QuakeCon fragfest marks 10 years

For years, the fragging faithful have gathered for what has become Valhalla for worshippers of first-person shooters--QuakeCon, which turns 10 this year. The event takes place in Grapevine, Texas, from August 11 to 14.

The gathering was first held in the summer of 1996 by a few IRC pals who wanted to meet face-to-face. According to the organizers, "less than 100 attendees gathered at the Best Western in Garland, Texas, that first year to play and talk games and compete." Last year's event drew a record 6,000 attendees; this year's is expected to bring even more.

Though named after the "Quake" series, the roster of games featured at QuakeCon has expanded. The games of choice are "Quake," "Quake II," "Quake III Arena," "Quake III: Team Arena," "Return to Castle Wolfenstein," and id Software's latest shooter, "Doom 3." The next "Quake," "Quake IV," was not mentioned in the announcement.