To play on a Quake server that uses new maps, models, or sounds -- and The Experimental Pits does all three -- you have to download a "client-side package" that contains these new files and install them among your Quake files. If you play CTF, TeamFortress, or one of the other popular Quake modifications you are probably already familiar with this.

The client-side package for The Experimental Pits can be installed under the "id1" directory (directory == folder, for you Windows-only guys). Then you will be able to play in The Experimental Pits. Nothing else to it; no special command-line options, nothing for you to worry about after the installation. You will be able to play in The Experimental Pits and on other Quake servers as well, without having to re-start Quake or use any command-line options that you wouldn't usually have to use. This is the easier road in our opinion, and it's what we do here at Clan 9.

There's another option, though. You can do the installation in some new subdirectory of your Quake directory, not "id1", but instead something like (for example) "clan9exp". This is the same philosophy that you use for the CTF client-side package. So, as with CTF, you would then have to use the "-game" option when you start Quake (for example "quake -game clan9exp") for the new maps/models/sounds to be available. On the up side, this option lets you segregate all the new things in their own directory, and it avoids any possibility of confusion from a name conflict... such as would happen if you have some entirely different map with the same name as one of the maps in our package. (Unlikely, but it could happen.) On the down side, you have to use that annoying "-game" option if you're planning on connecting to The Experimental Pits server. But, if you are currently using the "-game" option anyway to see the C9 skin on the Mothership servers (which will also work on The Experimental Pits), you can install this new client-side package over in that already-existing game subdirectory, and everything works out nicely.

Which option you choose is completely up to you. The installation instructions are the same either way. IMPORTANT: the installation instructions will refer to the "chosen installation directory". This means "id1" if you are using the first option above, or it means your new directory (for example "clan9exp") if you are using the second option.