Installing Windows to play Q3A

[Handle]

I used to love playing Quake3Arena many, many years ago.

I'd like to play it again, but all I have is a 2009 24" iMac with OSX 10.9.4.

I was just reading about something called QuakeLive which is basically Q3A played in a browser, but it's no longer supported on the MAC.

I was thinking about the possibility to run an older (and if available, free) version of Windows on my iMac so that I could play QuakeLive.

Is this possible? Is there any way to find a cheap or free version of Windows (maybe 2000 or XP)?

Playing Q3A is the only thing I would be using Windows for, I haven't needed Windows for any other software I have used for the last 5 years.

 

[saturnotaku]

There's a program called ioquake3 that allows Q3A to run on modern hardware in OS X. All you need is a legitimate copy of Quake 3 on either CD/DVD or from Steam. See the post I made here for more information.

 

[Handle]

That's way above my head. I'd rather go the QuakeLive route.

 

[saturnotaku]

There are no free versions of Windows, and only current iterations (7 and 8.1) are supported through Boot Camp under Mavericks. Your only option for older Windows versions is to use a virtual machine, such as Parallels, VMWare or VirtualBox.

If you have a CD/DVD copy of Quake 3, the ioquake3 method I linked to before will not cost you anything.

 

[Handle]

I think using an old version of Windows in Parallels would be the best option for me. As long as QuakeLive will work with that method.