The Smokin' Guns game started its life under the name of Western Quake³. It was originally developed by a team known as Iron Claw Interactive. They released WQ3 beta 2.0 in 2003, after which development all but ceased. In May 2005, development of Western Quake³ was taken over of by a bunch of cowboys calling themselves The Smokin' Guns with the blessings of the former team.