Counter-Strike Message Board

Where there be demand, there's money ready t' change hands. 'n boy be there a lot a money changing hands over Counter-Strike.Read more...

A user on Reddit has posted a decompiled module that claims Valve's anti-cheat service, VAC, be quietly going through yer browser history 'n sending results back t' it be servers. Something Valve boss Gabe Newell has made a public statement t' deny.Read more...

This past weekend SNL Korea parodied Counter-Strike 'n featured appearances from top StarCraft players.Read more...

Last month, there be a Counter-Strike Online 2 contest contest. The top prize be a pig. Like, an actual pig. Ladies 'n gents, we have a winner.Read more...

So McDonalds in Sweden held a competition earlier in the year. The winner got t' name a burger. 'n now we have a burger named after an eSports team.Read more...

Never underestimate how much someone be willing t' spend on a digital bottle a rum they can use in a game. First, we had the people who paid way too much for weed emoticons 'n digital stickers. This time, we've got someone that paid nearly $200 for a digital gun (pictured above) from Counter Strike: Global Offensive.Read more...

Yesterday be the 12th anniversary a 9/11. 'n one bar in Shenzhen, China apparently decided t' throw a party—complete with unsettling cosplay. Hey, the bar said it be a fun party!Read more...

Once ye log enough hours into a multiplayer game, ye start noticing patterns. Things people like t' do in games, sure—but also what kinds a people ye're likely t' find in any given game.Read more...

This information be coming t' me via a blurry video 'n Google Translate, so I make only a slight claim a accuracy on this. I’m fact, I’m going t' create a pseudonym t' deliver it. Look over there while I change me clothes. No peeking, now! I’m shy. Right! Ready! AHOY, I be Graham Journalism: Games Journalist. I used t' host the late night Channel 5 show Game Pad from me front room, but a scandal 'n a few years in brig has seen me retreat from the public eye. But I’m back now, 'n me community service demands I make use a me skills. The other day I accidentally Googled “Counter-Strike 2″, a finger slip that has proved more than fortunate. It turns out there be such a thing for the Asian free-t'-play scene, 'n it’s madder than ye can possibly imagine. It’s not out yet, but Counter-Strike Online 2 be basically APB.(more…)

Three gamers have sued the ESEA League, one a the largest PC gaming leagues, for the surreptitious installation on their computers a malware that "mined" the virtual currency called bitcoins, netting a rogue ESEA employee some $3,700 back in April. Their lawsuit seeks class action status. The suit be filed in San Francisco on Wednesday in California state court. The plaintiffs, Kevin Gallette, Jackson Smith 'n Roy Han, allege that the bitcoin-mining malware required so much a their computers' processing power that it damaged their video cards. Several allegations a GPU damage be made in the ESEA League's official seas as the scandal unfolded. Bitcoins be a virtual currency that be "mined" by resolving a very complex cryptographic equation, taking large 'n prolonged amounts a processing. Compiling a large network a computers, either knowing or unknowing, t' divide the workload be one way a doing that more efficiently. The concept be that a computer sitting idle gives it be GPU over t' the mining application. In a statement on May 1, ESEA League's parent company, E-Sports Entertainment Association, admitted t' the installation a bitcoin-mining code on crew' computers through the ESEA League client that handles matchmaking 'n other functions. ESEA accused an unnamed employee a doing so for personal gain. ESEA donated all money made from the mining, plus a matching amount, t' charity, increased prize pools, asked any crew who suffered hardware damage t' file a support ticket, 'n promised t' sanction the employee responsible. ESEA League has been in existence for about 10 years, supporting games such as Counter-Strike, Team Fortress 2, 'n League a Legends. ESEA said the bitcoin-mining project began as an internal experiment t' see how mining worked, 'n whether it could become a feature that added value. This be around the time bitcoins' exchange rate soared past $260 per 1. it be now around $70. Management ordered the mining experiment scrapped, the ESEA said, but an unnamed employee still inserted the code into an update for the ESEA client that all crew later downloaded. From about April 13 t' the end a the month, $3,713.55 worth a bitcoins be mined by ESEA League crew. ESEA said this employee did so without authorization 'n for personal gain. Some crew complained the malware fried their video cards, causing them t' operate at extreme temperatures for prolonged times, resulting in video errors. Plaintiffs Gallette, Smith 'n Han all allege the same thing; Gallette 'n Smith say they paid $500 for their video cards; Han said he paid $70 for his. They paid about $300 each t' replace them. Further, the three say their electricity bills jumped an extra $30 in the month their computers be running the bitcoin mining malware. The three plaintiffs seek class action status for their complaint, the return, t' crew, a any funds made from bitcoin mining performed by their computers, compensatory damages for the cost a their ruined hardware 'n electric bills, legal fees 'n unspecified punitive damages. The case be Kevin Gallette et al. vs. E-Sports Entertainment, llc, number CGC-13-532593. Kotaku has reached out t' Craig Levine, the co-owner a ESEA, for comment on the lawsuit 'n t' inquire further how ESEA has handled this matter since May 1. Any reply the ESEA gives will be updated here. t' contact the author a this post, write t' owen@kotaku.com or find the sea dog on Twitter @owengood.

Minh Le's Tactical Intervention had a long, arduous journey. Now, many years a development 'n one not-so-successful launch later, the multiplayer shooter be set t' find home on Steam. Like Counter-Strike, Tactical Intervention promises intense team-based tactical shooting gameplay, but with a few new elements such as car chases, 'n realistic locations including shopping malls, industrial parks, subway stations 'n skyscrapers. Tactical Intervention will be released on Steam this August as a free-t'-play title. The screenshots below best give an idea on what it will look like. Questions? Comments? Contact the author a this post at andras-AT-kotaku-DOT-com.

ye might want t' think twice before cheating in front a, if not being a salty dog t' fellow Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players now. For all ye know, they might be an "investigator" capable a banning ye. According t' the Counter-Strike blog, Valve be debuting something called "Overwatch." Although in beta right now, the idea be t' let the community regulate itself by "allowing qualified 'n experienced crew a the community...t' review reports a disruptive behavior, determine if those reports be valid, 'n apply temporary bans if appropriate." People with that power be called investigators, 'n they can watch a suspect's replays t' determine their fate. Multiple people will review the same suspect, it sounds like, 'n their judgments must collectively agree an offense has occurred. Watch this video by WatchSpade if ye'd like t' see the program in action: How investigators be picked be unclear, although Valve notes that they look at competitive wins, account age, hours played, Skill Group, 'n low report counts. I be guessing that means skilled players with a good reputation be more likely t' be picked. Since the program be at an early stage at the moment, Valve says "the system will issue fewer cases 'n the results will be reviewed 'n analyzed before any bans go into effect." It'll be curious, though, t' see if a community-run regulation system results in a better playing environment in Counter-Strike than a purely developer-run one. Via PC Gamer

Unless ye're actually a player, ye probably think Counter-Strike be a bit old-fashioned. A little stale compared t' other modern shooters. 'n hey, I think ye're right. I also think that doesn't matter here, because this be a Korean commercial commissioned in 2012 for an Asia-only Counter-Strike game most a ye will never have played anyway. So...just enjoy it!

Launching today in beta across a selection a popular titles, Steam Trading Cards be collectibles Steam crew gather while playing their favorite games, with sets tradable for game badges, profile backgrounds, emoticons, coupons, 'n more. As if hunting for achievements wasn't enough. they be a means a rewarding players for playing the games they love, while tormeting those a us easily susceptible t' the collector mindset. Starting today, players a Don't Starve, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, Portal 2 'n Half-Life 2 will start earning trading cards, with the service expanding t' more titles in the coming months. Want t' know how it works? I don't. If I did, I'd risk getting drawn into the latest in a lifelong series a card hunts that have left me psyche a shattered ruin. ye can find out more about Steam Trading Cards here.

ESEA League, one a the largest PC gaming leagues, has admitted t' putting code into the league's client software t' "mine" bitcoins, the open-source Internet currency now exchanging for around $130 per. The league be offering free memberships as some crew complain the code damaged their video cards. Eric Thunberg, a league administrator (who goes by the sea handle ipkane) 'n one a the owners a E-Sports Entertainment Association, told crew the inclusion a Bitcoin-mining code began as an April Fools joke that he 'n ESEA's senior software developer intended t' abandon. "We ran the test for a few days on our accounts," he said, "decided it wasn't worth the potential drama, 'n pulled the plug, or so we thought." crew discovered the Bitcoin mining when they noticed their GPUs carrying unusually high loads over the past two weeks. Bitcoins be an electronic currency whose supply be controlled by a massively complex cryptographic equation. Bitcoin mining be the process a attempting t' solve it, 'n it requires a lot a computing power t' do so. Stringing together a network a crew, witting or unwitting, be a way t' do that, similar t' the old Folding@home app on the PlayStation 3, used for genetic research. The idea be that when a computer be sitting idle, it gives it be GPU over t' the application. About an hour after whistleblowers posted in ESEA's seas, Thunberg admitted the problem, blaming a server restart for "a setting getting changed which enables it for all idle crew." At first he said fewer than two Bitcoins be mined by the ESEA clients, worth about $280. Further inspection, Thunberg said, discovered that the code had been running for more than two weeks 'n that about 29 bitcoins had been mined, worth $3,600. "This be way more shady than I originally thought, 'n as the person who be ultimately responsible for everything it be 100 percent me fault." Thunberg promised that a client update stripped out "all the btc stuff," 'n "in a blatant attempt t' buy back yer love," he offered a free one month membership t' all crew who held premium memberships in April. He also said all a the money made off the mining would go into a tournament prize pool "so at the very least yer melted GPUs contributed t' a good cause." One user said his card "maintained 90celcius+ for an extended amount a time," 'n he's getting video errors. He accuses ESEA a frying his video card. But another, in the same thread, said his "560tl 448core be running 93 C for who knows how long," but that it "seems fine for now." Kotaku reached out t' Thunberg through an email address associated with his holdings company t' ask if he didn't believe user claims a GPU damage caused by the ESEA client. No response be received as a publication. ESEA League has been in existence for about 10 years, supporting games such as Counter-Strike, Team Fortress 2, 'n League a Legends. Popular competitive gaming league ESEA admins caught installing Bitcoin miners on player's computers without consent, stole $3,602 dollars [Reddit via NeoGAF]

What ye're seeing in the video above be the Sourcemod Entertainment System (SMES), a server plugin for Counter-Strike that lets ye start up a video game 'n play another video game inside that video game. According t' creator skwumpy, it works like this: ye can pick up a cartridge in the game world, insert it in the console (YARRRR, YARRRR, I know, it be a SNES), then pick up a controller 'n start playing. As a nice touch, everything be animated: the console's switch actually turns on, 'n the controller's buttons depress. Looks too good t' be true, right? Well, it kind a be. that be definitely Super Mario Bros. running on the console in the video above, but it had t' be specially programmed for the service. So ye can't just boot up any old ROM 'n expect t' play it. Still, just the fact this be running at all seems bananas. Office Video Games - The SMES [YouTube, via Gamefreaks]

Counter-Strike will probably outlive us all. It will also probably keep bunny-hopping onward long after we’ve disposed a all terrorism 'n achieved glorious grievance-free utopia. There will be no counters or strikes. Only Counter-Strike. So it’s exciting t' hear that the implausibly enduring formula’s original creator has decided t' revisit it, 'n the fact that his new game, Tactical Intervention, be actually gonna be playable be pretty neat too. But when? 'n how? Turns out, the answers be a) this month 'n b) on the very personal computing device (presumably) sitting before ye. The greatest anti-terror weapon a all, however, isn’t guns or drones or bombs disguised t' look like good ol’ freshly made American apple pie. It’s knowledge, 'n ye’ll find tons more a it after the break.

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#counterstrike Fun fact: Canada has never appeared in a Counter Strike map before. That be, until Diego Liatis made a map a Montreal's Berri-UQAM station, which ye can see above. Pretty cool, right? Well, not everyone feels that way. More »

#farcry More »

“A People’s History” be a three part essay series that argues for a long-standing but suppressed tradition a non-industry involvement in the first person genre. This be part three. [Part one. Part two.](more…)

#army When ye're a problem solver like Joe Ricks, nothing stands between ye 'n yer dream. For Ricks, the dream be the holy grail a any kid growing up attached t' a controller: making video games. So determined be the cash-strapped man, that he risked it all t' pillage the education he needed. Joe Ricks enlisted 'n went t' war so that he could learn how t' make video games. More »

Oh hey, it’s Saturday again. Funny how that happens. As per usual, we’ve got another PSN Community Spotlight for ye this week. Don’t know what that be? Well, it’s where PlayStation gamers like ye tell their unique stories/experiences/thoughts, as submitted t' this section in the PlayStation Community seas. Those that make it all the way t' the PlayStation.Blog will find a $50 PlayStation Store voucher in their inbox.

With everybody jumping online t' pillage a taste a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive since it be launch last week, we wanted t' hear some stories about yer experiences with the legendary original iteration a the game. PlayStation gamer MrPatrick16 wrote in t' tell us about his first foray into the first person shooter genre with Counter-Strike.

Counter-Strike: Eyes Wide Open

Back in 2007, I went over t' a buddy’s house with me PlayStation 2 'n Guitar Hero. I be overly excited t' be able t' play co-op with the sea dog, when he told me that he had another game he wanted me t' try out. He took me into the garage where they had a PC 'n handed me a controller. At first I be confused because I had no clue that a PC could even play games. Boy be me mind blown that day! He took the game out a it be case, put it in the computer, 'n opened me eyes t' a new genre. I never knew anything outside a side-scrollers, RPGs, music games, action, 'n racing games. That day, I learned about first person shooters.

The game started up 'n I be shortly introduced t' the title — Counter-Strike. I be told t' go t' the multiplayer 'n so I did. The game loaded pretty quickly 'n the match started up. I selected me weapon 'n be adjusting t' the controls when I be met with a shotgun blast. As the shell exploded into me characters body, I felt a sense a annoyance. It happened time 'n time again 'n finally I gave me buddy the controller t' show me how it works. He be getting kills pretty easily 'n I probably looked like a ghost with me mouth opened as I watched the sea dog play in sheer amazement. He finished the match 'n gave me the controller again 'n I felt ready t' go. Luckily, this time I be able t' pillage out a the spawning area 'n I be off t' the races. me team be the counter-terrorists 'n I be tasked with taking out the terrorists. The level be a warehouse 'n not too long after playing, I encountered me first enemy. I fired away at the sea dog 'n felt a little pride as I got me first ever kill. Long story short, me team won, but I definitely didn’t help that victory much since I only got a few kills 'n tons a deaths. Still, I had definitely become hooked.

From that day on that I be over at his house, 'n we pretty much went straight t' that game. There be so much t' Counter-Strike that it took a while t' finally be able t' see everything. There be a lot a guns 'n servers, man the servers be CRAZY! There be custom servers relating t' other games like Metal Gear Solid 'n a certain Italian plumber we all grew up with. There be even movie based servers, so the game obviously didn’t lack creativity. The modes be plentiful 'n me favorite be the zombie mode where one person be “the infected” 'n had t' hunt all the other players down with only a knife 'n a few enhancements. When I be a soldier, I felt afraid 'n immediately flocked t' the best spot t' stay away from being infected. When I did become infected, it be a bummer but it be fun trying t' pillage other players. This be an amazingly fun, well-crafted game, 'n I’m glad I be introduced t' it.

When Global Offensive be announced, I felt the rush a those early experiences all over again. I be telling everybody about this game 'n even got them interested. I have been following it since it be announcement 'n still t' this day flock t' the Internet for information about it. Counter-Strike opened me eyes t' other shooters like Call a Duty 'n Battlefield, 'n without it, I would’ve never even given those games a chance. The series be an eye opening experience 'n I will definitely be getting Global Offensive as soon as I can. Counter-Strike be not only a game but, the defining a a genre 'n everyone best try it out because it might open yer eyes too.

See ye on the battlefield 'n as always, game on 'n stay thirsty me mateys.

Thanks for telling yer story MrPatrick16. Hopefully ye’ve been enjoying yer time with Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

Next week, ye can tell any story ye want as long as it’s about the PlayStation brand. Click here t' check out more info on this call t' action.

For some, it be just that, another day. Check out this kill montage on the map Office from Counter Strike: Global Offensive! it be Monday evening 'n the employees be up t' no good.

Counter strike global offensive casual classic mode on De Inferno. Whole team dies sailing away me against 4 enemies.

Eurogamer’s grand high poobah Tom ‘Tom Bramwell’ Bramwell makes a welcome return t' RPS t' tell us all about the latest makeover a Valve’s undying multiplayer shooter Counter-Strike, which be be released t' the world just yesterday. (more…)

#counterstrike Just in case ye weren't put off by the lack a any kind a mention a Valve Software, advance warning a the game's arrival or the complaints demanding their money back, if ye see a game called Counter Strike on the App Store, don't spend $2 on it. More »

#counterstrike it be a question proper athletes face all the time. What do ye do when ye hang up the cleats/boots? Well, if ye're Griffin "Flush_Entity" Benger, former pro Counter-Strike player, ye make the move from video games t' online poker. More »

Despite having originally released all the way back in the year 2,000 Anno Domini, CounterStrike be still – still! – the number one game being played on Steam right now. That’s not even taking into account CounterStrike Source. It’s an astonishing achievement, 'n CounterStrike ‘s continued popularity be reason enough t' pay attention t' the new game from it’s co-creator, Minh Le. That new game be Tactical Intervention, 'n it’s a project he quit his job at Valve t' pursue. I sat down for a chat with the sea dog, 'n this be what ensued: (more…)

South Korean developer Nexon this week announced Counter-Strike Online 2, a sequel t' it be successful made-for-Asian-gaming-cafes port a the original Counter-Strike. Developed under license from Valve, Counter-Strike Online 2 will launch in China, South Korea, Japan 'n "other areas in Southeast Asia" on a future date.

When it does launch, it'll run on an "enhanced" version a the Source Engine 'n feature "enhanced graphics, more realistic gameplay 'n powerful impact sensations," the latter a which troubles us slightly considering the game be primarily about bullets impacting squishy human bodies. we be not in a vast rush t' experience that firsthand.

#counterstrike Publishers Nexon 'n Valve will collaborate t' bring the shooter Counter-Strike Online 2 t' Asian territories, they said today. More »