As a concept, Quake Live is fairly simple to describe: Quake III Arena, for free, in a web browser. As a phenomenon, it goes much deeper. Quake Live is a step into new, experimental territory.
It’s an easy comparison to make, but perhaps an unfair one. After all, just because Kim Swift was one of the creative minds behind Portal, and just because her newly announced game shares some similarities with her first masterwork, doesn’t mean this quirky, charming first-person puzzler is a rehash of her earlier game.