Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Encyclopedia
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) is an online first-person shooter
based game currently in development by Valve Software and Hidden Path Entertainment
, who also co-developed Counter-Strike: Source
. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike
franchise, excluding Counter-Strike: Neo and Counter-Strike: Online.
Global Offensive is targeted for release in early 2012. It will be available for Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
, Xbox 360
via the Xbox Live Arcade
and PlayStation 3
via PlayStation Network. It will feature classic content, such as old maps, as well as brand new maps, characters and game modes. Also, it will support matchmaking and leaderboards. Cross-platform
multiplayer is confirmed between Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
and PlayStation 3
players. The PlayStation 3
version will offer three control methods, which include using either the DualShock 3 controller, PlayStation Move or USB keyboard/mouse.
Global Offensive, like previous installments, operates in short rounds that end when all players on one side are dead or an objective is completed. Once a player dies they must wait until the round ends to respawn in most game modes. Players purchase weapons and equipment with money awarded based on their performance. Completing objectives or killing enemies earns the player money while negative actions like killing a teammate takes money away from the player. In addition when a round ends all players receive some amount of money, with players on the winning team receiving substantially more. Global Offensive adds new weapons and equipment not seen in previous installments. Most notably the molotov cocktail which temporarily covers a small area in fire, making it impossible to pass through without taking significant damage.
A lengthy public beta testing phase on the PC will precede Global Offensivess retail release. The closed beta started on November 30th, 2011 and will last until Valve feels the community is satisfied with the state of the game. The game's retail release will occur when the beta testing phase has concluded. The beta will initially be restricted to around ten thousand people who received a key at events Valve attended to showcase Global Offensive. After issues such as client and server stability are addressed the beta will open up to progressively more and more people, until the beta becomes open for anybody to join and play. Before the public beta Valve invited professional Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source players to playtest the game and give feedback.
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
based game currently in development by Valve Software and Hidden Path Entertainment
Hidden Path Entertainment
Hidden Path Entertainment is an American video game development company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States. It was founded in 2006 by Michael Austin, Jim Garbarini, Dave McCoy, Jeff Pobst, and Mark Terrano. In 2008, Hidden Path released its first original title, Defense Grid: The...
, who also co-developed Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source is an FPS video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is a complete remake of Counter-Strike using the Source game engine. As in the original, Counter-Strike: Source pits a team of counter-terrorists against a team of terrorists in a series of rounds...
. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe...
franchise, excluding Counter-Strike: Neo and Counter-Strike: Online.
Global Offensive is targeted for release in early 2012. It will be available for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via the Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via PlayStation Network. It will feature classic content, such as old maps, as well as brand new maps, characters and game modes. Also, it will support matchmaking and leaderboards. Cross-platform
Cross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
multiplayer is confirmed between Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
players. The PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version will offer three control methods, which include using either the DualShock 3 controller, PlayStation Move or USB keyboard/mouse.
Gameplay
Like previous games in the series Global Offensive is an objective based multiplayer first person shooter. Each player joins either the Terrorist or Counter-Terrorist faction and attempts to complete objectives, or eliminate the enemy team, first. For example in demolition maps, often abbreviated "de", the terrorist team is given an explosive to plant at a designated location. The Counter-Terrorists must defend the location until time runs out, and if the bomb is planted defuse it. Global Offensive is planned to launch with demolition, hostage rescue, and a new game mode called arsenal. Arsenal is based on a popular mod for both Counter Strike and Counter Strike: Source called gun game, and made in collaboration with the creators of the mod.Global Offensive, like previous installments, operates in short rounds that end when all players on one side are dead or an objective is completed. Once a player dies they must wait until the round ends to respawn in most game modes. Players purchase weapons and equipment with money awarded based on their performance. Completing objectives or killing enemies earns the player money while negative actions like killing a teammate takes money away from the player. In addition when a round ends all players receive some amount of money, with players on the winning team receiving substantially more. Global Offensive adds new weapons and equipment not seen in previous installments. Most notably the molotov cocktail which temporarily covers a small area in fire, making it impossible to pass through without taking significant damage.
Development
Global Offensive began as a port of Counter Strike: Source to the Xbox 360 by Hidden Path Entertainment. During the development Valve saw the opportunity to turn the port into a full game and expand on Counter Strike's gameplay. Global Offensive began development in March, 2010 and was revealed on August 12th, 2011.A lengthy public beta testing phase on the PC will precede Global Offensivess retail release. The closed beta started on November 30th, 2011 and will last until Valve feels the community is satisfied with the state of the game. The game's retail release will occur when the beta testing phase has concluded. The beta will initially be restricted to around ten thousand people who received a key at events Valve attended to showcase Global Offensive. After issues such as client and server stability are addressed the beta will open up to progressively more and more people, until the beta becomes open for anybody to join and play. Before the public beta Valve invited professional Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source players to playtest the game and give feedback.