I get a lot of e-mails about CS:S. Lots thanking me for Dust (and occasionally other maps I had nothing to do with). Thing is, I don’t deserve it, certainly not all of it anyway. To recognise the work of Valve, and to help clear up some of the misunderstanding behind CS:S, it’s about time I explained where the credit for the CS:S maps should lie. I don’t like taking credit for other people’s hard work!
The CS:S versions of Dust, Dust 2 and Cobble weren’t my creations, they were actually put together internally at Valve by a mixture of individuals, including Kristen Perry (MobyGames bio) and Ido Magal (MobyGames bio), who did a far better job than I could have done (being real, proper artists and all!) I can’t thank them enough for the amazing work they did. They gave my original maps a completely new lease of life and freshness.
Valve did of course show me their reincarnations, and naturally, I was amazed. I mean, I can’t fault their work at all. It’s just perfect.
Why didn’t I do it? Well, firstly, I had no experience with Source. Secondly, I’m not an artist. Thirdly, I was far too busy with University to do much else. CS:S players deserve only the best and I believe that’s what they’ve got.
Some of the original mock-up shots can be found in ‘Raising the Bar’. It’s a really good book. Get it.
Thanks Kristen, Ido, Jess and everyone else who I don’t know about. You lot are bloody awesome.