Overview

Counter-Strike: Source, commonly known as CSS, is an online multiplayer phenomenon. Based on the incredibly popular Half-Life mod Counter-Strike, CSS is the highly successful 2004 remake of the classic game. The combination of a realistic shooter and an arcade-like pace are but two elements that make the game so popular. CSS pits counter-terrorists against terrorists in a struggle to defuse/plant Bombs, or to hold/rescue Hostages, all while wielding modern weaponry. The core gameplay is similar to many other military first-person shooters. Unlike most of these however, CSS is round-based. Instead of allowing players to respawn after death, they must spectate the rest of the round until an objective is completed. At the beginning of each round, players are given in-game money to spend on weapons and equipment, and are rewarded with extra money for enemy kills and completed objectives. The round-based nature of the game gives players an incentive to stay alive and work as a team. CSS runs on Valve's Source engine which allows better graphics and more realistic physics to compared to it's older brother, Half-Life: Counter-Strike.

Game Types

Because CSS is built on the modification friendly Source engine there are a multitude of ways to play the game. Some of the types are available right out of the box, others are created by custom maps, plugins, addons or a combination of these. Every map indicates what game mode it was meant to be played as by its prefix. For example, de_dust2, using the "de_" prefix was made for demolition (also known as defusal) gameplay.

Hostage Rescue (cs_)

This type of gameplay is available out of the box.
Hostage rescue maps set the counter terrorists against a hostage situation. There are usually four hostages which are housed near the terrorist spawn point, and the terrorists must guard them until the round's time runs out. Counter terrorists must rescue the hostages by activating them and make their way back to a spot near the terrorist spawn, which will win them the round. Even if some of the hostages are killed, if all remaining ones are saved, the counter terrorists still win. There is also the option of simply killing the opposing side to win the round, and that is the most employed tactic of most teams in the game. These maps are allegedly terrorist favored, as they can just camp near their spawn or the terrorists, and either let the round time run out or pick of incoming counter terrorists as they make their way into the premises.

Demolition (de_)

This type of gameplay is available out of the box.
Demolition is the standard in competitive play. The counter-terrorists win by eliminating all terrorists when the bomb is not planted, defusing the bomb when it is planted or preventing the terrorists from planting the bomb within the time limit. The terrorists win by eliminating all counter-terrorists or planting the bomb and having it explode. Official Counter-strike leagues and competitions mainly play de_ maps for their balance (dust2 is considered one of the most balanced maps of any online game) as it doesn't really give any side the chance to camp properly.

Assassination (as_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
In assassination the counter terrorists must escort the, also counter terrorist, VIP to a helicopter or eliminate all terrorists to win. The terrorists must eliminate the VIP to win or prevent the VIP from reaching the helicopter within the time limit. This gameplay mode is not officially supported in CSS, but it was an official mode in 1.6

Aim (aim_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
Aim maps are, mostly symmetrical, team deathmatch arena's that are made to aid players in testing and improving their aiming skill while using the objects in the map as cover.

Fight Yard (fy_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
Fight Yards are team deathmatch arena's similar to Aim maps but more oriented towards fun use of the engine or map editor.

Glass / Break (various)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
These maps focus on the ability to demolish the environment, mostly floors, around the player and the interaction created with it.

Grenade War (he_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
These maps focus on a grenade throwing team deathmatch.

Knife Arena (ka_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
These maps focus on a team deathmatch with only the knife as weapon.

Surf (surf_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map and adjusted gravity settings.
Surf maps let the player slide along the side of triangular objects acquiring more and more forward speed while traveling along the set paths of the map. To surf, one jumps on the object they wish to surf on (usually an equilateral or isoceles triangle), and holds the key opposite to the side they're surfing on i.e. 'A' if they're on the right side of the triangle, 'D' if they're on the left side. Do not press 'W' or 'S' as they will make you either stop completely, or slowly slide down the polygon. Use the mouse to judge where you want to go, and stay as low as you possibly can on the triangle for maximum speed.

Slide (slide_)
This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
This gametype is like surf only on a 2D plane.  Players are propelled forward at high speed while dodging obstacles. 
Like surf, there is usually a powerful weapon at the end as a reward for finishing the map.

Death Run (deathrun_)
This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
In Death Run, cts must navigate a series of obstacles while the terrorist are constantly setting off traps from the safty of a command center in the middle of the map.  There usually has to be a much greater number of CTs than terrorists on the map for balance (there are usually one or two terrorists a map) and, like slide and surf, there is usually a weapon at the end of the map which the CTs can use to kill the terrorists.

ZombieMod (zm_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map and server plugin.
ZombieMod redefines the two teams in CSS to zombies and living. The zombies have a lot of health points, run faster, can turn the living into a zombie by stabbing them with their only weapon, the knife. The living sometimes get unlimited ammunition but this varies per server. At the start of the round everyone is on the living side. After a short period of time one player is automatically turned into a zombie and the madness will begin.

Gun Game (gg_)

This type of gameplay requires a custom map.
Gun Game is a popular mod which focuses, as the name suggests, entirely around the player's weapons. Rather than allowing players to purchase the firearm of their choice, each player starts with a weak handgun. After every two kills, the player "levels up" and his weapon is replaced by the next in order of progression. Players thus race through the list of guns available, going from handguns to shotguns to submachine guns to rifles until they finally end with a single grenade. The first person to score a grenade kill wins the game. Gun Game servers typically organize players into two teams, though this is not necessary. Some retain CSS' signature round-type system, while others function according to deathmatch (instant respawn) rules.

Dynamic Weapons Pricing

In 2006, Valve issued a patch that introduced the dynamic weapons pricing system. Under this new system, weapons and items that have been frequently purchased in the last week go up in price, while those that were underused become cheaper. This change was made in reaction to the fact that Counter-Strike players are notorious in their overuse of certain weapons, the M4, AK-47 and Desert Eagle in particular. While the change was criticized by many players, the update, combined with significant buffs to some of the more rarely used weapons, did make headway into diversifying public server play however almost all of the popular public servers have disabled the feature.

Multiplayer

CSS is at it's core a multiplayer only shooter. Though the game does include bots, there is no story or even single player button unlike for example Unreal Tournament. Even though there are 3 modes out of the box, the gameplay changes with every round. One moment you play the role of a sniper, another moment you play as a rifleman and the next you could be leading the charge. The arcade-style action does not change the fact that there is a lot of strategy in the game as well; sometimes there are strategies about parts of the game that seemed simple. Teamwork plays a large role in CSS as you have only one life, and losing the round will lower your income, as well as not gaining a point, which leads to being able to buy worse equipment. Obvious strategies such as ambushing your enemy and sneaking around are not absent in CSS, but there is even strategy when managing cash and weapons. A big purchase can use up all of a players money and, if the round is lost, the money is lost and players are put into a tight situation. In that aspect, the game can be fairly accessible and also contain a lot of depth for experienced, hardcore players. The weapons also offer distinct playstyles and challenges that add to the replayability. Each weapon has it's own recoil, weight, and rate of fire. Mastering each one will be a real challenge as there are over 20 different weapons. Overall, CSS' multiplayer really shines with tons of replayability.

Response

Counter Strike Source produced alot of mixed reactions, some hated it, some loved it and others just wanted to move on to what was "newer". The Counter Strike 1.6 players complained that the game was too easy and that it lacked good gameplay, These people had a reason for not making the switch but others never bothered trying Source and they just simply "followed the pack". This caused alot of e-battles on internet forums and even now, there is still some Counter Strike Source hate floating around the internet.

At launch veteran 1.6 players complained about unruly physics, poor hitboxes and buggy netcode. The majority of those problems have been fixed in patches by Valve, but quite a few players haven't made the switch to Source. Source does have a slightly larger player base according to Steam, so that points to some acceptance by a few 1.6 veterans.

Competitive Gaming Scene

With a large multiplayer community a competitive scene is bound to develop, and CSS is no exception. Here are some competitive leagues that are popular in Counter-Strike: Source that most serious players should recognize:

Cyberathlete Amateur League (CAL)
CAL is a great way to get into CSS competition. There are multiple tiers in this league, and depending on how well your team performs, you will be given the opportunity to take on tougher teams and players.

• CAL-Open is where every team starts. Registration is completely open and starting a team is free.
• CAL-Intermediate is next tier that teams move into.
• CAL-Main is one step above that.
• And finally CAL-Invite is the final and most elite class of competition.

TeamWarfare League (TWL)
Home to more casual competition than its peers, TWL nonetheless continues to boast a large CSS player base. Teams can compete on hierarchical Ladders, in seasonal Leagues or on more open and laid back "Power Ladders".

Cyber Evolution (CEVO)
CEVO is a more serious league where each player needs to pay to enter the current season. Just like CAL there are also different levels that your team may or may not advance to, depending on their standing at the end of the season.

• CEVO-Amatuer is where your team starts when they first enter.
• CEVO-Main is one step under professional.
• CEVO-Professional is for the highest tier of players.

Championship Gaming Series (CGS)
Probably the most serious league, the professional players are paid to play here. Salaries are somewhere around $30,000 a year and the matches can be viewed live on Direct TV.

Equipment

Counter-Strike: Source ships with about 24 weapons not including grenades, armor, and other equipment. Although they are not named after real world weapons, they are definitely modeled after them. Here's a brief rundown of the weapon categories:

Pistols:

1. 9 x 19 Sidarm (Glock) [standard terrorist spawn weapon] - Has two rates of fire: Single shot and burst fire. Single shot is more accurate at longer range and burst shot at medium to close range.
2. KM .45 Tactical (USP) [standard counter-terrorist spawn weapon] - Can be either silenced or not. Accuracy differs depending on whether it is.
3. 228 Compact (Sig P228) - Has a fairly decent amount of recoil.
4. Night Hawk (Desert Eagle) - Strongest Pistol based on power per shot. Least accurate pistol.
5. .40 Dual Elites (Beretta's) [T Only] - Fastest firing pistols, but wildly inaccurate.
6. ES Five Seven [CT Only] - High accuracy with single precise shots.

Shotguns:

1. Leone 12 Gauge Super (M3, 'Pump') - Pump Shotgun.
2. Leone YG1265 Auto Shotgun (Beneli M4 Super 90) - Semi-automatic Shotgun. Faster rate of fire but a tiny bit weaker than M3.

Submachine Guns:

1. Ingram Mac-10 [T Only] - Very inaccurate gun, but low price.
2. Schmidt Machine Pistol (TMP) [CT Only] - Equivalent of the Mac-10 for CT's only silenced.
3. KM SubMachine Gun (H&K MP5) - Most accurate submachine gun. Mid-range cost. Average damage.
4. KM UMP 45 (UMP) - Second most accurate submachine gun. Slow rate of fire, packs a slightly bigger punch.
5. ES C90 (FN P90) - Fifty round clip. Highest rate of fire.

Rifles:

1. Clarion 5.56 (FAMAS) [CT Only] - Cheapest assault rifle for CT's. Burst and automatic fire. Burst is more accurate from a distance. Auto is great for close quarters.
2. IDF Defender (Galil) - Cheapest assault rifle for T's. Accurate when shot in small bursts manually. Automatic fire for close-medium range.
3. Maverick M4A1 Carbine (M4 Carbine) [CT Only] - Most popular CT assault rifle. Can be silenced or not. Silencer affects recoil and accuracy.
4. CV-47 (AK-47) [T Only] - Most popular T Assault rifle. Powerful but less accurate than the M4 when trigger is held for too long.
5. Bullpup (Steyr Aug) [CT Only] - Assault rifle with scope. Can zoom in once.
6. Schmidt Scout - Weakest but fastest reloadable sniper rifle. Kills most targets in two shots if not in head.
7. Kriegg 552 (Commando/Sig 552) [T Only] - Assault rifle with scope. Can zoom once.
8. Kriegg 550 Commando (Auto Sniper) [CT Only] - Semi-automatic sniper rifle.
9. Magnum Sniper Rifle (AWP) - Strongest sniper rifle. Can kill in one shot if not hitting limbs.
10.  D3/AU-1 (Auto Sniper) [T Only] - Semi-automatic sniper rifle. Most expensive.

Machine Gun:

1. M249 (Para) - Most expensive gun in the game. 100 Round clip. One of the heaviest weapons.

The game also contains flash bang grenades, frag grenades, smoke grenades, Kevlar armor, night vision goggles, a knife and defusal kits.

TIPS:

General tips that can help you improve your Counter-Strike Source skill:

• Learn to burst when shooting.
• Learn the different spray patterns of the guns. M4 is more accurate, ak47 pull toward enemy's feet.

• Use grenades wisely, and when and where they should be used.
• Manage your cash, do not place yourself in a 'bankrupt' situation.
• Crouch to improve your accuracy only when needed.
• You can buy and drop weapons for teammates if they are low on cash.
• Switch to your pistol when you run out of ammo. Sometimes it is faster than reloading.
• Obviously, aim for the head. But actually, the hitboxes on the playermodels' heads are quite big so it is essential in Source. 
  
• Use the physics engine to your advantage. Barricade doors, or create your own cover when applicable.
• Get Headphones. It may not seem like much of a difference but being able to listen to footsteps effectively is extremely helpful.
• Pick a  low sensitivity, cross hair size that you find comfortable and stick with it.
  
• You can use cl_crosshairscale xxxx in console to change the size also, higher the number the smaller the cross hair)
• Finding a team that you can scrim (5v5 with another team) is a good way to improve
• Deathmatch servers can help with your individual skill but watch out for some bad habits you may develop
• Buy a Defusal kit, This is a MUST