Quake III Arena

Quake III Arena
Also known as: Quake 3 Developer: iD Software Publisher: Activision Platform: PC Released internationally: December 2, 1999 This game has unused playable characters. This game has unused items. This game has unused sounds. This game has a prototype article

Quake III Arena is the best of Quake and Quake II mixed with a great movement system. It owns so much that there's a free version named Quake Live that can be played on any browser. It is also notable for being one of the sources of those goddamn irritating announcer soundfiles that every fucking Counter-Strike server has.

Unfortunately, it contains very little unused stuff compared to Quake II. However, there is a leaked prototype filled to the brim with all sorts of changed textures and the like, which makes up for the original game having little unused content.

Grappling Hook

A fully coded Grappling Hook can be summoned via cheats. While it functions properly, it's graphics are very incomplete; the model is covered with a temporary texture, the “chain” is a rectangular strip of silver, and the actual “hook” looks like a starburst.

There are a few glitches with the weapon. First, if the player grapples onto something, then picks up an item, they will switch to the new weapon,but will continue to grapple even after they reach their destination. The only way to break free from the grapple is to take out the Grappling Hook again.

It is unknown why it was cut. It would fit Q3's fast-paced style very well, but there could've been problems with people getting into unwanted and exploitable places via the Hook that would've made it easier to scrap the entire thing than redesign certain levels around it.

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  The Grappling Hook

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  Firing the Grappling Hook

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  What happens when you switch to another weapon while using the Grappling Hook on a wall.

Unused Announcer Sounds

There are some unused announcer sounds corresponding to character skins. Presumably there were plans for more bots in the Single Player campaign at some point.

"Flisk Wins"

"Krusade Wins"

"X-Ray Wins"

Unused Bots

In a November 2000 patch release, there are files pertaining to several bots never implemented in the game (didcotmassif, malaki, tim, trillian, xian). In addition, there are bot files for Team Arena that go unused in the base game (fritzkrieg, pi, taa, tad).

Tim, Trillian and Xian are id software employees, and didcotmassif is a member of the (now defunct) OldManMurray forums.