[4-3-4] Screen Size

Learn about the [4-3-4] Screen Size mechanic in Quake. This guide from AntMag will help you understand and master this aspect of the game.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Quake and wondering about the [4-3-4] Screen Size thing? Don't sweat it, it's pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Think of it as how the game displays itself on your screen. Back in the day, most monitors were a bit squarer, which is where the 4:3 aspect ratio comes from. Modern screens are wider, hence the 16:9 or even 16:10 ratios. Quake, being an older game, was designed with that 4:3 in mind.

When you play Quake on a modern widescreen monitor, you have a few options:

• Stretch to Fill: This will stretch the image horizontally to fill your entire screen. Everything will look wider, which can sometimes distort characters and the environment. Some players don't mind this, others find it a bit weird.
• Black Bars (Letterboxing/Pillarboxing): This keeps the original 4:3 aspect ratio by adding black bars to the sides (pillarboxing) or top and bottom (letterboxing) of the screen. This preserves the intended look of the game, but you'll have less screen real estate visible at once.
• Native Resolution/Aspect Ratio: Some versions or source ports of Quake allow you to run it at its native resolution and aspect ratio, which usually means black bars.

Pro Tip: Experiment with what feels best for you! There's no single