Beta of Counter Strike: Global Offensive accessible with pre-order on Steam

Steam is offering a discount on the pre-order of Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Another big bonus to pre-ordering the game on Steam is that exclusive access to the beta of the game will be available from August 14. Beta access won't be available for those who pre-order the game from elsewhere, so there is an incentive to paying slightly more to pre-order the game off Steam.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the sequel to one of the most popular first person shooters, Counter-Strike, is available for pre-order on Steam, Valve’s digital distribution platform for PC games. The game will be available on the Xbox 360 via XBLA, the PlayStation 3 via PSN and PC via Steam. The price for the game on all three platforms is set to be $14.99 (roughly Rs. 825), but the pre-order on Steam is available at a 10 percent discount, which makes the price $13.49 (roughly Rs. 740). The game is set to release on all three platforms on 21 August 2012, after which the price of the PC version of the game will go back to $14.99. 

The game features "new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.). In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more".

GO GO GO!

"Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999," said Valve's Doug Lombardi. "For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac."

Unlike a full-fledged sequel, CS: GO looks more like an HD remake of sorts with a bunch of new gameplay mechanics thrown into the mix. Professional CS players the world over were invited to Valve’s studio to try out this game. According to them, the game while obviously looking better, plays a lot like its older brother. The official press release that announced the game reiterates this, “CS: GO promises to expand on CS' award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac”, which obviously means this isn’t Counter-Strike 2.

Few companies in the gaming world are followed as closely as Valve. This may largely be because of their utter silence on the sequel to Half-Life 2: Episode 2, which is based on the Source Engine. The game ends on a cliffhanger, and has caused people to be thoroughly annoyed with the company as it has been almost five years since Half-Life 2: Episode 2 was released through the Orange Box. Many speculate about the fabled next iteration of the game. Some believe it will be Half-Life 2: Episode 3, others believe it will be Half-Life 3. If Valve were to follow their regular pattern, a supposed Half-Life 3 would showcase the capabilities of a new graphics and physics engine.