The MOD is team-based featuring one team playing the role of the terrorist and the other team playing the role of the counter-terrorist. Each side has access to different guns and equipment, as well as different abilities. Maps have different goals such as: hostage rescue, assassination, bomb defusion, Terrorist escape, etc.

Weapons include the usual assortment of pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, grenades, demolition devices. Each side has access to a different subset of weapons so for example only the counter-terrorist can use the M4A1, and only the terrorists can use the AK-47.

We are confident that we've created a MOD quite unlike any other. We hope you will be immersed in the frightening and intense world of Counter-Terrorism.

Awards

Rookie Studio Award
Other nominees were: Free Radical Design for TimeSplitters; Massive Entertainment for Ground Control; Nihilistic Software for Vampire: the Masquerade - Redemption; and Planet Moon Studios for Giants: Citizen Kabuto.
-- Game Developers Choice Awards, GDC

Game Spotlight Award
Other nominees were: American McGee's Alice from Rogue/Electronic Arts; NFL2K1 from Visual Concepts; Sacrifice from Shiny Entertainment; Seaman from Vivarium; SSX from EA Canada; Virtua Tennis from Sega; Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask from Nintendo EAD; Samba de Amigo from Sonic Team; Shenmue from Sega AM2; and The Sims from Maxis.
-- Game Developers Choice Awards, GDC

Multiplayer Game of the Year
"Ultimately, Counter-Strike plays great ... Counter-Strike helps redefine the model for what online multiplayer games can be."
-- Gamespot

Game of the Year
"We've logged more hours of Counter-Strike than all of the other nominees combined. Bug us after work and you're bound to hear, "Rush the H!" or "We're getting flanked!" Hop onto our numerous servers and you'll see a few GX tags (Gamers.com employees) owning it up. Great games come and go, but we always find ourselves returning to Counter-Strike, our Game of the Year."
-- Gamers.com

Best Action Game of the Year
"Great job ... you cost us some very nice features that our readers might've enjoyed if it wasn't for the fact that we were busy playing Counter-Strike all the time."
-- Actiontrip.com

Online Game of the Year
"A winning blend of strategy, tactics, patience, guile and an itchy trigger finger, Counter-Strike has not only captured, but has held to ransom, the hearts and minds of dedicated online fragsters everywhere."
-- Gamespot UK, gamespot.co.uk

Expansion of the Year
"Counter-Strike is rapidly becoming a way of life for the thousands of players who have made it the single most popular game on the internet at the moment. Counter-Strike won out in the end for its visceral hardcore shooter action and hugely compelling gameplay."
-- Gamespot UK, gamespot.co.uk

Special Award for Multiplayer Gaming
"As we look back over the last 12 months, no multiplayer game engrossed us more. The balance was almost perfect. We've literally played this one until sunrise multiple times, and we're pretty sure a lot of our readers could relate."
-- Gamespy.com

Revolutionary PC Game of 2000
"It's the most addictive and well designed game this year. Simple on the surface but intricate beyond belief, there's good reason why CS is the most popular multiplayer game around. Don't believe us? Then you haven't played it."
-- Gamerevolution.com

Best PC Game - Online
"Duh. Taking teamwork to unprecedented levels, CS has redefined online fragging. There's plenty more we'd like to say, but we'd rather go play it some more..."
-- Gamerevolution.com

BEST PC Action/Tactical Game Of 2000
"This is a textbook of how a popular mod becomes a full-fledged game. Half-Life: Counter-Strike began its life as a total conversion available free on the web (and still is) that quickly became the most popular mod ever for any game, featuring tens of thousands of gamers at peak times."
-- Gamepen, gamepen.ugo.com

Accolades

"It's not marketing or distribution or anything like that. It's popular because it's a great game that gets better all the time."
-- Gabe Newell, Valve Software

"I really like all games that are decently designed and Counterstrike is definitely worthy of its success. I like seeing an FPS that has staying power. It provides strong hope for the future of the genre."
-- John Romero, Ion Storm

"Counter-Strike is still a heart-pounding, visceral experience that gets under your skin. The game offers a sense of accomplishment and comradery that is simply amazing."
-- Computer Games Online, cdmag.com

"This game rocks. It's hard to even attempt to think of it as a mod, but it's just amazing. My hat goes off to those associated with the project. "
-- Ryan Feltrin, Gray Matter Studios

"[Gooseman] is a shining example of how individuals can still make a difference. And he's also the best thing that's happened to first-person shooters since the guys at id Software coded a little something called Doom from the confines of a metaphorical garage. "
-- Gamecenter.com

"Counter-Strike blends the delicious action of Half-Life with unique team based strategy creating perhaps the finest first person shooter played on the Internet today. With outstanding memorably themed maps and professional caliber player and weapon models, Counter-Strike for Half-Life rules the online world."
-- Robert "Apache" Howarth, VoodooExtreme.com

"Counterstrike has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of gamers out there. It's the first game mod to truly hit the "big time" and attract thousands of gamers online. It hits the perfect balance between realism and fun; the realistic elements are used to enhance the fun factor instead of inhibiting it. That's something most designers strive for, but few achieve."
-- CliffyB, Epic

"There is a reason why this game is the most popular online shooter; it combines the best of team based gaming with an authentic and therefore exciting approach to tactical ops."
-- Gameplay.com

"My personal pick for Mod of the Year: Counter-Strike. Think of it as the Rainbow 6 mod for Half-Life. It's by far the best teamplay mod out there, with realistic weapon modeling, interesting maps, and even a radio communication system."
-- Computer Gaming World Magazine (CGW)

"This is no more better demonstrated than by what Minh Le [Gooseman] has achieved. His mod, a free product he's designed because he loves games, loves Half-Life, and loves the community, is selling tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of copies of Half-Life. (I know people who have purchased the game just to play Counterstrike!)"
-- Brandon "GreenMarine" Reinhart, 3drealms

"Counter-Strike takes the cake in quality, quantity, and accesibility for military style simulations. My free time personally is spent playing Counter-Strike, and I love it."
-- Steve Gibson, Shugashack.com

"Everything about this modification oozes professionalism. The authentic SAS and Navy Seal player models are simply stunning to behold and the weapons blow away many creations in commercial titles. It's an astounding achievement for an amateur group of coders, and it plays like a dream."
-- Gamespot UK

"But we've become bored with the state of DM play lately. Mainly because it and the weapons haven't changed much in 3 years. We care much more about class/team based games now like Team Fortress and Counter-Strike. Nobody here really plays much Quake 3 or even UT because we've all been there, done that."
-- George Broussard, 3D Realms

"Counter-Strike, a kick ass mod for Half-Life -- you know it must kick ass as I very rarely mention mods."
-- Billy "Wicked" Wilson, VoodooExtreme

"I've been playing Counter-Strike since its day of conception, and it's got better and better all the time. I've paid for hundreds of games in my life, and ironically, one of the only ones I've played for more than a few weeks cost me nothing."
-- Shirow, halflife.net

"And you thought Team Fortress Classic was the greatest MOD ever created right? Definetely wrong. Counterstrike, a Half-life MOD has hit the scene, and might just be the hottest multiplayer title out there. . . Go pick it up, if you liked team fortress - you're going to love Counterstrike!"
-- Systemlogic.net

"It's Half-Life, but with stunning weapons, realistic and cleverly designed levels, ... Personally, I love it. Final note? It's free, it's a well sized download, get it.. try it.. LOVE IT!"
-- Mark "KILLZAT" Jackson, www.4-gamers.nu

"But this mod is so much fun; every friend I've suggested it to is now no longer my friend, as they only spend time playing the game. Forget EverQuest, this mod rocks."
-- Rob Walker, 3dgaming.net

"Go download this MOD. It is one sweet work of art. With a concept to die for (literally), graphics that run smooth and many kungpao-chicken-lovin' features, this game is a can't-miss!"
-- CTNews