The Unstoppable Rise of Counter-Strike

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Counter-Strike is one of the most influential First-Person Shooters ever made. But why? What are the secrets to it's success?? From Half-Life mod to 1.6, Condition: Zero, Source and finally CS:GO. Counter-Strike has a long and storied history. This is the Unstoppable Rise of Counter-Strike...
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___TIME STAMPS___
Introduction - 0:00
Just How Popular Is Counter-Strike? - 2:17
Humble Beginnings - 7:30
The ‘Other’ Versions of Counter-Strike - 10:21
Community-Driven Game - 14:31
CS:GO Fundamentals - 16:15
Skill Ceiling - 18:53
Valve’s Platform, Valve’s Rules - 20:47
Gambling & Loot Boxes - 21:26
CS:GO’s Biggest Decline - 22:40
Conclusion - 23:49
Editing Help ► / @paragonmitchell
Thumbnail ► / etherealeod
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[@TheActMan]

Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring today's video. Go to strms.net/TheActManHelloFreshAprilYT and use code POGACTMANAPR50 for 50% off plus first box ships free!” Counter-Strike is one of the most influential First-Person Shooters ever made. But why? What are the secrets to it's success?? From Half-Life mod to 1.6, Condition: Zero, Source and finally CS:GO. Counter-Strike has a long and storied history. This is the Unstoppable Rise of Counter-Strike...

[@No_step_on_snake]

please make a review for RDR2 or COD4 please!

[@gasmime]

Hellofresh? More like hellocsgorise!

[@C.A._Old]

*Team Fortress 2* *Day Of Defeat: Source* *GoldSource Games Forgotten By Valve & Community Back in 2010's*

[@C.A._Old]

*Team Fortress 2, Day Of Defeat: Source, GoldSource Games Forgotten By Valve & Community Back in 2010's*

[@wiktorb6846]

man please review the gothic remake when it comes out man please!! Its a story you won't find in elder scrolls or elden ring

[@ihavetowait90daystochangem67]

Russians love counter-strike so much that when Putin announced the Draft, literally half of the CSGO player base left for a day

[@0DTEVIXCALLS]

Some brave conscripts played VIP mode with their recruiter lol

[@joshstraub6972]

CSGO irl

[@linixil]

Lol

[@UFO-vj2zy]

de_ukraine

[@yurichtube1162]

There has been no draft

[@Superunknown190]

It’s funny to me that Valve seems to be the only company that’s learned in the last 20 years that hiring modders and buying their work can be a huge benefit to your company.

[@Masta_E]

Right? The bf3 battle royale that was getting worked in a few years ago was so fun and well done. Then Dice killed it and made bf2042 lol. Dice be like, "Hire some talent who understand what Battlefield is and passionate about making quality? Never. Make a horrible buggy cash grabbing game with battlefield name to cash in on a popular IP? Perfect." lol

[@Superunknown190]

@@Masta_E Mehdern Gehming!

[@Masta_E]

@@Superunknown190 lEgAcY fEaTuReS Lol valve really has things dialed.

[@CalebePriester]

Nintendo disapproves this comment.

[@Superunknown190]

@@CalebePriester Man, I wish Nintendo would turn their attitude around. They’d could get people making their games better for free.

[@Viktorrrrr1]

20:42 "Imagine if CS2 came out and it didn't have dust" Oh boy

[@aviagrawal5903]

Dust got added back 😭

[@jeremyn4397]

Everytime you emphasized them not having to change much, and the fact that it kept its identity made it so successful; I couldn't stop be reminded of the fall of the Halo franchise.

[@Spike2276]

CS stands as proof that stuff like Halo 4/5/Infinite, or the futuristic CoDs, or the BF42 and it's autistic operators will all inevitably lead to alienating the core audience which leads to failure So far CoD seems to have learned this lesson a bit with it's return to the MW series, but it's so sad that 343 keeps ignoring it

[@defaulted9485]

When I was young I criticized Counter Strike for being too rigid or not improving compared to their contemporaries. But now, looking back, that ol' friend Counter Strike is just as endearing and daft as before, only the change to wiser engine. If any games would learn to capitalize nostalgia, they should learn from Valve's FPSes. Even if their virtual skin gambling deserves to be loathed.

[@RusticRonnie]

@@defaulted9485hold up now… gambling in video games is the only way im legally allowed to gamble. I can lose this I NEED THIS!!!

[@aboveaveragebayleaf9216]

@@RusticRonnie thats not a good thing

[@nonapplicable8817]

Right. I think the appeal is also due to the fact that everyone has a level playing field. You get the same guns as the opposing team, the maps are more vertical than let's say Siege and you don't have any special skills. Just you, your gun, wits, utility and your teammates on your back.

[@antichrist_t]

Terrorists win is one of the most iconic lines in gaming history Glad they made another cs

[@tengkualiff]

Damn you're right.

[@francis5284]

What do Counter-Terrorists not exsist

[@Cuestrupaster]

@@francis5284 You literally say Terrorists Win in that sentence...

[@RandoBurner]

Its not another cs, its an update to another engine.

[@MtnDew4828]

@@RandoBurner No we waited so many years to get counter strike 2 the last one was 1.6 it's been pain ever since

[@radicalcentrist4990]

You know that when Valve announces a game with 2 in the title, it's gonna be the last game of that franchise. Only when Gaben becomes world leader we'll know for sure that there won't be a WW3.

[@p1chic.]

Underrated comment

[@PeeNoYaKo]

needs more likes

[@alexanderbravo5137]

Fr, I bet they made cs2 to get rid of all the technical debt. Probably gonna have cs2 at least 18 years

[@vibaj16]

WW2.1 tho

[@Yafama]

World War 2 Episode 2: Nuclear Armageddon

[@RedDogDragon]

Even though I haven't played CS since the old 1.0 days, it warms my heart knowing the franchise is still alive and well.

[@LolWutMikehSM]

its free.. why not play it?

[@RedDogDragon]

@@LolWutMikehSM Been mostly playing other stuff. But also waaay back in the day, I played the mod almost religiously for so long, I burned out on it for years. But nowadays, I don't like to play team based games unless I have some friends to play with. "Solo queuing" hurts my soul.

[@TheGreasyGamer]

​@RedDogDragon I used to play 1.6 and cs:condition zero, i quit when cs:source came out because technology advanced and i didnt have a dedicated gaming computer. Those OG games were great

[@ZyklonBeast12]

​@@TheGreasyGamerLiterally same here

[@nordickdaddy9311]

​@@LolWutMikehSMBecause it being free doesn't mean much when every free game is full of hackers

[@wolf-xf6hf]

Counter strike is like chess. It’s popular and appealing in the modern day because it never changes much and there’s unlimited depth. You aren’t banking on later changes what you see is what you get and what you get has a virtually limitless skill ceiling while still being fairly accessible

[@aeriumfour6096]

When our boy Gaben says he can't say anything when asked whether a game will come out, it's not because he isn't sure. It's because he isn't sure whether anyone there will still be alive when it does.

[@rusty_from_earth9577]

“My game development is beyond your comprehension.”

[@ludoxz]

@@rusty_from_earth9577 *beyond your lifetime

[@SexyFace]

that's _Lord Gaben Newell of Honorary Valve Society_ to you.

[@krusher181]

He’s like “yeah half these people will be dead by the time I release this shit so better just lie”

[@niks660097]

as gaben AI said it, "We are not game developers anymore and its funny, cause when do make a game, its just to fuck with the industry, we made Half life: Alyx and index just to push a cock down zuckerberg's throat and steam deck as a perfect nintendo piracy device.."..

[@archimagirussancti7956]

Playing the Counterstrike beta at a LAN party in Michigan in 1999 and then immediately driving to a field with my friends to play paintball is a fond memory of mine

[@zacharyfountain5417]

Sounds like an epic day. Michigander here. Glad you got to be here. (:

[@praetorian3902]

Ah yes. The red letters in the menu.

[@deagle2yadome696]

1.6 or source?

[@zeppelin0110]

deagle2, he means the beta to what eventually became CS 1.6

[@deagle2yadome696]

@@zeppelin0110 ah

[@theAirborne17th]

That IEM Boston win back in 2018 was one of the most hype moments of CSGO I remember how CS fandom popped off at such a crazy C9 victory.

[@enterderpmode3934]

*Eleague Boston. But I got you, when C9 won the Major, the CS community and esports in general went insane. Everybody was so hyped.

[@1234jokerboy]

Greatest underdog story in eSports.

[@niubisaurio]

add Cologne 2022, shit was nuts

[@s0meRand0m129]

ya no one expects C9 to make it into playoffs let alone win the major

[@evelynsahoe8896]

Being from Boston it was really special seeing the team I followed for years finally reach their potential, breaks my heart NA CS is pretty much dead in the water now.

[@benjaminchia4812]

As a computer science student, counter-strike is a true testament to software development in both its design engine and gameplay. The people behind it definitely deserve all the support they can get because what they are doing is NOT easy

[@tiburc10]

Care to explain? :)

[@thankyou4328]

As a computer science student

[@tukankibar4917]

@@tiburc10 game can run on a toaster, is consistent, has no bugs whatsoever, and should be taught as a masterpiece of networking, at least for its time. In an age where software and bugs are having the equivalent of people and their toxic drug addicted boyfriend style relationship, it is very impressive. Not to mention, to be able to maintain such a codebase for so long.

[@ryancawley86]

@@tukankibar4917 "toxic drug addicted boyfriend style relationship" what the fuck are you on about?

[@Axxxel_in_Harlem]

​@@thankyou4328thank you lol.

[@MadnessMan13]

I’ll never forget when I got “Counter Strike” on the Original Xbox back in the day. I didn’t have Xbox Live so I just played against the bots but man was it still so much fun. Looking back it’s very nostalgic.

[@awesome9174]

That game was very bad lol

[@kennypowers1945]

@@awesome9174 meh it’s the same as old csgo

[@senit2374]

I played that game aswell and enjoyed it alot

[@reedphelps7438]

CS with a controller sounds disgusting

[@9mmSurpressor]

@@reedphelps7438 it is

[@pali1H]

I was a professional CS player back in early to mid 2000s for 1.5 and 1.6.Used to play with Summit1G etc. Started in Beta 5 in 1999. CS was so awesome because before that it was really arena shooters that were popular, like you discussed. Started when I was 17 and I'm 40 now lol.

[@arislanbekkosnazarov9644]

Do you still follow the current pro scene?

[@Masta_E]

Wild to think about. There are professional CS players who are adults playing with other professional CS players who were pros before some were even alive. That is unreal, especially for a game.

[@pali1H]

@@Masta_E 100%. Feels like just yesterday. It's cliche but time really does fly.

[@pali1H]

@@arislanbekkosnazarov9644 yeah for sure. Since I started a family, I obviously stopped being involved. Was in a LAN team with Hiko because he only lived 15 minutes away. I thought he was cheating before we met up at LAN the first time lol

[@thesultrystrangerdanger6824]

Prettybirdz?

[@IAmDaDumb1]

I'm a new player to CSGO (literally less than 10 hours lol) but I'm really enjoying it so far. Yeah it takes quite a while to get really good at and it's not uncommon to just get dunked on by absolute units with thousands of hours, but those matches every now and then where I somehow do really well out of nowhere definitely make it worth it. The lobbies of people talking trash and displaying absolute debauchery take me back to the classic Xbox Live days.

[@JW-qd3ol]

crazy that people like you still exist who HAVEN'T already played it for thousands of hours 😂

[@HalfDayHero]

I've been playing it on and off for roughly 18 years and still enjoy it (and still suck at it). It's good to see new people are all still joining.

[@abhayprabhu8951]

You’re doomed to a life of petty insults for every shot you miss my friend. I used to play it 7 hours straight at a cyber cafe, and will never forget the insults and the fun 🤣🤣🤣

[@beams4167]

are u still playing 11 months later

[@Eli-dl2tw]

With how big CS has become, being a part of the game since the early years of 1.5 make me feel good. It's like watching a child grow.

[@seaningtime]

I feel that

[@LeafMaltieze]

CS:GO has actually had mini campaign missions released over the years. The Operation updates that it had usually shipped with actual objective based missions with voice acting, and a vague story. They were pretty cool. Danger Zone actually has lore which these campaign missions expanded on.

[@gachigasm3210]

Yep it's a shame almost nobody cared about those so they just stopped releasing it lol. At least we still get the occasional flavor texts on skins with bits of lore

[@the_courier_live]

Can you still play these today?

[@h1tzzYT]

@@the_courier_live unfortunately, no. They are timed and lasts for about ~4 months. However there have been leaked info that operation is coming soon, it is possible that it will be released with official counter strike 2 release and it was planned this summer :)

[@piotrkowalski3869]

Campaign missions in CS:GO were there way before Danger Zone. If something is based on something it would be Danger Zone.

[@noobguy9973]

@@the_courier_live actually you can as Valve did release them to the steam workshop of CSGO but they are co-op meaning they do require another player to play with you hence why there are also called ''co-op strike''.

[@PatL112]

counter strikes longevity is insanely impressive. hopefully cs2 has even more success.

[@Cuestrupaster]

Considering it's Valve... it's very hard to not be good and not thrive...

[@averymusicalperson]

Tf2 dwarfs it

[@MtnDew4828]

millions are waiting so its bound to thrive

[@TonyKalashnikov]

CS2 is the best option for longevity of the game, CSGO isnt stale at all yet and leaving the gameplay uinchanged but improving graphics ping and minor things like smoke change is the best way they could do this new counter strike until for some weird reason the csgo gameplay burns ppl out

[@admiraljohnny1017]

The only thing I can think of that could hold CS2 back is players deciding to play CS:GO.

[@bigbelly8649]

CS is my rock. No matter what game comes out I always find myself delving back into cs years later and loving it just the same.

[@dillon1320]

CSS was my first online game. I joined an awesome clan and spent hundreds of hours playing Gungame and the constantly packed 2 main servers of theirs. First time I ever found a large group of people interested in the same stuff I was into. Pretty sure I'm still on the community and now I got to go see if anyone still checks in on it.

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

Simplicity and the community .... 2 most important things in video gaming world and they are 100% delivered in CS since 1.6

[@can_opener755]

Honestly, the amount of community support and modding most of the games allow for is what makes most of valve's franchises so special. Let's just look at a history of CS, for example 1.6: Started as a mod of Half life, would not exist if valve didn't allow for significant modding of HL1 to begin with. Source: Created a whole host of fun gamemodes which are so unique and enjoyable some of them still have loyal communities today. Global Offensive: carried over most of the modded gamemodes from source. Also, added cosmetic crates which often contain skins made and supported by the community for the crate. It is honestly impressive just how effective valve is at giving the community free will to do what they want with their games. It is one of the things that keeps games like CS and TF2 alive today.

[@danhobart4009]

CS community are just cheaters.

[@dipanjanghosal1662]

Plus lack of changes. Don't change what's already (almost) perfect!

[@yunggopnikdaballr]

The mentally insane community does make it better than most other games

[@haatonofthebasementoutofth276]

That's what i been telling ym friends. People be asking for out of universe graphics and insane sound effects, but at the end of the day they all return to CS.

[@wollfe_07onblitz36]

I love how the sponsorship has the BF1 theme in the background. As do most of your videos. Never gets old. Love it.

[@TheActMan]

It just works so well

[@j2l119]

Made me watch the ad

[@db_524]

Same

[@db_524]

@@TheActMan It sure does, Kelly.

[@Al-Mahian]

i started playing this just a few months ago and the thing i love about it the most is that i can just jump in whenever, find a match quickly, don't have to worry about new updates, techniques or shits, it's the same game i played last time, pick a gun and just play. the rounds are quick, usually not that many hackers like BF games, and i learned it pretty quickly as well. the simplicity makes it easier for me jump in the game every time but it's still challenging enough to keep me on my toes without making me rage quit coz some dude camping on the corner of the map and killing me the moment i spawn in. basically, it takes 2 minutes for me to start having fun and it took very little time for me to learn the maps and weapons as well since they are so simple and well designed.

[@Savon_the_gallent_knight]

act man quantum tv just got arrested

[@existentialselkath1264]

There's just something about valve games, they hold up very well and retain player bases better than they have any right to. Team fortress 2 has seemingly been neglected for years and it's still popular!

[@hawkeyedsentinel4648]

Valve are so lucky to have such dedicated playerbases but their laziness is whats slowly killing them e.g. neglecting TF2 which caused Overwatch to be created and neglecting CSGO which caused valorant to be created.

[@homelabsmart7635]

@HawkeyedSentinel Yes and no. Those games would've been made anyway. They use the same core gameplay but implement it quite differently. I wouldn't consider Valorant being comparable to CS in more than gunplay, and the same goes for TF2 and Overwatch. They are just very different and not really competitors as you can also see reflected in the player count

[@kamewoni]

They are games first and experiences second. I’ve realized I highly prefer games that are just that, while I project my imagination into it, as opposed to developers creating experiences and imposing their vision. Valve is one of the, if not the, best at achieving this for myself.

[@aboveaveragebayleaf9216]

I think it's just the passion they put into their games. (Not necessarily now). The attention to detail of the entire experience is top notch. The animations, gameplay, art direction, silhouettes, sound design. It's just so fine tuned. There is a good video comparing left 4 dead to back for blood. If you watch that you will see what I mean. There is nothing like a good valve game. That's why people want them making more games again.

[@Helperbot-2000]

@@kamewoni could you elaborate what you mean by "game and experience" as separate concepts?

[@VisualBasic6]

A thing with skins: I saw that the cases had gone up in price, so I sold some of my old cases. But doing so I also decided to open a few from the money I had made from selling them. I unboxed a Bowie marble fade 0.0106 (FN) worth about 700$ cad at the time (last week). In just one week it's already up another 100$.. I'm going to keep it for a while and sell it later to help buy my house.

[@alexandredasilvavilasboasrosas]

dam

[@dennismetzger9287]

Sold a marble fade years ago on skin barron that helped pay my rent lol

[@totocsgo]

sold my flip knife autotronic and ak bloodsport fn for 500€ combined. That helped me pay bills. Bought these 2 skins initially for 280€

[@tearex8688]

People paying rent with fucking pixels. What fucking reality am i in.

[@JINGWA64]

still amazes me folks value things so high which take just a few min and no effort to create as a modder and normally would be listed as junk.

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

It's even more impressive if you realize that Valve is a relatively small private company. They don't trade stock. They are entirely their own enclosed privately owned entity. Making it one of the most profitable enterprises per employee in the entire world, of any kind. It's kind of insane.

[@Klaatew]

I just love the personality in every Act Man video. So funny, so straight forward, so engaging. You’re a master of your craft dude. Respect.

[@JW-qd3ol]

Yeah, I've loved Act Man for years. Every single video is a banger. I don't always watch his videos, but when I do, he never fails to make me care about whatever it is, and I always watch multiple videos because I just love watching the man talk about something passionately. Respect.

[@Future_Doggo]

Valve when a mod developer makes a successful gamemode for Half-Life: "You're hired!" Nintendo when an 8 year old makes a crayon drawing of Mario: *(loads shotgun menacingly)*

[@doodguytheblank2403]

They were so good at snatching mod developers that they managed to swipe Dota from a game they didn’t even work on.

[@thatitalianlameguy2235]

They just murdered that botw multiplayer modder

[@wibs0n68]

​@@thatitalianlameguy2235 someone literally got sentenced on prison for life because Nintendo

[@InsertName159]

Valve just knows how to do business unlike some other game companies

[@ballacaust]

CS Player since 1.3 here: You did a good job on this video Act, the choice of 1.6 pro clips is good, I loved seeing SpawN and 4Kings, lots of memories. It was such an honor to be apart of this huge community from its early days.

[@Josh_2992]

Also used to play when the game first released. Man it really is a legendary game. Surfing and the rats map were my favorite things to do growing up. Haven't played in a while but great memories

[@timothyswindell4924]

1.3 as well here. Loved seeing that SpawN clip. I remember when the internet was set on fire when he was signed to SK. The HeatoN Potti Powerhouse.

[@Spookoffi]

hi grandpa

[@artolas]

That clip with the deagle ace by edward is godly

[@Max-dy1ks]

You Srig?

[@crayoneatinggo0n477]

I've played CS since 1.4 over 20 years ago. I just recently got back into it and am still having the same fun I remember from back when I was a teenager playing in CAL leagues. Can't wait for CS2. Cool to see you cover this dude.

[@kevinkim9620]

CAL…man what memories hearing that name.. I remember playing with my friends in CAL-O in CS and OG DOTA.. been playing CS since retail 1.0..

[@crayoneatinggo0n477]

@@kevinkim9620 time is flying man!

[@ndnow12]

It wasn't a prediction there was a community with Rainbow 6 that was playing rounds this way already, it was an expansion upon that. Tom Clancy was the one who created this genre and it was these guys who took it to a whole new level.

[@cyphersam9436]

"Counter-Strike in space does sound kinda cool." There's actually a Halo mod for this game, surprisingly enough, and even more surprising is that it's actually well made with good effort put into it. It's a pretty novel experience but definitely a fun one if you ever feel like trying it on a day where you feel like you don't have much to do.

[@ZAWFUL]

They have a space map in csgo but it's for scouts knives

[@mkultra2456]

You gotta stop saying actually.

[@cyphersam9436]

@@mkultra2456 No I don't think I will actually.

[@mkultra2456]

@@cyphersam9436 lol reread what you wrote and ask yourself what was the point of using that word. Twice.

[@cyphersam9436]

@@mkultra2456 Eh yeah I know, I just don't really care about it. English gets boring for me so it's easy to get lazy with wording.

[@ferjitsu9560]

For me the formula of success of this game is very simple: 1 - you have total control of your aim and it makes the game incredible 2 - CS GO is simple, very simple in fact. So, all you need to care is positioning, economy and shooting some heads 3 - not a new CS GO every single month. It's the same game, the same amazing game

[@virus4721]

i think biggest reason of cs succes is community tbh i still remember playing zombie plague in cs 1.6 having blast i could play that for hours bro hours....

[@AverageJoe1006]

1 : have patience with kills. 2: have a good mouse 3: learn using the awp sniper

[@bigbadt]

​@@AverageJoe1006 anyone can use the awp decently, however if you know how to use the AK you're unstoppable

[@potatoes5829]

@@bigbadt ssg supremacy!

[@bigbadt]

@@potatoes5829 nah ak supremacy

[@GethAndroid]

Perfect timing for this video man. I've become disillusioned with modern online shooters like Halo and CoD so been thinking of trying this out again for the first time in 15 years. DL it now so hope it gives me the shooty bang fun I've been missing for the last 3-4 years.

[@IndieLambda]

1.6 and CZ had skins and maps too, same for Half Life, making their games deeply customizable has always been a Valve staple since it's inception.

[@ComradeLibertarian]

I still have fond memories of stacking vending machines and sofas against doors in CS:S zombie mod. For all the flak that game got the custom games gave it a longevity that even the most finely crafted AAA titles lack

[@_Zer0Gr4vity_]

I've never been good at CS, but man, I still love watching tournaments. I don't really know why, but seeing the matches just hypes me up. I can't wait to watch the final Major, I think it will be spicy.

[@lunchtreyy]

This major is absolutely fucking insane, gearing up to be one of the best the game has ever seen. Just the QUALIFIERS to the major have been top tier.

[@aboveaveragebayleaf9216]

It's just a very intense competition. It's like watching a good sports game even if you aren't a sports person.

[@Fleischgewordener_Sterbehelfer]

Nothing beats that cologne 2022 final, not even boston.

[@UnrealAxel27]

Me but with Tekken

[@goncalomoura9816]

Been playing CS since 1.5 and i'm impressed by this video and how well the Act Man did his homework on the history of CS, the only thing he forgot to mention was that when CSGO released most people disliked it, the playerbase was really small compared to 1.6, most of the pro players stayed on the old CS, it looked like another failure like CSS was, but then came the Arms Deal update (introduction of Skins and cases) and the game had an exponential growth, Valve started making profits and promising to sponsor tournaments, so the greedy pros switched, the game got popular despite being almost the exact same "failed and disliked" game at launch, (Valve took a really long time to improve it and balance out the gameplay). It was skins, betting and gambling mechanics alone that made it popular, I quit after 2 years since everyone became so toxic with the inventory bragging attitude and addiction to opening cases...

[@jnslab8774]

True, I also remember the release being mostly lukewarm or just "meh". I tried it for a short while after I spent thousands of hours on the good old CS 1.6 but I just couldn't bring myself to play and basically learn everything from scratch due to different engine and mechanics (call me lazy if you want to lol) and yea, once the loot boxes took off it was over for me as well.

[@chrisgoblin4857]

Man I love CS despite not playing too much anymore. I first played 1.6 round a friends house on his Dads PC and I remember it being really hard. When CS:S came out, I had a PC so I made sure to get it alongside HL2 on release. Played Source pretty much until a year before CSGO and then dabbling with it from release. CS2 release has me excited for the future and I hope the community servers are still a prominent part of the game.

[@trentanian]

When 343 took over Halo and didn't stick to the Halo feel I fell in love with, I built a PC to play CSGO because I saw it stayed relatively the same since its beginning. Now I thank 343 for changing Halo because now I'm not just Halo player, now I play everything minus Halo.

[@brocksinclair66]

Hahaha true that

[@BeachSalad]

Door Stuck is one of the funniest cs videos ever. Cracks me up every time I see it.

[@Helperbot-2000]

"Green green, what is your problem green?" Aswell lol

[@Desolator-ny7cb]

OUTTA MY WAY SON!!

[@RealNotASpy]

@@Helperbot-2000 this is what I was coming here to comment. “Me say A Long ramp”

[@masonthemetalhead]

I never knew any of this. It's so cool that your videos have a way to teach people about popular games and how they are always fun and engaging. You keep rocking on ActingMan🤘

[@lololol6850]

Remember playing 1.6 as a 6 year old and here in the Philippines, we have internet cafes and regular players often play 5v5 with bets. I was lucky enough to always be considered to play against 18-20yr olds coz of playing i somehow became slightly above average One of my core memories that i will not trade for anything 🥰

[@bunnyfreakz]

Played CS 1.6 on net cafe back than on mid early 2000's. All speakers turn up to the max, it looks like a freaking battlefield and it was awesome.

[@praetorian3902]

Sneaking out of the house at midnight to go play all night with my friend lol The rest is exactly is you described it. There was also a pyramid of Red Bull cans on the PC tower.

[@AsherSkylark]

oh man, you unlock a core memory. There's always 1 or 2 units inside a pc cafe that has speakers and whenever they play counter strike, the whole place turns into a freaking warzone.

[@countvincentthethird2341]

Truly an Act Man moment

[@igee1605]

🤓

[@Thiefy0]

Npc

[@adityagarg3931]

​@@Thiefy0 2/22/2222

[@jamesjohnson9388]

Condition Zero was actually the first introduction I had into CS, and it was active as hell for servers for the year straight I played it.

[@blazeplayz2508]

Great video, I just recently started playing CSGO just to try something else out besides COD. It’s a blast, so simple and easy to learn but still challenging especially the more you play. Tried Valorant months back and didn’t get into it much.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

valorant is made for little kiddie noobs and the chinese market

[@xcy7240]

i wouldnt say simple to learn but the mechanics are very simple to learn and how csgo functions is easy unlike valorant with so much shit flying around all over ur screen

[@_Kakoosh]

“Put down the cheeseburger and start eating healthy meals with Hello Fresh” Act Man says as I prep my burger meal that hello fresh just sent me

[@_Kakoosh]

@ordinary nameYep a lot of the time it turns out a serving for two people only needs 2-3 carrots… I’d rather not waste my time trying to plan dinners every night and then go shop in hordes of people after work tbh. Especially when whatever I cook isn’t going to be as good and will cost just as much as a HF meal for two.

[@thoomaas168]

Act man: "theres never been a counter strike in space..." Lunacy: 😢

[@CrazyKosai]

Quick note, Counter-Strike started as a Quake mod called "Navy Seals" then it evolved into Quake II mod "Action Quake 2" which was later ported into Valve's new GoldSrc game engine as Counter-Strike

[@dsbdsb6637]

Had no idea abt. this.

[@pali1H]

I actually liked Condition Zero because it turned Inferno into a night setting

[@L0wSkiller]

Condition Zero was my favorite CS! Idk why, maybe I thought the changes to some of the maps were neat, or I just found the community I vibed with the most on CZ, but man, there's nothing like Russian walking your way across the site with that weird tile sound beneath your feet...

[@kuyagab4444]

Condition Zero was arguably the first FPS campaign I encountered way before I knew about Call of Duty or Medal of Honor. My classmates and I just stumbled upon it back in 2005 when I was at elementary trying to figure my way into PC.

[@mattkeeler5966]

Awesome video actman, I love these videos so much. Cause the details you provide covers so much, it’s like your videos are video game history classes. Love em

[@PixelationMusic]

I was there for the R8 Revolver launch in CSGO. Shit was literally the Wild West. For a week straight that game was a meme.

[@ZeRo-tn9td]

Love to see CS content made by Act Man

[@Ghostcharm]

I think de_dust2 is where my spirit will rest eternally when I die

[@SaltySeaCaptain]

Dork

[@AveCruxSpesUnica]

Fancy seeing you here

[@TheLazarusVector]

Acting King back at it again with the 🔥

[@VinceTaglia]

Yooooooooo big ups for using the classic insane Edward 3 sec ace at 9:23. Absolutely nailing this video!

[@ShaktiChaturvedi]

Hey Act Man, thanks a lot for this video, I trying to write a case study on game franchises which have stayed popular for more than 20 years. CS has been around since I was in grade 4 ! Thanks for the video as always

[@abyss9316]

Counter-Strike forever revolutionize the FPS with the rise of Esports Counter-Strike and valve has cemented themselves as one of the important contributing factors to the success of Esports as it exists today

[@CommanderLongJohn]

Esports = big gey

[@CantFindGeorge]

As someone who played the shit outta starcraft, I actually started laughing out loud at 20:16

[@-_1_-Goggles]

I've been playing cs go for 4 years now it's one of the few games that brought me closer to my dad something we could bond over! I feel like compared to other modern shooter (like cod mw2) that playing casual actually FEELS casual.

[@karlandersson8652]

I remember that Counter strike slowly started to dominate my LAN-group sessions way back as a teenager when the original mod for Half life first released. It was just good from the start, functional, relatively polished even in the beta-stages, and the game mode was fresh at the time.

[@ErikLosLobos]

I remember starting out playing this on the beta. Even back when the only different between CTs and Terrorists were whether their sleeves were rolled up or not, it was a great fun game

[@KNDCHV]

As a person who spent almost their entire youth years (countless hours in 1.5, 2000 official hours on 1.6 after I bought it original, before that on cracked versions, God knows how many hours I have spent, and 7000 hours in GO) I must say that this game is unkillable. I am almost 30 (in June) and I can tell you this game always draws you back, no matter with what you replace it - it will be temporary. And you said it: because of its lack of change and its simplicity. I played League from 2011 to 2017 extensively. I got tired of patches after patches after patches. I stopped for few years and only last month decided to give it another go for old time's sake. Well I uninstalled it after 5 games I think. The game is unrecognizable it's impossible to have fun if you don't do your research first and catch up with the "meta". But CS? CS is always CS. You can take 10 years break from it and it will be still the same. People love it, because your 10 y.o son can jump in and have joy by randomly killing the best guy in the server. That's what CS is. No fancy menus, no flashy animation. You hop in - and have fun. Just recently after 7000 hours in it I decided I am tired of competitive CS. But that doesn't mean I don't have fun in it. I just play less and less. Waiting for CS2, because it seems like it will fix a lot of the problems that drove me mad in CS:GO. Awesome video Act Man ! Content like this always makes me want to play some Counter-Strike.

[@rebastori]

That's so true. I was a console gamer in my youth and would play cod 4, mw2, mw3 and those games were pretty close to eachother and not a lot of changes were made when the game was finally out. After that it felt like every new version was completely alien version. I found cs:go when i started my studies in computer science and i felt the same feeling that i felt with those cods. There was something new to learn all the time but still there was so little changes. now 5k hours later i still play it, still learning and after every time i drop it for a while i always come back

[@AverageJoe1006]

Its weird this game is more popular then quake live or champions.

[@PremiFi]

Veteran I see, I respect you.

[@MaxIgnoramus]

I put thousands of hours into 1.6 and Source too yet when I went and tried CSGO i thought it played like shit and the immediate public community was awful

[@JakeTheSnake1337]

yeah I can relate with that, especially about LoL. The same thing happens with Dota2. I've been a huge fan since the beta but now it's just impossible to have fun anymore since if you quit the game for at least a couple month then you'll have to research tons of materials just to understand what the current meta is

[@AfroPear]

Great video! That was a fun trip down memory lane. Been playing since the first independent client release (1.4?)

[@roflixo]

20:36 R8 revolver update 24:08 there is nothing to change. I realised that when my friends convinced me to join them in Valorant. Dumb skills and ultimates ruining the game by creating "I have skill you can't have on this character so I win" scenarios. No first-shot accuracy and rng spray after some shots. CS does not have any of this - no bullshit, straight up crisp shooting and movement. You against opponent. Better reaction & aim wins. This is what gives the thrill of playing.

[@DaveSS78]

My friends and I used to have LAN parties to play CS. So many memories of sniping with an MP5 or being scared out of our wits when we heard the AWP 😂

[@rickrolling795]

The gameplay is simple yet exciting because it's unpredictable, you'll never know what's going to happen next round, never know what's right around the corner.

[@sidewaysfcs0718]

Counter-Strike's very first map in beta 1.0 was cs_mansion, which evolved later into cs_estate. I remember playing my very first game, in a PC gaming room in a basement that [*was totally functionaing as a legal entity*] and spawning as a t after an adult taught me how to actually join a multiplayer LAN game. This was confusing as hell back then coming from Quake.

[@elliottb7009]

one thing that CS does well is that the maps don't have shit in them. they are neat and crisp and you can always see where people are and whats going on. so much visual clutter on other games.

[@vardypeeps]

Played plenty CS Source in the day, moved onto CS:GO and whenever it gets played at the LAN party that's when the mst noise is made. Just a brilliant game!

[@Malxer]

lmao, loved that edit of the main theme with Door Stuck, lol

[@willthelemon5681]

Condition Zero was actually my first CS experience. I did need to play it online and playing countless bot matches was super fun. Especially since it actually ran on my PC at the time.

[@PalDouble]

Love the mention of the older Xbox version! So many memories on that Miami (bank) map.. such a shame it was never featured in later installments as every game on it was a blast. Honorable mentions to fastline and stadium also

[@boscodooley8561]

CS is the king. How many games have come and gone and CS is still here. Long Live the King.

[@therookie5714]

Minecraft and Gta V still on top

[@madmonty4761]

​@@therookie5714i never really liked Minecraft

[@therookie5714]

@@madmonty4761 you might not, but in terms of popularity and staying relevant over the years Minecraft and Gta V always come out on top. You can check the player numbers if you don’t believe me

[@madmonty4761]

@@therookie5714 Minecraft is just really boring

[@niks660097]

@@therookie5714 both of them are of diff. genre, name one FPS game with this much longevity..

[@Masta_E]

Just started playing CSGO like a week before the announcement of CS2 and really enjoying it. It is so simple yet so complicated and allows to really learn skills. End of the day it is just fun. Thanks for the quality content Act Man and have a blessed day. Edit* spelling

[@potowogreedo]

It's the most sportlike of all the eSports.

[@timothyswindell4924]

It gets easier, but the skill ceiling is very high. I started in 2000 and still love it now as much as I did when I was 12. Don’t rely on the awp! Learn movement, recoil patterns, utility usage, and use that radar! It’ll pay off in the end.

[@qu1253]

I'm still trying to wash away the awful taste in my mouth from my first matchmaking game. I had 2 teammates throw the match after we lost the pistol round, and the other 2 kept arguing like an old married couple. Oh, and the enemy team was a 5-stack of smurf accounts that shit talked the entire time. We finished the match 0-16. I'm not saying it's the game's fault, but it's hard to actually appreciate it and see how fun it can be when the people I'm playing with make me want to jump off a cliff. I swear low elo NA matchmaking is one of the 9 circles of hell, it's that bad.

[@gingy30]

QUANTUM TV GOT ARRESTED!!!!!

[@kingvr4684]

I saw alot of romanian servers at the CS 1.6 part of the video. The servers are still full here, and in other parts of Eastern Europe as well and its just as big as it was years ago. Its just that many of us dont play it on Steam necessarily

[@ThatEmmetGuy]

Great video. It is funny that a lot of videos are using that clip of Gabe being asked in 2011 "when are you going to release Counter Strike 2" they released CSGO in 2012.

[@McBubba03]

Helluva intro. Glad to see you covering this timeless masterpiece!

[@VinceTaglia]

Oh hey I'm in that crowd at 5:52! Thanks for the awesome video on my first and forever love.

[@broghetti8858]

20:30 Actman missed the R8 revolver introduction, meta breaking gun

[@broghetti8858]

Well I take that one back

[@agniteyt]

Whenever the Valve starts turning... *People start going crazy*

[@rage_tv4493]

It’s such a simple yet highly complex game. With skill gap being so incredibly high that people play the game to hone their skills. Or they play it for a good time. VC is absolutely hilarious in this game.

[@mon0theist_tv]

First time I played CS:S at a LAN center I was hooked, was so different than anything I played before

[@vashSJ]

i still remember the old days when i first played counter-strike on a LAN cafe about 20 years ago. the game is so broken that it has "magic boxes" where flash bangs pass through box corners and out to the other side saving the thrower from getting any flash. playing with total strangers in a 20v20 map and spending hours doing so. game has grown alot but the excitement of playing CS never gets old.

[@KootenaiKing]

When The Act Man posts, I never skip the ads.

[@TheActMan]

❤

[@starfall179]

Ads Man

[@joshrogers6669]

I remember playing when it was just a mod. I would pretend to be sick so I could stay home from school just to play. Warehouse map was my favorite. Everyone would bottleneck at the door, garage door and the vent on the roof. I can't remember the name of the other map I liked but if you were a terrorist your team would start in this really nice house in a canyon and if you went into the bathroom there was a turd in the toilet. It may have been Canyon? I can't remember for sure but man I was fucking hooked.

[@joure.v]

Siege?

[@reckapple5641]

Cs_assault and cs_militia ❤ Take me back man

[@Mathroy]

Love that Act Man showed video of Lila Panic ZM x) Such good memories

[@Norlamon]

It's really incredible what Valve has done with it and I think it really show that we actually settle for very little. Let's be honest. Everyone played the game. I've played it back in the day. I think it's one of those games you eventually grow up and quit, it doesn't have a lot to it, but it's fun nevertheless. I've watched the smoke nade trailer, people were losing it...I was like, man, it's not a lot, how easy is for some companies and how hard is for others...

[@LFXGaming]

ive been waiting for this video for YEARS, great video as always man, the day always gets better when you upload!

[@mangome14]

im still waiting for the why half life 2 is a masterpiece video

[@jaku1622]

Love these types of videos! Keep em coming!

[@standard-carrier-wo-chan]

Counter Strike is arguably _the_ game that captures the "easy to learn, hard to master" motto so perfectly. Coupled with massive community support and attractive but ultimately non-gameplay intrusive lootboxes, it just ticks all the right boxes while simultaneously avoiding falling to that slippery slope of what made games fail: overcomplication of gameplay mechanics. CS2 not changing much at all is possibly the best choice they could make, and I'm excited to get my ass handed over to me in Source 2.

[@theprimagen]

Playing 1.5 was some of the best times ever. Pure nostalgic goodness

[@tiuhti__]

1:41 bro dropped the hottest door stuck csgo edit and thought we wouldn't notice

[@EnidBunny64]

The splatoon music was a jumpscare haha Great video!

[@bentendj1]

Man I remember as a little kid I'd play Counter Strike on my old Xbox and add enemy bots with only knives and essentially play hide and seek on all the maps. As a kid that was like a horror game lol. I'd be sneaking around to find a hiding spot and boom out of nowhere I'd get shanked. I can't remember exactly but my favorite map was like this office/bank map. Such good memories.