For $\varnothing \ne M\subseteq {\omega }^{*}$, we say that $X$ is quasi $M$-compact, if for every $f:\omega \to X$ there is $p\in M$ such that $\overline{f}\left(p\right)\in X$, where $\overline{f}$ is the Stone-Čech extension of $f$. In this context, a space $X$ is countably compact iff $X$ is quasi ${\omega }^{*}$-compact. If $X$ is quasi $M$-compact and $M$ is either finite or countable discrete in ${\omega }^{*}$, then all powers of $X$ are countably compact. Assuming $CH$, we give an example of a countable subset $M\subseteq {\omega }^{*}$ and a quasi $M$-compact space $X$ whose square is not countably compact, and show that in a model of A. Blass and S. Shelah every quasi...