The CSS Beta FAQs.

[TrollFace]

The CSS Beta FAQs. (Updated Often)

*** UPDATE***

CSS BETA IS NOW FULL!

In this post I am posting answers from the CSS community to the major questions.

I as well have a thread regarding bug-fixes and the main changes to CSS, if any questions there go to.
http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1409931#post1409931






First up and foremost.
Common FAQ's.

* -- What's new in the new CSS? --


The update includes the upgrading of the game to the Orange Box engine.

This engine upgrade introduces a whole host of fixes and improvements, such as hugely improved netcode and hit registration and multi-core rendering support. This is the same engine that TF2 and DOD:S are currently running on (Source 2009).

In addition to the engine upgrade, Valve has also included several multiplayer features: such as achievements, player stats, cinematic death camera shots (or freezecams), new scoreboard with Steam avatars, and a new MVP win panel at the end of the match.

The beta is currently being developed as a joint program between Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment (who made Defense Grid: The Awakening).

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* -- What's the point of the beta? Stop trying to kill the game. --

The purpose of the beta is to port the game along with all other Valve games to the version of the Source engine which will then be ported to Mac OS X. The devs in charge of the beta from Hidden Path are trying to get the beta to be as similar as possible to the current game. Continue reading this thread for more in-depth answers.

I've heard a bunch about how this update will fail, due it'll remove bhop and surf ect and a lot more, but c'mon sooner or later this was to be expected, afterall the box said "Real Terrorist vs Counter Terrorist situations.
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* --This beta came out of nowhere. Why has Valve suddenly decided to update the game? --

Bug fixes and general updates to the game are long overdue. But, with the release of Steam for Mac and the porting of the latest branch of the Orange Box engine to Mac OS X, Valve tasked Hidden Path with porting the game to the engine and with fixing many of the longstanding bugs. They have also decided to add more multiplayer-friendly features, to appeal to the brand new userbase on the Mac platform.

This new beta has the potential to bring back older users, who grew tired of its stale and unchanged state, by refreshing the game. Old-time players, new players, comp players and the custom modding, mapping and skinning community will all enjoy the benefits of the new Source engine; as "bad" as the beta may look now, it will improve the game for all
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The engine.

* What's so good about the engine upgrade?


The Orange Box engine includes multiple upgrades from the EP1 engine that CS:S currently runs on. This ranges from a much improved netcode, meaning better hit registration, and multiple graphics fixes including multi-core CPU support.
This pretty much says it all, in the beta I noticed a HUGE improvement, I hit headshots and such with no problem as I do in CSS currently and unlike CSS SPRAYING WILL NOT earn you a magic win; it's aim or die.

Will DirectX 7 and DirectX 8 be supported by the new engine?

DirectX 7 will not. DirectX 8 will still retain support.

If your hardware is not capable of using DirectX 8 or higher, or performs poorly with DirectX 8, then it is recommended that you take this as a cue to upgrade your hardware before the beta becomes final.
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Achievement FAQ's


Achievements were added into the game, along with tons of other things.
Over 114 (Or 144) have been added into the game, most easy but fun and others hard and worth working to get.
In the beta you may of unlocked tons of these achievements and ask.



*

-- Will achievements and stats roll over from the beta to the game when it is released? --

Refer to my thread listed below for the answer.
http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=132464

-- When I earn an achievement I hear the TF2 sound, this isn't TF2. --

Refer to my thread listed below for the answer.
http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=132464
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Changes in the beta


-- Valve is trying to kill bunnyhopping & surfing. Why? --

They aren't. Movement and strafing issues in the beta were a temporary bug that has now been fixed. The removal of sv_airaccelerate came with the engine, however, its value can still be altered by server owners through the use of plugins like SourceMod.
***UPDATE***
Surf, Bhop STILL WORK.


This isn't TF2. Why is Valve trying to ruin the game? --

They are not trying to ruin the game. These features are attempting to make CS:S more favourable for the casual user. The effects that these new multiplayer features will have on the competitive scene will be minimal at best, as many of these features can be toggled on & off by the use of server configs or plugins.

This includes Bhop/Surf, that means Bhop/Surf won't be completely gone.


-- Valve is trying to kill the modding community. Why? --

Again, they are not. Yes, server plugins will have to be updated to work with the new engine, and in some cases a rewrite may be necessary for some plugins, however it is nothing out of the ordinary, and will not likely stay an issue for too much longer after the beta becomes the full game.

I hate [this feature]. Can it be removed? Can I disable it?

- Cinematic death messages (or deathcams, killcams): you can. There is now an option in the advanced options menu to disable these. They can also be disabled server-side.

What about AWP/Scout quick switching, I hear it's a bug or something
Will they be removing it?

Refer to my other thread.
http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1409931#post1409931

# Will any new maps, weapons or new models be added to the game?

http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1409931#post1409931
Read to learn.

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When will the beta become the full game?


It was released June 23rd.


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Compatibility

* Can I continue using the old CS:S when the game updates?

You cannot. The game will not run if you do not update it, regardless of your automatic updates setting in Steam. However, please be aware that, being a beta, not everything is perfect. Give it time, and the beta will come out being a much better version of the game - and you won't want to not upgrade to it.[/b]

* Will custom models & skins work with the new engine?

This section needs further clarification.

So far it seems that they will. However, there are reports of people having issues with some models.

* Will I be able to use or play my demos on the new engine?

No. Demos taken on older versions of the engine won't run on the new engine. However, you can preserve your old demos now by recording them to video files before the beta goes live. This can be done either by using Fraps, or the in-built Source Recorder

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The beta

-- Where can I report bugs? --

General bugs go in the Consolidated beta bugs thread found on steams forums.. There are also individual stickied threads about certain bugs that can be found at the top of the forum page.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1264590

* Why isn't the beta open to more people?

My guess is that they already have enough beta testers and before opening it up to more people, they want to smooth over most of the major bugs. Otherwise the forum will be flooded with duplicate bug reports.

▪ Update: The beta was opened to more people on 19/05. It has now closed again.
▪ Update: BETA WAS RELEASED AS FULL AS OF JUNE 23RD .

* Has the beta received any updates?

Yes, there has been 3-4 total, last update was May 28th 2010.
Refer to my other thread for details.

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There you have it, I think this answers most of the huge questions about this upcoming update to CSS.
Note: Most of the Q/As were taken from Steamforums posts and placed here for eGO members to read.
If I have missed any or if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask here and I'll do my best to answer them.

I have my other thread listed for the answers to some questions I felt belonged there.


I overall am impressed and think this update will change CSS as we know but like all other games we'll grow to love it soon enough, and again
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1264590
That links to the current bug-list and suggestion page steam has for any bugs anyone needs to know of.

Hope this helps!

~ Surrealism.

 

[KR Decade]

O_O
i nvr thought of someone doing this! good job!

 

[Simon]

I've seen people bhoping, and I saw a surf map up. I think people need to stop being so negative about the update, and embrace the change.


I personally thought it was quite fun, since I actually can get a few kills in now. I have found some minor bugs, but the overall game makes it fine

 

[Grizzam]

good post

 

[3vlNomad]

someone said something about changes to awp, what have you to say to that?

 

[WaterSnake]

Thank you!!!

Now no more "Counter Fortress Herp Derp"

People are stupid sometimes.

I thank you again surrreal.

 

[JunK]

this is a great thread and makes me realize how much worth this update can have. im completely basing my hope on the better registry section, but i also would like to request if anybody wants to test if you get the holding-a-nade animation bug in the beta

 

[DanJK]

Thank you!!!

Now no more "Counter Fortress Herp Derp"

People are stupid sometimes.

I thank you again surrreal.

I invented that ^^^ (Counter Fortress 2 lol)

Anyway, Its good to know that most of which that seems it is going to be added will either be able to be turned off or re-enabled with plugins(Such as sv_airaccelerate).

It's sad to see that plugins would have to be re-written which brings me to the question, Will when the update is officially released, will a lot of plugins on eGO Servers stop functioning? I don't know but I guess we'll see when it is released.
Nice post

 

[TrollFace]

someone said something about changes to awp, what have you to say to that?

I believe the question is this.

- If you fire an awp, you can switch quickly from and to it and fire again. In reality, you should have to wait for the loading time to finish to shoot again.

The answer I found to that is.

- AWP quickswitching: nothing has been confirmed. Meaning there has been no official announcements about the state of this "bug" or "feature". There is currently a stickied thread to get more input into how quickswitching has changed since the current CSS and the beta.

That does not mean quickswitching is being fixed, and does not mean it is getting removed. It does not confirm anything. So please, less whine from the comp community, nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

 

[TrollFace]

this is a great thread and makes me realize how much worth this update can have. im completely basing my hope on the better registry section, but i also would like to request if anybody wants to test if you get the holding-a-nade animation bug in the beta

Hearing that from you made me smile, I was like on an hour and a half writing this post up.
Glad to get approved by you, JunK.

I've seen people bhoping, and I saw a surf map up. I think people need to stop being so negative about the update, and embrace the change.


I personally thought it was quite fun, since I actually can get a few kills in now. I have found some minor bugs, but the overall game makes it fine

Indeed, I never played bhop or surf anyway so.

 

[TrollFace]

***Update***

I added the bit about AWP QSing and aswell posted a link to the steamforums about the bug-list.

:3

 

[Matty]

Thanks

 

[Lava]

To me, the beta feels the same. Just a lot better graphics and a more steadier frame rate. Hit reg is better too, as you said. I don't know what people are complaining about. Maybe cause they cant spray anymore to get headshots.

 

[killer4000]

were is my hat drops

 

[TrollFace]

To me, the beta feels the same. Just a lot better graphics and a more steadier frame rate. Hit reg is better too, as you said. I don't know what people are complaining about. Maybe cause they cant spray anymore to get headshots.

Yeah, plus it should be like this.
I like the more realistic feel to have to AIM to kill now.
I AWP a lot better.

were is my hat drops

 

[XXzz-Trauma-zzXX]

Thanks for this Surreal, Maybe this will get more of the community who havent had a chance to play it to open up to the change. Believe me and Surrealism guys. CS:S will be MUCH better with this update. It fixes lots of stuff and will make the game more competitive against TF2 and DoD:S

 

[NinjaWuuzoku]

I don't care.
It's still Counter Fortress 2.
And it's still bad.
:3

 

[TrollFace]

Thanks for this Surreal, Maybe this will get more of the community who havent had a chance to play it to open up to the change. Believe me and Surrealism guys. CS:S will be MUCH better with this update. It fixes lots of stuff and will make the game more competitive against TF2 and DoD:S

Anytime, just dedicating some much needed time helping my division
Much agreed, this will make it much better in the long haul.

I don't care.
It's still Counter Fortress 2.
And it's still bad.
:3

Then don't play it, this post isn't here to demand you play, its here to explain what the beta is and what is to come.

 

[bandgeek]

a minor thing i dont like is the scoreboard. in game i would walk around with the scoreboard on the screen so i can see where i am. but in the new scoreboard it's not as see through so i cant play while looking at the scoreboard

 

[Tempest.Plur]

a minor thing i dont like is the scoreboard. in game i would walk around with the scoreboard on the screen so i can see where i am. but in the new scoreboard it's not as see through so i cant play while looking at the scoreboard

Ya. I could go on and on about what I do and don't like about the new beta compared to the old CS:S, but all I will say is good post Surrealism. Very helpful to others.