O
old.Quorthon
Guest
Guys sorry this is so long, I just felt I had to get it off my chest. No flames please, I have tried to be fair and honest, but reasoned discussion is welcome . If you want to just skip it that’s fine with me too.
I haven’t posted to these boards in quite a while, but those who know me will know that I have always been a fan of the quake series games, from QW right up to the current incarnation that is Q3A. I loved half life single player, but due to the appalling netcode never really played it online ( I was an LMCTF junkie at the time). Counterstrike has always intrigued me – its fanatical fan-base who won’t hear a single bad word said about it, and a huge (albeit smaller) number of individual’s who vehemently hate it. Me I always fell somewhere in between – my familiarity with the quake series, plus a lot of personal commitments (recently married etc
) meant I didn’t have much time to “get into” a new game, and the odd foray online brought such a torrent of newbie accusations etc that it seemed quite daunting to play, particularly as my old deathmatch skills (or lack thereof ) got me into far more trouble than they were worth. As a result I could never quite understand the whole CS “thing”, but recognised that if so many people spoke highly about it, that there must be some substance to it.
Anyway, I have recently through illness had some time on my hands, and I decided for once and for all to force myself to play CS for some extended periods, to see if I could get to like it. Was it all it was cracked up to be? Were Q3 players accusations of boredom etc justified? My experiences plus my objective (I hope) views on how the game could be improved follow.
Overall/The good
On the whole, having played CS for the better part of 2 months fairly regularly, I think CS is an excellent game. Its not perfect as some CS junkies would have us believe, but it is one of the best teamplay games out there if played properly. I applaud the fact that quick thinking is as much a part of a successful outcome as lightning reflexes. It’s a great feeling when you’ve lost a few rounds in succession, if a few people converse and decide on a strategy which changes the course of the game completely. You learn to adapt to enemy tactics. Once I learned to think smart rather than charge in deathmatch style the game became very enjoyable, addictive even, to the extent that I am now hooked. I even occasionally end up near the top of the leaderboard. One of the most addictive things about the game however is that you can own everything that moves on one level, (you just always seem to be in the right place at the right time), the next you can suck abysmally. This keeps you coming back for more. CS is an outstanding effort.
The Bad
It pains me to say it, but the reputation of CS for having a bunch of 15 yr olds playing, is to a considerable degree justified. I know that at any given time worldwide, 90%+ of online players are playing CS, which also means that 90% of the assholes are playing CS, but it does seem to attract a disproportionately high number. I know that CS is the “big thing” atm, and so any youngster is gonna flock to it just like Man Utd, but understanding this doesn’t make it any easier to bear, particularly when a game has degenerated into an all out slagging match. I wont go into t/king etc as these are well documented already. BTW I have made a lot of friends playing CS as well, and there are loads of decent folks on there, with a minority spoiling games for the rest.
Equally, intolerance of newbies is also particularly unpleasant to see. The attitude of some of the more experienced players really sickens me. It reminds me of certain golfers who get impatient with beginners, forgetting all too quickly that they once duffed shots too. When you start CS, it can be a pretty confusing experience. The maps are not always intuitive – some are downright confusing – and it takes time to become really acclimatised. Having someone scream obscenities at you for not covering them, for blocking them in a doorway, for failing to defuse a bomb, ( I could go on) when you may have made an honest mistake, does not endear you to the game. Only the other day, I was playing Thunder as CT, with the game down to 3 ct’s v 2 t’s. I was in the vent leading to the main hostage area, when I came across a team m8, a well known Clan player, whose name I have seen on BW servers many times. He was ahead of me nearer the ladder. He turned and moved back towards me indicating that he wished to go back. I moved back to the standing area to allow him out, but clearly I was not fast enough. Next thing, something to the effect of “whoever was that fucking wanker in the vent, its quite fucking simple, you move back and crouch, I jump over you. Fucking simple.” And when he died moments later (somewhere else – nothing to do with me) then “Fucking Asshole” and more. How does someone get so agitated over a game?? I had never spoken to the chap before, and that’s hardly the way to go about introducing yourself. A more conciliatory approach starting with “listen m8, next time….” would have got an apology from me, but now I will hate him forevermore.
Ways to improve it
These are my own opinions only – I’m sure others will disagree.
Firstly, I think the best way of enhancing and cementing the teamplay aspect of the game would be to not show individual frag/death counts. This would encourage people to play the game as it is meant to be played, whereas currently every server seems to have certain individuals who are only interested in their own score. Yesterday, I was playing on Aztec as CT, & there was one T who kept camping the T spawn site, even when his teammates had already dropped the bomb elsewhere. No attempt to try and find the bomb, simply waiting each round for 5 minutes or until he got killed. No incentive would exist if his score was not shown. Also, the current system does not reward players who sacrifice themselves for the team. If you charge in with grenades, you may take health off a number of their players, which makes it easier for your teammates to kill them subsequently. The fact that you may die in this initial charge is irrelevant if your team wins the day. If they must persist with individual scoring, then at least some form of showing individual damage caused (like say Rocket Arena 3) would be good.
Certain actions which run contrary to the object of the game should be prevented. An example is of terrorists killing hostages and then hiding for the rest of a level. There is no way the CT’s can properly fulfill their mission when this happens. Before anyone says this would be unrealistic & that of course T’s could kill the hostages in real life, remember that when a t drops a bomb, the CT’s are unable to pick it up which isn’t realistic either.
Another thing I would like to see is team auto-assigning becoming compulsory in certain situations. Its frustrating enough to be losing badly and be a man down, and then to see new players joining the opposing team until its 10-7 or something.
I also think on certain maps the number of players allowed on each team should be different to reflect the relative bias of the map towards CT or T. Some maps like estate for example are so heavily biased towards one team that it is impossible for the other team to do well, given the same number of players. On a 9v9 game of estate I have rarely seen the CT’s manage to score well. In estate I think the T’s should be limited to 7 players by default, anyone else who joins should have to go CT.
Anyway, I’m sure there’s more I could think of but I’m getting tired. If anyone managed to get this far thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment.
Q
I haven’t posted to these boards in quite a while, but those who know me will know that I have always been a fan of the quake series games, from QW right up to the current incarnation that is Q3A. I loved half life single player, but due to the appalling netcode never really played it online ( I was an LMCTF junkie at the time). Counterstrike has always intrigued me – its fanatical fan-base who won’t hear a single bad word said about it, and a huge (albeit smaller) number of individual’s who vehemently hate it. Me I always fell somewhere in between – my familiarity with the quake series, plus a lot of personal commitments (recently married etc
) meant I didn’t have much time to “get into” a new game, and the odd foray online brought such a torrent of newbie accusations etc that it seemed quite daunting to play, particularly as my old deathmatch skills (or lack thereof ) got me into far more trouble than they were worth. As a result I could never quite understand the whole CS “thing”, but recognised that if so many people spoke highly about it, that there must be some substance to it. Anyway, I have recently through illness had some time on my hands, and I decided for once and for all to force myself to play CS for some extended periods, to see if I could get to like it. Was it all it was cracked up to be? Were Q3 players accusations of boredom etc justified? My experiences plus my objective (I hope) views on how the game could be improved follow.
Overall/The good
On the whole, having played CS for the better part of 2 months fairly regularly, I think CS is an excellent game. Its not perfect as some CS junkies would have us believe, but it is one of the best teamplay games out there if played properly. I applaud the fact that quick thinking is as much a part of a successful outcome as lightning reflexes. It’s a great feeling when you’ve lost a few rounds in succession, if a few people converse and decide on a strategy which changes the course of the game completely. You learn to adapt to enemy tactics. Once I learned to think smart rather than charge in deathmatch style the game became very enjoyable, addictive even, to the extent that I am now hooked. I even occasionally end up near the top of the leaderboard. One of the most addictive things about the game however is that you can own everything that moves on one level, (you just always seem to be in the right place at the right time), the next you can suck abysmally. This keeps you coming back for more. CS is an outstanding effort.
The Bad
It pains me to say it, but the reputation of CS for having a bunch of 15 yr olds playing, is to a considerable degree justified. I know that at any given time worldwide, 90%+ of online players are playing CS, which also means that 90% of the assholes are playing CS, but it does seem to attract a disproportionately high number. I know that CS is the “big thing” atm, and so any youngster is gonna flock to it just like Man Utd, but understanding this doesn’t make it any easier to bear, particularly when a game has degenerated into an all out slagging match. I wont go into t/king etc as these are well documented already. BTW I have made a lot of friends playing CS as well, and there are loads of decent folks on there, with a minority spoiling games for the rest.
Equally, intolerance of newbies is also particularly unpleasant to see. The attitude of some of the more experienced players really sickens me. It reminds me of certain golfers who get impatient with beginners, forgetting all too quickly that they once duffed shots too. When you start CS, it can be a pretty confusing experience. The maps are not always intuitive – some are downright confusing – and it takes time to become really acclimatised. Having someone scream obscenities at you for not covering them, for blocking them in a doorway, for failing to defuse a bomb, ( I could go on) when you may have made an honest mistake, does not endear you to the game. Only the other day, I was playing Thunder as CT, with the game down to 3 ct’s v 2 t’s. I was in the vent leading to the main hostage area, when I came across a team m8, a well known Clan player, whose name I have seen on BW servers many times. He was ahead of me nearer the ladder. He turned and moved back towards me indicating that he wished to go back. I moved back to the standing area to allow him out, but clearly I was not fast enough. Next thing, something to the effect of “whoever was that fucking wanker in the vent, its quite fucking simple, you move back and crouch, I jump over you. Fucking simple.” And when he died moments later (somewhere else – nothing to do with me) then “Fucking Asshole” and more. How does someone get so agitated over a game?? I had never spoken to the chap before, and that’s hardly the way to go about introducing yourself. A more conciliatory approach starting with “listen m8, next time….” would have got an apology from me, but now I will hate him forevermore.
Ways to improve it
These are my own opinions only – I’m sure others will disagree.
Firstly, I think the best way of enhancing and cementing the teamplay aspect of the game would be to not show individual frag/death counts. This would encourage people to play the game as it is meant to be played, whereas currently every server seems to have certain individuals who are only interested in their own score. Yesterday, I was playing on Aztec as CT, & there was one T who kept camping the T spawn site, even when his teammates had already dropped the bomb elsewhere. No attempt to try and find the bomb, simply waiting each round for 5 minutes or until he got killed. No incentive would exist if his score was not shown. Also, the current system does not reward players who sacrifice themselves for the team. If you charge in with grenades, you may take health off a number of their players, which makes it easier for your teammates to kill them subsequently. The fact that you may die in this initial charge is irrelevant if your team wins the day. If they must persist with individual scoring, then at least some form of showing individual damage caused (like say Rocket Arena 3) would be good.
Certain actions which run contrary to the object of the game should be prevented. An example is of terrorists killing hostages and then hiding for the rest of a level. There is no way the CT’s can properly fulfill their mission when this happens. Before anyone says this would be unrealistic & that of course T’s could kill the hostages in real life, remember that when a t drops a bomb, the CT’s are unable to pick it up which isn’t realistic either.
Another thing I would like to see is team auto-assigning becoming compulsory in certain situations. Its frustrating enough to be losing badly and be a man down, and then to see new players joining the opposing team until its 10-7 or something.
I also think on certain maps the number of players allowed on each team should be different to reflect the relative bias of the map towards CT or T. Some maps like estate for example are so heavily biased towards one team that it is impossible for the other team to do well, given the same number of players. On a 9v9 game of estate I have rarely seen the CT’s manage to score well. In estate I think the T’s should be limited to 7 players by default, anyone else who joins should have to go CT.
Anyway, I’m sure there’s more I could think of but I’m getting tired. If anyone managed to get this far thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment.
Q
