Veteran Quake player Av3k reflects on one of the most recognizable quirks of the Quake scene — placing the keyboard on the lap during play — in a new video released by Endpoint Quake.
This setup, once common at LAN tournaments across Russia and the CIS, became a hallmark of early 2000s Quake culture. In the video, Av3k shares personal memories, explains how the style spread among top players, and discusses its advantages and drawbacks.
What’s inside:
Origins
The lap-keyboard style gained popularity during early 2000s ASUS Cups in Russia, especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where space was limited and players improvised.
The first to use it?
According to Av3k, one of the earliest known players to use this setup was Polosatiy, considered a foundational figure in the Russian Quake scene. Whether he invented it or popularized it is unclear, but many followed his example.
Adoption by top players
Nearly all CIS Quake world champions — Cooller, Cypher, Evil, uNkind and LeXeR — used this setup for most of their careers. Even rapha, one of the few Western players to adopt it, explained it helped him stabilize aim by resting the arm fully on the table.
Environment matters
Narrow desks, small mousepads, and cramped seating at internet cafés made lap setups more practical. Some players also used the style temporarily due to injuries.
Pillows at events Av3k notes how bringing pillows became common at events like QuakeCon, with players like Cooller and rapha using them to adjust chair height or add back support.
Decline and legacy
While this setup is rarely seen in modern games like CS or Apex, it remains part of Quake’s identity and a reminder of its grassroots LAN culture.
