Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (CS:CZ) is a first-person shooter video game and the follow-up to the original Counter-Strike.

Overview

The game was released in 2004 using the GoldSrc Half-Life engine. Condition Zero features a multiplayer mode, which features updated character models, textures, maps, and other graphical tweaks. Unlike other Counter-Strike games, Condition Zero also contains a single-player mission pack with the player unlocking maps and more efficient bots as they pass certain requirements for each map while playing as a Counter-Terrorist. These requirements include targets such as "kill 3 enemies with a Clarion 5.56" or "win a round in 45 seconds". This game mode is called Tour of Duty. There is another single player mission pack called "Deleted Scenes". So far the Condition Zero is the only game in the franchise that features single player campaign.

Condition Zero is known for introducing the Counter-Strike bot, although the Xbox port of Counter-Strike was actually the first game in the series to include it.

As of April 15, 2009, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is one of the ten most played Half-Life modifications in terms of players, according to GameSpy.

It has been released via both retail stores and Steam. It is bundled with a copy of Counter-Strike regardless of how you purchase it.

Development

Main article: Development of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Condition Zero was initially given to Rogue Entertainment for development, but was dropped after Rogue filed bankruptcy. Gearbox Software and Ritual Entertainment took their turns at developing it, but eventually the final game was a collaboration between Valve and Turtle Rock Studios, with Ritual's version packaged with it as the Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes game mode.

A large portion of Condition Zero maps are re-made Counter-Strike maps featuring newer textures, effects, and better graphics. Others were taken from Deleted Scenes missions and edited by Turtle Rock Studios. Several new maps by Turtle Rock were also incorporated into the Xbox port of Counter-Strike. Some new maps were also developed by former Counter-Strike developers that were integrated with help from Valve.