Counter-Strike: Seven Years and Still Going Strong

You may not have heard of it, but Counter-Strike has been around for over seven years now, and as of May 2006 it's still the number 1 on-line first person shooter ever. But its got a whole different side to it than your average PC FPS (first person shooter).

Recently the CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League) held its world championships in Dallas, Texas. Players from all over the world were in attendance. Many different games (Quake III for PC, FEAR for PC, Guitar Hero for PS2, and more) where played, but the major one, still at the top after seven years, was Counter-Strike, now in version 1.6. Sixty-Four teams of five competed for a $100,000 cash prize pot. The 1st place winner, Swedish team Fnatic, won $30,000. I was fortunate enough to spectate this tournament. Being there with 1000's of international gamers, the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

These tournaments (sometimes referred to as LAN tournaments) happen all over the US and the world, with winnings ranging from small cash and/or computer hardware prizes to larger cash sums ($5,000-50,000). This competitive side to Counter-Strike (and other games) is fairly unknown to the general public; but to gamers, the popular players are like celebrities, the best teams are looked up to by millions.

Counter-Strike is quite difficult; you have to build your skills (and the skills of your team) just like any other sport. Players get scrims (a 5v5 match between two teams) via IRC (the gamesurge network or US, quakenet for EU). Scrim after scrim, day after day, it generally takes years to hone one's skills. It's played on computer screens instead of basketball courts or football fields, but does that mean it's not a sport? It takes practice, dedication, and patience. It also takes coordination and team strategy.