Counter-Strike Instalation
Posted in Counter-Strike, Installation
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Installing Counter-Strike
The first thing you need to do is get Steam.
Once you have Steam installed and running find the "Games" button on the main Steam window and click on it. A list of avaiable Steam games will be presented to you. Depending on your Steam install options Counter-Strike may or may not be installed already, regardless of these conditions simply right-click on Counter-Strike and select "Launch Game..." This is when Steam does its job of determining whether you need Counter-Strike installed or updated and responds accordingly.
That's it! Steam has simplified the once tedious installation process of Counter-Strike making it much easier to get into the game. If you do, however, run into Steam problems then stop by the Steam support page.
Configs
Load up Steam and launch Counter-Strike by following the same instructions mentioned above. Assuming there are no updates you should be sitting at the main CS menu so let's get down to business. On the main menu you are presented with a view different options, the first thing you'll want to do is get your controls and settings all ready, to do this click on "Options." From here, you can configure your video, audio, controls, your name, and all other settings. Don't worry, your configuration files will stay separate from Half-Life and other mods. Once you're done getting everything set up to your liking hit "Ok" and go back to the main menu and click "New Game". Right now, you should be in the local game configuration menu. Select the map you want to play on, but you don't need to touch the Number of Players field since nobody will be joining your game. Click on "Start" and it should start loading. Now that you have started your game, and arrived in your level, you should take this time to familiarize yourself with the game controls and feel.
Return to the very first screen and select "Options", then go to "Controls". There you may bind all your new commands and regular old keys, too. Remember which function certain keys do and get ready to play!
When setting the game up, you may want to switch the hand your gun is in from the default right to the left, and this can be done in the Options menu under Multiplayer>Advanced>Weapon Alignment> and then select your preference.
Also, aliases can be used to buy weapons on the fly, etc. If you want a premade alias config, check out RzE's CS Helper.
Finding a Server
Once you've got Steam and CS fully patched up to the latest versions, you'll want to start playing. Luckily Steam has made the process of finding a server to play on easier than ever. From either the main Steam window or the main Counter-Strike menu click the "Servers" button and you will immediately start downloading a list of servers for you to play on. However some of these servers will not fit your criteria and will need to be filtered out which I'll explain next.
In the server window select "Change filters". You are now presented with an assortment of criteria servers must meet in order to show up on your list. For the game field select "cstrike". Next, select the highest latency, or "ping", you feel comfortable playing with, usually around 100 on broadband, 250 on dialup. Now check "Server not full", "Has users playing", and "Not password protected". The map field is usually left blank unless you only want to find servers on a particular map. I recommend the location field set to "World".
Now all that's left to do is click on "Refresh All" to get a list of all the servers matching your previously specified settings. Once you have found a server that looks suitable, select it and click connect.
How to play
Rescue a Hostage (Counter-Terrorists)
In maps with the prefix cs_ (eg cs_docks.bsp) your goal is to rescue all hostages/kill all opponents or defend the hostage (depending on your team, CTs rescue, Ts defend.. Both kill eachother.), either action will get your team a win for that round.
- Go up to a hostage and hit your use key, E by default.
- Walk back to an area marked as a hostage rescue point, when you walk over it a green "R" comes up, the area it is different on every map.
- You'll get money and possibly win the round.
On Defusion maps the tables are turned. T's offense, CT's defense. Defusion maps have a de_ prefix (eg de_dust). Always buy the defuser item, under buyequip. It makes defusing much faster.
- Look at the bomb. It should emit a red flash and a beeping sounds.
- Press and hold the use key.
- A time strip will pop up.
- The strip finishes and you win the round!
Escort a VIP (Counter-Terrorists)
In maps with the as_ prefix your mission is to protect a VIP as a CT and kill him as a T. If you spawn with a USP pistol and 200 armor, you're a VIP!!
- Don't let him die.
- Lead him to the rescue area (a green V will pop up!)
- That's it, now you'll win the round and get some cash.
If you're a terrorist and have a green C4 icon on your screen you've got the bomb.
- Walk over to a bomb area (location explained in the map briefing), the C4 icon will flash red and green when you're in the right place.
- Press 5 and the fire button to select C4
- Press and hold fire until it's planted.
- Stay and guard the bomb against enemies. If necessary, go down in true terrorist form and die with the bomb. For you stat freaks, it will not credit you with a death and you will make up whatever money you lose.
Buy Weapons and Equipment
Earlier you bound a key to "Buy Menu"
- Be in the buy zone, noted by the Shopping cart icon.
- Press the key you bound to Buy Menu (default B)
- Look at your money in the right hand bottom corner of your hud.
- Choose a weapon type to buy
- Buy a specific gun (make sure you have enough money)
- Press the buy menu key once more and buy either primary ammo for non-pistol weapons or secondary for pistols.
- Press the buy menu key again and choose 8 for equipment, and choose any item you'd like to buy. (opitional)
- Press any number 1-5 on your keyboard.
- 1 is for Primary Weapons
- 2 is for secondary weapons (pistols)
- 3 is for the knife
- 4 is for grenades
- 5 is for C4
- Press fire to select the weapon or a piece of equipment such as a grenade.
Use Radio
You've bound 3 keys to certain radio functions (Defaults: z,x,c)
- Press one of the radio keys
- Choose something to say.
- Note that you flash on the radar and have a green ! over your head
This radar shows where you are in position to the rest of the team (it only shows your current team, not enemies). There are represented by blue blips on the radar, which is located in the top-left hand corner of the screen.
A 'T' means they're above you, an upside down 'T' means they're below you. A circle/dot means they're on the same level as you.
A red player either has the bomb or is the VIP. A flashing red blip is where the bomb has been dropped.
A flashing yellow player has just used the radio or voice communication.
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