Sep 15, 2011

Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Updates Released

Counter-Strike: Source - Valve

Updates to Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Source Engine Changes (CS:S, DoD:S, TF2, HL2:DM)

Added a server command line option called "-dumplongticks" which will generate minidumps when there are long server frames
Fixed startmovie failing for the raw, tga, jpg, and wav options
Fixed some HUD messages not displaying properly on widescreen resolutions
Updated the localization files for all games

Source Engine Changes (CS:S, DoD:S, TF2, HL2:DM)

Fixed Demomen with the Persian Persuader equipped picking up ammo crates when they're already at full health
Fixed hatless headgear not removing the player's hat
Fixed Natascha's bullets preventing Scouts from using Bonk and Crit-a-Cola
Fixed teleporter progress being displayed incorrectly after upgrading a teleporter while it was recharging
Fixed a rare server crash related to assists
Fixed FCVAR_NOTIFY chat messages being clipped and not displaying the new value for the cvar
Purchased items are no longer announced in the chat text
Reduced the amount of server console output when client commands are out of sync
Added the following ConVars for proxy support for replay FTP offloading: replay_fileserver_offload_useproxy, replay_fileserver_offload_proxy_host, and replay_fileserver_offload_proxy_port
Removed replay_port ConVar (and the need for replay to open a port)
Updated the matchmaking filtering to speed up searches and reduce the number of pinged servers
Updated Pl_Upward
- Fixed ending the game mid-round when mp_timelimit has been reached
- Fixed several exploit areas
Updated Pl_Goldrush
- Stage 1 : Fixed overlapping train track models
- Stage 1 : Fixed terrain seam by red spawn exit
- Stage 1 : Fixed red spawn room door going through ceiling
- Stage 1 : Light fixture on roof structure of red's first spawn building switched to non-solid
- Stage 2 : Added func_nobuild under bridge that would get teleported players stuck
- Stage 3 : Added invisible func_brushes above roofs to block blind demo grenade spam
- Stage 3 : Fixed wood structure by main gate entrance so it doesn't destroy teleport buildables
- Stage 3 : Added clip brush to top of main gate entrance
- Stage 3 : Extended red's respawn room brushes to enclose entire interior
- Stage 3 : Added respawn visualizer material to back face of blocker that prevents red from entering blue's respawn area from the top route
Updated Items
- Added the Killer Exclusive
- Added the Mask of the Shaman to the droplist and made it craftable
- Added the El Jefe to the droplist and made it craftable
- Added two new styles for the Large Luchadore
- Fixed the Industrial Festivizer sometimes turning white
- Updated the shading on the Crusader's Crossbow
- Updated the Magnificent Mongolian texture and made it paintable
- Updated the Carouser's Capotain with an improved appearance
- Updated the Whiskered Gentlemen with an improved appearance
- Updated the particle effects for the Cow Mangler 5000 and the Righteous Bison
- Updated the Stickybomb Jumper
  - Now uses a unique texture and projectile
  - No longer causes the wielder to take increased damage from other sources

Sep 15, 2011

Counter-Strike: Source Update Released

Counter-Strike: Source - Valve

Updates to Counter-Strike: Source have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Cumulative weapon updates

All weapons now have a new accuracy model which fixes many bugs and provides more intuitive weapon behavior
Weapons now have separate accuracy penalties for jumping, landing, and standing on ladders
All weapons are now more accurate while crouching
Accuracy penalties for movement no longer have a discrete threshold, but scale between crouch move and run speed
All rifles are less accurate while running
Fixed bug that caused the glock to fire burst rounds on three consecutive tick frames. It now fires burst rounds with a 0.05 cycle time
Fixed a bug that cause the famas to fire burst rounds on uneven intervals (0.1 and 0.05). It now fires burst rounds with a fixed interval of 0.075.
Fixed bug for the bolt action sniper rifles that caused their zoom state to incorrectly toggle when holding down fire.
Fixed bug that would cause the suppressor state on the USP and M4A1 to not be accounted for correctly when the weapons were dropped with the suppressor attached and then picked up.
Fixed fast suppressor switch exploit
Decreased range of shotguns, while slightly increasing damage
Slightly increased damage of m249
Sniper rifles now zoom faster
AWP fire animation changed to match 1.5 second cycle time
Fixed burst fire prediction of FAMAS
Fixed animation issue with elite dry fire
Fixed timing of sounds on Glock burst fire
Weapon spread patterns are no longer square
Dynamic crosshair now uses actual weapon accuracy, rather than a separate simulation
Increased run speed for Galil and FAMAS
Increased FAMAS accuracy and reduced spread for burst mode
Increased accuracy of silenced USP
Increased accuracy of zoomed sg552
Cycle time for dual elites increased to .12 second
Fixed firing of "stale" burst mode bullets on glock and famas
Fixed reload animation issue with shotguns under high latency
Fixed bug which allowed a CT to defuse the bomb in the same frame that it exploded
Pistols no longer continuously spam weapon_fire event when the +attack key is pressed. This has the side effect of no longer allowing the glock to continuously auto-fire in burst mode).
Weapons no longer continuous cycle the weapon_reload event when the reload key is pressed
Weapons no longer continuously cycle the empty fire event (and click) when out of ammo and the attack button is held

Other bug fixes

Re-enabled the ability for max grenades to be set from server convars
Allow observing other players when mp_fadetoblack is enabled and mp_forcecamera is something other than OBS_ALLOW_NONE
Scoreboard is now more robust with user modified layout changes
Added defuser icons to CTs on the scoreboard; these are analagous to the bomb icons for Ts, in that they only are visible for team members and spectators.
Defuser, bomb, and VIP icons are now colored by team color convar.
Bomb/defuser icons are no longer shown for members of the opposing team when you are not allowed to spectate them.
Updated player max speed cap so that it no longer limits players to 240 movement speed
Allow player max speed to be changed by mods
Killing friendly players no longer increments the player stat for kills with enemy weapons
Round no longer ends when timer runs out and mp_ignore_round_win_conditions is set
Players no longer get weapon donation credit for buying, dropping, and picking up the same weapon
Fixed crash related to planting C4
Fixed positioning of hud_targetid; it now is correctly visible in wide screen aspect ratios and when spectating.
Updated the multiplayer options UI so that it offers more options for configuring the crosshair.
When dynamic crosshair is disabled, the crosshair is now completely static.
Fixed a couple of issues with the view offset when dead was fighting with the observer code.
Fixed a bug where the client would have a ragdoll entity in CS, but wouldn't have actually created a ragdoll which would give a one frame glitch in the death camera position setup.
Fixed an exploit where users could disable flashbang audio effects using alias commands.
Marked the "mat_diffuse" convar as a cheat to protect against exploits.
Fixed issue with buying multiple grenades when ammo_*_max were set to other than the defaults.

Sep 6, 2011

Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Updates Released

Counter-Strike: Source - Valve

Added an additional diagnostic message when a player is dropped from a server due to Steam authentication failure
Added "startmovie" support for resolutions above 2048x2048
Fixed a client crash caused by running "startmovie" with the h264 codec without having QuickTime installed
Fixed a client crash related to rendering replays

Team Fortress 2

Reorganized the tabs in the Mann Co. Store into Bundles, Guns, Hats, Misc, Tools, and Maps to make it easier to find specific items
Added a new Hot Items tab to the Mann Co. Store to show real-time popularity of items in the Mannconomy
The Diamondback now correctly gets guaranteed crits if an Engineer changes class while their buildings are sapped
Fixed a bug that would cause the Gunslinger to draw a normal Engineer hand first-person sometimes when wielding other weapons
Fixed a server crash related to bots
Fixed a client crash related to breakables/gibs
Added item sets to the GetSchema WebAPI
Updated the Spiral Sallet to be equippable by all classes

Aug 15, 2011

Counter-Strike: GO Explained Properly

Counter-Strike - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Alec Meer)

Friday saw the sudden news of a brand new, all-formats Counter-Strike game, which in PC gaming news terms is probably the equivalent of simultaneously swearing in a crowdpleasing new president and announcing a world war. The coming months will be characterised by both excitement and rage, I don’t doubt. What we don’t know is much about it, other than that it’s broadly going to be CS with new stuff. Turns out, Valve have been quietly showing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (I don’t know how long it’s going to be until I stop initially typing ‘Global Agenda’) to pro-gamers to get their thoughts on how it’s shaping up. Craig ‘Torbull’ Levine from ESEA is one of the lucky few, and he’s shared a few details on what to expect from a game Valve are claiming will fit alongside, rather than replace, CS 1.6 and CS:S.
(more…)

Aug 12, 2011

Valve announces Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, playable at PAX

Counter-Strike

As rumor confirmations go, this one's pretty quick. Valve just issued a press release announcing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a standalone release that seems to be a full update of Counter-Strike: Source with new weapons, maps, matchmaking, leaderboards, and more. No screenshots have been released, but from Valve's language, it seems like more of an "anniversary edition" of CS:S that dresses up the existing content than a full-on sequel. CS:GO will also be released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. Read the full press release within.

Update—Craig Levine, co-founder of the ESEA, has posted a lengthy write-up based on hands-on time with CS:GO. Within: weapon balancing changes, decoy grenades, a new heavy MG, molotovs, and holy hell they made the AK more expensive. Read it. (Thanks to Slasher for the link.)

VALVE ANNOUNCES COUNTER-STRIKE: GLOBAL OFFENSIVE (CS: GO)

Next Gen Console, PC, and Mac Release Targeted for Early 2012

August 13, 2011 - Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO).

Targeted for release via Playstation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam (for PC and Mac) in early 2012, CS: GO will expand upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched exactly 12 years ago (CS beta 1, August 1999).

CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.). In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.

"Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999," said Doug Lombard, VP of Marketing at Valve. "For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

CS: GO is being developed by Valve in cooperation with Seattle-based Hidden Path Entertainment. The title is targeted for release in early 2012 and will be playable at this year's PAX Prime and London Games Festival.

For more information, please visit http://store.steampowered.com/app/1800/

We have contacted Valve to comment on potential hat functionality. In all seriousness, we should've seen this coming--Hidden Path helped Valve update CS:S a year ago with achievements and a few other bells. But that patch was so modest; it seemed like an experiment that would precede something bigger.

That CS:GO will be multiplatform is interesting, if only because it's a surprise that it took Valve this long to bring CS:S to consoles.

Aug 12, 2011

Revealed: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Alec Meer)

As rumoured this morning, there really is a new Counter-Strike coming. And it’s not some side-project: this sounds like a major sequel-come-relaunch of Counter-Strike for a new generation of manshoot fans. Valve have just solemnly and officially declared its existence to the world – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, aka CS: GO, is indeed its war-lovin’ name. It will feature new maps, modes, weapons, characters and social gaming features such as matchmaking and leaderboards, on top of assorted updates to tried and tested stuff like de_dust.

It’s due on PC and on the two fatter consoles. Which, I think, means this is Valve looking Call of Duty square in the eye and telling it to step outside.
(more…)

Aug 12, 2011

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teased on Twitter

Counter-Strike: Source

In the middle of a thread on the Steam forums speculating about the possibility of a new Counter-Strike game, Valve employee Cliffe dropped two lone words "Global Offensive." Elsewhere, CVG report that anti-cheat providers ESEA post on their Facebook page with another simple message "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive... More info in the morning." Just below the post there's an image of ESEA man Craig Levine turning the gigantic valve in the lobby of Valve's headquarters in Seattle.

Finally, ESL Pro manager Bastian Vieser tweeted saying "Just spend all day playing the new Counterstrike Global Offensive #CSGO at the #Valve HQ ! God I love my job."

These strong hints appear in the midst of a sea of rumours suggesting that Valve have been flying out top Counter-Strike community members out to their HQ over the course of the past month.

Cadred's Richard Lewis spilled the beans on the trips, saying "Valve have approached several top players from across Europe, as well as J3di from the Zblock team, and have invited them to a meeting in their Seattle offices to discuss the future of the game."

In addition to this, Lambda report that senior level designer at Valve, Iikka Keränen has been answering questions from the community during an event on the TF2Maps server. One player asked Iikka if he is currently creating maps for Team Fortress 2. According to transcripts on the TF2maps forum, he responded to say that he's currently "working on some counter-strike stuff." When asked if there was anything new coming to Counter-Strike: Source, he said "can’t really comment right now."

Elsewhere, Cadred were stonewalled by returning pro player, Marek Kadek. When asked if he'd heard anything about the invites, or been invited himself, he simply returned "no comment."

There's no indications as to whether Global Offensive is a brand new entry in the Counter-Strike series, an add-on to Counter-Strike: Source or even a console version of the classic FPS. If the ESEA Facebook post is correct, we'll know more very soon.

Aug 12, 2011

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive spotted

Counter-Strike

Evidence is building that Valve will announce a brand new Counter-Strike game today.

In a thread speculating about the new game on the SteamPowered forum, Jess Cliffe, one of the original creators of Counter-Strike, wrote "Global Offensive".

Supporting evidence comes from the E-Sports Entertainment Facebook page, which reads: "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive... More info in the morning."

The ESEA's own Craig "Torbull" Levine supposedly visited Valve to help develop this new version of Counter-Strike.

The game is rumoured to be set for release during the first quarter of 2012. It's also said to focus on five versus five competition, and plays on an updated Source engine.

New guns and grenades are expected. Will it be free to play, as Valve's own Team Fortress 2 now is?