Slipgate

A slipgate is a fictional teleportation device featured in id Software's first-person shooter computer game, Quake of 1996. It is frequently modeled as a massive cubic metallic box with assorted wires and displays, and two large grated pads infront. Stepping between them will automatically teleport one to its destination (this is used commonly in the game to select an episode and/or end the current level).

The slipgate serves as a MacGuffin in the game's simple plot to create conflict between Earth and the interdimensional forces of Quake that are prominently featured as enemies in the game. Similar to id Software's previous title, Doom, Mankind had been experimenting with teleportation technology and managed to construct a working prototype. It is not specified if the gate malfunctions or if the aliens (or demons as the game's satanic imagery suggests) influence the gate through magic to lead to their dimension. Regardless, they attack Earth and it becomes the role of the player to enter their world via the same slipgate and defeat their leader, Shub-Niggurath, code-named Quake.

Slipgates also make a reappearance in the Quake series with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, where slipgates are a feature of some maps.

The term is also used in the name of Slipgate Ironworks, founded by one of id Software's former employees and Quake's lead-designer John Romero.
 
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