Thinking of getting CS...

[Slater]

I'm thinking about buying Counter Strike cause I hear that it's a great multiplayer FPS... or at least it was...

I'm wondering a few things. Is it still worth it to buy? By this, I mean is it easy to find active servers, or are you lucky to find one with more than 16 players anymore?
Also, where should I buy from?
And... what should I get? I hear there are several versions...

I used to have Half-life... great great game, I loved it... so now that I have some money... would I be good to get this, or are there better online FPS?

[Shia Kyosuka]

Counter-Strike is soo popular, it sucks up even more bandwidth than... Italy, I think.

You've got nothing to worry about in that area.

If your computer is good enough, then go with CS Source (or both source and 1.6). If your computer isn't, then just get 1.6.

They're both fun, though 1.6 is easier.

[Locke]

Dude, theres always people on CS:source. Always.

I bought mine at Fry's for 40 bucks. This came with HL:2, Deathmatch, and CS.
Pretty good deal for 40 bucks.

If you already have HL then I recommend getting the CS:Source pack from any retailer (average 30-40 buckaroos).
Comes with CS, Deathmatch, and Day Of Defeat.

(Oh and i'm talking about Source in all of the above games, 1.6 is too clumsy for me. Hey I went Source and i've never looked back.)

[Seppuku]

good buy, just dont get frustrated when u get continually pwned at first. thakes a little getting used 2

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Just buy half-life 2 and you'll get counter-strike source for free.

But it depends on the specs of your computer. What are your current specs? I can tell you if you'll beable to run Hf2/CS:S or not.

[Slater]

448 RAM, 2.1 GHz, WinXP2

[Shia Kyosuka]

Which video card do you have?

[Seppuku]

hl2 has amazing range of specs it can run on. my buddy can run it on his office comp with only an onboard card and i can uber run it on my beast. at one point in time there was a demo for hl2. im not sure if its still up but that would be the best way to find out how well it runs.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

448 RAM, 2.1 GHz, WinXP2

Ths specs


* Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP
* 64 MB RAM
* 400 Mhz processor
* 1GB HD space (recommended)
* Internet connection (broadband connection recommended)

So yes you'll beable to run HL2 and CS:S, as seppuku said, it has a wide range of acceptable specs. But you'll run it kind of slow. Trust me XD. I recommend getting a 512 or a 1024 RAM stick if possible.

There was a free demo here:
http://www.ati.com/gitg/promotions/half ... index.html

[Seppuku]

Ths specs


* Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP
* 64 MB RAM
* 400 Mhz processor
* 1GB HD space (recommended)
* Internet connection (broadband connection recommended)

So yes you'll beable to run HL2 and CS:S, as seppuku said, it has a wide range of acceptable specs. But you'll run it kind of slow. Trust me XD. I recommend getting a 512 or a 1024 RAM stick if possible.

There was a free demo here:
http://www.ati.com/gitg/promotions/halflife2demo/index.html

good post (^ , ^)

[Slater]

I can't :\

Dad tells me that eMachines are non-upgradable...

Otherwise, I would in a heart-beat

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I can't :\

Dad tells me that eMachines are non-upgradable...

Otherwise, I would in a heart-beat

Your dad has no idea what he's saying. You can take replace hardware inside emachines just like any other computer.

Anyway, you could still play HF2 and CS:S

[Cross]

I like CS and there are a lot of people here who like CS, but believe me when I saw there is more quality out there than CS and I would look into those.

Ghost Recon 3... you know you wanna.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I like CS and there are a lot of people here who like CS, but believe me when I saw there is more quality out there than CS and I would look into those.

Ghost Recon 3... you know you wanna.

*laughs* Haha. No way man. I've played sooooo many First Person Shooters, and Counter-strike is definately the best in terms of multiplayer, skill, and fun.

[Slater]

wow, the best, huh? better than WolfET?

[Shia Kyosuka]

wow, the best, huh? better than WolfET?

Oh, most definently. Though, I do like WolfET.

[Cross]

CS is the best in terms of Skill?

I find that hard to believe, I have played CS and could eventually start leading a server within a matter of days.

GR3 - is a military tactical game where the weapons actually recoil to a reasonably realistic means, and you have a life span of 1 shot that could be your death. So I gotta disagree with you but then again this game may not be your cup of tea...

[mastersquirrel]

*laughs* Haha. No way man. I've played sooooo many First Person Shooters, and Counter-strike is definately the best in terms of multiplayer, skill, and fun.

This has to be one of the more amusing posts that I've ever read, and I'll tell you why.

Not to long ago Half-life 2 took over my video game life, and I really loved it. As MSP said, Counter-Strike: Source came with the package I bought, but I didn't pay it any attention because I was too engrossed in HL2 to care.

Sometime last week, my brother randomly pulled up CS:S and was playing it when I came into the room. I watched him play offline against the bots and I was rolling in laughter in no time. Every time my brother tried to do something he would die, rather quickly too.

I sat down and tried the game out not to long after, and I was laughing over and over again. The game seems to me to be rather unbalanced in many areas. One is the levels. Many of the levels give obvious advantages one side, which basically makes it practically impossible for the opposing side to make a move without getting ripped apart.

Secondly, if you ask me the guns seem very unbalanced, I'd just stick with rifles if I had the money.

Anyway, in terms of skill that can be a factor, but luck is a larger one. As for being fun, if you can get past the aggravation of being killed out of nowhere over and over again before you get the hang of it, but you still have times where you are severely owned for seemingly no reason, then you can have tons of fun with this game.

Anyway, I can't give an account of CS's online community, since I didn't play online, but from what I've played it's very fun, unbalanced as it is.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Sometime last week, my brother randomly pulled up CS:S and was playing it when I came into the room. I watched him play offline against the bots and I was rolling in laughter in no time. Every time my brother tried to do something he would die, rather quickly too.

What were the bot settings on? If they were on easy, well.. your brother isn't too good XD

I sat down and tried the game out not to long after, and I was laughing over and over again. The game seems to me to be rather unbalanced in many areas. One is the levels. Many of the levels give obvious advantages one side, which basically makes it practically impossible for the opposing side to make a move without getting ripped apart.

The levels are perfectly balanced for the most part. Give me an example as to why you think the levels are unbalanced. Lets take cs_office for example. Terrorists have multiple tactics. They can camp the projector room, rush the garage (most tend to do that) or guard the long hallway. Those are the 3 biggest tactics they do.

Now the Counter-Terrorsts usually have 2 choices. Sometimes they can camp the garage. Sometimes they rush the garage. Most of the time the run front. Some taking the main entrance, and the others going by the side office window. Some even rush garage as well.

Now if half the terrorists go garage, and the other stay put at the offices. The terrorists have a higher chance of winning, as they surround the Counter-terrorists.

On the flipside, if the CTS quickly take out either A) The terrorists in the offices before the Garage-rushing terrorists reach them from behind. Or B) Take out the garage terrorists. The CTS are at a higher advantage.

The levels are perfectly balanced. The reason why points could be like 56 to 10 could be a result of A) Good players on one side, or B) More players on the winning team. I've played millions of perfectly even matches.

Secondly, if you ask me the guns seem very unbalanced, I'd just stick with rifles if I had the money.

The guns are not balaced. That is true. And I am OK with that. What kind of FPS would CS be if every gun was balanced? It would be boring. It wouldn't matter if I picked the AUG or the Sig 5500, because they are all balanced. The fun in CS is having different weapons, and using their differences to your advantage. (Or your opponents disadvantage) True most people go for the AK-47 or the m4a1 because they are overall the most effective guns in the game. But does that mean the opponent is superior to you? No.

Back to what I was saying about using gun differences to your advantage. I am quite adept with the FN p90. (Buy code B-3-4) Infact I am pretty much well rounded in all the guns. For example, the FN p90 has a magazine clip of 50 bullets. Thats 20 more than your standard automatic guns. I can last firefights longer than my opponent who has an m4a1 or an AK-47. It's a tad less accurate, but its powerful. The mac-10 (b-3-1 terrorists) holds 30, AND has the highest firing rate out of all the other guns. I can kill them faster at close range.

Sure the m4 and the AK-47 are accurate, and pretty powerful. Because they are simply better. You know why? In real life they are more effective firearms. Yes they cost more, but that doesnt mean I can't kill someone a good m4a1 user with a TMP. It's not just running up and shooting them. It's using strategy to use what you have and the area around you to your advantage. Most people miss that.

For example: If there was an m4 user about 50 or 70 meters away. And I was equipped with a mac-10. He would have an easier time being able to kill me. How do I take him down? 1) Do I have anything to help me? Flash Grenades? Smoke Grenades? An HE Grenade? 2) Is my pistol good at long range? 3) Can I get lucky and get a headshot from that distance. Possibly, but is it worth the risk? Not sure. Better safe than sorry. 4) Is my opponent good at this game?

To properly use them, always assume your opponent is equal or better than you. Never underestimate them.

Now, how can I kill this guy? Going Rambo is the worst idea ever. It rarely works and when it does it's sheer luck. A mac-10 user vs a m4a1 user usually has the m4a1 user as the victor. Can I take a detour? What is his name? Who else is around me? Where are my teammates? Can I get this guy distracted by me while someone else takes him down? Or can I take him down when he's shooting one of my teammates?

That's the strategy in CS. Communication is everything for a good CS match. Unfortunately many CS players online are total noobs, and don't do much but run and gun.

Anyway, in terms of skill that can be a factor, but luck is a larger one. As for being fun, if you can get past the aggravation of being killed out of nowhere over and over again before you get the hang of it, but you still have times where you are severely owned for seemingly no reason, then you can have tons of fun with this game.

The reason you get killed out of nowhere is because you don't know where your enemy could possibly be. Once you are well rounded in the maps, and know all the spots where possible enemies could be. This occurs a lot less. Awareness is a big factor in CS. Always watch your back. Watch your sides. Learn to read your opponent.

[Locke]

Another thing that I like CS is the sound.
Nothing livens up a night than hearing a T break a flower pot, stop, freak out and run the other way while you line up a bead and take him out.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Correct. Using sound to your advantate is a BIG factor. Listening to footsteps can help you more than you can imagine.

[mastersquirrel]

Yay! I caused someone who knew much better than I to give a wonderful post explaining something about which I knew very little. Scratch #89 off my list of things to do before I die.

Thanks for the great post MSP. I guess I'll have to check out Counter Strike some more.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

:) Yay! I caused someone who knew much better than I to give a wonderful post explaining something about which I knew very little. Scratch #89 off my list of things to do before I die.

Thanks for the great post MSP. I guess I'll have to check out Counter Strike some more.

^____^

Oh and one thing. The guns also can arguably be "sort of balanced". They all pretty much do the same. Only different.

It's not like you have "The Shotgun" and "The assault rifle" and "The sniper rifle" like many games. (Halo anyone)

In Unreal Tournament 2k4, the best gun is pretty much the Flak Cannon, which is a shotgun-esque gun that totally obliterates. I get so many kills with that thing (Played at a LAN party)

CS There is no "rocket launcher" or "assault rifle" or "pistol" or whatever. There are many variations, each with tiny differences.

[Locke]

Yeah, you can totally own with any gun, you just have to get good at it (Knife anyone?).

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Yeah, you can totally own with any gun, you just have to get good at it (Knife anyone?).

HUMILIATION!

[mastersquirrel]

Whelp, I went and had my first experience with actually playing CS:S online yesterday and it was really fun. I didn't do so hot to begin with, but I caught on pretty fast. Unfortunately the server I was on played de_dust all the time, so I didn't really get any experience playing anywhere else.

I also see your point about the balancing weapons thing too, it really completely depends on the situation and where you are what kind of weapon you would use. Then again, I saw several people that just ran around with the magnum sniper all the time.

Anyway, do ya'll have a specific server you usually play on or what?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Whelp, I went and had my first experience with actually playing CS:S online yesterday and it was really fun. I didn't do so hot to begin with, but I caught on pretty fast. Unfortunately the server I was on played de_dust all the time, so I didn't really get any experience playing anywhere else.

I also see your point about the balancing weapons thing too, it really completely depends on the situation and where you are what kind of weapon you would use. Then again, I saw several people that just ran around with the magnum sniper all the time.

Anyway, do ya'll have a specific server you usually play on or what?

No, but I tend to play mostly on cs_office or fy_iceworld XD Those are my two favorite maps.

Fy_iceworld is cool, the map is shaped like this a square with an intersection in the middle. And theres guns on the ground. It's a very small map but insanely popular. A lot of rushing and quick rounds.

An important tactic is this: Don't spray a lot (spraying with the gun, not your logo spray) Spraying is basically holding down your fire key. Quick bursts from a far distance is way more effective.

Edit: In regard to everyone using the AWP (aka "Magnum Rifle") that doesn't mean they are being lame. Well sort of. AWP is powerful. Mostly a 1 shot kill. (Unless hitting the arm or leg, but even that could kill someone in one hit) The point is that, since they are using AWPs, how are you going to counter it? Can you awp them back? Or shoot them with a rifle in time? Or perhaps use a grenade to your advantage?

Just because they got AWPs dont mean they're invincible

[Slater]

Ok, I got HL2 with CS:Source, HL:SOurce, and HL2 Deathmatch. TIme for a test run...

Update: Ooh-huhuhu... HL2 r0x0rz. A few sound anamolies every 10 minutes or so, but nothing I would consider major. I also got some horizontal tearing in the video once at a seemingly low-cpu-usage moment, but I haven't seen anymore yet.
I thought Doom3 would be better, and I assumed wrong.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ok, I got HL2 with CS:Source, HL:SOurce, and HL2 Deathmatch. TIme for a test run...

Update: Ooh-huhuhu... HL2 r0x0rz. A few sound anamolies every 10 minutes or so, but nothing I would consider major. I also got some horizontal tearing in the video once at a seemingly low-cpu-usage moment, but I haven't seen anymore yet.
I thought Doom3 would be better, and I assumed wrong.

1. STOP

DONT PLAY ANYMORE HALF-LIFE 2... answer this first: Have you played and beaten Half-Life 1? If not, Play it again to refresh yourself with the events that occured in it.

2. The sound problem is very common with many people.

[Slater]

yes, I have played HL completely, twice. However, I never played the minisequel involving Ravensbrook.