QuakeCon since probably 2001. Probably still have the t-shirt. But I'm a little tempted by this one.

https://quakecon.bethesda.net/en/

[Gem]

Whoa! I almost confused your thread for the other one lol - the QuakeOne one. Right off the bat, I noticed everyone got old for the Special Guests. I just remember their pics from the 1996 release which is permanently burned into my mind. So a bit of a shellshock feeling to see these (old) faces stare at me through the screen (Nothing wrong with them being old, just my feeling).

I'd like to go of course, but as a Spectator maybe? I never liked the idea of lugging my own computer to over there, which is something I will never do. It's like tiredness, mixed with sweatiness, fear of damaging something, and I don't like messing with my computer wires at all. Like once something is set on my desk it stays that way lol. But maybe or most probably they got their own LAN computers over there you can use.

It's (maybe) shameful to say that in these 30 years I never went to any QuakeCon lol. (Maybe there should be a club for that? Haha.) Also I'm not sure if I will go anytime soon too. Plus it's just a big hassle to bring your computer to over there, which could be heavy and cumbersome (so that's out), and you gotta pay for everything yourself in between this trip (which is obvious and annoying lol). So probably if I'd go, maybe in 10(?) years and traveling light haha. On another note, I'm pretty sure these QuakeCons will go on forever, so it's not like missing anything SUPER special one time.

These are just my thoughts on it..

[gulliver-trans]

Sorry for the "shock" hehe.

Yeah, for myself, I'm not much interested in the LAN party aspect. BYOC and all that. But it was fun to get a t-shirt, check out DOOM ported to some kind of handheld, And see, maybe, Maya 3-D in action? And pass by The Carmack outside being his nerdy self.

As for other points of interest, I don't know how their presentations work. Like, are some still cordoned off to press only? New stuff announcements? Regardless, you can mill about and check out the... well, it's not E-3, but I feel like there are a few things to look at, not exactly exhibits? Now that I think of it, I felt old there even in 2001, though, like I suddenly realized that gamers are mostly young. Hehe.

[Gem]

Yea I think if you do live in TX and got a car, you should definitely go. I do think that it's been more like an E-3 event recently in the whole mode of presentation, rather than a classical oldie 1990s (or 2000s) QuakeCon. I think they present new Doom games across a few gaming platforms and maybe some other Bethesda company games along with Quake there too, meaning Quake is not the only centerpiece of this yearly event anymore. I been following it somewhat by watching their VODs, but yea I think it may still be worth it and to possibly greet the creators. And I think John Carmack gives an yearly speech which is about 3-4 hours long which is fascinating in all aspects of covering territory of tech advancements and as a learning experience