I need a multiplayer FPS. Is Steam the way to go?

[speedracer]

So I'm currently downloading the FEAR multiplayer, but I'm looking for something I can really sink my teeth into. I just quit WoW, and need a FPS methadone shot. I've played BF2 and Unreal until my eyes bled, and am looking elsewhere.

Criteria:

1. I don't want there to be 20 global players. Must still be alive and kicking.
2. Nothin I've played before. That's UT and BF.
3. I've read a little about Steam. Is that the way to go? Should I buy *.*:Source games, or just one, or somewhere in between?
4. Multiplayer experience is what I'm looking for. Single player modes don't interest me in the slightest.

Any experiences or suggestions will be looked upon favorably by your chosen maker when that time comes. Thanks in advance.

[darthbudge]

Hmm well Steam is pretty good cause you have got, CS and HL2 and lots of others like that. If you have a good PC I have heard that Rainbow Six Vegas has really good multiplayer.

[speedracer]

Thanks for the response. I'm not so much into the (what I perceive to be) extremely slow style of the R6 games. I like it a little more wide open than that. I can totally do the team style fight, but I like to go a little schizophrenic every once in awhile too...

How rough is the learning curve in the Source games? I'm a pretty solid FPS player, but I know that learning curve is inevitable. How long is a noob with skills a noob?

[toper]

steam itself sux, but it's the only way I can play my beloved CS.

[uli2000]

YOu cant go wrong with CS, either 1.6 or source. both have thousands of servers up and allways have people playing. As for Steam, I cant say Im exactly a fan, but it could be worse. Unless you want HL:2, buying CS or CS:s off steam is the way to go. HL2 used to come with CS:S, Im not sure if it still does though. CS 1.6 on its own is $10 thru steam, and CS:S is $20. Personally, if you choose 1.6, Id find the CS anthology pack. Its $10-15 and has CS 1.6, CS condition Zero (which also has multiplayer), and CZ deleted scenes (single player only, though its not too bad, good game to get used to playing CS with).

[uli2000]

Thanks for the response. I'm not so much into the (what I perceive to be) extremely slow style of the R6 games. I like it a little more wide open than that. I can totally do the team style fight, but I like to go a little schizophrenic every once in awhile too...

How rough is the learning curve in the Source games? I'm a pretty solid FPS player, but I know that learning curve is inevitable. How long is a noob with skills a noob?

CS can be both extremely slow, or super fast. If you like it fast and berzerk, try a gun game deathmatch server. Constant respwaning. Zombie mod is also pretty cool for fast paced action.

I didnt find too much of a learning curve with CS. I first played CS:S when I got HL:2, but didnt really like it. I was big into ET at the time. I really only started playing CS:S seriously about 4 months ago. Its pretty easy to get the hang of.

[speedracer]

So I'm looking at the game packages they're selling, and this is the one they're shilling that looks the best to me. Sound about right to all of you?

Counter Strike: Source
Day of Defeat: Source
Half-life 2: Deathmatch
------------------------------
$29.95

Sound like a good place to start?

[uli2000]

Sounds pretty good. I wasnt really a fan of DOD. I own the original, and have played the source on the free weekends. Its basically a CS mod with WW2 weapons. I have HL2:DM, but have never played it. I think its multiplayer HL2. Playing with the gravity gun would be pretty cool, though. You should also be able to play alot of the multiplayer mods. Goldeneye source and the battlefields source are a couple of my favorites.

[RollingSkull]

So I'm looking at the game packages they're selling, and this is the one they're shilling that looks the best to me. Sound about right to all of you?

Counter Strike: Source
Day of Defeat: Source
Half-life 2: Deathmatch
------------------------------
$29.95

Sound like a good place to start?
That should get you a massive breadth of what the 'official' Source mods have to offer. It wouldn't hurt to splurge for something HL1 style as there are great amounts of good mods for the HL1 engine. Still, CS:S is CS, and is popular for some reason I am not yet aware of. DoD:S should bring to mind the sort of gunplay reminiscent of the few times where urban, man-to-man combat really got going in BF2. Only with more focus on good grenading.

And HL2: DM? Straight up, old-school DM action. Sure, it ain't Unreal, but you cannot go wrong with the fun of this.

And Source feels real natural, no matter what mod you play. Just that CS:S is a game of somewhat ridiculous recoil patterns for the guns, and you'll need to learn them to get anywhere. You'll be bullseyeing people's brains with the magnum in HL2: DM in no time, though.

[Kendro]

So I'm currently downloading the FEAR multiplayer, but I'm looking for something I can really sink my teeth into. I just quit WoW, and need a FPS methadone shot. I've played BF2 and Unreal until my eyes bled, and am looking elsewhere.

Criteria:

1. I don't want there to be 20 global players. Must still be alive and kicking.
2. Nothin I've played before. That's UT and BF.
3. I've read a little about Steam. Is that the way to go? Should I buy *.*:Source games, or just one, or somewhere in between?
4. Multiplayer experience is what I'm looking for. Single player modes don't interest me in the slightest.

Any experiences or suggestions will be looked upon favorably by your chosen maker when that time comes. Thanks in advance.

You and Source games will go together like peanut butter and jelly. I recommend getting Counter-Strike: Source first. Some of the hardcore purists will insist on the original but Source is a great start. 40 player servers are literally a dime a dozen, you will find so many packed servers to play on that you will be overwhelmed.

Counter-Strike: Source is kinda right dab in the middle between UT and Rainbow Six. It moves plenty fast yet you are useless without help from your teammates. In a game like UT, the best player in the world can pwn a room full of 5 newbies. In CSS, the best player in the world will probably die every round if it was him vs 3 newbies so the realism is there.

[Photomotoz]

Steam sucks bad. But you gotta use it.

Day of Defeat is a pretty good choice. An FPS with a bit of team working added in. Lots of fun.

I do not like CS:Source but it sounds perfect for you. You can play as a team or you can go lone wolf. Lots of mods for it too and no learning curve. It is really just point and shoot. Also another thing to note is there are a lot of assholes and cheap asses. Get some friends online and play with them or in a clan. Then you will have a grand ole time. Lots of variations in levels and mods. CS:Source is your best bet.

HL2 Deathmatch is okay but it gets old fast.

[R1V3R5]

Sounds pretty good. I wasnt really a fan of DOD. I own the original, and have played the source on the free weekends. Its basically a CS mod with WW2 weapons.

DOD plays nothing like CS. Same engine, yes. But the game has different controls (as far as an fps can) and different gameplay entirely.

[crystalklear64]

Planetside.

[naes]

Starsiege: Tribes (http://www.download.com/Starsiege-Tribes-full-install/3000-7453_4-10294999.html)