So we're doing CS:S stuff now...
Remember the weekly requirement: Two reviews per week, minimum.
If you're new to the team, please make sure you read everything covered here — I'd really hate to have to cut qualified people simply because they didn't know some important things about being on the CSN team...
For CS-Nation Skins, we have queues and sotds to deal with. You can either "approve to queue" or "approve to sotd."
titles
Please try to go with the title in the zip file. Submitted titles are often filled with errors. All CS:S models should have [CS:S] at the start of the title.
credits
Credits should be names only, separated by commas and a single space. ie: "Bullit, DeadLOK, SPASTiC CHiLD, Wannabe" or something like that. No other formatting/extra info (such as who did what) should be listed. Make sure the credits are accurate to any included readme file, and formatted correctly.
scoring
Custom sounds do not affect the score for a weapon, unless they're for some reason necessary. (IE, timings are off without them, or it's a newly silenced model, and thus needs silenced sounds.) Custom sprites never affect the score under any condition.
Scoring reminder:
10 should be models that everyone must download and use to replace whatever model they're using now.
9 should be models that have NO FLAWS and look great. NO FLAWS.
8 should be excellent: everyone should try it out at least once.
7 is where it becomes more niche, but still good quality.
6 good, but some shortcomings, etc.
- If you get below that, the model shouldn't be featured as skin of the day, but should be put in the queue.
- Signatures are automatically added at the end of a review, so don't bother adding one manually.
Don't mention the existence of shield models, other than (perhaps) to mention something different about them. It is assumed that all pistol/knife/grenade models include shield models. Since most servers don't allow the shield, exceptions are permitted, but try to find models that are complete.
Likewise, all models (v_ p_ & w_) should be present for every model you review, UNLESS the nature of the weapon doesn't allow for it. No reviewing old models where the p_ model was simply erased, or new ones where the author was too lazy to create them.
If you're going to talk about another reviewed model or section of CSN, please take the time to link to it if possible. So, if you say "this Deagle is like the Chrome Deagle except that..." then I want to see some link tags around the referenced model, to make things easier for our viewers. Same type of deal when you talk about the submit page, or often when referencing, say, the Deagle archives.
Legal Issues
overview
All approved models need to have an in-game screenshot along with them.
optimal config
For both versions, if you're able try boosting your resolution near the 12x10 realm so you can get a lot of detail in your screenshot. If taking in-game shots of player models, you can try using r_drawviewmodel 0 to get your weapon out of the way if that makes it easier.
For CS1.6, use hud_draw 0 to disable the hud for the screenshots.
For CS:S, set "sv_cheats 1" and "cl_drawhud 0" in that order to do the same.
player model shots
As far as the in-game shots are concerned, yes, even player/hostage models get in-game shots. Some examples of different ways of doing in-games for players/hostages are here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Scroll to the bottom of the page in each case. When cropping your images for weapons, focus on getting the most detail shown of the gun itself (and perhaps some of the arms). This MP5 or this AK47 can serve as examples.
CSN Team stuff!
To "dibs" a skin, just put something like "Dibs 9/11/05 -NH" in the review section for that model, and click the update/approve button at the bottom (without changing the drop down to "approve"). Please do not put dibs on a skin and then not review it for several days.
----------------
The current team is: Nighthawk, Haderlump, Dmanrs367.
Remember the weekly requirement: Two reviews per week, minimum.
If you're new to the team, please make sure you read everything covered here — I'd really hate to have to cut qualified people simply because they didn't know some important things about being on the CSN team...
Queue vs. Sotd
For CS-Nation Skins, we have queues and sotds to deal with. You can either "approve to queue" or "approve to sotd."
| SOTD | Queued Model |
|---|---|
| Posted on a specifically assigned day. | Posted when Nighthawk or rizzuh approves all queued models. |
| Must have relatively lengthy review, covering all facets of a model. | A one or two paragraph review with a quick overview and a quick rating is fine. |
| Must be rated 6 or above to be SOTD-worthy. SOTD is an honor. | Any rating. Being in the skins archive is nothing special. (however we don't want a lot of crap in there either) |
| Both must have in-game screenshot. | |
| Both must have properly formatted credits. | |
Formatting and scoring
titles
Please try to go with the title in the zip file. Submitted titles are often filled with errors. All CS:S models should have [CS:S] at the start of the title.
credits
Credits should be names only, separated by commas and a single space. ie: "Bullit, DeadLOK, SPASTiC CHiLD, Wannabe" or something like that. No other formatting/extra info (such as who did what) should be listed. Make sure the credits are accurate to any included readme file, and formatted correctly.
scoring
Custom sounds do not affect the score for a weapon, unless they're for some reason necessary. (IE, timings are off without them, or it's a newly silenced model, and thus needs silenced sounds.) Custom sprites never affect the score under any condition.
Scoring reminder:
10 should be models that everyone must download and use to replace whatever model they're using now.
9 should be models that have NO FLAWS and look great. NO FLAWS.
8 should be excellent: everyone should try it out at least once.
7 is where it becomes more niche, but still good quality.
6 good, but some shortcomings, etc.
- If you get below that, the model shouldn't be featured as skin of the day, but should be put in the queue.
Standards of reviewing
- Signatures are automatically added at the end of a review, so don't bother adding one manually.
Don't mention the existence of shield models, other than (perhaps) to mention something different about them. It is assumed that all pistol/knife/grenade models include shield models. Since most servers don't allow the shield, exceptions are permitted, but try to find models that are complete.
Likewise, all models (v_ p_ & w_) should be present for every model you review, UNLESS the nature of the weapon doesn't allow for it. No reviewing old models where the p_ model was simply erased, or new ones where the author was too lazy to create them.
- If something doesn't appeal to you, but isn't necessarily bad enough to delete automatically, comment on it to that effect. If you find one that has that comment, and also don't think it worth even putting in the queue, go ahead and toast it.
- Make sure you mention the existence any extra stuff in the .zip file (sounds, sprites, alternate models/textures, etc).
- Make the first paragraph of your review very relevant to the model, as it's the only one shown when browsing the archives.
- Avoid talking about HLMV or exact poly counts in your reviews. It doesn't help the reader any, and it does distract from the main focus: the model being reviewed. Likewise, be careful about being overly technical. We may understand it, but if the community doesn't, it defeats the whole purpose.
- Short is fine so long as they're informative and point out the major strengths/weaknesses of the model. Short and incomplete, on the other hand, sucks.
- Stuff that is truly unnoticeable in-game is pointless to mention. If any errors is such a big deal that you feel the need to dedicate two paragraphs to the subject, you probably shouldn't be reviewing that skin.
- Don't review CS1.6 shield packs. They require the player to replace too many models to really customize their CS experience. Such models are the realm of model replacement packs, and not individual skins.
If you're going to talk about another reviewed model or section of CSN, please take the time to link to it if possible. So, if you say "this Deagle is like the Chrome Deagle except that..." then I want to see some link tags around the referenced model, to make things easier for our viewers. Same type of deal when you talk about the submit page, or often when referencing, say, the Deagle archives.
Legal Issues
- CS:CZ models are illegal to distribute, so go ahead and delete them (after you download them, lol, j/k) and don't review them under any circumstances. This does not include arm textures. Nobody cares about arm textures.
- No skins from other games or mods please without explicit permission from the creators.
In-game shots
overview
All approved models need to have an in-game screenshot along with them.
- you must take the screenshots. they may not come from the zip. you must take them. using your install of cs. :)
- crop your screenshots to only show the model.
- if you have multiple screenshots to show multiple models, crop them, and stack the images vertically.
- try to crop and size the images to be around 400 pixels in width, max.
optimal config
For both versions, if you're able try boosting your resolution near the 12x10 realm so you can get a lot of detail in your screenshot. If taking in-game shots of player models, you can try using r_drawviewmodel 0 to get your weapon out of the way if that makes it easier.
For CS1.6, use hud_draw 0 to disable the hud for the screenshots.
For CS:S, set "sv_cheats 1" and "cl_drawhud 0" in that order to do the same.
player model shots
As far as the in-game shots are concerned, yes, even player/hostage models get in-game shots. Some examples of different ways of doing in-games for players/hostages are here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Scroll to the bottom of the page in each case. When cropping your images for weapons, focus on getting the most detail shown of the gun itself (and perhaps some of the arms). This MP5 or this AK47 can serve as examples.
politics + odds and ends
CSN Team stuff!
- Want an @csnation.net e-mail account? E-mail Zips: zips@csnation.net
- All permanent reviewers should have a paypal account and send it to rizzuh: rizzuh@csnation.net
- Please don't edit user reviews and pose questions or question their opinions. If someone is breaking the rules, get rid of their post. If someone is posting a stupid opinion, let them post their dumb opinion. They paid to do so.
- As part of the CSN team, remember that you aren't allowed to cuss on public parts of the site.
- Excessive Valve bashing isn't very acceptable, as we try to maintain good relationships with them.
- Don't argue and bicker childishly with other reviewers in the Nationalist reviews. If the public sees us cut down each other both in reputation and opinion, that reflects VERY badly on CSN. (Never argue with another CSN team member in public, very unprofessional!)
To "dibs" a skin, just put something like "Dibs 9/11/05 -NH" in the review section for that model, and click the update/approve button at the bottom (without changing the drop down to "approve"). Please do not put dibs on a skin and then not review it for several days.
----------------
The current team is: Nighthawk, Haderlump, Dmanrs367.
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