Counter Strike: Source BETA – "Finally Ladies and Gentlemen the update we have been waiting for!"

Valve's launch of its' extensive update to Counter-Strike: Source, which is now in Limited beta has been released. The update includes a host of new features and functionality developed in collaboration with Hidden Path Studios. This beta will only run for a limited time, and once it is completed, the update will be deployed to the whole Counter-Strike: Source community for free via Steam.

"No" It is not an option and "Yes" You have to update. (When it is officially released)

So what are some of the new features added to the beta?

• There have been 144 achievements added
  
• New lifetime player stats and summary screens
  
• New match player stats and summary screens
  
• New end of round display with MVP and interesting fact about a player
  
• Updated scoreboard with new icons, visual style, MVP stars, and avatar pictures
  
• New cinematic death camera
  
• New domination and revenge system
  
• Added avatar icons to voice chat, scoreboard, and end of round display
  
• Incorporated many source engine updates
  

I will try to go over these new features and explain as much as possible some of the changes and impacts that they will have on the current style of game play that Counter Strike: Source has and outline in more depth by means of what Valves "many source engine updates" will include.

1.0 - Achievements and Stats
1.1 - The list of Achievements!
1.2 - Whats different in CSS BETA?
1.3 - How and when can I get Counter Strike: Source BETA
This reference is just to quickly jump to a certain part of this post!

1.0 - Achievements and Stats

"Let us have a look at the new achievements and stats section that has been added and what its all about!"

The achievements and stats is one addition to the BETA that has been introduced from the many "orange box" features seen in Valve's Team Fortress 2, Portal, Day of Defeat: Source and many others. The addition of this feature particularly will not alter any game play in terms of "running, skipping, hopping and jumping" but only how another see you on a statistical level.

In the first screenshot below you can see that there are 7 sections to the achievements and stats window along with four labeled tabs across the top. This is the summary tab and as its name intends, it displays a small summary of your personal statistics. Everything from rounds played and won, your Kileath:Ratio, plus your favorite weapon and map. There are two embedded windows on the right displaying an overall of achievements completed with a progress bar and the statistics recorded from your last "match".

Screenshot number two: The achievements tab supplying us with a total of 144 individual achievements and 6 categories that each of them fall under nicely. These categories consist of 13 Bomb, 5 Rescue, 40 Kill, 31 Weapon, 37 Special and 18 Map achievements. A nice addition to the game keeping this action shooter in the right place.

On with three the match stats! Not the most exciting tab of the four but still it has its purpose.
Displaying in five easy to view categories, match statistics of nearly every possible "statistically" recorded action which can be seen to show a little more insight towards your overall performance in that game. [This is not something I will explain much further, but I will leave it for you to explore later in the official release.]

Number four. "Oh wait theres more!" Similar to the previous "Match stats" tab its purpose is a little broader. The Lifetime statistics tab has SIX categories to monitor your personal performance and is a little more detailed. Only this time your past follows you into the future. I am not sure weather or not each player will be able to see one anothers lifetime stats but this tab could be a very harsh point for those casual players and getting picked on for a not so professional ranking. [Another tab that to me seems quite unimportant for the only reason that the true statistics shown here will never reflect completely the nature of a players performance. The casual play and competitive play will alter these stats beyond what could be recognised as "repitable data about an individuals performance". This being said I am sure that they will serve their purpose.

The following screen shots are of the Achievements and Stats section [in-game] can be viewed by hovering over their spoilers.






1.1 - The list of Achievements!
For everyone that wants to see the list! "I have provided a complete list of achievements in the following section for those who wish to view it." Please NOTE that there may be spelling mistakes and possibly one or two missing as I have had to type this out by hand. An official list may be released later but at current there is not.

The following list has been categorised as it is seen [in-game].

Bomb Achievements: There are a total of [13 Achievements]


Rescue Achievements: There are a total of [5 Achievements]


Kill Achievements: There are a total of [40 Achievements]


Weapon Achievements: There are a total of [31 Achievements]


Special Achievements: There are a total of [37 Achievements]


Map Achievements: There are a total of 18 map achievements which requires a player to Win 100 rounds on each of the official Counter Strike: Source maps.


1.2 - Whats different in CSS BETA?
So what is different in the BETA compared to the Counter Strike: Source we all love to play in its current state.

To hit it off into the wind and narrow it down a little. Valve has decided that its time to give Counter Strike: Source the punch that it really needed some many years ago. From this great idea that "Valve" has had they have decided to take us over to the Orange box engine. The cutting edge upgrade for source that will hopefully fix all of our problems!

Off to a great start there have been many things brought to attention such as clipping, shadow issues and sounds - Nearly everything you would expect for an overhaul in the gaming industry. So what has really changed you might ask.

Instead of writing an in-depth and detailed section about everything that has changed and my opinion on the matter I will try to sum it up in a short list of feature changes and the impact they have on your in-game experience as follows and let valve do the rest.

• Upgraded or Fixed! hitboxes
  
(Basically instead of worrying about hitbox lag, when you shoot someones head it blows off like it should!)

• Pistol rolling, Bunny Hopping and Crouch Bugs are being attended to.
  
(Some of these features that we love in the original source may be removed although the push for a variable or option for these has been requested and is definitely being considered.)

• Orange box has NOW FIXED OUR MOVEMENT
  
(There issues have nearly been fixed completely! Thank you valve its now almost the same!)

• Kill cam has been added to every death that you acquire.
  
(Unfortunately this creates a short second of lag before you kill or are killed by the last standing opponent.)

• Shadow Casting Flashlight
  
(The flashlight now dynamically casts shadows as it passes over an object)

• Recoil patterns and Rate of Fire
  
(Fixed!)

There are many more features that have been added and removed but might best be viewed on the official Steam Forums. For those who wish to follow the happenings and discussion of Counter Strike: Source BETA - it can be found here Click Me


1.3 - How and when can I get Counter Strike: Source BETA
At current there is no "Legal way" of obtaining a copy of the Counter Strike: Source BETA without officially joining the BETA program when available slots are opened.

There have only been two releases so far one on the 8th of May 2010, one on the 12th of May 2010 and the 20th of May 2010. As this is a limited beta there is only a designated amount of slots in which Valve would like to open to this BETA. The total amount of slots has not be posted publicly although there are a few slips in the cracks. There is however a way to make sure you are on the list! As soon as a slot becomes available the next candidate that has applied for the BETA will be activated.

Please be warned before clicking on the following link that its download size is 1.7GB and users may or may not be able to use the downloaded data for use immediately depending on weather or not the user has an orange box game completely installed.

Validated game data can be acquired and downloaded through steam via this "link"
Click Me - This by no means allows you to immediately play the game legally. Alternatively this creates a [Pre-Load] of Counter Strike: Source BETA on your steam account. As soon as an available slot is open or if you are lucky enough to join the BETA whilst it is open the game will play. I am not 100% sure how this works I have only come across this by chance.


In Conclusion
Hopefully I have opened your eyes a little into the soon to be new world of Counter Strike: Source. This post has been quite vague and I do apologize, I wish I had enough time to write more. Before I finish I would just like to thank anyone who actually did read the entirety of this post and hope that you have enjoyed it and Lets hope Valve get it right! <3

Thanks Brenton 'Mz' Smith.

Edit: For A Short Time Today [20.05.2010] and possibly for a short while the beta has officially be opened.

Keep an eye on this page! http://store.steampowered.com/app/260 for releases and grab it while you can!

Attention further readers - Movement and Weapon issues have nearly been resolved completely!

Edited 3 times, last edited 21/5/10 - 10:44am.

I had the privileged of reading this prior to posting, great article mz!

Am both apprehensive and looking forward to the changes

wow.

your such a nerd moz go TLA

Haha Love you Blackko <3 Thanks for the replys guys!

sounds good, taken the ways of tf2 it seems

hope they dont take away quick switch or fk the movment up or ill consider quititng :|

Sounds like css wont be competitive much longer :p its turning into every other piece of shit game with achievements and perks

All the scoreboards and achievement shit is a welcome addition.. but the changes to recoil etc? way to ruin a game..

btw movement is a bug because of the default for sv_airaccerlerate or w.e is at 10

Looks Excellent

Rofl what? The recoil in the game is ******ed anyway. How could you make it any worse? It's fking random. Hopefully the game is completely ****ed and forces a move back to 1.6

i think the recoil in the beta is consistent unlike the current css

can't wait for achievements

And Achievement Servers ^^