# How do I change protocols or version numbers to play in other servers?

**URL:** <https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217>\
**Category:** support\
**Created:** [March 27, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217 "2014-03-27T19:54:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/beenjammin/32/6_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/BeenJammin)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/1 "2014-03-27T19:54:32Z")

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Quake III Arena servers blow through every version out there. It seems I’m missing out on all these fun versions that servers are hosting today.  
Specifically:

**68 - 1.32  
67 - 1.31  
66 - 1.30  
66 - 1.29h  
48 - 1.27g  
46 - 1.26  
45 - 1.25  
45 - 1.17  
43 - 1.16n**

There may be even more versions of 1.32 that I don’t know about.  
But you get the picture, only 1.32 is available. 66 and 67 are the ones that I would use. Please help. Thank you!

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**Author:** ![MrNuclearMonster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/mrnuclearmonster/32/820_2.png) [@MrNuclearMonster](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/MrNuclearMonster)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/2 "2014-03-28T16:09:56Z")

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We only have the source code from 1.32 and are not really interested in supporting previous versions that would require reverse engineering work for network compatibility.

You can run vanilla Quake 3 (not ioquake3) at these previous patch levels.

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**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/beenjammin/32/6_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/BeenJammin)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/3 "2018-03-02T00:40:46Z")

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Any changes to switch-version capabilities today? Plus how can I even run Q3A on a Windows 10, 64-bit architecture? If there’s a way, that’d be great! But I don’t know it. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![zturtleman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/zturtleman/32/718_2.png) [@zturtleman](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/zturtleman)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/4 "2018-03-02T02:45:38Z")

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No, ioquake3 still only supports 1.32 protocol. As far as I know, no one has reverse engineered the other protocols.

Existing 32-bit Quake 3 and ioquake3 should still work on Windows 10 64-bit. Install the ioquake3 test build for best operating system compatibility; it also includes a 64-bit ‘x86\_64’ build. See the [players guide](http://wiki.ioquake3.org/Players_Guide) for installation.

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**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/beenjammin/32/6_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/BeenJammin)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:31am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/5 "2018-03-02T11:31:25Z")

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I would love to install Quake 3: Arena but Windows 10 says it will not. Ioquake3 will always be in my heart and I may even try my own server after reading the players guide but I still want access to old protocol games. Any tips on installing the old Q3A CD?

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**Author:** ![twist3d1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@twist3d1](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/twist3d1)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/6 "2018-03-02T23:53:03Z")

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There is an old piece of software that switches versions…

[link to not at all legit looking software removed -moderator]

But this link is dead, and it might be hard to find. I might have it archived somewhere if your really interested…

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**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/beenjammin/32/6_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/BeenJammin)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/7 "2018-03-03T01:31:48Z")

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I have it already 🙂 Those clone files are pretty sly.

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**Author:** ![twist3d1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@twist3d1](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/twist3d1)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/8 "2018-03-03T01:59:21Z")

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Tight. There’s a fun mod on 1.16 I think called Black Metal Assault, it has grapple and some serious firepower… dunno if it’s still there though.

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**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/beenjammin/32/6_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/BeenJammin)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 7:27am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/9 "2018-03-03T07:27:54Z")

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First, I need a way to install Q3A (not Ioquake3) in Win 10. I couldn’t do it in Win 7 either.

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**Author:** ![twist3d1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@twist3d1](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/twist3d1)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/10 "2018-03-04T03:47:46Z")

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I didn’t have that problem… but if I were you I’d experiment with this. There are warnings that it is “a major update and things can go wrong so make a backup”… that said, I’ve had more than a few pieces of old software that wouldn’t run on windows 7 or 10. Virtual PC solved that, running Windows XP, I’ve run old graphics software, Quake, Quake II and Quake III with no noticeable performance issues. I’ve also managed to run XP under VirtualBox with similar results. That’s the best I can think of off the top of my head. If you still have problems I could brainstorm a little more 🙂

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**Author:** ![twist3d1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@twist3d1](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/twist3d1)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/11 "2018-03-04T22:20:18Z")

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I thought I should mention. VirtualBox and Virtual PC didn’t work together on Win7 VirtualBox canceled out VirtualPC… VirtualBox went to Win10 and I didn’t play with it beyond that.

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**Author:** ![Raphael](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/raphael/32/763_2.png) [@Raphael](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/Raphael)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/12 "2024-06-20T21:32:18Z")

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Hello

> [@zturtleman](#):
>
> no one has reverse engineered the other protocols

Could you please tell how are named the functions in the ioq3/Quake-III-Arena repo related to this “protocol”?  
or just the main one(s)

I’m wondering what would be the functions to compare to understand how to make an older client able to connect to newer server version

Could there be a ton of stuff to modify?  
What is the name of this “protocol”?

(It’s about a game based on the quake 3 engine)  
Regards

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**Author:** ![MrNuclearMonster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/mrnuclearmonster/32/820_2.png) [@MrNuclearMonster](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/MrNuclearMonster)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/13 "2024-06-21T02:09:31Z")

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> [@Raphael](#):
>
> (It’s about a game based on the quake 3 engine)

If this game isn’t open source the entire game code and more will need to be reverse engineered.

As an update to this thread, [please see our sys admin guide for updated information about older quake 3 network protocols.](https://ioquake3.org/help/sys-admin-guide/#compat)

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**Author:** ![Raphael](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/raphael/32/763_2.png) [@Raphael](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/Raphael)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2024, 11:09am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/14 "2024-06-21T11:09:14Z")

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> [@MrNuclearMonster](#):
>
> If this game isn’t open source the entire game code and more will need to be reverse engineered.
> 
> As an update to this thread, [please see our sys admin guide for updated information about older quake 3 network protocols.](https://ioquake3.org/help/sys-admin-guide/#compat)

Thank you for reply  
Assuming the game is open source or i can reverse engineer it

Could you tell what are the main functions / systems to look into to modify the server to make the unmodified client able to connect?

I’m not sure to understand if you meant the entire game module of the server would have to be modified, it seems to me “only” some “protocol” parts would have to be, and then maybe some small details e.g. if the older client doesn’t have all the weapons the server is expecting

During my attempts I reached this error: `CL_ParsePacketEntities: end of message`  
I haven’t spend hours trying to understand it yet

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**Author:** ![Oysior](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/oysior/32/778_2.png) [@Oysior](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/Oysior)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 10:04am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/15 "2024-12-30T10:04:39Z")

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hey, i need help there is a quake 3 standalone mod open source that it lasts revisions (for developers) uses protocol 71 for the new modified engine, but the old engine for the stable build uses protocol 75. i have swapped the old engine with the new one while keeping the same game code as the stable revision but i cant connect to the stable revision servers not even see them in browser. tried changing the protocol version and compiled engine again, nothing works. edit: since the mod is standalone, i tried defining the protocol legacy in q\_shared #define LEGACY\_PROTOCOL “75” but i still cant see servers…

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**Author:** ![Oysior](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/oysior/32/778_2.png) [@Oysior](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/Oysior)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 11:19am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/16 "2024-12-30T11:19:06Z")

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we are on the same error! have you found a way around? also maybe you could drop me your discord

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**Author:** ![Raphael](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/raphael/32/763_2.png) [@Raphael](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/Raphael)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/18 "2024-12-30T20:27:34Z")

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hi, after rewriting my code again without non required parts, the error was gone, was probably caused by some failed/not proper attempt of some custom stuff/feature…

I’m able to make the cod1 1.1 client able to play on the 1.5 server using this: [GitHub - cod1dev/libcod1 at 1.5](https://github.com/cod1dev/libcod1/tree/1.5)

Having some issue/crash with killcam, but for playing it’s ok

my discord id: raphael1233

🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MrNuclearMonster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.ioquake.org/mrnuclearmonster/32/820_2.png) [@MrNuclearMonster](https://discourse.ioquake.org/u/MrNuclearMonster)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2024, 3:28am UTC](https://discourse.ioquake.org/t/how-do-i-change-protocols-or-version-numbers-to-play-in-other-servers/217/19 "2024-12-31T03:28:04Z")

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> [@Raphael](#):
>
> my discord

fwiw, while I don’t know the answer to your question off the top of my head, if you solve these issues in public on the web forums like this you’ll be helping other people like yourself. On discord the problems won’t get solved publicly and nobody will be able to find the info.