Since the original plans for PlayQuake couldn't be implemented we decided to move the pickup IRC channel to
#ctfpickup. This channel name will fit the actual topic way better since PlayQuake has never been anything else but CTF. #playquake however will stay available for a while since one of our bots will invite everybody to the new channel.
The intention of pickup games at all is to have more proper games compared to public games where people disconnect within the game, teams are most often not quite even or certain positions are not well played or it simply takes ages until everybody has readied up. In pickups people have to follow certain rules to ensure that the game is actually taking place and to avoid the named issues on public servers. Pickups are therefore more competitive and more fun.
For those who are new to QuakeLive and Pickup, you can read about how everything works at http://ctfpickup.eu . If you want to use the ability to get pickup announcements in-game via QuakeLives chat system, you can add the account playquake to your friendslist.
It will announce promote-, game-ready- and team-change-messages. We will improve those in the future and give the possibility to decide which message you actually want to receive. The account playquake will not be changed.
There is also a userscript which we use to announce teams within the game. This is really helpful especially when teams have changed because someone needed a substitute. The userscript can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/cf9rnqf . To install that userscript you'll have to have Greasemonkey installed or for QLPrism-Users just hit 'enter url' in the upper right corner, enter the URL and click 'Install'.
We would also like to thank everyone who is already using our service and supporting us. We're looking forward to having many many games in the new channel. Feel free to invite your friends to play more CTF. See you in #ctfpickup! Pizza is life.