Quake: Console commands

This page contains some of the more interesting commands available in console mode. For a list of cheat codes, or for a full list of console commands, follow the links below this message:

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Console commands

Follow the links for:

Meantime, here's some of the more interesting console commands:

Demo recording/playback: (just type them in and the syntax is given) 
RECORD          Start recording demo
STOP            Stop recording demo
TIMEDEMO        Displays stats about specified demo
PLAYDEMO        Plays back specified demo
STOPDEMO        Stop playing back demo
N.B. "TIMEDEMO" may not work properly prior to version 1.06 of QUAKE.
Miscellaneous commands: 
CROSSHAIR 1   Display crosshairs for aiming.
FOV n         Sets field of view.  Default 90, usable range 10-120.
              Low values give you a "binocular-style" view similar to
              pressing F11, while large values give a "fisheye lens" view,
              and your current weapon disappears from view.
RESTART       I'll give you three guesses...
SENSITIVITY n  Sets mouse sensitivity.  Default is 3, although you might
              want to experiment with higher values (e.g. 12 or 20).
SHOWTURTLE 1  Displays a "turtle" icon if frame rate drops below 10fps.
SKILL n       Set skill level (0=easy, 3=nightmare)
TIMEREFRESH   Find out how fast your system is - does a 360  rotate, then
              displays the time and frame rate (in FPS).
VID_DESCRIBEMODES  Lists all available video modes & resolutions.
VID_MODE n    Sets the display to the specified mode.
              See techinfo.txt for a full description.
Multiplayer commands: 
MAP name      Starting episode (e.g. MAP E1M7 or MAP START).
              Use it on the server.
CHANGELEVEL   Like MAP (q.v.) but can be used mid-game.
COLOR shirt pants  Set colour of uniform.  In team play, pants colour
              controls which team you are on.
CONNECT name  Connect to a server
COOP <0/1>    Set "cooperative" mode. Default 0 (deathmatch).
DEATHMATCH <0/1>  Set type of deathmatch (deathmatch/altdeath)
DISCONNECT    Duh....
FRAGLIMIT n   Set number of frags at which server quits.
HOSTNAME name  Set name of server
KILLSERVER    Closes down server
LISTEN n      If 0, no more clients can join the game.
MAXPLAYERS n  Maximum number of players allowed in game
NAME name     Player name
NOEXIT 1      If a player tries to exit a level, he gets telefragged.
PAUSABLE <0/1>  If 0, players cannot pause the game.
PING          Measures network delay for multiplayer games.  This will
              show the delay for all players, not just yourself, so you'll
              be able to see who has the fastest connection.
SLIST         List all available servers
STATUS        Display hostname, map, players and frag scores.
SYS_TICRATE n  Rate at which server sends out updates.  Default is 0.05
              (i.e. 20 updates/sec) but for a modem/serial game you are
              advised to alter this to 0.1 (i.e. 10 updates/sec).
TEAMPLAY <0/1>  Set team mode.  Default 0 (deathmatch).
TIMELIMIT n   Set amount of time game will last before quitting.
Also, check out the SV_ commands in the main list, some of which (for example SV_FRICTION and SV_GRAVITY) can make for an interesting time if used mid-game <evil cackle>.
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