Command Line Parameters
+
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe +(console command)
Description: Execute a console command directly from the command line.
Note: You can use this command to pass console commands directly to the game from the console command before startup. The console commands from the command line will not be executed in the game until the stuffcmds command is automatically called when the quake.rc file is executed on startup. You can also use the stuffcmds command during the game to execute the same commands all over again.
Example:game.exe +map dm2game.exe +timelimit 20 +map dm4
-allow360
Status: Disabled
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Allow the use of video modes with the 360x??? resolutions.
-basedir
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -basedir (fully qualified path)
Description: The location of the game data files.
Note: You can use this command to keep the executable files separate of the game files and then use this command to point the game executable at the location of the game files. This might be useful on networked file systems so that only one copy of the game files is kept while people can use their own executable to run the game. This parameter is very similar to the -path parameter.
Example:game.exe -basedir c:\quakegame.exe -basedir /usr/quake
-cachedir
Status: Disabled
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -cachedir (fully qualified path)
Description: The location of game cache files.
-condebug
Type: Parameter
Description: Save all console text to a file.
Note: This command was used to log all text which was written to the console to the qconsole.log file in the quake/id1/ directory. This is very useful if you are trying to catch bugs in the game. You can also use this command to keep a log of all the conversations that go on when you play on a server.
-conheight
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -conheight (resolution)
Description: Specify the vertical resolution for the console screen.
Note: You can use this command to stretch the size of the console to the actual screen resolution in order to prevent the squashed font look. When you use this command you should also use the -conwidth command to specify the horizontal resolution.
Example:game.exe -conwidth 800 -conheight 600game.exe -conwidth 640 -conheight 480
-conwidth
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -conwidth (resolution)
Description: Specify the horizontal resolution for the console screen.
Note: You can use this command to stretch the size of the console to the actual screen resolution in order to prevent the squashed font look. When you use this command you should also use the -conheight command to specify the vertical resolution.
Example:game.exe -conwidth 800 -conheight 600game.exe -conwidth 640 -conheight 480
-current
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game in the current video mode for OpenGL.
Note: This command should only be used on OpenGL workstation which have integrated OpenGL accelerators.
-dedicated
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -dedicated [maximum players]
Description: Start the game in a dedicated server mode.
Note: You can use this command to start a dedicated server which a text only console. If you specify a number after this parameter it will be used as the maximum number of players which can connect to the server and will be the maximum value that you can set the maxplayers variable to. The maximum number of players is 16.
Example:game.exe -dedicatedgame.exe -dedicated 16
-dibonly
Type: Parameter
Description: Enable windowed video modes only.
Note: If this parameter is used the game will only run in windowed mode. This parameter might be useful if there are problems when running the game in full screen mode.
-dinput
Type: Parameter
Description: Enable DirectInput mode for input devices in the game.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will use the DirectX DirectInput modes for getting feedback from the input devices. This might be necessary when using some of the newer joysticks or newer mouse drivers.
-force
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -force (video mode)
Description: Force the switch to the specified video mode.
Note: You can use the vid_describemodes command to obtain a list of all the available OpenGL video modes.
Example: game.exe -force 2
-fullsbar
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Enable the refreshing of the full status bar.
Note: Normally the game will not refresh the full status bar, only the parts of it that change. This can sometimes cause flicker when a number changes on the status bar. When you use this parameter the status bar will be rendered with every frame thus it will remain refreshed all the time.
-game
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -game (relative path)
Description: Start the game using the files from a mission pack or a mod.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will additionally load the game files located in the directory specified by this parameter. By default the game is started as if this parameter was specified with the id1 value. This parameter is necessary when you want to connect to a server which is running one of the mission packs or a special mod such as Capture The Flag.
Example:game.exe -game ctfgame.exe -game rogue
-heapsize
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -heapsize (kilobytes)
Description: Start the game and allocate the specified number of kilobytes of memory for the game.
Note: You might need to use this parameter when playing on or developing large maps which require a lot of memory. Also if you start receiving the microchip icon on your game screen you might need to use this parameter to allocate more memory for the game.
Example:game.exe -heapsize 16384game.exe -heapsize 24576
-height
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -height (resolution)
Description: The vertical resolution to use for the game screen.
Note: You should also use the -width parameter when using this parameter to specify the horizontal resolution.
Example:game.exe -width 800 -height 600game.exe -width 640 -height 480 -window
-hipnotic
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game with the Hipnotic mission pack.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will be started as if using the '-game hipnotic' parameter instead.
-ip
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -ip (IP address)
Description: Start the game and specify an alternative IP address to be used by the game.
Note: The only time that you would need to use this command is if you are running a client or a server on a computer which has more than one IP address. This command is manually specify the IP address that the game should use.
Example:game.exe -ip 127.0.0.1game.exe -ip 10.0.0.1game.exe -ip 123.123.123.123
-ipxport
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -ipxport (port)
Description: The port number to be used by the server for the IPX/SPX network protocol.
Note: This parameter should only be used if there is more than one server running on the same computer. Use this parameter for the second sever and specify a different IPX port than the first server. This parameter is very similar to the -port parameter.
-listen
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -listen [maximum players]
Description: Specify the maximum number of players that can connect to the listen server.
Note: The maximum number of players that a listen server can support is 8. This parameter will determine the maximum value that the maxplayers variable can be set to. If you are running a public server then you should use run a dedicated server instead using the -dedicated parameter.
Example:game.exe -listengame.exe -listen 8
-minmemory
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -minmemory (kilobytes)
Description: The minimum amount of memory that will be allocated by the game.
Note: It is best to leave this parameter alone and instead use the -heapsize parameter to specify the amount of memory that the game can use.
Example: game.exe -minmemory 16384
-mode
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -mode (video mode)
Description: Start the game at the specified OpenGL video mode.
List:1 - 640x480 in 16-bit color.2 - 800x600 in 16-bit color.3 - 1024x768 in 16-bit color.4 - 1280x1024 in 16-bit color.5 - 320x200 in 16-bit color.6 - 320x240 in 16-bit color.7 - 400x300 in 16-bit color.8 - 512x384 in 16-bit color.
-noadjustaspect
Status: Unknown
Type: Parameter
-noautostretch
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the stretching of the screen when using high resolutions.
-nocdaudio
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable CD music audio.
Note: When this variable is used the cd command will be unavailable.
-nodd
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable DirectX DirectDraw video modes.
-noddraw
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable DirectX DirectDraw video modes.
-nodirectdraw
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable DirectX DirectDraw video modes.
-noforcemaccel
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the setting of mouse acceleration.
Note: This parameter should only be used if you experiance problems with the mouse.
-noforcemparms
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the setting of mouse parameters.
Note: This parameter should only be used if you experiance problems with the mouse.
-noforcemspd
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the setting of mouse speed.
Note: This parameter should only be used if you experiance problems with the mouse.
-noforcevga
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the forcing of the VGA video mode on startup.
-nofulldib
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable full screen window compatibility mode.
Note: Some full screen modes are nothing more than window display modes which have been sized to the exact size of the screen. This parameter will disable support for such modes.
-noipx
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable game support for the IPX/SPX network protocol.
-nojoy
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable joystick support.
Note: When this parameter is used only support for the joystick will be disabled, the fun factor in the game will remain the same.
-nolan
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for all network protocols.
-nomouse
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for the mouse.
-nosound
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for sound hardware.
-notriplebuf
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable triple buffering video modes.
Note: This parameter will disable support for triple buffer thus it will make the performance of the Accelerated VESA video drivers similar to the Linear VESA drivers.
-noudp
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for the TCP/IP network protocol.
-novbeaf
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for the Accelerated VESA video modes.
-novesa
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for all VESA video modes.
-nowd
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for VESA video modes in favor of DirectX DirectDraw video modes.
-nowindirect
Game: WinQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for VESA video modes in favor of DirectX DirectDraw video modes.
-particles
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -particles (particles)
Description: Specify the maximum number of particles to be rendered on the screen at once.
Example: game.exe -particles 5000
-path
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -path (fully qualified path)
Description: Specify the location of game files.
Note: This parameter is very similar in context to the -basedir parameter. You can use this parameter to specify the location of the game files.
Example:game.exe -path c:\quakegame.exe -path /usr/quake
-playback
Type: Parameter
Description: Load the information stored inside the quake.vcr file.
Note: If you wish to use this parameter you will have to start the game without any other parameters so that the command line looks like 'game.exe -playback'.
-port
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -port (port)
Description: The UDP port number used for the TCP/IP network protocol for the server.
Note: If you run more than one server on the same computer you will need to use this parameter to specify alterntaive ports for each server. The default port value is 26000, so it is recommended that you use port numbers consecutive from that number, such as 26001 and so on. Any client who wishes to connect to your server will have to set the port number in the port variable in order to connect. You can also use the -ipxport or -udpport to assign individual port numbers for each protocol.
Example:game.exe -port 26001game.exe -port 25894
-primarysound
Type: Parameter
Description: Enable the use of the primary sound buffer when using DirectX DirectSound drivers.
Note: Normally the game will use the secondary sound buffer because it is more compatible across more hardware. If you know that your harder is 100% DirectX DirectSound compliment you can use this setting in order to increase the performance of the game.
-proghack
Status: Unknown
Type: Parameter
-record
Type: Parameter
Description: Store debugging information.
Note: This command will create a file called quake.vcr in the quake/ directory. The file will contain the command line parameters used to start the game, the names of all the game files which have been loaded into memory and other types of information. This must have been the debugging file.
-resetwinpos
Type: Parameter
Description: Reset the postition of the game window on the desktop.
Note: If the game window will ever become inaccessible because it was moved beyond the boundaries of the desktop you will have to use this command to reset the position information for the game window. The position information is stored in the vid_window_x and vid_window_y variables.
-rogue
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game with the Rogue mission pack.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will be started as if using the '-game rogue' parameter instead.
-safe
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game in safe mode.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will start with many options disabled in order to get the game up and running. If this parameter is used it is equivalent to specifing all of the parameters which start with -no.
-simsound
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable sound playback but leave all sound functions enabled.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will function as if sound is being played back normally, except that the sound card will not be initialized and nothing will be heard from the speakers. This command will cut off the sound information right before it is about to leave to the sound card for processing. This command was used for testing the sound code in the game.
-snoforceformat
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable the forcing of the soundcard into the appropriate sound mode.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will not try to force the sound card into the 11,025Hz at 16-bit stereo sound mode. Use this parameter if you are having problems with the sound initialization for your sound card.
-starttime
Status: Unknown
Type: Parameter
-startwindowed
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game in windowed video mode.
Note: When this parameter is used the game will start in the 640x480 windowed video mode 1.
-stdvid
Status: Unknown
Type: Parameter
-surfcachesize
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -surfcachesize (kilobytes)
Description: Allocate the specified amount of memory for storing textures.
Note: It is not necessary to use this parameter by default because the game will automatically allocate the necessary amount of memory for storing textures.
Example: game.exe -surfcachesize 4096
-udpport
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -udpport (port)
Description: Specify the UDP port number that the game should use for the TCP/IP network protocol.
Note: You only need to use this parameter if you run more than one server on the same computer and must assign an individual port to each server. The default UDP port number used by the game is 26000. This parameter works exactly the same as the -port parameter.
Example:game.exe -port 26001game.exe -port 25894
-wavonly
Type: Parameter
Description: Disable support for DirectX DirectSound in favor of wave only output.
Note: If your sound card does not support DirectX DirectSound then you will need to specify this parameter in order to force the game into use the Windows wave only sound output. There will be a considerable loss in performance when using this parameter, but at least you'll be able to hear sounds.
-width
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -width (resolution)
Description: The horizontal resolution to use for the game screen.
Note: You should also use the -height parameter when using this parameter to specify the vertical resolution.
Example:game.exe -width 800 -height 600game.exe -width 640 -height 480 -window
-window
Game: GLQuake
Type: Parameter
Description: Start the game in a windowed OpenGL video mode.
Note: If you are using a 3Dfx Voodoo or Voodoo 2 card it is recommended that you use this parameter to start the game. When you use the ALT+TAB keyboard combination to switch to another window on your desktop normally the desktop resolution would still be at the resolution used in the game thus enlarging or shrinking your desktop. When you use this parameter the game will still play in full screen mode but when you switch away from the game the desktop resolution will return to the normal resolution.
-zone
Type: Parameter
Syntax: game.exe -zone (bytes)
Description: Specify the amount of memory in bytes to allocate to holding dynamic information such as aliases.
Note: You will need to specify a value such as 512 if you experience game crashes because of too many aliases being loaded into memory. It is not necessary specify any larger value, since this value will work suffice.
Example: game.exe -zone 512