Qmark
 | |
| Name | Qmark |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | La Cantoche Production |
| Initial release | 2001 |
| Description | N/A |
| Extra data | N/A |
| Animations | 13 |
| TTS voice | None |
| Download | https://tmafe.com/classic-ms-agents/qmark.acs (current version) https://tmafe.com/ms-agent-hosting-3/qmark1.acs (build 2469) https://www.tmafe.com/ms-agent-hosting-4/qmark_unused.acs (unused version) |
Qmark is a Microsoft Agent character developed for Microsoft Corporation by La Cantoche. He was developed for use inside of the Windows XP operating system setup. His appearance is, as his name suggests, a question mark, stylized in the Windows XP operating system theme.
Use in the Windows XP Setup
Qmark was used in the Windows XP setup as part of the OOBE and would assist users in setting up their computer with Windows XP. It can also be found on Windows XP systems inside of the "oobe" folder present inside of system32.
Old Qmark
There is an older version of Qmark present inside of Windows XP Build 2469, which has a TTS voice and the use of the Comic Sans font inside of the word balloon. It is unknown why Microsoft removed the voice from the character, but it is speculated that it would not be fitting for the Windows XP setup. This version of Qmark also has slightly different sounds than the final version.
Windows XP source leak
Inside of the Windows XP source code leak, the Qmark ACS and ACD files are both present inside of it, including its palette and a bunch of unused frames for what would be an early version of its show animation. This version of Qmark however is identical to the one present inside of the final release of Windows XP and the unused animation is not compiled. The Qmark character with unused animations can be downloaded in the downloads section.
Character data
| Character data for Qmark | |
|---|---|
| File name: | Qmark.acs |
| Description: | N/A |
| Extra data: | N/A |
| File size: | 1.11 MB (current version) / 1.61 MB (build 2469) |
| Animations: | 13 |
| TTS voice: | N/A (current version) / Adult Male #1, American English (TruVoice) (build 2469) |
| GUID: | {92AE9591-34FC-4468-936E-59B9C23266B8} |
| TTSMode ID: | <Speech Output Disabled/No TTS Engine Found> (current version) / {CA141FD0-AC7F-11D1-97A3-006008273000} (build 2469) |
| TTS speed: | 150 |
| TTS pitch: | 85 |
| Width: | 200px |
| Length: | 157px |
Gallery
-
The default animation frame of Qmark. -
A photo of Qmark inside of the Windows XP OOBE. -
Unused spiral animation, assumed to be an earlier version of the Show animation. -
A palette file of Qmark. -
Another palette file of Qmark. -
Unused hiding animation. -
Another unused hiding animation. -
Unused move animation.
Trivia
- Qmark is the only Microsoft-related Microsoft Agent character not developed by Microsoft Corporation.
- Qmark was created in the year 2001.
- As with most classical Microsoft Agents, he has his own color table to utilize multiple unique colors to make the character seem higher quality.
