What CS:GO is according to Valve [KOTAKU INTERVIEW] - Games

[B]What the New [I]Counter-Strike[/I] Is and Isn’t, According to Valve[/B] The next [I]Counter-Strike[/I], the one coming out early next year called [I]Counter-Strike: Global Offensive[/I], won't be called [I]Counter-Strike 2[/I], because that game would be "something different", two of Valve's top people on the new game recently told [I]Kotaku[/I]. "A lot of [I]Counter-Strike: GO[/I] is taking [I]Counter-Strike: Source[/I] and [I]Counter-Strike[/I] 1.6 and melding it into a product that every side likes and also expanding the base by putting it out on the consoles," Valve's Chet Faliszek said, referring to the two most popular incarnations of the game. "Whereas [I]Counter-Strike 2[/I], at least internally, we think about as something different." During a recent interview at Valve headquarters in Bellevue, Faliszek and [I]CS: GO[/I] project lead Ido Magal let me play [I]Counter-Strike: GO[/I] ([URL="http://kotaku.com/5834542/an-hour-with-counter+strike-go?tag=counterstrike"]for an hour[/URL]) and then helped me narrow in on what the new game is and isn't. It's clear that the new game, which will be released as a downloadable title for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 early next year, isn't a full-fledged sequel. "[I]Counter-Strike: GO[/I] has this kind of objective of homing in," Magal said. "We're taking that competitive experience that's very hard to organize in [I]Counter-Strike: Source[/I]... We've taken that and let everyone experience the fun of a five-on-five [game] where everyone is equally matched. The product doesn't span all of [I]Counter-Strike[/I]. [I]Counter-Strike[/I] is zombie mods and all these different things. This is more narrow." The new [I]GO[/I] will feature several classic maps, new weapons and tweaks that range from modified maps to a new casual mode that removes the in-game money restrictions on which weapons and items players can buy. It also will be supported by Valve's in-house match-making, an option that allows Valve to promise a controlled, predictable multiplayer experience for all gamers. [I]GO[/I] is being developed in concert with Hidden Path Entertainment, which is located just a couple of blocks from Valve HQ. That team was initially been assigned to work on a straight Xbox Live Arcade port of 2004's [I]Counter-Strike: Source[/I]. "We wanted to see what that would look like," Magal said. It looked good. "We realized there was something more there that we could do, something that the community would be interested in," Faliszek said. "And we got excited," Magal added. [B] Valve had expected the 2004 [I]Source[/I] version of the game to replace the previous year's 1.6 iteration,[/B] itself a successor to a game that had been evolving since the late 90's. But many of 1.6's most ardent fans, including those who played it competitively, as a sport, resisted the Source version. Source "didn't do what we thought it would do, but we weren't disappointed about what it did," Magal said. "We thought [I]Counter-Strike: Source[/I] would replaced [I]Counter-Strike[/I] 1.6 but instead it generated a community just as large as the 1.6 community on its own." Faliszek called it "an amoeba-like split." [I]GO[/I] is supposed to bring those crowds together and rope in console players who have only had an original Xbox version to choose from. Valve also assumes it has lost some computer [I]Counter-Strike[/I] gamers who have moved away from PC gaming and wants to reach them on the consoles those gamers may have moved to (fittingly, the PS3 version of the game will even include mouse and keyboard support; and all players on PS3/PC/Mac will be match-made against each other.) The Valve guys describe two of the goals for [I]GO[/I] as lowering the skill floor—making it easier for newbies to have fun with game, hence the casual mode—and raising the skill ceiling—making meaningful, subtle changes to maps and mechanics that only pro-level players will notice and appreciate. Valve is not trying to necessarily turn [I]GO[/I] into an e-Sport. "That requirement doesn't exist," Magal said. "If it happens, that's nice." They do want to make sure those highest-level players can enjoy [I]GO[/I], though, so Valve is launching a PC beta for the game in October and having what Magal calls an ongoing "dialogue" with hardcore [I]CS[/I] players "to fix the things that everyone agrees is an issue." For example: "The way the smoke grenades used to work in [I]Counter-Strike: Source[/I]. We changed the rate at which it blooms and dissipates and everyone preferred it." And another example, also from Magal: "The maps Dust and Aztec aren't played competitively at all because they were so imbalanced in Source. We feel very bullish on changing them, so we did. Dust 2 is a wonderfully balanced map that we didn't need to change. We just gave it a visual upgrade." [B]And then there are the [I]Halo[/I] and [I]Call of Duty[/I] gamers out there, the FPS hordes who may wonder why a new [I]Counter-Strike[/I] is at all relevant to them.[/B] What's the appeal of [I]CS:GO[/I] for that crowd who already have plenty of first-person shooting to do in their favorite series? [I]CS[/I] may have sold 25 million copies already (according to Faliszek), but Valve might still have trouble pulling those folks from their beloved franchises. What's a [I]CS[/I] have to offer those people? Magal describes the essence and value of [I]CS[/I] in one word: skill. "I think where [I]Counter-Strike[/I] differentiates itself is what impact skill has on your success." It's the way skill factors into a [I]CS[/I] match that makes it feel different from other shooters, Faliszek added. "It's clean. You died because you made the wrong choice." He explained that beginner [I]CS[/I] players tend to use lots of grenades, but that veterans don't since it is "super-easy" to kill a player who is holding one. "There's not a lot of spam in there," he said. "There are a lot of clean kills. Most kills are gun kills. And it's about, 'Oh I didn't check that corner before I entered this room. I made the bad choice of trying to defuse the bomb before clearing the area. We rushed around this corner and we got ambushed.' It's always about making those kinds of decisions and not about, ‘Oh man, why did I die? What the hell? That's bullshit kind of thing." "A small difference in skill between two players, the impact of that on the game will be accentuated," Magal said. "My experience in other games is that's not the case." [B] That's what [I]Counter-Strike[/I] is: a game of skill.[/B] And this is what [I]CS:GO[/I] is: an effort to put anyone who has or should play [I]Counter-Strike[/I] into the same game. That's a big enough goal but not a grand enough one to merit the name [I]Counter-Strike 2[/I]. As we discussed possible names for this new [I]Counter-Strike[/I], I had to ask if they'd considered one other name, one that would be an inside joke for fans of Valve's [I]Half-Life[/I] series whose third episodic sequel has been missing in action for years. Did anyone suggest, during those brainstorm sessions, [I]Counter-Strike: Episode Three[/I]? "No," was Faliszek's quick reply. Then a quick inhale of breath. This new [I]GO[/I] may not be a full-fledged [I]Counter-Strike[/I] sequel, but it's no joke. Source: [URL]http://kotaku.com/5839298/what-the-new-counter+strike-is-and-isnt-according-to-valve[/URL]

Why couldn't you have posted this in the megathread?

because it's of most importance

[QUOTE]Counter-Strike is zombie mods and all these different things. This is more narrow.[/QUOTE] Are you hinting at something, Magal? [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] like uh no modding?

[QUOTE=JurajIsNotPirat;32255467]Are you hinting at something, Magal? [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] like uh no modding?[/QUOTE] Hopefully not.

Well if they make it unmoddable expect shit to go down.

[QUOTE=JurajIsNotPirat;32255467]Are you hinting at something, Magal? [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] like uh no modding?[/QUOTE] To be honest, I'd be fine with that ([B]Source supports plugins and map making - of course there'll be modding[/B]). If I want to play Counter-Strike, I'll play Counter-Strike not crappy zombie mods and all that mess clogging up server browsers.

Yeah I'm also fine with Mod support, as long as I can filter out annoying sounds and ridiculous models. breaking news: Valve announces official zombie mod to draw players from the call of duty franchise.

[QUOTE='Poesidan [GAG];32256702']Yeah I'm also fine with Mod support, as long as I can filter out annoying sounds and ridiculous models. breaking news: Valve announces official zombie mod to draw players from the call of duty franchise.[/QUOTE] There already is an official zombie mode for CS. [url]http://cso.iahgames.com/flash/modes/index.html[/url] [sp]CSO is an official Valve game[/sp] :v:

[QUOTE=CakeMaster7;32256894]There already is an official zombie mode for CS. [url]http://cso.iahgames.com/flash/modes/index.html[/url] [sp]CSO is an official Valve game[/sp] :v:[/QUOTE] No it's made by Nexon.

[QUOTE=JurajIsNotPirat;32255467]Are you hinting at something, Magal? [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] like uh no modding?[/QUOTE] Judging by the shitty VPK format, it will be there, but it will be a bitch to do. Also, Counter Strike "A game of skill"? I guess it suddenly now takes 1337 MlG pRo SuPa1337 CaPaCoP1337 sIkShOt SkIlLzZ to camp in a corner with an AWP. [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=wombo;32256976]No it's made by Nexon.[/QUOTE] No it's made by Valve and published by Nexon. Don't be so quick to put Valve on the pedestal of being the perfect developer.

[QUOTE=certified;32257311]No it's made by Valve and published by Nexon. Don't be so quick to put Valve on the pedestal of being the perfect developer.[/QUOTE] Actually it was developed and entirely made by Nexon, Valve just gave them permission and oversees the everything they make. So technically Valve has already allowed a official Zombie Mode for CS, it's just not any of the Western CSs.

[QUOTE=certified;32257311]Judging by the shitty VPK format, it will be there, but it will be a bitch to do. Also, Counter Strike "A game of skill"? I guess it suddenly now takes 1337 MlG pRo SuPa1337 CaPaCoP1337 sIkShOt SkIlLzZ to camp in a corner with an AWP. [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] No it's made by Valve and published by Nexon. Don't be so quick to put Valve on the pedestal of being the perfect developer.[/QUOTE] Where did I say they are the perfect developer? The game is made by Nexon: [img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/f34d4262153458566ae58bd512ab075e.png[/img]

[QUOTE=certified;32257311]Judging by the shitty VPK format, it will be there, but it will be a bitch to do. Also, Counter Strike "A game of skill"? I guess it suddenly now takes 1337 MlG pRo SuPa1337 CaPaCoP1337 sIkShOt SkIlLzZ to camp in a corner with an AWP. [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] No it's made by Valve and published by Nexon. Don't be so quick to put Valve on the pedestal of being the perfect developer.[/QUOTE] Why would Valve make the game and let some 3rd party DEVELOPER publish it? You got it the wrong way around buddy.

"I think where Counter-Strike differentiates itself [from Call of Duty] is what impact skill has on your success." Haha, I love this.

[QUOTE=certified;32257311]Judging by the shitty VPK format, it will be there, but it will be a bitch to do. Also, Counter Strike "A game of skill"? I guess it suddenly now takes 1337 MlG pRo SuPa1337 CaPaCoP1337 sIkShOt SkIlLzZ to camp in a corner with an AWP. [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] No it's made by Valve and published by Nexon. Don't be so quick to put Valve on the pedestal of being the perfect developer.[/QUOTE] i keep thinking your posts can't get any more retarded and every time i am wrong

[QUOTE='Poesidan [GAG];32256702']Yeah I'm also fine with Mod support, as long as I can filter out annoying sounds and ridiculous models. breaking news: Valve announces official zombie mod to draw players from the call of duty franchise.[/QUOTE]Don't they already have something like that? Left4Dead or something?

Cant wait for the new Counter-Strike.I hope its good.

If the game won't have wall penetration, it's going to be just like css all over again.

Not necessarily a bad thing, CSS with (old) new gamemodes sounds enjoyable.

[QUOTE=<mike>;32304637]If the game won't have wall penetration, it's going to be just like css all over again.[/QUOTE] you can shoot through walls in source

[QUOTE=BeardyDuck;32310797]you can shoot through walls in source[/QUOTE] Thankfully this time WITHOUT AWPs shooting through 25 feet of concrete.

I wish there was more single player content. Most of the big developers now just make multiplayer games that either ignore single player or give us a lack-luster single player experience.

[QUOTE=Randdalf;32256360]To be honest, I'd be fine with that ([B]Source supports plugins and map making - of course there'll be modding[/B]). If I want to play Counter-Strike, I'll play Counter-Strike not crappy zombie mods and all that mess clogging up server browsers.[/QUOTE] Just because you don't want to play something, doesn't mean others don't want to play it.

[QUOTE=certified;32311511]Thankfully this time WITHOUT AWPs shooting through 25 feet of concrete.[/QUOTE] does your ass ever get jealous of what comes out of your mouth sorry I had to say it but please stop talking out of your ass

*oops snip*

[QUOTE=certified;32311511]Thankfully this time WITHOUT AWPs shooting through 25 feet of concrete.[/QUOTE] Find servers that disable the AWP..

[QUOTE=Randdalf;32256360]To be honest, I'd be fine with that ([B]Source supports plugins and map making - of course there'll be modding[/B]). If I want to play Counter-Strike, I'll play Counter-Strike not crappy zombie mods and all that mess clogging up server browsers.[/QUOTE]Wow what a terrible defense if it doesn't support those things it has absolutely nothing of value above other multiplayer modern warfare shooters.

I cant imagine the jailbreak and zombie mods on xbox..

Why are you guys complaining about moddability? Counter-Strike: Source isn't much more moddable than Counter-Strike anyway - you have to reverse engineer various aspects of the game(s) to do anything with them at all. If you're all implying that CS:S and CS are moddable right now, and that you'd like CS:GO to be just as moddable, you've all got to be joking.