Counter-Strike: Source (Game)

Counter-Strike: Source

GAME » on August 11, 2004

Linux (Platform)Mac (Platform)PC (Platform)

Counter-Strike gets reborn with a shiny new game engine in this 2004 remake.

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Overview

A potential skirmish gets a fresh coat of dust, thanks to the Source engine.

Counter-Strike: Source (known as CSS), is a modern military multiplayer first-person shooter developed and published by Valve for the PC (Platform) (via both Steam (Concept) and retail) on November 1, 2004. The third official iteration of Counter-Strike (after Counter-Strike: Condition Zero), Counter-Strike: Source remakes the original in the then-new Source engine, updating the sounds and graphics while adding a new physics engine (mainly for use with interactive objects, such as barrels). The game also includes minor alterations to the gameplay, such as the removal of ammo purchasing, the removal of riot shields, and the increased effectiveness of flashbangs. After years of both minor and major updates (including an experimental "Dynamic Weapons Pricing" system in October 11, 2006, the Mac (Platform) release on June 23, 2010, and a significant update in collaboration with Hidden Path throughout 2010), the game was later superseded by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The beta version of the game was originally released to members of the Valve Cyber Café program on August 11, 2004, then released to owners of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on August 18, 2004. A new beta version of the game (developed in collaboration with Hidden Path) was released on May 7, 2010 (for those who owned the actual game), including new features and functionality (including 144 achievements, a new domination/revenge system similar to Team Fortress 2 (Game), player statistics, and a upgraded Source engine used in Team Fortress 2, Portal, and Half-Life 2: Episode Two). After tweaking the beta, the features were rolled in to the game on June 23, 2010. Although Valve has closed the beta while rolling in the new features, the beta was later re-opened to test minor updates.

Game Types

Because CSS is built on the modification friendly Source Engine (Concept) there are a multitude of ways to play the game. Some of the types are available right out of the box, others are created by custom maps, plugins, addons or a combination of these. Every map indicates what game mode it was meant to be played as by its prefix. For example, de_dust2, using the "de_" prefix was made for demolition (also known as defusal) gameplay.

Game Mode	Custom	Maps	Info
Hostage Rescue (CS_)	No	Both	Hostage rescue maps set the counter terrorists against a hostage situation. There are usually four hostages which are housed near the terrorist spawn point, and the terrorists must guard them until the round's time runs out. Counter terrorists must rescue the hostages by activating them and make their way back to a spot near the counter terrorist spawn, which will win them the round. Even if some of the hostages are killed, if all remaining ones are saved, the counter terrorists still win. There is also the option of simply killing the opposing side to win the round, and that is the most employed tactic of most teams in the game. These maps are allegedly terrorist favored, as they can just camp near their spawn, and either let the round time run out or pick of incoming counter terrorists as they make their way into the premise
Demolition (DE_)	No	Both	Demolition is the standard in competitive play. The counter-terrorists win by eliminating all terrorists when the bomb is not planted, defusing the bomb when it is planted or preventing the terrorists from planting the bomb within the time limit. The terrorists win by eliminating all counter-terrorists or planting the bomb and having it explode. Official Counter-strike leagues and competitions mainly play de_ maps for their balance ( dust2 is considered one of the most balanced maps of any online game) as it doesn't really give any side the chance to camp properly.
Assassination (AS_)	Yes	Custom	In assassination the counter terrorists must escort the, also counter terrorist, VIP to a helicopter or eliminate all terrorists to win. The terrorists must eliminate the VIP to win or prevent the VIP from reaching the helicopter within the time limit. This gameplay mode is not officially supported in CSS, but it was an official mode in 1.6
Aim (Aim_)	Yes	Custom	Aim maps are, mostly symmetrical, team deathmatch arena's that are made to aid players in testing and improving their aiming skill while using the objects in the map as cover.
Fight Yard (FY_)	Yes	Custom	Fight Yards are team deathmatch arena's similar to Aim maps but more oriented towards fun use of the engine or map editor.
Glass/Break	Yes	Custom	These maps focus on the ability to demolish the environment, mostly floors, around the player and the interaction created with it.
Grenade War (HE_)	Yes	Custom	These maps focus on a grenade throwing team deathmatch.
Knife Arena (KA_)	Yes	Custom	These maps focus on a team deathmatch with only the knife as a weapon.
Surf(SURF_)	Yes	Custom	Surf maps let the player slide along the side of triangular objects acquiring more and more forward speed while traveling along the set paths of the map. To surf, one jumps on the object they wish to surf on (usually an equilateral or isosceles triangle), and holds the key opposite to the side they're surfing on i.e. 'A' if they're on the right side of the triangle, 'D' if they're on the left side. Do not press 'W' or 'S' as they will make you either stop completely, or slowly slide down the polygon. Use the mouse to judge where you want to go, and stay as low as you possibly can on the triangle for maximum speed.
Slide(SLIDE_)	Yes	Custom	This game type is like surf only on a 2D plane. Players are propelled forward at high speed while dodging obstacles.Like surf, there is usually a powerful weapon at the end as a reward for finishing the map.
Death Run(DEATHRUN_)	Yes	Custom	In Death Run, Counter Terrorists must navigate a series of obstacles while the terrorist are constantly setting off traps from the safety of a command center in the middle of the map. There usually has to be a much greater number of CTs than terrorists on the map for balance (there are usually one or two terrorists a map) and, like slide and surf, there is usually a weapon at the end of the map which the CTs can use to kill the terrorists.
Zombie Mod(ZM_)	Yes	Custom	Zombie Mod redefines the two teams in CSS to zombies and living. The zombies have a lot of health points, run faster, can turn the living into a zombie by stabbing them with their only weapon, the knife. The living sometimes get unlimited ammunition but this varies per server. At the start of the round everyone is on the living side. After a short period of time one player is automatically turned into a zombie and the madness will begin.
GunGame(GG_)	Yes	Both	Gun Game is a popular mod which focuses, as the name suggests, entirely around the player's weapons. Rather than allowing players to purchase the firearm of their choice, each player starts with a weak handgun. After every one or two kills, the player "levels up" and his weapon is replaced by the next in order of progression. Players thus race through the list of guns available, going from handguns to shotguns to sub-machine guns to rifles until they finally end with a single grenade. The first person to score a grenade kill wins the game. Gun Game servers typically organize players into two teams, though this is not necessary. Some retain CSS' signature round-type system, while others function according to deathmatch (instant respawn) rules.

Maps

Valve have released a bunch of maps for Counter Strike Source that for the main part are remakes of old maps from the past games in the series. They have also released a few new maps that are made for the source version.

Valve released maps

CS_Assault
DE_Aztec
DE_Cbble
DE_Chateau
CS_Compound
DE_Dust
DE_Dust2
CS_Havana
CS_Italy
CS_Militia
DE_Nuke
CS_Office
DE_Piranesi
DE_Port
DE_Prodigy
DE_Tides
DE_Train

Custom maps

Since the map editor for source engine games(Hammer tools) is so easy to learn the amount of community made maps are enormous. The game also has an included downloader so if the server is running a thirdparty map you will have it automatically downloaded to your steamapps folder.

Weapons and Other equipment

Dynamic Weapons Pricing

In 2006, Valve issued a patch that introduced the dynamic weapons pricing system. Under this new system, weapons and items that have been frequently purchased in the last week go up in price, while those that were underused become cheaper. This change was made in reaction to the fact that Counter-Strike players are notorious in their overuse of certain weapons, the M4, AK-47 and Desert Eagle (Object) in particular. While the change was criticized by many players, the update, combined with significant buffs to some of the more rarely used weapons, did make headway into diversifying public server play however almost all of the popular public servers have disabled the feature.

Weapons

Pistols

Name	Ingame Price	Country	Clip Capacity	Weight(Loaded)	Projectile Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
9x19mm	400$	Austria	20 Rounds	0,9 KG	8g	1132 ft/sec	475 Joule
228 Compact	600$	Germany	13 Rounds	1,03 KG	8,1g	1400 ft/sec	600 Joule
Night Hawk .50c	650$	Israel	7 Rounds	1,8 KG	19,4g	1380 ft/sec	1650 Joule
5.40 Dual Elites	800$	Italy	15 Rounds	1,15 KG	8g	1280 ft/sec	606 Joule
ES Five Seven	750$	Belgium	20 Rounds	0,618 KG	2g	2345 ft/sec	465 J

Shotguns:

Name	Ingame Price	Country	Clip Capacity	Weight(Loaded)	Projectile Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
Leone 12 Gauge Super (M3)	1700$	Italy	8 Rounds	3,5 KG	3,8g	1250 ft/sec	2429 Joule
Leone YG1265 Auto	3000$	Italy	7 Rounds	4 KG	3,8g	1250 ft/sec	2429 Joule

Sub-machine Guns:

Name	Ingame Price	Country	Clip Capacity	Weight(Loaded)	Projectile Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
Ingram Mac 10	1400	USA	30 Rounds	3.82 KG	15.2g	919 ft/sec	584 Joule
TMP	1250	Austria	30 Rounds	1.3 KG	8g	1280 ft/sec	606 Joule
MP5	1500	Germany	30 Rounds	3,42 KG	8g	1132 ft/sec	637 Joule
KM UMP45	1700	Germany	25 Rounds	2.27 KG	15.2g	1005 ft/sec	625 Joule
P90	2350	Belgium	50 Rounds	3 KG	2g	2345 ft/sec	465 Joule

Rifles:

Name	Ingame Price	Country	Clip Capacity	Weight(Loaded)	Projectile Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
Clarion FAMAS	2250$	France	25 Rounds	3.4 KG	4g	2212 ft/sec	1712 Joule
IDF Defender (Galil)	2000$	Israel	35 Rounds	4.35 KG	4g	2013 ft/sec	1712 Joule
Maverick M4A1 Carbine	3100$	USA	30 Rounds	3.22 KG	4g	2900 ft/sec	1570 Joule
CV-47	2500$	Russia	30 Rounds	4.79 KG	7.9g	2329 ft/sec	1922 Joule
Bullpup (Styer Aug)	3500$	Austria	30 Rounds	4.09 KG	4g	2900 ft/sec	1570 Joule
Schmidt Scout	2750$	Austria	10 Rounds	3.3 KG	8g	2800 ft/sec	2200 Joule
Krieg 552	3500$	Switzerland	30 Rounds	3.1 KG	4g	2900 ft/sec	1570 Joule
Krieg 550 Commando	4200$	Switzerland	30 Rounds	7.02 KG	4g	3100 ft/sec	1650 Joule
Magnum Sniper Rifle	4750$	U.K	10 Rounds	6 KG	16.2g	3000 ft/sec	7000 Joule
D3/AU-1	5000$	Germany	20 Rounds	4.41 KG	8g	2800 ft/sec	2200 Joule

Machine Gun:

Name	Ingame Price	Country	Clip Capacity	Weight(Loaded)	Projectile Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
M249 (Para)	5750$	Belgium	100 Rounds	6 KG	4g	3000 ft/sec	1600 Joule

The game also contains flash bang grenades, frag grenades, smoke grenades, Kevlar armor, night vision goggles, a knife and defusal kits.

System Requirements

Minimum	Recommended
* 1.2 GHz processor 256MB Ram Direct X 8 level graphics card Windows 2000/XP/ME/98\|\|* 2.4 GHZ processor 512MB RAM Direct X 9 level graphics card Windows 2000/XP

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