UKTerrorist
READ CAREFULLY
With the release of 1.4 and Condition Zero looming above us, I just wanted to give my opinion on this matter before they both come out. If you haven't cared for what I've said in the past, stop reading now; but if you are a respector of opinions, just sit back and keep the right side of your brain working.
Over the past couple months, we've heard from Valve... oh, about twice when they discussed their anti cheat plans. It seems to me that something is amiss in the Valve Anti-Cheat Department, because not an awful lot has been said. We haven't heard much from the beta testers about it either. They violated their NDAs and made sites, they posted pics and talked about the new stuff. But they didn't say anything about anti cheat software. Maybe Valve didn't put it in because they were afraid a hacker would get a hold of a beta version and hack it. And if that's why, good job to Valve. Then there's this "steam" thing, some are under the impression that it's the anti-cheat program, others consider it to be a update download thing. I'm not sure what it is, but I hope it's the anti-cheat, because I can't wait to be "steam authenticated".
I don't want to sound like a pessimist, I'm usually a very optimistic person, but my feeling is that this anti-cheat deal is going to, more or less, 'crash and burn'. Maybe not that severe, but I'm inclined to think that it's going to be hacked somehow [ED: Let's hope Valve are able to update the anti-cheat software frequently]. Really though, I have no idea what's going to happen. Just because I use "The Oracle" doesn't mean I can see the future :). I'm just as curious and filled with anticipation as everyone else is and I hope I'm wrong, I really do, I don't want to see this software hacked in three days, it's the last thing most of us want. Yet, I feel like it's going to happen, the reason is because of...
Gearbox and Valve's answer to the 14.4k'er who wants to enjoy CS. I'm sure a lot of you have seen a screenshot or a weapon model, so we're all 'in the know' here. I believe my pessimism about the anti-cheat software is because I think Valve is too concerned with making a profit off Condition Zero. They aren't protecting a product they have already released; it doesn't put much faith in Valve customers for Valve to just release CS and then forget the community when problems arise.
If you think about it, three versions of CS after it's retail release, how many versions of OGC have been released in that time? How many different cheats are still being used? All these cheaters running rampant while Valve and Gearbox employees (who are on the clock) toy around with 1.4. Messing with it while the community falls into ruin. But you can't expect a company like Valve not to head for profit. It's expected, because, as sad as it may seem, that's just business.
Condition Zero, the cash crop that jumped off Valve's Drawing Board.
Because of it's excellent gameplay concepts and maps. Why is CS still played two and a half years later? Because it is online and no two games are ever the same. This high replay value brought to you by the internet is what made CS enjoyable and constanly fun. Take CS and remove online play, what do you have? A great concept with limited reply value.
The thing that differs single player from multi is that single player is usually predictable, the fights are the same, enemies are in the same place and it becomes monotonous on repeated playings. If CS was predictable, it wouldn't have lasted this long. I think single player CZ will get old quickly and people will go back to multi, with the added features CZ gives us. So you say, "Why doesn't Valve just release a patch and forget CZ? Nobody's gonna play single player that much anyway." Patches are free, CZ isn't.
The new guns and equipment should be cool, although some stuff might be useless. I hope the exact opposite of what I said happens, because I want cheaters gone and a cool single players expirence that never gets boring. I want a perfect game, but we don't live in a perfect world with perfect games, do we?
Comments
Editor
UKTerrorist
13:19 24/1/2002
Let's hope they can update the anti-cheat software regularly enough to keep most of the cheats at bay.
As for Condition Zero...it was to be expected really. Look at all the spin offs that have come from the original Half-Life.
In saying that, Valve have to keep the money flowing in...it'd just be nice to see them release something different because I'm sure it'd be a big hit anyway (also, I'm curious as to what they'd do).
No doubt, CS: CZ will get boring after a while, like you say...that's why we always come back to CS. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
13:25 24/1/2002
14:14 24/1/2002
Of course what we should all do is stop playing CS for a couple of months so the w**kers^D^D^D^D^D sorry cheat writers get bored and go back to hacking porn sites and adding 'z' to the end of wordz
14:39 24/1/2002
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
14:40 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
14:48 24/1/2002
Rottencrotch @ 10:31 - external site updates - 1 comment - new!
UK-Terrorist staffer, The Oracle, has written a heavily opinionated, virtually factless article about the upcoming CS 1.4 and CS:CZ. Here is the obligatory nibbel:
How many different cheats are still being used? All these cheaters running rampant while Valve employees (who are on the clock) toy around with 1.4. Messing with it while the community falls into ruin.
Maybe Oracle should be a writer for the National Inquirer."- CSNation, gotta love it :) [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
14:56 24/1/2002
CZ vill have anticheat just lika CS. no question about it and Valves Anticheat will update itself all the time. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
14:56 24/1/2002
ive got 1.4 off a m8, and ive pld it only for about 1 hour,
as the last 2 days, ALL beta 1.4 sponsored servers have been offline due to a bug/system crash
from what i did see, the anti-cheat is all invisible. theres no way in hell im gonna download a cheat just to test it..ill leave that to a*N*m and *i* and la***har* :+) [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:21 24/1/2002
Some1 posted in 1.4 forum:
"I haven´t met any cheaters right now, but has anyone tried if the know cheats still work ?? some GLhacks or ogc ??"
Erik Johnson (Valve) responded:
"Hold off on this until the next rollout we do. I know that OGC doesn't currently work, but there really aren't many anti-cheat measures in the beta right now.
Hopefully we'll have a new release in the next couple of days where we start to rollout the anti-cheat stuff. At that point, having people trying to cheat would be a good thing.
Erik"
wohooo [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:22 24/1/2002
I know it's hard, but it's not like they even tried to stop it.
Regards,
Fluor [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:25 24/1/2002
This little bit of knowledge happens to invalidate your entire argument, if not your entire article. I would expect that a very respectable like like UKTerrorist would know this basic knowledge.
Gearbox is making Condition Zero.
``So you say, "Why doesn't Valve just release a patch and forget CZ? Nobody's gonna play single player that much anyway."''
This is incredibly silly. Why don't you ask for some free new scenarios to be added and then just trash them? You, know, like you trash the free anti-cheat. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:35 24/1/2002
(posted 1.4 forum):
" seems to me that the steam system has pretty much stopped the big cheats. seeing as how you can't alter or customize files since you have to download them into cache when you play almost eliminates cheating. i went read the myg0t forums yesterday and quite a few of their members were b***hing and moaning about the fact that they couldn't cheat with the steam system and that all they would be able to do from now on is team kill and flash bang teammates instead of cheating. keeping the steam system when 1.4 goes public seems like the answer to me. "[ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
15:38 24/1/2002
CZ is being "published" by Valve, sorry I didn't explain that to you Rizzuh, I guess you didn't understand, or just didn't want to. True, Gearbox is delevoping it, but Valve was the one who switched development teams while CZ was being made.
Why would I "trash" free scenarios? Hmm? I just feel that CZ (as a single player game) is kinda useless. Because CS is online, CZ isn't.
Really Rizzuh, I think you just wanted to start an argument for argument's sake, I was just stating my opinions, which you do all the time at CSN. Just calm down and take a breath.
The Oracle
P.S. Learn to proofread... [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
15:40 24/1/2002
Good luck Valve(oh, and Gearbox) on saving CS.
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:46 24/1/2002
good article theoracle, rizzuhs just jealous :+) [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:50 24/1/2002
your a writer you should expect to recieve critisism, i suppose that makes you a bad one then? sorry if i shattered your dreams. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:55 24/1/2002
contrary to your earlier comments, you obviously do have oracle abilities, or dont u? [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:57 24/1/2002
15:58 24/1/2002
16:00 24/1/2002
I'm going to rant here, I've played Half-Life, Unreal Tournament, Quake 3 Arena, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, own all three
and am enjoying each one in a different way.
But I have to say, Valve by far, is the best developer that is still supporting a game that is (how many years old?) coming on 5
years old now.
You people rant and rave that you have it so bad, Valve updates their engine that's coming on 5 years old now, and we're lucky that
they are even doing this, ID Software barely does this, and the only reason they do is because it's the current game that they are supporting.
Quake 3 Arena development has stopped, slowed down, whatever you wish to call it right around the release of RTCW, and the development
began on Doom 3. We're lucky to have Valve that is working on TF2 (if it ever gets released) and HL2. Valve could just close their doors and
solely work on a game.
You people are b***hing about Valve not bringing out TF2 so soon, well why the hell do you think they aren't? Half-Life is still selling copies,
Counter-Strike is doing good, and Condition Zero is close up. CS:CZ is probably done, they are just waiting for the anti-cheat to be installed.
And "The Oracle" was ranting about Valve not putting the Anti-cheat into the beta. Well why do you think they did? I don't they were stupid,
they knew the people would break the NDA, and I bet they even counted on it... more publicity.
Before you rant about how bad Valve is running their game, their services, take a look at all the other game companies, and watch them abadon
their game that is six months old (Max Payne), two years old (Quake 3), 3 years old (UT), 4 years old (Deus EX), and be glad they are still supprting
their community after nearly 5 years.
(not all the dates are correct, but you get the idea)
-BlackCaT [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
16:02 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
16:06 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
16:10 24/1/2002
n1, not only do u right articles which are invalid, ur comments are the same [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
16:16 24/1/2002
16:20 24/1/2002
Godd Luck Valve...... [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Editor
UKTerrorist
16:30 24/1/2002
"You people rant and rave that you have it so bad, Valve updates their engine that's coming on 5 years old now, and we're lucky thatthey are even doing this, ID Software barely does this, and the only reason they do is because it's the current game that they are supporting."
Valve know they're onto a good thing....the HL community is much larger than anything else at the moment, it dwarves the other FPS games. They don't actually keep updating because they have our best interests at heart...they have their best interests at heart, fair play to that though.
The other games you mention probably haven't had the same level of support because they haven't been as successful as the developers would've hoped. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
16:32 24/1/2002
16:37 24/1/2002
16:38 24/1/2002
Each time you start a beta game you have to DL (in game) data to be able to play.
I guess the steam technology can be used after the beta test to distribute anti cheat updates. But I really hope it won't substitute the standard way of installing CS. Because for me it takes 10-30 minutes each time I start a new game because of the stuff that needs to be downloaded (I have a cable connection).
Otherwise the new beta is looking good. I only hope they change jumping and walking back to more "normal" behaviour. As it is now jumping is worthless and walking is also too damn slow
Editor
UKTerrorist
16:39 24/1/2002
I believe Oracle replied to you and cleared that up, but try not to be condescending, thanks.
I wouldn't expect a top CS news reporting site like CSN to have such opinionated news posts....people come for the news, not to hear opinions....
UK-Terrorist staffer, The Oracle, has written a heavily opinionated, virtually factless article about the upcoming CS 1.4 and CS:CZ. Maybe Oracle should be a writer for the National Inquirer.
LanManiax has pictures of 3DMike's new map, de_747. Don't get your hopes up though, de_survivor is quite possibly the worst map ever put into CS, so cliffe and co. might be a bit reserved about putting in another 3DMike map.
Such throw away comments don't belong in news posts in my honest opinion (As even pointed out by one of your own readers...http://csnation.counter-strike.net/comments.php?id=3899). Especially the ones about 3DMike...it was quite unnecessary, he's a good mapper.
But then that's your prerogative, you run your site....we'll run ours. Anyway, back to the article... [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
16:43 24/1/2002
Editor
UKTerrorist
16:46 24/1/2002
17:16 24/1/2002
The fact is, Valve doesn't need to update their game, they could abandon it, but instead of taking all their technology and hording it until the release of their next game, they incorporate it into the HL engine.
Btw, de_survivor is OK, but the current 747 map sucks ass, I hope 3Dmike can do a better job! [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
17:17 24/1/2002
17:29 24/1/2002
What I say are clearly opinions, what your writer says is factually incorrect.
Valve does not make Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. The entire point of this author is moot, his own argument is voided.
That is not an opinion, it's an error. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
17:30 24/1/2002
17:36 24/1/2002
This article has been edited to include Gearbox references.
Very classy, Oracle. Cover up your mistakes. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
17:37 24/1/2002
You have to blow up a plane in mid-air by the looks of it. Need I say any more? [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
17:45 24/1/2002
However look at it from the cheat creators point of view. I aint talking about the daft idiots who think they are 133t h4x0rs just because they can click on a link to d/l the damn cheat. I am talking about the misguided fools who actually create these cheats. You can bet every one of these is itching to get thier hands on the anti-cheat stuff just so they can crack it and claim they were the first to beat mighty valve.
So because valve are doing it and its a bigger scalp I am actually worried that the whole cheating issue may actually get worse, or to start off with at least. I hope that this is wrong and the new valve code is cheat proof. Or at least once its been cracked then valve immeaditly update it as promissed and continue to do so untill people get fed up of cracking it. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
18:05 24/1/2002
"All these cheaters running rampant while Valve and employees (who are on the clock) toy around with 1.4."
I'm not rubbing this in or trying to patronize you, I just want people to stop complaining about my opinions in a OPINION article at an article based website.
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:14 24/1/2002
If I wrote an article about Blitz being an American posing as someone from the UK, I'm sure more than a few people would take issue with me posting incorrect things.
Your living in the UK isn't your opinion, it's a fact. Just as Valve does not make Condition Zero.
The article states "Valve and Gearbox" now. This is even more conflicting. The game is being made by Gearbox. You can tiptoe around it all you want, but this article was largely false the edits do not suffice. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
18:23 24/1/2002
But the WHOLE article isn't wrong, cuz the whole article isn't about CZ. A game is made with the publisher over seeing it's development. Valve over sees Gearbox, therefore, Valve is inherently making it. Maybe not fully, but to some extent.
I'm getting tired of this, we can argue our opinions all day long. You can say I'm wrong and I can say I'm right. But it ain't gonna change a thing. So I just wanna forget this argument, I have nothing against CSN, just as I hope you have nothing against UKT. Two great sites, I don't wanna see an argument over a column cause these sites to take sides and have a war. Let's just truce this Rizzuh. I respect you, but this whole thing was just a petty argument.
Peace out. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:27 24/1/2002
but if its blowing u pa plane in mid air, thats an excellent REALISTIC idea that CS is lacking in other maps, de_dust anyone? CS maps should be realistic and atmospheric as possible. i cant wait to play de_747. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:27 24/1/2002
Valve is not spending time on Condition Zero. You cannot say something not factual is an opinion. Gearbox is being paid by Sierra for Condition Zero. Valve is not the loop, except giving permissions for IP and content copyrights.
Funny that you mention opinions. When someone gives theirs, they're a CSN groupie. Opinions go both ways on a comments system.
No, I didn't re-read the article. You have problems if you think you're going to get everyone to magically re-read the article. It shouldn't have been published with incorrect information.
You trying to save yourself with a useless edit is hilarious. It goes to show that even the article contradicts your own opinion.
You should have said Valve was spending a lot of time on Steam and Tracker and losing focus on their anti-cheat. That would have had a lot of viability. Their involvement in Condition Zero lasted for about a week
I'm sorry if I came off rude, but you seriously do not seem to realize that you are totally wrong in a factual sense. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:28 24/1/2002
youre both heviliy oppiniatated.
de_survivor is a cool map, so shut it
18:31 24/1/2002
Truce, oracle! If i could delete my comments I would, so if an admin wants to that would be cool.
I didn't flame UKT and, truth be told, you did your job -- starting arguments are what editorials are for!
I hope to see some more columns from you soon. You handled yourself well, better than I can say for myself. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
18:34 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:40 24/1/2002
Editor
UKTerrorist
18:52 24/1/2002
For the record though rizzuh, Oracle didnt edit the quote below, it always read:
Gearbox and Valve's answer to the 14.4k'er who wants to enjoy CS.I don't know about the other reference to Gbox and Valve as I can't remember, but the above has always stood. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
18:58 24/1/2002
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
19:01 24/1/2002
19:04 24/1/2002
Thx Rizzuh, personally, this wasn't my best column, prolly just the most controversial :)wewt =)
ok, as for Oracle: great article, despite what people say... and good job on gettin the US and CSN against 1 article and therefore, you lol [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Editor
UKTerrorist
19:05 24/1/2002
continue discussion here --> [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
19:10 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
19:41 24/1/2002
19:43 24/1/2002
20:04 24/1/2002
20:10 24/1/2002
20:31 24/1/2002
20:31 24/1/2002
Steam is the gate to subscribe for playing half-life "without" too much troubles.
just peek here http://steamsupport.valvesoftware.com
but you will need a broadband connection to really be happy with it (the game itself still generate only a few Kbs)
all you can learn about the future could be seen a this address and I release it because of the link to the beta tester form on the main page.
that page could be accessed by anyone. (you will understand what I mean ;D )
In the future because of capitalism we will have to pay more again and again [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
20:34 24/1/2002
1)Gearbox is making CZ. Valve has zero influence into the development of the game. Sierra wanted CZ to be made in the first place. Valve didn't have the development time or staff to do it along wiht their other projects, so Sierra dumped it to Rogue. Rogue f***ed up the premise of CS and Sierra took it back and gave it to Gearbox due to the fact that Gearbox a)has shipped every game they've developed (excluding DC HL, which was due to DC folding, not GBX) and b)has time after time developed and released games in a timely mannor. Love them or hate them, Gearbox does their job and gets their games finished and shipped bug free (which is more than can be said of many other development houses). CZ is virtually finished and will be released in the next few months.
2)Your arguement for CZ being a free upgrade is a bit ludacris. Its over 20 maps, hundreds of player an object models, graphic enhancements to the engine, and many other bonuses. Why would they give that away for free? Sierra and Valve could have let HL die with s***ty multiplayer and no mods, but they decided to give us TFC and DMC for free. They gave us the SDKs for free. They gave us Worldcraft for free. Even though they own and sell CS, they still offer it online for free. For once, the parties involved decided that perhaps they should charge for something. It's not their fault you're greedy.
2)Anti-cheat/Steam - although I'm not going to go into the specifics with you, Steam is BOTH a file transfering system and the fabled anti-cheat system. Imagine isntead of authenticating with WON, you authenticate with steam. Steam keeps a database of known cheats and take 10-60 seconds to transfer some anti-cheating code which will ammend your current steam file. If your steam file is every altered, you download a new one. (Sorry for simplistic arguement). Now lets say you made a cheat that took you 3 hours to program. You're a bad ass. The next day you wake up and find your cheat has made it into the steam datbase. You program it again. A few hours later your cheat is flagged again. You can't get into any servers untily ou reprogram your cheats. How long are you going to do this. Spending half you day programming a cheat that will last you a few hours. Eventually you give up. Thats how you take care of cheaters. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Lord of t3h b0ys
UKTerrorist
20:40 24/1/2002
The Oracle [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
21:43 24/1/2002
"BLIZZARD f***ING RUINED SIERRA'S ABILITY TO DEVLOP CS BECAUSE OF HOW THE CT BARRETAS LAG TO HELL ON 2_FORT"
CS needs more good humor sites. Thanks for providing, UKT. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
22:07 24/1/2002
"With the release of 1.4 and Condition Zero looming above us, I just wanted to give my opinion on this matter before they both come out."
That set the tone of your article for me. You're talking about things about which you know nothing save speculation and rumor. Opinions are only worth as much as the facts they're built on, and when you have no facts to build upon...
I realize that this is a redundant post in light of the above posts, but this is the internet, this is my opinion, and if you don't agree with it, you're obviously not right in the head.
(before you flame, please try to realize this was written with humorous intent. And if you didn't realize that, you're obviously not ri... er... nevermind) [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
01:03 25/1/2002
01:49 25/1/2002
DarkIce [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
04:00 25/1/2002
08:11 25/1/2002
Thanks VALVE, Gearbox, and the CS team!!! [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Head CS Server Admin
UKTerrorist
09:55 25/1/2002
If this is the case, (which I don't think it will be - far too easy to get round, and I'm sure Valve know this), then you would have to reprogram your cheat every few weeks, instead of every few hours.
I have no idea how Steam works, I've just pulled this theory out of the air based on someone's comments above. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
02:02 26/1/2002
Does your virus scanner download viruses? No...it downloads a definition file that recognizes viruses. From what I understand of this so far, it would be like a [virus] scanner that downloads new [virus] definitions every time you connect (and appends them to the current file, to avoid huge downloads). That way it prevents the [viruses] from being executed. Replace the word "virus" with "cheat" and it makes quite a bit of sense. Not only does it do this every time you connect, but it's something you can't tell it *not* to do. One might say "well just turn off the Steam technology so it doesn't care" -- ok...turn off the WON authentication while you're at it so I can play without a valid key. It wouldn't be that simple. Not unlike your post, this was pulled out of thin air, but I think this is more how the Steam system does/will work. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
-kwishot [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
02:08 28/1/2002
the anti-cheat sytems put in place now and in the future will inevitably be bypassed by someone, its just a matter of time
as for CSZ, i also think its just another money spinner for valve, but they should have waited till cs1.4 was out and possibly bug free before having to commit their time to making patches and updates for CSZ, CS should be the priority here, get it sorted out, then we will all be happy to go and buy CSZ with its nice shiny box
Anyway Valve, there are thousands upon thousands of cs players out there who are long overdue for a bug/cheat free CS, isnt it about time we got it? [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
10:03 28/1/2002
ne iyi olur
ByEeEEee [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
13:10 15/3/2002
get it at http://infiltration.sentrystudios.com
now there is real gaming pleasure! [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:09 15/10/2003
I've been playing CS for years now only to find out that,days after this VAC jiggerypokery, I'm banned.
I've tried contacting Valve but to date (3 months or so on) i've had no reply.
Would just like to know if anyone else has suffered this fate and if there is any solution.
I'm a staunch supporter of anti-cheat systems but not if they ban honest players. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
15:09 15/10/2003
I've been playing CS for years now only to find out that,days after this VAC jiggerypokery, I'm banned.
I've tried contacting Valve but to date (3 months or so on) i've had no reply.
Would just like to know if anyone else has suffered this fate and if there is any solution.
I'm a staunch supporter of anti-cheat systems but not if they ban honest players. [ Comment: Report | IP: Logged ]
Last Chance
22:05 26/11/2003
05:00 19/10/2005