Counter-Strike is the number 1 online action game in the world. After a one-year public Beta, Counter-Strike was commercially released in Fall 2000. It has sold over 1 million copies worldwide, been named Game of the Year by several gaming publications, and is the headliner at competitive gaming tournaments around the world. Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is a co-production by Gearbox and Valve. In the collaborative spirit of CS, Gearbox and Valve tapped the creative talents of mapmakers and technology designers in the CS community. And several of the tools and technologies created in the making of CS:CZ will be released to the MOD community after launch The game is scheduled for a Q2(May) 2002 release.
History
Counter Strike was originally developed by Rogue, a company which at the time faced deep financial troubles. Desperation led them to some strange, to say the least, design decisions. This forced Valve Software, Half-Life developers and current Counter-Strike owner, to attempt to save the day. Following various negotiations Valve decided to pass the fledgling game to Gearbox.
GearBox Software
Gearbox Software was founded in January of 1999 by a group of experienced 3d game artists, designers and engineers in Dallas, TX. Previously, the developers at Gearbox Software have contributed to many of the most acclaimed franchises in computer entertainment - including Civilization, Duke Nukem 3d, Quake and Half-Life.
Gearbox could be referred to as experts on creating games using the Half-Life engine. They have made Opposing Force and Blue Shift, both add-ons to Half-Life. Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is their first stand alone game.
Truths
Condition Zero is not Counter-Strike 2. It was never meant to be a sequel to the original but it will rather serve the purpose of a retail expansion for Counter-Strike. Some of the original, ridiculous weapons such as a Yoghurt cannon, which were dropped from Counter-Strike when Valve took over, will not be appearing now. The multiplayer option will not be exclusive to those who actually buy the game. Condition Zero will be firmly based on Counter-Strike, in time CS add-ons will be released which will feature CZ weapons and other extra's.
