Overheard about ... Quake

This was posted long, long ago, when id Software first dropped a beta version of Quake on the Web.

From: Michael Lopp <mlopp@netscape.com>
Newsgroups: alt.games.quake,rec.games.computer.quake
Subject: Quake -vs- Pong
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 16:52:06 -0800
Organization: Netscape Communications, Ghost in the Machine Division

I recently had a chance to preview the test version of Quake and I personally 
can't what everyone is in hubbaloo about.  I've been playing Atari's Pong (tm)
for almost 15 years now and I find it to be the best action/adventure game out
there.  Some things I distinctly dislike like in Quake:

-- The game is true 3D.  I keep having trouble figuring out which way is up.
In Pong, the ball always comes from the same direction.  Can you imagine what
it'd be like if the ball came from any direction.  No fun at'll!

-- What is with all the colors?  Pong has one color -- white -- very simple,
very easy to understand.  In Quake, I must've spent an hour trying to figure
out what I was looking at...  is it water?  a wall?  that donkey I like petting
at the zoo?
 
C'mon guys... this isn't Breakout (tm).

-- Unusable controls.   Having to use the keyboard?  Gimme a break!  Keyboards
are for secretaries!  In pong, you have ONE (yes, ONE!) controller that moves
the paddle back and forth.  I had enough trouble looking at the controller and
the TV screen (A B/W Zenith, by the way) at the same time... now you want me to
type?!?!?  Sheesh!

-- Quake moves too fast.  Doesn't iD software know that lotsa people get woozy 
when images move to fast on the screen (I threw up when I saw Star Wars,
twice!).  They should really slow the game down so people have time to see what
is going on.

I know alotta people out there agree with me.  Pong Rules!  It doesn't matter
that Atari has laid off all of their employees and only has one guy left who
answers the phone to say, "Atari doesn't live here anymore.  Please stop
calling, there will never be a Pong for Windows 95".

-m