By: Jason “Alchemist” Baker



Why I stopped worrying and learned to love Source

Everyone hates change. People can become almost violent in their views on why CAL/CPL`s decision to move on to Source is wrong. I know exactly how they feel. I was one of the most vocal supporters of CPL sticking with CS 1.3. Looking back on that important time for pro gaming it reminds me a lot of where we are now. CPL was faced with a choice. Either stick with 1.3 or move on to the much-hated 1.4. The “Pro gamers” and fans alike could not stand the changes in the game. It was a much-debated topic on CPL forums and on IRC. Players felt that game wasn’t the same anymore.

When players say Source doesn’t feel like CS, I simply reply that CS doesn’t feel like CS. The game has changed so much over the years that it is not the same. You either adapt or stay behind. You can still find QuakeWorld players playing today. The leagues will move on without you.

People suggest that CAL needs to wait until Source is ready. CAL has started up a beta season anyway and will move the top teams to Source the next season. This must be done. What better people to test and mold this game than the competitive players? Sitting back and hoping the game will go away or that the pub players will get all the bugs worked out for you is foolish at best. At this point Source is the only choice. Valve has pretty much ended all support for 1.6. The last VAC update happened so long ago that I can’t even recall it.

Is money a factor in CPL changing to the new version? Damn right. Players keep demanding more prize money yet sponsors do not get much bang for their buck showing off a 6 year old game. Last summer CPL Counter Strike didn’t even have a sponsor until Hitachi stepped in. We can not take for granted that shear popularity will bring in the prize money needed to support the few professional teams. Sponsors need something to wow their investors and the average computer user. This is why they fought to promote games like Doom 3 and Half-Life 2.

What we need to do is first focus on bringing attention to the bugs in Source and what also needs to be done to make it more competitive. Putting facts in Valves face is the only thing we can do. Simply posting Source sucks will not make it better. Saying that flashbangs blind you even when they are thrown around walls or that sometimes you spawn with $1600 will go a lot farther in getting the game fixed. An organized effort in pushing for more maps is needed as well. Informing them what makes a good map is always key. Who ever thought becoming a pinball between the millions of barrels in a map is great game play needs to have a talking too. We are the players most affected by the changes Valve makes but we do nothing to start the change. All we do is react to what has been done. Learn to love the Steam forums: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/. Use educated arguments to get things fixed; flaming will not help us.

Next season many teams will have to choose. Either move on to Source or fade into obscurity.