CS-Nation

Covering the future of Counter-Strike
voice communication
V o i c e - C o m m

Recommended Headset
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The Plantronics Audio .60 Lightweight Stereo PC Headset is a great headset for Counter-Strike.
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One of the major new features in CS is the ability to communicate with your team verbally without using third party software. With this new technology, servers that were once barren communication wastelands are now alive with vocal pleasure! Clans can now implement strategy, allowing them to correct their play in real time instead of using preplanned mumbo jumbo that could be ruined by one foul-up or unexpected occurrence. People can now just press a button and bark orders or call for backup in intense firefights instead of being required to stop and type their messages, which in the past could have led to their untimely demise. This is great you say. Incredible? Yes. Revolutionary? Perhaps. Life-changing? Probably. Ultra-k3wl? Definitely.

You've just opened the Amazon.com package with your fancy new headset. You're ready to hop on in and lose some sleep. You pick a server, join, wait for it to load, and choose your team and model. You're all set now. There's only one problem: HOW DO YOU USE THIS THING?

Well, friends. Fret no more. After reading this guide you'll be the Counter-Strike oratory master. Read on… Read on…

The Basics

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voice_tweak.exe: Valve's voice tweaker
First things first, lads; you need to learn how to use this bad jackson. We all know how "helpful" the CS community can be, especially when it comes to the "newbie" questions. What you need to do before you even start to consider thinking about the possibility of using the voice com is configure your mic. Our friends at Valve have included a handy-dandy gizmo affectionately called Voice Setup, which will be created in your Sierra/Half-Life (or Counter-Strike) program folder under your start menu (or voice_tweak.exe for those of you who prefer to use Windows Explorer to manually browse to your HL/HL: cs folder). Use this tool to adjust your volume so the other players can hear you! If you can't seem to get the volume right, try moving the mic closer or farther from your mouth or toward the corner of your mouth (which will also improve clarity).

That's an important step isn't it? Yes, yes it is. Alright, homeslice, you're one step closer to being a supreme CS vocalist. Once you're all set with the mic volume and whatnot, you need to bind a key to "+voicerecord" or, if you use the shell binder (run CS go to PLAY CS and then CONTROLS), bind a key to "Use Voice Communication". Make sure it's within close reaching distance, as you'll (hopefully) be using it a lot. After that small step for mankind is finished, just hold down your +voicerecord button and start groovin'!

speaker icon!How do you know if your rhymes are getting through to your fellow players? Well, when you press your 'Use Voice Communication' button down, you'll get a small icon in the lower right hand corner, showing you that you're on the air. Likewise, when your homies are preachin' their soulful words, a chat bubble (it's not really a bubble though) will appear over their head.

Ignoring

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Voice comm allows you to easily mute immature players.
Face it, kids; there are bad seeds out there. People who would like nothing more than to crush your fine summer day with a cavalcade of raining hellfire. Well, being the observant blokes they are, Valve has politely given us the ability to mute those naughty brats. It couldn't be simpler. Once [l33tkr3w]Ne0-Morphe0usXXX[PORN-MASTAH] starts blasting the latest Slipknot song into your ears, you simply bring up the multiplayer info screen (TAB, most likely), click once to bring up your cursor and then click on that little bastard's name.

Voila! The only time our annoying little friend will be wasting is his own. One word of advice though, don't ignore everyone the first time they blow some static at you, they could be having temporary technical difficulties OR maybe they weren't as smart as you and didn't read this incredibly complete guide first. I tend to give everyone about three strikes. On the third strike they're so out that they're back in.

If you ignore someone with voice communication, you won't see any of their text either. This feature lets you ignore text spammers as well.

talking ct!Etiquette
Lastly, there are just a few rules I'd like to share with you about "proper" use of your mic. Remember, these are not bots you're talking to. Just like in the real world (what's that?) your actions can result in very unpleasant feelings towards you. Try to maintain a mature attitude while you're busting phat grooves like Busta Rhymes, yo. Secondly, as my great friends at Penny Arcade once said, "Chatty [female dog] should go on irc if he wants to chat!" This is a tool for team chat, not an opportunity for you to discuss your nocturnal habits with clan mates. Finally, remember to speak clearly. This is new technology and the sound quality is not crystal clear yet. Don't just blow through your sentences like you're a Hyperactive, Caffeine-intoxicated Chihuahua. Stay calm, and I guarantee everything will be copasetic.

In closing, I feel that this new invention has revolutionized our favorite game. It has made communication much, much, much easier while promoting team play at the same time. With this guide and some delightful chaps to play with, you will have more fun than you ever have before in CS. So, for those of you who have made it this far, go henceforth and make us proud. Do not turn to the dark side!

Although you will appear on the radar, be sure to give locations rather than just saying "here" or "there." The radar flash is brief and it's easier for your team when you just say where you are. Use reference points, like "under the bridge" or "near the stairs."

For a more in-depth voice communication guide, read our Tango Down advanced strategy.

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