Counter-Srike: Source will not start pre-loading on the 5th. We are working extremely hard to get it out and will have more information on this soon.

--Jess Cliffe

STEAM CLIENT CHANGES / ADDITIONS:

Improved error messages when Steam system is busy

Improved error messages when login fails

Improved ability to monitor system performance

Improved startup times

Improved cache loading behavior for single-player games

Added features for CyberCafes

Improved use of large cache files

Keep local account information more up-to-date

Improved response to ContentServer connection loss

Improved server communication

Improved command-line handling

Added opt-out options for marketing messages via the Settings dialog

Changed monitor to show games instead of caches

Smoothed out monitor bandwidth usage display

Added "browse games" button -- storefront

HLDS UPDATE TOOL:

Improved handling of encrypted files

Added "-command list" option to list the valid "-game" flags you can specify

1. EYE ($30 000)
2. SK Gaming ($21 000)
3. Rival ($14 000)
4. Destination Skyline ($9 000)
5. D!E ($6 000)
6. The Titans ($5 000)
7. Mousesports ($3 000)    
8. g3x ($2 000)
9-12. NoA ($1 500)
9-12. mibr ($1 500)
9-12. Evil Geniuses ($1 500)
9-12. TSG ($1 500)
13-16. 4Kings ($1 000)
13-16. GoodGame ($1 000)
13-16. 3D ($1 000)
13-16. Reckless Theories ($1 000)
17-24. TAG
17-24. United5    
17-24. Alternate Attax
17-24. Zero Fade
17-24. zEx
17-24. GateKeepers
17-24. Echo7
17-24. TAU
25-32. GameWyze
25-32. m5team    
25-32. Team Gamers.nu
25-32. Mug & Mouse
25-32. c9
25-32. pandemic
25-32. Confederacy
25-32. Forsaken

CS-Nation: Do you have any association with former CPL champion team Eyeballers 9? [E9 later renamed themselves to Ninjas in Pyjamas, won the CPL, then moved into SK and are the team you see today]
Divino: It's the same organization, the Eyeballers organization, we were an old quake team, but yeah it's the same organization but not the same players.

According to recent conversations we've had with Valve's Doug Lombardi, Half-Life 2 will be passed on to publisher Vivendi for final mastering and duplication within days for it's early August target. The official appearance will make store shelves sometime in mid to late September.

Improved shell ejection behavior causing errors

All weapons and items have been upgraded with new models, of course. The new weapon models are obviously improvements over Counter-Strike 1.6's set of weapons. Apparently, only the USP and Glock were nearly finalized at the time of my playtest. As for the rest of the models, Valve says they are currently in the process of doing a series of improvements on all the weapon models in an effort make them look as perfect as possible. The USP and Glock models looked damn sexy. If Valve plans on bringing every weapon model up to the standard that these two set, then we will see some excellent weaponry.

CS-Nation: We know that most of our favorite maps will be coming back in CS: Source, but what about any new maps?

cliffe: Thus far we've upgraded Dust, Dust II, Italy, Havana, Aztec, Piranesi, Cbble, Chateau, and Office. More classic maps will be added to this list over time. One of our mappers, Ido Magal, has even made an in-house test map called Rockworld—based on everyone's favorite fragfest Iceworld.

Sticking with the CS tradition of ongoing development, new maps will come later on.

WON Authentication Ends July 31st

Starting July 26th, the shutdown of the WON authentication servers will begin. This process will be completed on July 31st. This means players will no longer be able to access Internet features of Valve games, such as Counter-Strike 1.5, using the WON authentication servers. Users can continue using Valve games on the Steam service by downloading the Steam installer and setting up a Steam account. For more information visit www.steampowered.com. Counter-Strike 1.5 players will be upgraded to Counter-Strike 1.6 free of charge through Steam.

COUNTER-STRIKE: CONDITION ZERO:

Added de_truth_cz

Added de_corruption_cz

Improved accuracy of the player hitbox

Improved bot knife fighting logic

Improved bot behavior when all 32 player slots are filled

Improved bot_auto_vacate behavior

Improved behavior of footstep sound when jumping to a different surface type

Improved behavior of weapon animations when switching weapons

Improved behavior of brass ejection in relation to player's velocity

Improved how smoke grenades come to rest

Improved sv_restart behavior (limit is increased to 60 seconds)

Improved hint message overwriting behavior

Improved closed shield behavior

Improved famas burst mode firing (matches the visuals)

Improved display of locations shown under the radar

Improved behavior of cycler_sprites on subsequent rounds (chickens on cs_italy, cs_italy_cz)

Improved shield hitbox to be more accurate

Improved behavior of team_say

HE grenades no longer damage players through walls and other obstacles

HE grenade damage and radius increased by 50% (to account for new behavior)

HE, smoke, and flashbang crosshairs are now the same size

Switching to the C4 or grenades no longer masks AWP firing sound

Old-style menus can now choose Milita & Spetsnaz

Crosshair doesn't show at round restart if a player has the shield closed

Server prints team and player info in the console for chat messagesp>

COUNTER-STRIKE: CONDITION ZERO DELETED SCENES:

Added previously unreleased missions Fastline, Sandstorm, and Pipe Dream