14 DAY TRIAL // I think Counter Strike is similar, in many ways, to World of Warcraft - people still play this game, even though it is already an oldie and better looking titles are available. But the community created around CS is so big and hardcore that it seems no other game can become a fans' favorite anytime soon. Still, a Counter Strike 2 launch could change that. But is Valve really willing to do it? Of course they are, what game developer would say no to some extra million dollars in their pockets?
In an interview with GameTrailers.com, the Valve director of marketing Doug Lombardi talked about the prospect of a brand new Counter Strike game - and things are not as easy as we might think they are. First, because the game is considered to be a MMO that is constantly being updated, which means that the game keeps growing and getting better. Still, the latest major update came back in 2004 with CS Source, and four years means a lot in the gaming industry - graphics, gameplay, control, everything.
However, Valve hasn't started yet the work on Counter Strike 2. Actually, they don't really know where to start and how the game should look like. Stand alone product or part of the next Orange Box? Realistic or cartoonish (like Team Fortress)? These are the questions only fans can answer and, surprisingly, Valve is really awaiting for these answers.
"With Counter-Strike 2, there's a big question between, do we go start over from scratch and build this whole new game, do we do something that looks more like Team Fortress 2 that is rooted in the old game but has a ton of new stuff, or do we just sort of take everything that's new that we've released and put that out in a new box," said Lombardi.
On the other hand, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell doubts that Counter Strike 2 should end up in the cartoon-shooting genre. Also, he doesn't think it would be a good idea to release it in the next Orange Box as it would not be a good fit with Half Life 3 - wonder why, since Half Life is the reason CS exists.
Anyway, the fans should open their email clients and start writing - it's up the them, in the end: "But if I get 15,000 emails from customers in response to this interview telling me 'Of course it should be in [the next Orange Box],' then of course we'll pay attention to that," Newell said.