Quake Shareware, a CD-ROM just a little too full
Article URL: https://fabiensanglard.net/quake_shareware_cd/index.html Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49338328 Points: 262 # Comments: 115
In the mid-1990s, CD-ROM drives became the most desired accessory for personal computers. With a capacity of 640 MiB, CDs offered a vast storage space compared to the hard drives of the time. They allowed enthusiasts to enjoy high-resolution graphics, soundtracks, and smooth video playback. However, for game developers, the excessive capacity of CDs made them a challenging medium.
Only a fraction of the available space could be utilized for game assets. Despite this limitation, some developers managed to incorporate impressive features like full-motion video and enhanced music. John Carmack, lead developer of id Software, expressed his disappointment at the lack of digitized speech and video in CD games. Upon completing their game Quake in June 1996, id Software faced a unique dilemma.
The game was only 22 MiB in size, leaving a significant portion of the CD-ROM unused. It dawned on the developers that they could take advantage of the remaining space to include additional content, enticing gamers with an enticing proposition.
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