Counter strike is series of First Person multiplayer shooter that involves two sides Terrorist and Counter Terrorist battle. Counter Strike or CS originally started out as a modification from the game Half-Life when valve corporation finally owned the rights to in 2000. Why I chose this game is because CS has been a huge part of my life, in which I started playing since condition zero when I was in 4th grade. I as of today still do play Counter Strike Global Offensive which is the latest release of this series. However today we will be discussing CS 1.6 in which I chose for this blog due to its series of game modification modes. A point I like to bring up from Stockberg , “changing a functional or aesthetic element in an existing game.This often critical or ironic intervention is referred to as modification (mod) or patch.” It is interesting because counter strike started out as a modification however, as the years progress, more and more mods have been included to the game such as jail break or zombie mods. All these modification have improved the game and attracted more people to play.
The original developer of the models in Counter strike came from the game Half Life, most of the models in the game was taken from Half Life, like the zombies above. Using Stockberg’s theory of creating aesthetics through modification Counter strike is a perfect example. Think about how old this game currently is, around 20 years or close to, (talking about half-life models) and compare it to the models today. The evolution of aesthetics using previous models and improving it year by year is considered good art. The Hegemony of play as discussed earlier in our class, is perfectly shown from Counter strike as it evolves and how the graphics transgressed and improved throughout the years have definitely enhanced the game.
What is amazing about Counter Strike is all the modifications it has went through. Different mods have been added to the game so that gameplay changes completely. The original intent of the game was a fight between terrorist and counter terrorist. But mods such as jail break in which players are selected as the warden (counter terrorist) and the terrors are considered the prisoners terrorists. In this game modification, the wardens have instructions for the prisoners to follow and if they fail to follow they lose their life. While following these orders, the prisoners are allowed try and slip away to find guns that are stashed around the map. The round ends when one side is eliminated. From this modifications definitely improve game play, but also the aesthetics. Different player models and object models can be used and incorporated in a mod. These mods allow the developer or artist to create a a story in their own vision.
Video Games and/as Art 
I have never played CSGO but oddly enough I enjoy watching it as an eSport. It is so interesting to watch people play at the highest level. I never knew there were so many cool mods to the game. I really want to try them out now.
LikeLike
You brought up an interesting point in your blog that I want to highlight and talk about when you wrote, “It is interesting because counter strike started out as a modification however, as the years progress, more and more mods have been included to the game such as jail break or zombie mods. All these modification have improved the game and attracted more people to play.” I agree with this comment and a game called MX Simulator allowed gamers to mod the game as well by creating new tracks. This has allowed the game to stay relevant and “fun” for many years. My question then becomes who is the author? Is it the original game developers? Or the gamers who have continued to mod the game? Or both? Does it matter?
LikeLike
Following dustynunes37’s comment, I don’t think you’ve really followed up with your claim. This is a really interesting example, but you never identify an author, just that modification is important. Specifically, you write: “the original developer of the models in Counter strike came from the game Half Life, most of the models in the game was taken from Half Life, like the zombies above. Using Stockberg’s theory of creating aesthetics through modification Counter strike is a perfect example.” But how is it a perfect example? Who is the author? Is it Valve, the creators of the original counterstrike, or the players that have continued to modify it? It seems like you’re arguing the latter, but never saying it.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed your post because I have a very similar relationship to counter strike specifically condition zero because that was when I started playing it as well. I couldn’t agree anymore with you with your argument about Stockberg theory and how the mods have increased the viewing stimulation that we get from art forms. Though I do agree with the above comments on elaborating more about how its a perfect example.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Aangr.
LikeLike
Interesting read, i too have also played this game and find that the ability to modify the game is really one of the bigger aspects of this game that make it fun. As for the artist of the game I believe it is the original developers but the game has evolved with the community which shows that” Death of the Author” point that show us that the individual players themselves make what they want of the game through modification. This is why the community can also to incorporated as the Artists of the game. Without the original developers creating the game means there would be no modification, and without the modification of the game it wouldnt be what it is today so they both play hand in hand as the artist. Really enjoyed this blog!
LikeLike
So, who is the author here. I believe I understand what you are doing here by using the whole mods thing, but I you do not clarify who is the author here. There are ways to discuss this. For example, you could say that you insert some mod, would that make you the author of this game suddenly, or do you take Becker’s idea of collective activity. Perhaps you can talk about Barthe’s death of the author, where you become the author or the creator of the mods. There are ways to talk about the Author. Yet, you blog remains unclear.
LikeLike