Server admins rejoice! For packaged within the ETQW Open Beta 2 client installer is the win32 dedicated server exe, along with a handy server launcher tool. With this, you can now run dedicated unranked servers both on a LAN, and the internet. You'll be able to run private servers, change the game type, game length, spawn bots; all that good stuff.

Further to this, we will be releasing a lite server that does not require all the client assets to host games within the next few days. Linux chaps; don't worry, there's a version of the lite server coming for you too.

We'll follow up with more details when we're ready to release the files.

Hey guys, badman here checking in from QuakeCon. Public Beta 2 was rolled out into the BYOC area today and a lot of the guys there have been playing it and are really enjoying it by the looks of it. We'll have more on QuakeCon later - for now I want to give you a quick update about how we're going to get Beta 2 out to the rest of you folks. First thing's first: The release date. FilePlanet will be launching Beta 2 tomorrow (Friday) morning Pacific Standard Time, at which point participants of the ETQW Public Beta will be able to grab it from there.

Better yet, since we've had a ton of license key requests via email and the forums from people eager to test the ETQW Public Beta, we're going to make 25,000 additional keys available. Some of these have already gone out to the BYOC folks at QuakeCon, but the vast majority will be available via FilePlanet at the same time as the updated beta client.

QuakeCon 2007 is just around the corner, so I want to use this blog update to bring you all up to speed about what you can expect to see there this year. Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars will have quite a presence this year, and you’ll be able to see more of it, play previously unseen maps, and chat with some of the people behind the game.

Last week I flew back to London from the E3 Business and Media Summit in Los Angeles. We demonstrated Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars on the PC and XBOX 360, so to get back and start reading so many positive previews has made everyone here feel great. I'm even more pleased about the recent announcement that ETQW has been nominated for two E3 Games Critics Awards; Best PC Game of Show and Best Multiplayer Game of Show - this should be good news if you're in possession of a Beta key, because the build the journalists played at E3 was a preview of the Beta 2 build that we're about to release to you! The build is in testing at Activision right now and will be initially released to the QuakeCon audience for BYOC play. We hope to have it to FilePlanet within the next week or two for a wide release to all of our public beta testers.

Here are the highlights:

Ahhh, you couldn't have joined me at a better moment. Following my previous confused bellowings upon matters deployable here and here, I was just about to rant on and on and on and on about Strogg Tactical Shields, and things for the Strogg Oppressor to do indoors, underground and anywhere his bombardment toys won't reach. I've seen several very interesting threads on Tactical Shields (notably this one), and the Oppressor, so here's my $0.02.