CSS SCI FI
Overview
CSS SCI FI is a mod that allows 27 different Counter-Strike: Source maps to be played in single-player Half-Life 2. The mod uses SMOD 39B2 to do this, which is installed as part of the download. All custom maps are unmodified and installed to the cstrike/maps folder, including bot navs and author documentation. With one installation each map can be played in either Counter Strike: Source against humans or bots, or in SMOD against HL2 AI.
Within each map the player spawns with a randomly selected and armed team of fellow citizens, who are optionally assisted by Alyx, Barney and a further randomly selected ally. These forces are pitted against a fixed number of Combine, whose type and armament is also randomly determined. Between the two forces is a random assortment of zombies and autonomous Combine weapons. The goal of the player is to eliminate all of the Combine forces, or to rescue at least one hostage alive, depending on the type of map. In CSS SCI FI 2.0, the player is given additional tasks, such as to find a particular weapon, eliminate a specific NPC, or protect an NPC from death.
In addition to allies and enemies, maps contain a randomly determined number of weapons and resources held in crates, which the player will need to survive and win the game. A few special crates in each map may include incendiary grenades, motion sensor bombs, hopwires or even food. Randomly generated props appropriate to the theme of the map are also seeded throughout each map.
Players will also face enemies including helicopters , gunships , apcs and other challenges, whose behaviour is controlled through scripting in order to produce a challenging yet realistic gameplay experience.
Features
- SMOD Configuration Utility. CSS SCI FI includes a configuration utility which allows players to set all game options using a dialogue based program. This program is a customised NSIS installer which outputs configuration files based on the user's choices. There are 14 pages of options which include, Difficulty, Weapon inventory, Crosshair, Health Regeneration and HUD, Bullet time, Performance, Screen effects, Gore, Ragdoll behaviour, Bloom, Game enhancements, Gameplay (choose allies and enemies) and Game options (chapter menu display). A complete description of the program can be found here.
- Random Scripting. Some features, including weapons, allies, events and enemies are scripted and others are randomly generated. Random entities and events are used to enhance the replayability of maps by ensuring that the resources available and threats encountered are never the same twice.
CSS SCI FI uses two methods to add entities to maps and control their behaviour: mapadds and lua scripting. Mapadds edit the entity table of a map as it is loaded but do not alter the map itself, which remains intact. SMOD also contains an implementation of the Lua engine and this is used for more complex routines, such as choosing and arming the combine which will be present in each map and determining when victory conditions have been satisfied. Commands and values are passed between the mapadd and lua system throughout the game. The resulting entity behaviour is indistinguishable to the player from that which can be made in Hammer, and even contains some improvements such as the continuous random goal searching behaviour of combine soldiers. More details about the editing process, including the system which copies the CS:S nav file into an SMOD node list, can be found here.
- Includes SMOD 39B2.
- Also available as CSS SCI FI 1.5, which does not include custom maps. This download is intended for those unable to download the 190 mb 2.0 release.
Localised versions
No localised versions are currently available. However, bilingual fans are encouraged to get in touch with the mod developer if they can assist in the translation of the SMOD Configuration Utility and in-game text.
Maps included
The following maps are supported by CSS SCI FI. All custom maps are included in the installation package. A complete list, including mission descriptions and screenshots, is available here.
Custom maps: CS_Beirut_HDR, CS_Harvest, CS_Xcom, DE_Atown_v1, DE_Battleship_HDR, DE_Biolabo_v1_2, DE_Bluecorridor, DE_Monach1, DE_Lochs2, DE_Nightfever, DE_Toxin_50, DE_Venice
Retail maps: CS_Assault, CS_Militia, CS_Office, DE_Aztec, DE_Cbble, DE_Chateau, DE_Dust, DE_Dust2, DE_Inferno, DE_Nuke, DE_Piranesi, DE_Port, DE_Prodigy, DE_Tides, DE_Train