This game is a gem. It was created years ago and it's been a long time since anything but bug fixes have been released. Now Valve, in collaboration with Hidden Path Studios, have released an update that will ensure this game lasts even longer. Features that popular modern games like Modern Warfare 2 and Halo: Reach employ will soon be available in this long-lasting PC shooter.
There are a long line of Counter-Strike games. One of my favourites is CS: 1.6, but CS: Source is the most recent, even if it's gameplay, graphics and networking features are a bit outdated.
Valve has launched an extensive update to Counter-Strike: Source, now in beta. The update includes a host of new features and functionality developed in collaboration with Hidden Path Studios.
This beta will run for a limited time, and once complete, the update will be deployed to all Counter-Strike: Source owners for free via Steam.
With this new Counter-Strike Source release by Valve, we get the following new features:: (my comments in monospaced font underneath)
- 144 achievements added
Since the Xbox 360 introduced Achievements and due to it's resounding success, several other companies have included similar functionality in their own products. The PS3 introduced the not-very-well-integrated Trophy system, and Steam has added their own version of an achievement system. Now, it seems Counter-Strike: Source is receiving achievements as well. If you do well in a game, kill two people with one bullet, or perform some other similar feat, you'll most likely be awarded with a shiny achievement to show on your Steam profile. That's enough to make me play the game again! :)
- New lifetime player stats and summary screens
Counter-Strike: Source imitates Halo. While Bungie.net is a revolutionary example of how a developer's website can be integrated into a console game (and no-one has yet matched them on this front), it seems Valve wishes to have an attempt at doing this with CS: Source on the PC. How many kills have you made in total? How many headshots? Out of the several million bullets you've fired, how many actually hit an opponent? They're the kind of thing I expect and receive from Halo, and I'm hoping to see similar stats for my CS: Source gameplay.
- New match player stats and summary screens
Nice. We've always had a ranking at the end of each round, indicating who had the most kills and which team (Terrorists / Counter-Terrorists) won the match. I'm intruiged to see how this is going to be improved.
- New end of round display with MVP and interesting fact about a player
MVP, short for Most Valuable Player, is the player with the highest kill-to-death ratio in the game. Every game of Halo has an MVP, and the same goes for another favourite of mine - Modern Warfare 2. MVP's are now part of CS: Source. Awesome!
- Updated scoreboard with new icons, visual style, MVP stars, and avatar pictures
Avatar pictures? New visual style? The game is old, and it's menus show that more than anything despite the gameplay itself being very addictive. A refreshed scoreboard is one of the things the game desperately needs. Graphics and appearance aren't everything, but they sure are important when you're trying to get new players to buy the game.
- New cinematic death camera
New cinematic death camera? You're kidding?! This is the one difference between MW2 and Halo that I hate. Whenever I'm playing Halo and I'm sniped from across the map, I'm annoyed that I don't get the Modern Warfare 2 treatment and see the killer's viewpoint as he's killing me. It rubs in the fact that you just got your ass kicked, but at least you know where your killer is and can get some revenge when you respawn :P
- New domination and revenge system
Nice. Added to the cinematic death camera, I sure will be trying to get revenge as often as I can. Anyone that wants to kill me will die… until they respawn again.
- Added avatar icons to voice chat, scoreboard, and end of round display
Didn't you already say that? xD
- Incorporated many source engine updates
The source engine is what this game runs on. Adding source engine updates basically means improved gameplay and less bugs - that's only ever a good thing.
The game, which sells for the low price of only $19.99 USD has been at that price for a while, and still seems to be at that price despite the upcoming massive updates.
Existing owners of the game will receive the update for free, but I can't help wondering if this will bump the price up at least another $10 for new buyers. The only way to make sure you get it at a good price is to buy it now, on Steam. Counter-Strike: Source.
Interested in taking part in the beta? Well unfortunately, you're in the same situation as me and you missed out. But you can have a look at the source of the information in this blog post if you'd like, by clicking here: Counter-Strike: Source Beta
If you've got Steam, let me know. I wouldn't mind playing against a couple of Wikidotans on the new, refreshed version of Counter-Strike: Source, when it's released for the rest of us to try out!
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