Counter-Strike: Source
| Counter-Strike: Source | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minimum Requirements | 1.2 GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, DirectX 7 level graphics card, Windows 2000/XP/ME/98, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection |
| Latest Patch | N/A - handled by Steam |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows |
| Age Rating (OFLC) | MA15+ |
| File Mirror | http://www.steampowered.com |
Contents |
Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source is an enhanced version of the hugely popular team-based tactical shooter Counter-Strike, from VALVe software. Originally a free modification for Half-Life developed by Minh Lee, Counter-Strike was officially adopted by VALVe and matured into the game it is today. It strives to be more realistic than arcade shooters such as Quake III: Arena, but more fast-paced than purely tactical games in the vein of Rainbow Six. The popularity of this formula is apparent: Counter-Strike has been taken up by millions of gamers worldwide, amateurs and professionals alike. With the release of Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike was able to be re-envisioned as Counter-Strike: Source, taking full advantage of the impressive graphics, sound and physics capabilities of the new game engine.
Gameplay
Counter-Strike: Source pits Terrorists against Counter-Terrorist forces in a number of different gameplay scenarios. Each level, or "map", is designed with one of these scenarios in mind. Every round starts with each team in its own area of the map. Players start with a pistol, and are able to purchase better weapons and equipment with virtual in-game money, which is accumulated by completing game objectives. The round continues until either team completes their objective, or one team has been completely eliminated. At this point all players are resurrected and a new round begins.
Hostage Rescue
The classic Counter-Strike game type is hostage rescue. Terrorists begin each round guarding four hostages, and it is the Counter-Terrorists' goal to fight their way into Terrorist territory and rescue as many of the hostages as possible. Don't be too trigger-happy, though - there are big penalties for accidentally killing hostages, for either team!
Hostage rescue level names are prefixed with "cs_".
Bomb Defusal
In this very popular scenario, the Terrorists must plant a C4 charge at one of two bomb sites and then defend it until the timer runs down and it explodes. Counter-Terrorists' first objective is to prevent the Terrorist from planting the bomb, but if they are unsuccessful they can still win the round by taking back the bomb site and defusing the bomb.
Defusal levels are prefixed with "de_".
Assassination
In this largely obsolete game type, one player is selected to play as a VIP, who must escape to a safe point on the level with the assistance of the Counter-Terrorists. The Terrorists' goal is to assassinate the VIP before he can do so. Assassination maps are similar to hostage rescue maps, except that instead of four computer-controlled hostages, there is just one player-controlled VIP. In order to make the game more interesting, the VIP is very heavily armoured - but very lightly armed!
Assassination levels are prefixed with "as_".
Starter Guide
The first time you join a Counter-Strike server, you'll be asked to pick a team and an appearance for yourself. Then you'll find yourself floating around the map, watching other players take part in the action. Don't panic—once that round finishes you will find yourself alive among your teammates, ready to start the next. Press “b” to bring up the buy menu, purchase some weapons or equipment (see below), and run into the fray!
Many Counter-Strike: Source players have been playing Counter-Strike or Counter-Strike: Source for many years, so new players can sometimes feel intimidated. There's no need to worry though - the learning curve isn't as steep as some would have you believe! In order to help those starting out, we've compiled a few beginners' tips.
Play as a Team!
This might seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning. It's a team-based game, so you'll have the most success if you treat it as such. Stay with your teammates, provide backup and cover fire, and your chances of success will improve. Teamplay also means being aware of how your actions affect other players: for example, don't use flashbangs without first making sure you aren't going to blind a teammate!
Keep your team's objective in mind
If you kill half the opposing team but lose the round because you didn't try to plant the bomb, your opposition will still be better off. Always keep your objectives in mind, and remember that if you complete the objectives you benefit your entire team as well as yourself. There is always information available to you to help - Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists can see the bomb and hostages respectively on their radar, and you will be informed when the bomb has been planted.
Get to know the maps
Since Counter-Strike isn't a run-of-the-mill shooter, it's especially important to know the maps. This will help you to know where the enemy is most likely to be at any given time, the quickest route from one spot to another, and how best to defend an area of the map. The easiest way to learn a map is simply to play it often, but if you die during a round, you can take the opportunity to study the map while waiting for the next round to start.
Pick your weapons wisely
There is a large array of weapons to choose from in Counter-Strike. Unfortunately, not all weapons are created equal - you'll very quickly find out that most players stick to a few favourites. A few of the most popular weapons are listed below:
- Desert Eagle .50AE: this is a very powerful pistol which, when used with skill, can give an opponent using a much more expensive weapon real problems.
- AK-47 (Terrorists only): the classic Russian-made automatic rifle, made famous by Samuel L. Jackson in Jackie Brown. Powerful and highly accurate at range when used in short bursts. Cost: $2500.
- Colt M4A1 Carbine (CT only): the Counter-Terrorists' answer to the AK-47, the Colt is more expensive, but has less recoil than the Soviet stalwart. It also features an optional silencer which allows for more covert kills at the cost of slightly reduced damage. Cost: $3100.
- MP5 Navy: this sub-machine gun is priced between the pistols and rifles, and can be very handy in tight spaces where the rifles' recoil is a disadvantage. Cost: $1500
- HE grenades and flashbangs: ｷ HE grenades and flashbangs: throw flashbangs around corners to blind and deafen opponents around corners before launching your assault. Use HE grenades to weaken opponents - very effective in choke points!
Although these are the most commonly used weapons, you shouldn't be afraid to try everything at least once. You might discover your niche as a CS player!
Help Section
How do I install Counter-Strike: Source?
Both Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source are available through VALVe software's online distribution platform, Steam. Using Steam, you can purchase games online which are then automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer. Steam is available at http://www.steampowered.com/.
Alternatively, CS:S is available as a part of the HL2 retail pack. Steam is still installed if you choose this option; the files are simply copied from the CDs/DVD instead of downloaded from the internet.
How do I play on the 3FL servers?
Once you have installed Steam, open the Servers window, and a list of servers arranged by response time will appear. This list may take some time to refresh, so be patient and we'd like to think the 3FL servers for your state should show up near the top of the list!
Alternatively, you can manually enter the servers as Favourites. Open the Favourites tab, and click "Add Server"
There's a cheater on my 3FL server!
Unfortunately, you'll occasionally encounter players who'd rather cheat than develop the skills necessary to win. All forms of cheating are strictly prohibited on 3FL. If you witness a cheater, there are two courses of action:
- Find a server administrator on IRC. Game server admins will idle on #3FL on GameSurge. Join the channel and inform one that a cheater is present on your server. Make sure to tell them which state, game and server the cheater is present in, along with the cheater's in-game alias.
- Record a demo and send it to support@3fl.net.au. You can record a demo by bringing down the console (~ key), typing “record <name>” and the “stop” when you've finished recording. The demo will be available as a .dem file in your Counter-Strike: Source directory. You will also need to record the cheater's Steam ID by typing “status” in the console, then taking a screenshot by pressing F5. To learn more about this procedure, please visit the Reporting_Cheaters_or_Abusive_Players article.
Patching/Map Pack Information
Counter-Strike: Source is automatically updated by Steam, so you will never need to download updates externally.
3FL's CS:S server map rotations only feature maps which come with the official distribution of Counter-Strike: Source. However, there are other maps on the server which can be used with the booking system:
- de_season
- de_losttemple_pro
- de_contra
- de_cpl_mill
- de_cpl_fire
If you connect to a server that is currently playing a map that you do not already have, your client will automatically download and install the required map files.
Similar Games
- America's Army
- Day of Defeat: Source
- F.E.A.R.
- Ghost Recon
- Rainbow Six: Raven Shield
Resources/External Information
- Steampowered.com - the official website of Steam, which is required to download and play Counter-Strike: Source.
- Counter-Strike: Source on Wikipedia
- CSNation- Detailed history and information on Counter-Strike: Source.
RCON Commands
You can view a list of RCON commands in the Counter-Strike: Source Basic RCON Commands article.
