Younger gamers reared on the Call of Duty franchise might scarcely be able to believe it, but there was a supreme FPS King for years before Activision's franchise decisively changed the landscape forever. Back in 1999, Half-Life modders created Counter-Strike, a ludicrously addictive online, squad-based shooter, before they were hired by Valve and the game was given a "proper" release in 2000. With its brilliant map design, high level of character customisation (for the time) and ruthlessly low level of player health compared to similar multiplayer shooters, Counter-Strike became an overnight sensation, and by 2011, the series had sold over 25 million units worldwide. Though very much past its prime now, back in the early 2000s, CS was the multiplayer FPS that everyone with a half-functional PC played, providing fiendishly addictive gameplay and also helping kick-start the now-huge E-sports movement.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
