Quake Live gets subscription service

Quake Live as you know it - the free, browser-based version of Quake - isn't going anywhere. But it is getting two layers of premium features, for anyone willing to pay an annual fee.

The Premium package costs around $24 a year, and gives you access to 20 premium-only maps (including Quake III community maps), a new game mode, and the ability to make your own clan and join up to five clans.

The Pro package costs about $48 per year, includes all those features, lets you create your own server and invite who ever you like, and lets you invite up to three freebie players onto a premium-only map.

Prices are in US dollars at the moment. Community reaction is mixed - the basic package works out at $1.99 a month, but some users feel like they'd get better value for money picking up Quake III in a bargain bin somewhere and downloading the premium community maps for free. You can see their point.

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