Editing Counter-Strike (video game) (section)

==Development==
Video game programmer [[Minh Le|Minh "Gooseman" Le]] was previously involved in developing [[Video game modding|video game mods]], such as ''Navy SEALs'' for ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' and [[Action Quake 2|''Action Quake 2'']].<ref name="eurogamer_mlint">{{Cite web |last=Bye |first=John |date=March 10, 2000 |title=Minh Le of ''Counter Strike'' team |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/counterstrike |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |language=}}</ref> However, he wanted to create his own mod to have more control over development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shirow |title=Interview with Gooseman of ''Counter Strike'' |url=http://www.halflife.net/mod/features/counterstrike/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001054944/http://www.halflife.net/mod/features/counterstrike/index.html |archive-date=October 1, 1999 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Half-Life.net: Ministry of Development}}</ref> He chose to use the [[game engine]] [[GoldSrc]], because he had already worked with the ''Quake'' and ''Quake 2'' engines, and he felt it was a logical choice.<ref name="gamasutra le 2001">{{cite web |last=McLean-Foreman |first=John |date=May 30, 2001 |title=Interview with Minh Le |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/interview-with-minh-le |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423220435/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131481/interview_with_minh_le.php |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019 |work=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref name="p107">{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=107}}</ref> The realistic setting of [[Half-Life (video game)|''Half-Life'']], which was developed using GoldSrc, made ''Half-Life'' well-suited for his concept of a mod involving terrorists and counter-terrorists.<ref name="eurogamer_mlint" /> Development began in January 1999, but as the ''Half-Life'' [[software development kit]] (SDK) was not yet released, Le initially created new weapon and player models.<ref name="csn_csy1">{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=John |date= |title=''Counter-Strike'' Year 1 |url=http://csnation.counter-strike.net/features/csy1/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815235300/http://csnation.counter-strike.net/features/csy1/ |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=CS-Nation |page=2}}</ref> In February 1999, the first screenshots of ''Counter-Strike'' were released, accompanied by an interview with Le about the mod.<ref name="cs_retrospective">{{Cite web |last=Cliffe |first=Jess |author-link=Jess Cliffe |date= |title=''Counter-Strike'': A Retrospective In Pictures; A Comedy of Errors |url=http://www.counter-strike.net/retro.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010603073148/http://www.counter-strike.net/retro.html |archive-date=June 3, 2001 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Counter-Strike}}</ref> Le and [[Jess Cliffe]], who had both worked on ''Action Quake 2'', connected through [[IRC|Internet Relay Chat]], during which Le shared his idea for the mod. Cliffe, excited by the concept, offered to create a website for it and became involved in the project.<ref name="csn_csy1" /><ref name="p106">{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=106}}</ref> 

Several movies served as sources of inspiration for prospective weapon candidates. For instance, the [[Krieg 552 Commando|Krieg 552]] and [[M249 light machine gun|M249]] were included in ''Counter-Strike'' due to inspiration from the 1998 film [[Ronin (film)|''Ronin'']]. Additionally, the films [[Air Force One (film)|''Air Force One'']] and [[Léon: The Professional|''Léon: The Professional'']] served as further influences for weapon selection.<ref name="csmovie_weapons">{{Cite web |last=Csthemovie |date=2001-08-02 |title=Interview with Gooseman |url=http://cine-courts.com/cs/itw.htm |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Cine-courts.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205051557/http://cine-courts.com/cs/itw.htm |archive-date=2006-12-05}}</ref><ref name="p107"/> Gun magazines and the Internet were key sources for the team to gather information about the actual firearms used in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=James |date=2001-01-25 |title=Gooseman ''Counter-Strike'' Interview |url=http://firingsquad.gamers.com/features/gooseint/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010812003811/http://firingsquad.gamers.com/features/gooseint/ |archive-date=2001-08-12 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=FiringSquad |page=2}}</ref> A few weapon models in ''Counter-Strike'' deviate from their real-world counterparts because Le had to make assumptions about how certain weapons would behave in animations due to limited information.<ref name="gamasutra le 2001"/> The weapons had to not only look and sound good but also feel satisfying to use. Realism, as well as the type of weapons the groups would likely use in real-life scenarios, were prioritized when selecting the weapons for the game.<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=114}}</ref>

On March 15, 1999, the mod received its name following an [[ICQ]] chat between Le and Cliffe.<ref name="cs_retrospective" /><ref name="p106"/> Le suggested names based on his favorite TV shows and movies, with options like ''Counterrorism'', ''Counter-Strike'', ''Strike Force'', ''Frag Heads'', ''Counter-Terror'', ''Terrorist Wars'', ''Terror-Force'', and ''Counter Force'', and eventually settled on ''Counter-Strike''.<ref name="p106" /><ref name="cs_retrospective" /> The official ''Counter-Strike'' web page was launched on March 24, 1999.<ref name="cs_oldnews">{{Cite web |date= |title=News Archive |url=http://www.counter-strike.net/haxornews/older.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610041042/http://www.counter-strike.net/haxornews/older.html |archive-date=June 10, 2001 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Counter-Strike}}</ref> It was hosted by ''[[GameSpy]]''{{'}}s Joost Schurr on ''[[Planet Half-Life]]''.<ref name="p107"/> When the ''Half-Life'' SDK was released on April 7, 1999, mod development officially began.<ref name="cs_oldnews" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20001205072900/http://www.halflife.gamedesign.net/news_archives_apr99.shtml Half-Life Editing Resource Center - Archived News - April 1999]. Archived from the original on 2000-12-05.</ref> Minh Le's reputation from ''Action Quake 2'' led to the mod receiving significant attention before release. The website attracted 10,000 visitors within two and a half weeks.<ref name="csn_csy1" />

Le focused on the player models, spending 40 hours for each one. Cliffe contributed to the game's design, sound, art and public relations, while closely following the development of ''Half-Life'' and reading [[Gabe Newell]] interviews.<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=108}}</ref> In May 1999, the mod's most pressing issue was a shortage of people to make maps to play on.<ref name="csn_csy1" /> Despite several requests posted on the official website, the response was minimal. Cliffe began directly contacting ''Half-Life'' mappers<ref name="gamasutra le 2001" /> and reached out to people who had previously submitted maps to Radium, a ''Half-Life'' mapping site.<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=110}}</ref> A contest was held to select maps for the initial beta, though some maps selected were later discarded.<ref name="csn_csy1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gustafsson |first=David |date= |title=Interview with Magnus Lind |url=http://3dactioncs.gamereactor.net/int_magnus.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000904070557/http://3dactioncs.gamereactor.net/int_magnus.asp |archive-date=September 4, 2000 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=3DAction}}</ref>

Before the first beta's official release, a pre-beta build was leaked online, which potentially accelerated the release of the mod.<ref name="csn_csy1" /> The first beta, released on July 15, 1999,<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=112}}</ref> featured a hostage rescue scenario, 9 weapons, 4 maps, and one player model per side. Jess Cliffe reported that the release was well-received by the community.<ref name="cs_oldnews" /> Beta 2 and Beta 3 followed, adding new weapons, maps, and factions. Beta 3 introduced the removal of kill counts from the scoreboard, which was controversial and later reversed.<ref name="csn_csy1" /> Beta 4 introduced the bomb defusal scenario.<ref name="cs_oldnews" /><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Hobbit Interview |url=http://www.clanfire.com/csinterview/cshobbit.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818053049/http://www.clanfire.com/csinterview/cshobbit.htm |archive-date=2000-08-18|access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=ClanFiRE!}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020822022519/http://www.leveldesign.nu/modules.php?name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=122 LevelDesign.nu - Intervjuer - MEEEEDIC]. Archived from the original on 2002-08-22. "'''Jo Bieg''': The guys at cs.net introduced the new de (defusion) scenarios and Cliffe asked me to change it so they'd have one map featuring that scenario in the next cs-release."</ref> The interest in the game drew numerous players to Cliffe's website, which helped both him and Le make revenue from advertisements hosted on the site.<ref name="retro">{{cite magazine|year=2014|title=The Making of Counter-Strike|url=https://issuu.com/michelfranca/docs/retro_gamer____119|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|volume=119|pages=84–87}}</ref> Another website related to ''Counter-Strike'' was launched by John "Rizzuh" Jensen as a source for information about the game, tactics, skins and sounds.<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgson|2004|p=113}}</ref>

In late 1999, Minh Le began working at [[Barking Dog Studios]] while finishing his studies. When [[Valve Corporation|Valve Software]] learned of this, they asked Barking Dog to assist in developing Beta 5, offering to finance the project and acquire the game's [[intellectual property]].<ref name="retro"/><ref name="chrismair_int">{{Cite web |date=2000-10-31 |title=Interview mit Chris Mair, dem Author von de_train |url=http://www.counter-strike.de/scene/chris.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001031033145/http://www.counter-strike.de/scene/chris.html |archive-date=October 31, 2000 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=counter-strike.de |language=}}</ref> Barking Dog mainly handled development, as Le was occupied with his university studies.<ref name="eurogamer_mlint" /><ref name="chrismair_int" /> Valve contributed by cleaning up code, fixing bugs, and enhancing the interface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wezer |date= |title=Interviews - Chris Mair |url=http://www.counter-strike.dk/interviews/chrismair.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001023062913/http://www.counter-strike.dk/interviews/chrismair.asp |archive-date=October 23, 2000 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=counter-strike.dk}}</ref><ref name="stomped_goose">{{Cite web |last=Citz |date= |title=Interview: Gooseman - ''Counter-Strike'' Creator |url=http://www.stomped.com/interviews/gooseman.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010416012952/http://www.stomped.com/interviews/gooseman.html |archive-date=April 16, 2001 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=STOMPED}}</ref> New hostage models were introduced, and the development of the game was further supported with the release of Beta 5.2.<ref name="chrismair_int" /> With Beta 6.0, new scenarios, such as assassination and escape, were added. While assassination found moderate success, the escape scenario was later removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cliffe |first=Jess |author-link=Jess Cliffe |date=January 6, 2000 |title=rocka-my soul in the bosom of Abraham... |url=http://counter-strike.net/haxornews/jan2000.html#newsitem947145398,68575, |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010805070535/http://counter-strike.net/haxornews/jan2000.html#newsitem947145398,68575, |archive-date=August 5, 2001 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Counter-Strike}}</ref>