Rock Paper Shotgun Counter-Strike Feed

enThu, 18 Jul 2024 21:32:46 +0000Counter-Strike creator correctly holds the opinion that cs_siege is one of its best mapshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-creator-correctly-holds-the-opinion-that-cs_siege-is-one-of-its-best-mapsGraham SmithThu, 18 Jul 2024 21:32:46 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-creator-correctly-holds-the-opinion-that-cs_siege-is-one-of-its-best-mapsValve SoftwareCounter-Strike 2PCCounter-StrikeMacSingle PlayerXboxMicrosoft StudiosFirst personValveValve CorporationeSports relevantCounter-Strike: Global OffensivePS3ShooterXbox 360MilitaryMicrosoftHidden Path EntertainmentShooter: First PersonMultiplayer Competitive

Everybody knows that Counter-Strike's asymmetric levels are its best. If only someone had told its millions of players. Counter-Strike creator Minh Le seems to agree with me at least, naming cs_siege as one of his favourites in a recent interview.

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What's better: a 'put back' action, or standing atop another player's head in an FPS?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/whats-better-a-put-back-action-or-standing-atop-another-players-heads-in-an-fpsAlice O'ConnorWed, 17 Apr 2024 15:57:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/whats-better-a-put-back-action-or-standing-atop-another-players-heads-in-an-fpsPCThe Fullbright CompanyAction AdventureCounter-StrikeMacSingle PlayerXbox OneXboxMicrosoft StudiosFirst personValveValve CorporationGone HomePS4Point and ClickNintendo SwitchBlockbusterShooterMicrosoftWhat's the best thing in video games?Midnight CityNintendo Wii UIndieMultiplayer Competitive

Last time, you decided that gliding powers are better than Dragon's Dogma 2's Unmaking Arrow. Honestly I'm surprised it was that close (66% vs 33%—don't sweat the rounding), and I'm proud of your ability to weigh a whole concept against a single-game implementation. We are so good at this. Onwards! This week, I ask you to choose between placing things in two very different ways. What's better: a 'put back' action, or standing atop another player's head in an FPS?

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Counter-Strike 2 now lets you undo buy menu purchases, ending an era of embarrassing mistakeshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-2-now-lets-you-undo-buy-menu-purchases-ending-an-era-of-embarrassing-mistakesAlice O'ConnorThu, 08 Jun 2023 15:49:58 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-2-now-lets-you-undo-buy-menu-purchases-ending-an-era-of-embarrassing-mistakesValve SoftwareCounter-Strike 2PCCounter-StrikeMacXboxMicrosoft StudiosFirst personValveValve CorporationeSports relevantCounter-Strike: Global OffensivePS3ShooterXbox 360MilitaryMicrosoftHidden Path EntertainmentShooter: First PersonMultiplayer Competitive

If you ever played Counter-Strike even once, you will surely have committed the classic blunder of misclicking in the shop and buying the wrong gun. No shame in it. All you can do is laugh and try your best while armed with, ah, a pair of dual pistols? No more! The latest big update to Counter-Strike 2's invitation-only test has added the option to refund new purchases. A whole new buy menu, even, far nicer than CS:GO's rubbish wheel. Also a new map and a load of other stuff that mostly matters to jammy gits who have access.

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Counter-Strike's Dust2 is now in Alien: Isolation, thanks to new mod toolshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strikes-dust2-is-now-in-alien-isolation-thanks-to-new-mod-toolsAlice O'ConnorWed, 26 Apr 2023 11:18:25 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strikes-dust2-is-now-in-alien-isolation-thanks-to-new-mod-toolsPCAction AdventureCounter-StrikeSingle PlayerAlien: IsolationXbox OneXboxMod toolsMicrosoft StudiosFirst personModsValveValve CorporationAndroidCreative AssemblyPS4PS3The Creative AssemblyNintendo SwitchSegaShooteriOSXbox 360MicrosoftMultiplayer Competitive

A big new update to unofficial mod tools for Alien: Isolation has greatly expanded the range of mods people can make. Modders can now add custom models, materials, textures, and more to Creative Assembly's horror shooter. To quickly demonstrate the new capabilities, the toolmaker has whipped up a small example: importing classic Counter-Strike map de_dust2 into Isolation. You can see the xenomorph stalking Dust2's sandy corridors in a fun little video below. I imagine modders are already planning bigger, more complex, and less silly uses for these new capababilities.

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There are new rumours Counter-Strike 2 could launch this month with a betahttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/there-are-new-rumours-counter-strike-2-could-launch-this-month-with-a-betaKaan SerinMon, 06 Mar 2023 11:45:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/there-are-new-rumours-counter-strike-2-could-launch-this-month-with-a-betaValveCounter-StrikeShooterFree-to-playCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveSimulation

Rumours of a Counter-Strike 2 have been circulating for so many years that it’s become a recurring meme in the playerbase, almost veering into Half-Life 3 levels of wishful thinking. But rumblings of Counter-Strike 2 have gotten louder over the weekend due to a report from journalist Richard Lewis which states there’s “a new version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on its way” being made in the Source 2 engine, and it could release with the working title of Counter-Strike 2.

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This Twitter bot tours Half-Life skyboxes to brighten up your timelinehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/this-twitter-bot-tours-half-life-skyboxes-to-brighten-up-your-timelineAlice O'ConnorThu, 01 Sep 2022 17:30:36 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/this-twitter-bot-tours-half-life-skyboxes-to-brighten-up-your-timelineModsHalf-LifeX (formerly Twitter)Counter-StrikeDay of DefeatShooter

The second-best way to make Twitter palatable (after simply unfollowing sources of bad tweets) is to follow a load of curated and bot accounts which trickle niceness into your timeline. Today I'd like to suggest adding Skybox Satellite, a Twitter account which shows glimpses of the skies wrapped around maps in GoldSrc games like Half-Life and Counter-Strike. It's sometimes pretty, sometimes nostalgic, and sometimes impressive.

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What's better: romance, or de_dust2?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/whats-better-romance-or-de_dust2Alice O'ConnorWed, 27 Apr 2022 19:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/whats-better-romance-or-de_dust2Counter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceVG247BlockbusterShooterIndieCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveWhat's the best thing in video games?

Last week, our mission resumed after a wee hiatus and you decided that parody in-game brands are better than photo modes. Or are less bad? Some of you have a lot of pent-up frustration because you lack the dexterity to keep your fingers from fumbling photo buttons. But it is decided, and we must move on. This week, it's a question of love versus a battlefield. What's better: romance, or iconic Counter-Strike map de_dust2?

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What game do you wish would get the WoW: Classic treatment?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-game-do-you-wish-would-get-the-wow-classic-treatmentGraham SmithThu, 06 May 2021 22:44:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-game-do-you-wish-would-get-the-wow-classic-treatmentCounter-StrikeRPS asksOld School RuneScapeWorld of Warcraft ClassicCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

I like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but I loved the original Counter-Strike. While CSGO is the prettier, more polished version of the same set of ideas, so many of the maps, so much of the feel that I loved, isn't present in the latest iteration.

The original Counter-Strike is still available to play, but its final update, 1.6, isn't the version I want either. I want beta 5.2, or thereabouts, from back before Valve bought the game and its rougher edges got sanded away.

That's me. But I'm here to ask you: what live service game would you like to see relaunch and preserve an older version of itself, as World Of Warcraft: Classic has? And what version would you want?

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Counter-Strike surfing is the esport we deservehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-surfing-is-the-esport-we-deserveAlice O'ConnorMon, 09 Nov 2020 23:37:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-surfing-is-the-esport-we-deserveValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceTeam Fortress 2ShooterCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Look, competitive Counter-Strike is nice and all, but on the 20th anniversary of v1.0 I do find myself consumed with dreams of a wholly different CS skill: surfing. It's the freestyle skating to proper CS's baseball, using a movement glitch to skid, glide, and soar through maps filled with abstract shapes. It is stylish as all hell. And people race surfing! Or you could go freestyle and hit cool tricks to wow judges! Maybe you could even do synchronised routines! Or, like with the X-Games, you could think it seems too much effort and just watch YouTube videos and coo approvingly. So let's do that, for now.

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Remembering Counter-Strike's forgotten beta mapshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/remembering-counter-strikes-forgotten-beta-mapsAlice O'ConnorMon, 09 Nov 2020 21:20:09 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/remembering-counter-strikes-forgotten-beta-mapsBarking Dog StudiosModsValveCounter-StrikeShooter

It was 20 years ago today that version 1.0 of Counter-Strike launched, boasting iconic maps like Dust and Italy. But what about the maps that didn't make it out of beta? CS had over twenty which bounced around betas but were cut by the full release, including all the maps representing one entire mode. I revisited the cut beta maps today and was surprised by quite how many I remembered, a lot of weird fond memories mixed in with a few moments of "Oh yeah obviously I see why this was cut". Come, let's revisit them.

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Happy 20th birthday to Counter-Strike, the first live service gamehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/happy-20th-birthday-to-counter-strike-the-first-live-service-gameAlice O'ConnorMon, 09 Nov 2020 14:05:54 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/happy-20th-birthday-to-counter-strike-the-first-live-service-gameShooterCounter-StrikeModsValve

On the 9th of November, 2000, Valve released version 1.0 of Counter-Strike. The tactical shooter had started as a Half-Life mod in beta the year before, originally created by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess Cliffe, and became the star of the scene. It's weird to say now, but a twitchy teamplay FPS with a grounded paramilitary setting and realistic style really did stand out. V1.0 wasn't the end for CS though, as Valve kept expanding and updating it for years, and used it as the testbed for new tech including Steam. It set the model for 'live service' games as we now know them.

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Years of CS:GO replays will be investigated for coach exploitshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/years-of-csgo-replays-will-be-investigated-for-coach-exploitsNatalie ClaytonSat, 05 Sep 2020 11:09:25 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/years-of-csgo-replays-will-be-investigated-for-coach-exploitsValveCounter-StrikeCheatingShooterEsportsCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Coaches eh? They're meant to be a great help for improving your game, but it seems some sneaky Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams have taken that to mean peeking where they're not allowed during high-stakes competitive games. Now, the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is raking through years of demos to find these meddlesome cameramen, with the suggestion that they might go easy on folks who own up to their crimes.

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Who made fy_iceworld? A forensic investigationhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/who-made-fy_iceworld-a-forensic-investigationRobert YangThu, 23 Apr 2020 12:00:16 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/who-made-fy_iceworld-a-forensic-investigationValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceFeatureShooterCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

I frequent a Counter-Strike level design forum called Mapcore. There, a Dutch teenager who goes by “RD” (“RealDespair”) has long claimed to have been the original author of fy_iceworld. His now defunct portfolio site went on a lengthy rant about it:

“Yes, you read it right. I am the creator of this unholy monster. When i created this map i had absolutely no idea how popular it would become. It is sad that there are many txt files in rotation from kids that claim to have made this map, but you have now stumbled upon the true author...”

Was RD actually responsible for making one of the most influential and popular game maps of all time? I began a forensic investigation to verify its authorship, digging through the ancient detritus of dead Geocities pages, Angelfire websites, and Romanian file servers. I even datamined the fy_iceworld file for clues. I now know what “fy_” actually meant, and it wasn’t “fight yard.” Originally, it wasn’t even called fy_iceworld either! But let’s start from the beginning.

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The legacy of fy_iceworld, Counter-Strike's divisive and hugely popular custom maphttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-legacy-of-fy_iceworld-counter-strikes-divisive-and-hugely-popular-custom-mapRobert YangWed, 22 Apr 2020 12:00:05 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-legacy-of-fy_iceworld-counter-strikes-divisive-and-hugely-popular-custom-mapValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceFeatureShooterCall of Duty: Modern Warfare RemasteredCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveCall of Duty: Modern Warfare

I remember playing a Counter-Strike map in 2001 called fy_iceworld. It was a small simple grey killbox of a map that virtually anyone could’ve made within the first few hours of downloading the editor tools.

fy_iceworld quickly became one of the most popular and divisive CS maps at my school. I was, of course, one of the haters. I tried to convince my friends to vote against fy_iceworld on our local internet cafe’s CS server, but they argued that I was just salty about being bad at it (which was partly true) and they forced the mapchange anyway. Similar conversations played out across countless clan servers, cyber cafes, PC bangs, and LAN parties around the entire world.

To properly gauge fy_iceworld’s influence and legacy, I asked several working level designers for their takes. Should we love it or bury it?

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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive hit a new record high playercount this weekendhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-hit-a-new-record-high-playercount-this-weekendAlice O'ConnorMon, 10 Feb 2020 18:25:50 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-hit-a-new-record-high-playercount-this-weekendValveCounter-StrikeShooterbig numbersCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

While Counter-Strike has long seemed one of those games that might just have found its final form and will now be around forever, I am surprised that it's still breaking its own records. Over the weekend, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive set a new record for the number of people in-game online at the same time, beating a record set in April 2016. That was back before CS:GO went free-to-play, mind, but it's taken a year for free CS to climb up and topple that mighty record. 901,681 players on Sunday, that's the new high.

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Counter-Strike's creator will reveal MMO shooter PLAN 8 next weekhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strikes-creator-will-reveal-mmo-shooter-plan-8-next-weekCraig PearsonThu, 07 Nov 2019 14:00:46 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strikes-creator-will-reveal-mmo-shooter-plan-8-next-weekPLAN 8Black Desert OnlineCounter-StrikeCrimson DesertDokeVPearl Abyss

The dramatically named Korean developer Pearl Abyss has three new games whirring away on their development PCs. The developers of Black Desert Online are working on three new MMOs: one shooter from the creator of Counter-Strike, one child-friendly jaunt, and one fantasy game. The three games have a proper reveal planned for on November 14, during Pearl Abyss Connect at G-STAR 2019. For now, we know they're called PLAN 8, Crimson Desert, and DokeV, alongside a handful of other details.

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Put CS:GO's new Panorama UI through its paceshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/put-csgos-new-panorama-ui-through-its-pacesFraser BrownWed, 20 Jun 2018 16:07:33 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/put-csgos-new-panorama-ui-through-its-pacesShooterCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveValve

The beta for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s shiny new UI, Panorama, is now available to players who fancy a preview. Valve is touting it as “the most substantial change to the look and feel of CS:GO since the game was released in 2012.” Every part of the UI has been updated, so it might take a bit of time to get used to.

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Dark Souls mod mixes in Counter-Strike's Gun Gamehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-gun-game-modAlice O'ConnorWed, 19 Jul 2017 17:21:48 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-gun-game-modDark SoulsAction AdventureCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveMod

A new mod for Dark Souls mixes the brutal action-RPG with Counter-Strike's mod Gun Game (or CS:GO's Arms Race mode, if you'd rather). Much as Gun Game rewards Counter-Strikers with new weapons for killing other players, the DaS_GG mod gives the Chosen Undead levels and fancier weapons for whacking folks. Oh, but it takes them away as you get hit. Even if you know Lordran upside-down and inside-out, this should certainly make Dark Souls surprising.

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Half-Life gets new patch, almost 19 years after launchhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/half-life-patchAlice O'ConnorTue, 11 Jul 2017 11:40:32 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/half-life-patchHalf-Life: Opposing ForceHalf-LifeValveCounter-StrikeDeathmatch ClassicCounter-Strike: Condition ZeroShooterTeam Fortress ClassicHalf-Life: Blue Shift

Though Half-Life [official site] is almost nineteen years old and its sanctioned fan remake Black Mesa is nearing completion, Valve have launched a wee patch for their pretty okay or whatever vintage FPS. The patch fixes a few crashes and exploits, and hit other Half-Life engine games too, such as classic Counter-Strike. Given how much of modern PC games history connects to Half-Life and its mod scene, I'm glad Valve are still tinkering a little. Earlier this year, they finally got Half-Life an uncensored release in Germany too.

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I still miss dedicated servers - or at least onehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-still-miss-dedicated-servers-or-at-least-oneGraham SmithMon, 20 Mar 2017 19:00:48 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-still-miss-dedicated-servers-or-at-least-oneShooterCounter-StrikeSupporters onlyFeature

I've been a member of many games communities over the years - clans, guilds, forums - but the one I remember most fondly was a server.

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The History Of Overwatch’s Hero Abilitieshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-history-of-overwatchs-hero-abilitiesJakeb SmithMon, 07 Nov 2016 19:00:36 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-history-of-overwatchs-hero-abilitiesMortal Kombat (1992)StriderQuakeCounter-StrikeTeam Fortress 2FeatureShooterLeague of LegendsOverwatchbionic commandoBlizzard EntertainmentDota 2Jet Set RadioBraid

Developers imitate each other, as do writers, musicians and artists, and Blizzard are the best in the business at it. No other company is so good at distilling the sweat of another’s brow and refining it into pure, unadulterated joy. Yet, while it’s easy to see in Overwatch the objective-based gameplay of Team Fortress 2, the team dynamics of League of Legends or the creative movement mechanics of 90s shooters, its various ideas can often be traced back much further, towards older games that the designers at Blizzard may never have played.

I've chosen ten abilities Overwatch's heroes can perform and used them as the starting point for a jaunt through game history. What was the first game to feature grappling hooks, or teleportation, or time-rewinding? Find out below.

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Happy Birthday! Valve Turned 20 Yesterdayhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-20th-birthdayAlice O'ConnorThu, 25 Aug 2016 18:03:12 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-20th-birthdaySteamHalf-LifeValveCounter-StrikePortalHalf-Life 2ShooterLeft 4 Dead

Happy 20th birthday, Valve! Yesterday. Happy 20th yesterday. Sorry, I only just saw the Facebook notification. On August 24th, 1996, ex-Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington made a beautiful baby who was mighty eye-opening.

In the dreamy game of "What if...?" one curious hypothetical is: what if Valve never existed? There can't be many companies who've had nearly as much impact. Steam (eventually) revolutionised digital distribution, changing the entire landscape of PC gaming. Half-Life was seminal; its mod scene was legendary. That'd be plenty, but Valve have made a load of other really good video games too.

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Have You Played... Counter-Strike: Sourcehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-is-counter-strike-sourceGraham SmithFri, 23 Oct 2015 14:00:14 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/what-is-counter-strike-sourceValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceHave You PlayedFeatureShooterCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game recommendations. One a day, every weekday of the year, perhaps for all time.

Not the original mod. Not Global Offensive or Condition Zero. I'm talking about Counter-Strike: Source, the remake that brought terrorists and counter-terrorists to the Half-Life 2 engine - and for some reason, was never fully embraced by the audience.

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Counter-Strike Tournaments To Be Shown On TBShttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-tbs-esportsJoe DonnellySun, 27 Sep 2015 20:00:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-tbs-esportsFilm & TelevisionMinh LeValveCounter-StrikeShooterRustEsportsCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

American media conglomerate Turner Broadcasting and talent agency WME/IMG plans to show 20 live Counter-Strike: Global Offensive [official site] events on US television next year as part of a league series after brokering a successful deal with Valve.

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Have You Played... Counter-Strike?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-have-you-playedGraham SmithWed, 26 Aug 2015 14:00:51 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-have-you-playedValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceHave You PlayedFeatureShooterCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game recommendations. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.

Not Global Offensive. Not Source. I'm talking the original Counter-Strike. The Half-Life mod; the game that was more popular than its online competitors combined; the game that in many ways pioneered both games as services and games as playable alphas; the game that spawned two follow-ups but which even right now, as I'm writing this, has 20,211 concurrent players through Steam.

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Is Early Access A Good Thing For Players Or Developers?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-early-access-good-badRPSFri, 31 Jul 2015 16:00:18 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-early-access-good-badearly accessSteamDivinity: Original SinCounter-StrikeDayZInvisible Inc.FeatureIndieMinecraftThe ForestCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveInc

Early Access games are here to stay, but is that cause for concern or celebration? We gathered to discuss whether early access benefits developers or players in its current state, and how we'd make it better. Along the way, we discussed the best alpha examples, paying for unfinished games, our love of regularly updated mods, Minecraft and the untapped potential of digital stores.

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Globally Offensive: Let's Talk About Abuse in CS:GOhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/cs-go-abuseEmily RichardsonFri, 17 Jul 2015 21:00:21 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/cs-go-abuseCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceFeatureShooterPop FlashCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

In Pop Flash, a series of insights into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive [official site], Emily Richardson looks past the amazing clutches and crushing defeats to understand the culture and meta of Valve’s everlasting competitive FPS.

This week, I’ll be discussing abuse and toxic behaviour in the CS:GO community. Before we get to it, let me reiterate that I am madly in love with Counter-Strike. It’s simply one of the best team games out there. This piece, however, is meant to highlight one important issue that I think we can overcome.

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Counter-Strike Global Offensive Boards The Update Trainhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/csgo-train-updateGraham SmithThu, 11 Dec 2014 20:00:16 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/csgo-train-updateValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

If I close my eyes and think of childhood memories and the spaces that contain them, my mind might touch upon a bedroom, a school playground or a muddy playing field, but it might just as easily come to rest upon Q2DM1, Q3DM17 or de_prodigy. The angles and textures and travel times of certain multiplayer maps are seared into my brain through repetition, their tiny details lacquered by the tension of triumph and defeat.

But I like that they're more than just memories. I don't find much time to play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but it's a wonderful thing and Valve have been doing great work in gradually reviving and revitalizing maps from older versions of the game. They've done just that today to de_train, an old favourite, and if you've ever played Counter-Strike it's worth watching the video below and reading the post on the Counter-Strike blog which explains the changes.

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Wot I Think: CS GO - Operation Vanguardhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-vanguard-reviewRich StantonFri, 21 Nov 2014 19:00:27 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-vanguard-reviewDLCCounter-StrikeReviewsFeatureShooterWot I ThinkCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

A recent study by the PEW Internet Project exposed the blindingly obvious hypocrisy of most people's attitudes towards online services. We don't want our privacy compromised, we don't think big companies can be trusted with our data, and the power of corporations like Google makes us uncomfortable. But despite all these deeply-held and very serious fears, billions of people still use the products involved. So too with DLC in all forms. We bitch and moan, mock the price on twitter, talk about how far games have fallen – and then pony up the dough when nobody's looking. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's new Operation Vanguard is what we've let ourselves in for.

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The Sound Of Silencers: CS:GO Music Kitshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counterstrike-music-valvePhilippa WarrMon, 13 Oct 2014 19:00:07 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counterstrike-music-valveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

And in "Well this is a nice idea but it would involve me not playing Jason Derulo on repeat while headshotting Ben so you can count me out" news: there are now Counter-Strike: Global Offensive music kits.

What that means is when you have a music kit equipped it replaces the in-game music with music from your kit. That covers *deep breath* the main menu, round start, round end, bomb planting, bomb warning, round won, round lost, round end warning and death camera bits of a match. For extra RUB-IT-IN-YOUR-FACE-ness there's also a special MVP anthem which plays to everyone when you're MVP.

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Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies Shambles Into Open Betahttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-nexon-zombies-open-betaAlice O'ConnorThu, 25 Sep 2014 09:00:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-nexon-zombies-open-betaNexonFree gamesCounter-StrikeFree-to-playCounter-Strike Nexon: Studio

Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies is a weird thing. A zombified free-to-play version of dear old CS 1.6 made by not-Valve always would be but gosh, this video game! I've inadvertently played a good five hours since Nexon launched it into open beta on Tuesday. I'm baffled but fascinated. It feels like a cover-disc collection of mods passed through a portal from a world where Valve released source code for Counter-Strike, not Half-Life, so CS became the base for loads of odd mods.

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Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies Shambling F2P To Steamhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-nexon-zombies-steamAlice O'ConnorThu, 07 Aug 2014 14:00:23 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-nexon-zombies-steamNexonValveCounter-StrikeFree-to-playCounter-Strike Online 2Counter-Strike Nexon: StudioCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

One mode in the free-to-play Counter-Strike Online 2 sees players turn into a deadly cartoon pig. Another gives terrorists cloaking devices, and of course the game does zombies too. The original CS Online has an event starring giant bug men. In Japanese arcades, Counter-Strike Neo had sexy cyberbabes. The straight-faced man-shooter lives a fabulous double-life thanks to Valve licensing it to Asian developers, who rebuild in weird ways we don't usually see. But!

Later these year we'll all get to coo and prod at one of these oddities when Nexon bring Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies to western players through Steam, free-to-play.

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Counter-Strike Update Adds Six Maps, Calms Dogs, Morehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-operation-breakout-updateGraham SmithWed, 02 Jul 2014 12:00:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-operation-breakout-updateValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

How long is it before everyone copies Valve's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive update structure? The latest addition to the venerable multiplayer shooter is called Operation Breakout, and it adds six new maps for everyone to play for free. For those willing and able to pay $6, you then get a now-familiar bundle of upgrades including access to mission drops with the chance to unlock "45 exclusive weapon finishes", a Challenge Coin which tracks your achievement-y 'mission' progress, and a new weapon case containing new community designs.

Given how most other games split their multiplayer communities by selling the maps directly, and given how that split is bad even for the developers, surely it's only a matter of time before we're covering our Battlefield and Call of Duty weaponry with paid-for and unlockable stickers and baubles. More details on the update and its maps below.

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Almost Everybody Wins: Counter-Strike Online 2https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/almost-everybody-wins-counter-strike-online-2Craig PearsonMon, 15 Jul 2013 18:00:38 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/almost-everybody-wins-counter-strike-online-2Counter-Strike Online 2ValveCounter-StrikeNexon

This information is coming to me via a blurry video and Google Translate, so I make only a slight claim of accuracy on this. I'm fact, I'm going to create a pseudonym to deliver it. Look over there while I change my clothes. No peeking, now! I'm shy. Right! Ready! Hello, I am Graham Journalism: Games Journalist. I used to host the late night Channel 5 show Game Pad from my front room, but a scandal and a few years in prison has seen me retreat from the public eye. But I'm back now, and my community service demands I make use of my skills. The other day I accidentally Googled "Counter-Strike 2", a finger slip that has proved more than fortunate. It turns out there is such a thing for the Asian free-to-play scene, and it's madder than you can possibly imagine. It's not out yet, but Counter-Strike Online 2 is basically APB.

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Counter-Struck: Tactical Intervention Out This Monthhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-struck-tactical-intervention-out-this-monthNathan GraysonSat, 02 Mar 2013 09:00:47 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-struck-tactical-intervention-out-this-monthTactical InterventionCounter-StrikeMinh Le

Counter-Strike will probably outlive us all. It will also probably keep bunny-hopping onward long after we've disposed of all terrorism and achieved glorious grievance-free utopia. There will be no counters or strikes. Only Counter-Strike. So it's exciting to hear that the implausibly enduring formula's original creator has decided to revisit it, and the fact that his new game, Tactical Intervention, is actually gonna be playable is pretty neat too. But when? And how? Turns out, the answers are a) this month and b) on the very personal computing device (presumably) sitting before you. The greatest anti-terror weapon of all, however, isn't guns or drones or bombs disguised to look like good ol' freshly made American apple pie. It's knowledge, and you'll find tons more of it after the break.

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A People's History Of The FPS, Part 3: The Postmodhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-peoples-history-of-the-fps-part-3-the-postmodRobert YangFri, 21 Sep 2012 10:00:45 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-peoples-history-of-the-fps-part-3-the-postmodCounter-StrikeDoom 3MinecraftA People''s HistoryThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

"A People's History" is a three part essay series that argues for a long-standing but suppressed tradition of non-industry involvement in the first person genre. This is part three. [Part one. Part two.]

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Wot I Think - Counter-Strike: Global Offensivehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/csgo-reviewTom BramwellThu, 23 Aug 2012 12:00:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/csgo-reviewValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceWot I ThinkCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Eurogamer's grand high poobah Tom 'Tom Bramwell' Bramwell makes a welcome return to RPS to tell us all about the latest makeover of Valve's undying multiplayer shooter Counter-Strike, which was was released to the world just yesterday.

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Tactically Intervening With Minh Lehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-striking-up-a-conversation-with-minh-leLewie ProcterSat, 21 Apr 2012 14:00:57 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-striking-up-a-conversation-with-minh-leMinh LeCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceTactical InterventionInterview

Despite having originally released all the way back in the year 2,000 Anno Domini, CounterStrike is still - still! - the number one game being played on Steam right now. That's not even taking into account CounterStrike Source. It's an astonishing achievement, and CounterStrike's continued popularity is reason enough to pay attention to the new game from co-creator, Minh Le. That new game is Tactical Intervention, and it's a project he quit his job at Valve to pursue. I sat down for a chat with him, and this is what ensued:

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E-Sporting Chance: Hacking Dreamshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/e-sporting-chance-hacking-dreamsRPSSun, 04 Dec 2011 12:38:27 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/e-sporting-chance-hacking-dreamsESFI WorldCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceStarCraft II: Wings Of Libertye-sportsDota 2

Last week we took a look back at Major League Gaming Providence, the final event for North America’s largest e-sports circuit. This time, we’ll look at last week’s big event: Dreamhack Winter 2011. See ESFI World’s on-site coverage of the event here.

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An Hour Of Counter-Strike: Global Offensivehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/an-hour-of-counter-strike-global-offensiveAdam SmithThu, 20 Oct 2011 09:25:26 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/an-hour-of-counter-strike-global-offensiveShooterCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveValve

Last time we brought you news of Counter-Strike: GO (go go!), we were able to show you nine new images from the game. Nine! That's a lot of global offense. This time, prepare for an offensive overload because there is over an hour of footage waiting for you below, in the form of a competitive match between the United States and Europe. I wouldn't spoil the ending even if I had managed to watch the whole thing, but I have found myself riveted to it for a while - partly to stroke my chin and pretend I'm picking up on every difference, no matter how minute, but also because I'm keen for the Old World to represent itself well in the ancient and storied sport of man-shooting. Scarves, rattles and chants at the ready...

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Counter-Strike GO: Gun Game Mode, Screenshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-go-new-mode-new-screenshotsJohn WalkerThu, 22 Sep 2011 08:16:02 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-go-new-mode-new-screenshotsValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global Offensivescreenshots

Valve are a canny bunch. They know that remaking Counter-Strike is sure to be met by cries of "THIS PIXEL IS ONE NANOMETRE TOO FAR TO THE LEFT!" So it makes good sense for them to look at the best mods that have created the largest audiences, and work them into the new version of the game. So it is that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will feature an "Arsenal Mode", based on the CS: Source mod, Gun Game. Oh, and we have nine brand new images of the game.

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Counter-Strike: GO Explained Properlyhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-goAlec MeerMon, 15 Aug 2011 11:33:22 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-goSteamValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceCounter-Strike: Global Offensive

Friday saw the sudden news of a brand new, all-formats Counter-Strike game, which in PC gaming news terms is probably the equivalent of simultaneously swearing in a crowdpleasing new president and announcing a world war. The coming months will be characterised by both excitement and rage, I don't doubt. What we don't know is much about it, other than that it's broadly going to be CS with new stuff. Turns out, Valve have been quietly showing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (I don't know how long it's going to be until I stop initially typing 'Global Agenda') to pro-gamers to get their thoughts on how it's shaping up. Craig 'Torbull' Levine from ESEA is one of the lucky few, and he's shared a few details on what to expect from a game Valve are claiming will fit alongside, rather than replace, CS 1.6 and CS:S.

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Revealed: Counter-Strike: Global Offensivehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensiveAlec MeerFri, 12 Aug 2011 16:51:02 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensiveValveCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveCounter-Strike: Source

As rumoured this morning, there really is a new Counter-Strike coming. And it's not some side-project: this sounds like a major sequel-come-relaunch of Counter-Strike for a new generation of manshoot fans. Valve have just solemnly and officially declared its existence to the world - Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, aka CS: GO, is indeed its war-lovin' name. It will feature new maps, modes, weapons, characters and social gaming features such as matchmaking and leaderboards, on top of assorted updates to tried and tested stuff like de_dust.

It's due on PC and on the two fatter consoles. Which, I think, means this is Valve looking Call of Duty square in the eye and telling it to step outside.

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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Confirmed?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-confirmedJim RossignolFri, 12 Aug 2011 06:52:13 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-confirmedGearbox SoftwareValve SoftwareCounter-Strike 2PCCounter-StrikeMacCounter-Strike: SourceSingle PlayerXboxVivendi GamesMicrosoft StudiosFirst personValveValve CorporationCounter-Strike: Global OffensivePS3Counter-Strike: Condition ZeroShooterXbox 360Turtle Rock StudiosMicrosoftHidden Path EntertainmentRitual EntertainmentMultiplayer Competitive

A thread on the Steam forums seems to confirm that rumours about a new Counter-Strike game - Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - are true, with commenter "Cliffe" (who is Valve designer chap Jess Cliffe) saying "Global Offensive". There have been a bunch of other references to it, on Twitter and so forth.

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Gaming Made Me: Counter-Strikehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gaming-made-me-counter-strikeRPSSat, 21 May 2011 11:00:39 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gaming-made-me-counter-strikegaming made meCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceFeatureCounter-Strike: Condition Zero

This week in our ongoing retrospective series on games journalists' most formative games, we very proudly welcome Eurogamer's god-king and operations director Tom Bramwell to the word-stage. He's here to tell you about his long years spent with arguably one of the most definitive PC games of all time, and what for one generation of gamers was a global obsession that today's shooters, no matter how much bigger they might be, just can't seem to match...

I also wanted to write this about Grand Theft Auto, and I might still do that another time if RPS will have me back. There were probably other factors, but no one game is so singularly responsible for my being a games journalist (or at least having been one) as DMA Design's original PC game. But I'm really here today to bang on about Counter-Strike, and I owe that game a massive debt too, because it's thanks to Counter-Strike that I don't play Call of Duty or Battlefield or Medal of Honor or any of that stuff on the internet nowadays for a moment longer than my job requires.

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"When Will You Release Counter-Strike 2?"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-2-releaseAlec MeerTue, 08 Mar 2011 21:36:58 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-2-releaseValve SoftwareCounter-Strike 2PCCounter-StrikeCounter-Strike: SourceXboxVivendi GamesMicrosoft StudiosFirst personValveValve CorporationeSports relevantGabe NewellShooterMilitaryMicrosoftHidden Path EntertainmentShooter: First PersonMultiplayer Competitive

Aw, bless. I share the below video not because it gives much away in terms of when and if we'll see Counter-Strike 2 (though it's certainly not a denial, which is some kind of good news at least), but because of the charming awkwardness of Gabe Newell's reaction when asked directly in front of THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE whether Valve's evergreen man-shooter will be sequelised any time soon...

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Terror-ist: MP Blames CS For Racist Murdershttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/terror-ist-mp-blames-cs-for-racist-murderAlec MeerWed, 17 Nov 2010 18:01:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/terror-ist-mp-blames-cs-for-racist-murderstaring eyesCounter-Strike

There's an argument that the media shouldn't given any air to known enfant terribles - that by giving more profile to someone who spouts wild and dangerous innacuracies you only serve to further their cause. It's not one I believe, though - that would mean someone like disgraced game-haranguing UK politician Keith Vaz would essentially get away with ritually blaming the evil that men can do on videogames. No; any chance to reveal the flaws in his bewildering bluster and blame should be taken.

In this case, he's accused Counter-Strike of inspiring a series of tragic shootings which occurred in Malmo, Sweden. A case local police have said appears to be part of a year-long campaign of violence against immigrants to the area. Keith has other ideas.

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La Femme D'Argent: Air Pressurehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/la-femme-dargent-air-pressureKieron GillenThu, 18 Mar 2010 19:29:06 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/la-femme-dargent-air-pressureCounter-StrikeIndieFree games

Going through the RPS mail from when I've been away, I hit upon Cooper bringing Air Pressure to our attention. It's a conversion of Bentosmile's original into Flash, and is a short visual novel with three endings. It involves GIRLS again. I should turn this into GIRLS! week at RPS or something. Actually... I've had worse ideas. Inverting the straight to the sexy approach and... nevermind. This is slight but atmospheric, and suitably open to interpretation. Go plays.

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