Bum deal for Counter-Strike players. Remember Condition Zero? Yeah Gearbox is working on that single player game in the Counter-Strike universe. Well here's the quick blurb:

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero was originally slated for spring, then pushed back to summer, and now, via an updated release schedule, Sierra has revealed in that it won't be with us until the autumn. Bah. Reason for the delay is unknown, and when contacted earlier today a spokesperson for Sierra UK would give no comment.

We've heard a few things through the grapevine about this, I've fired off an email to Gearbox so perhaps we'll get an official statement. Or I'll drive to Randy's house and pee on his rug. update: Here's that Counter-Strike: Condition Zero follow-up from Gearbox. Apparently they have been saying the release date got pushed back to fall ever since E3. We just uh.. didnt notice.

"I'm surprised that this is news.  Since E3, we've been saying that it's looking like Fall and that's still the target.  The game will ship when Valve and Gearbox think it's great.  We'll announce an accurate ship date when we're closer."

As for what specifically pushed back the date, guess we wont find that out. Looking at our previous Condition Zero posts I dont see any reference to the date. Guess we suck.

The Counter-Strike website has been updated with some help for those of you having authentication problems with the master servers as well as word on what that TrackerUI.dll error is and how to make it possible to bind the F1 and F2 keys again to stuff that you want to bind (Thanks Blues)

1) Clients need to communicate with the Secure Master servers (port 27012). First, make sure there isn't a firewall problem.
2) Make sure you do NOT have a file called "woncomm.lst" in your \cstrike folder. If you do, delete it. This file should ONLY reside in your \valve folder.
3) Open the "woncomm.lst" file in your \valve folder (using notepad) and make sure there is an entry that looks like this at the bottom of the file:
Secure
{
half-life.speakeasy-nyc.hlauth.net:27012
half-life.speakeasy-sea.hlauth.net:27012
half-life.speakeasy-chi.hlauth.net:27012
}

You can download the latest Counter-Strike v1.5 updates from Fileshack courtesy of Speakeasy.

As promised, Valve has released the latest Half-Life and Counter-Strike patches. There are the usual upgrades from the previous versions as well as full downloads for those updating the original CD version. We have nine mirrors around the country to serve you these files. You need an account on our site to be able to download.

- If you have Half-Life get this:
- Half-Life 1.1.1.0 full update

- If you have Half-Life ALSO get this:
- Counter-Strike 1.5 mod full download

- If you bought Counter-Strike retail off the shelf, get this:
- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.5 retail full update

A list of changes for Counter-Strike can be seen here, for Half-Life changes go here.

Linux server files for the mod version of Counter-Strike have now been released, following the release of the new Half-Life server files last night (see story). We have mirrors available for the upgrade and full download.

The new Half-Life / Counter-Strike release is just around the corner and features a new map. Just took a spin around in it with some press guys for a bit and snapped a few shots. It's probably one of the most intertwined CS maps I've seen yet.

HomeLAN has a Q&A with Gabe Newell discussing the Counter-Strike appearance on XBox that was mentioned yesterday in the XBox Live announcement.

Much to the dismay of Counter-Strike players everywhere, it appeared that the new v1.4 with the much touted anti-cheating solution got hacked within days. Well Valve just dropped the gauntlet and a cute surprise for the hackers. The tough stuff wasnt enabled yet! Here comes the first shot, part of an email from Eric Smith of Valve:

We've updated the security module used by "secure" Counter-Strike servers. Your server should update itself in the next while, so you don't need to do anything. This version of the security module detects versions of OGC and clients abusing the scr_ofs* cvars

Oh and a cute "YOU ARE CHEATER" message here. Given the infrastructure that's now in place as demonstrated by the auto-update of all the secure servers you can probably expect a few more things like this. To tell if a server is "secure" or not, there will not be a yellow icon next to the server in the in-game server menu. All CS servers are secure by default. Anyone notice a few less hackers out there?

ShackES pointed the way to this Canadian video looking at some troubles facing internet cafe's and regulations, in addition there's some footage of Counter-Strike2 in development (just some models) and Gooseman talking about it. If you had any doubt Counter-Strike2 was being worked on, doubt no longer. (This story already confirmed it a while ago btw)

As promised, Valve has released the latest Half-Life and Counter-Strike patches. There's a Half-Life 1.1.0.9 full download, 1.1.0.8 -> 1.1.0.9 upgrade, Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 retail update, 1.0.0.3 -> 1.0.0.4 upgrade, a Counter-Strike mod version 1.4 full download and 1.3 -> 1.4 update. We have all these files mirrored for you. You need a Shacknews account to download. Note that you don't need to download any of these files if you are already a Steam beta-tester. You'll be updated automatically.

- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack Seattle.

- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack Dallas.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack NYC.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack Seattle.

- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack NYC.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack Seattle.

A list of changes for Half-Life can be found here, for Counter-Strike changes go here.

Mirrors: 3D Gamers, Blues News, Half-Life Tiscali Games, Counter-Strike Tiscali Games.  Note: Everyone who created an account today will have to do so again, very sorry for this.

For those of you who run Linux servers for Counter-Strike, we now have a mirror of the full install available. As a reminder, client files are due at 1pm CST.

• Counter-Strike 1.4 Linux server - Fileshack New York City

And from last night,

• Counter-Strike 1.4 Linux server upgrade - Fileshack New York City
• Counter-Strike 1.4 Linux server upgrade - Fileshack Seattle

CS-Nation has posted the changelog for the upcoming Counter-Strike 1.4. If the date on the changelog is any indication, the new version will be released this Wednesday.

Summerblue has another Counter-Strike technical analysis page. Going to huge amounts of detail and analysis as always on issues like hit boxes and the surprisingly frequent head shots associated with the latest release.

There is a new Counter-Strike: Condition Zero preview on Swiss site GamesWeb. You can check the English translation through Google, though it breaks the image links. The screenshots are new.

Well after trying to confirm this one all day it looks like some other folks did manage to get a hold of Valve, Counter-Strike v1.4 BETA using the Steam content delivery system is available for download. This will ONLY be workable for people with broadband though, if you're on a modem you'll not be happy with things as the Steam system isnt really set up for dial-up users quite yet. (Not sure if it ever will be). Here are some quick instructions courtesy of CSNation and local Fileshack downloads:

» First download the setup. Install this program and whatnot. After installing, you have to choose where to place the cache folder. Finally you'll get to a login screen. Click on create account and enter in your e-mail address.
» Download the keygen file. Run the program and enter in your e-mail address. You'll get a key. This will be your "Special Offer Key."
» Go back to the create account page and type in your Special Offer Key. Enter in a password and you're off!

There arent a heck of a lot of CS v1.4 servers out there going right now.

The Counter-Strike website has been updated with a couple new shots from the upcoming v1.4 release. A new map, de_chateau is shown off. We have a few more shots of that map here.

The not so closely guarded secret lately is that Valve and Speakeasy are currently testing Steam, the content delivery and anti-cheat system that will be released along with Counter-Strike v1.4. CSNation has a bit of info on v1.4

The bodies now STAY when shot for the duration of the round. Bunny hopping has been removed completly by causing a player to move really really slow when the jump continuously.[...] they have integrated the spec cam and 1st person view into the dead viewing options which is really cool, and have drastically FIXED the hitboxes to I'd say 95% accuracy now. (Still a small one by the head they are working on)

As for steam, it appears to be a central login system to play CS [...] to facilitate easy updates and anti-cheat additions

Speaking of v1.4, We posted some screenshots Valve sent us from an upcoming v1.4 map a while back.

The official Counter-Strike site has updated with a "Missing" Map Pack, which will add levels found in the mod version of Counter-Strike but not in the retail version, to the retail version. The release is unsupported and unofficial, and a 13mb download. Thanks Blues News. The CS site also sports news that version 1.4 is being worked on, no date has been set yet but it will feature Valve's anti-cheating program.

A four page CPL World Championship article is now available on CS Nation. The wrapup article comes with more pictures from the event along with quotes from those ran the event as well as the players.

Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford has been interviewed on the UK Counter-Strike site, where they ask him questions about the upcoming Condition Zero. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.

B-F Total Gaming has posted an interview with the Coombe brothers of de_torn Counter-Strike fame. They talk about their work on Torn, living in Canadia, creating maps and their work on Condition Zero (both have been hired by Gearbox to do a map each for that). Thanks HomeLAN.