Many of the other maps have also been around for quite some time and a fair few people were very disappointed that the CS team didn't include any new ones in Version1, although to their credit several maps had a nice refit (cs_office). Without some originality CS could loose its hold, originality is important, otherwise you end up with a repetitive and done product. Maps make the world and the world makes our imagination.

There are alternatives for the 'realism gamer', mods such as Frontline Force and Firearms have become very popular. Although FLF is only good for a short burst as the limited map design, gameplay and weapons soon bore, while Firearms has quite a lot of depth by comparison and will be fun for quite awhile yet.

So what of the future? Well any other community/free product that has gone commercial ends up falling down to its feet after a short period. Although to their credit, Valve has a habit of producing good quality updates and products, often free of charge. So if any title is to succeed where others have failed then it looks like the CounterStrike team have the best bet, time will tell.

For now we're back off to play StarSiege: Tribes 1 (some titles have so much depth you just can't stop playing), if you can get past the mostly juvenile players and team killing, then it's a blast! =).

by Mark 'KILLZAT' Jackson

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