On January 7th, 2008, Sean Heberly announced via www.caleague.com that everyone would be using the new and updated version of the CPL config.

Before this announcement, this config was used by only the upper divisions. Originally, to win your match in CAL, you would have to win 16 rounds out of 30 total. With the new CPL config, you now only need to win 13 out of 24. This will significantly reduce the amount of time spent per match, due to the less number of rounds needed to win. Also what was once called pistol rounds, when the teams would first start with $800 and a pistol per round, has now changed to $16000, the maximum amount available in CounterStrike.Pistol rounds was a big factor in winning matches. If you won pistol round, you gained money while the other team didn’t have so much. The longer the match went on, if a team had won the pistol round, chances are they would win another 3 to 4 rounds, giving them a huge advantage.Now with the 16,000 available first round of the match, this makes it tougher for everyone. You now have to worry about getting awped or mowed down by a rifle the first round. I believe this config has been a big change for everyone due to the amount of money handed out in the match. Also the time limit has been changed to 1:34 which pushes teams towards a more aggressive type play in matches. The old config once used, gave both teams enough time to setup each player in positions and wait for the opposing team to run they’re strategies. With the new round time change, what once was delay strategies, will now be executed a little faster due to the round timer.

Don’t just take my word on it, i’ve asked several players in this division how it has affected them and this is how they responded……………..

When asked… “How do you feel about the old Cal config being changed to the Cpl config?”

jRock of HelixGaming responded “I think that it is a great idea, because it adds more excitement to the matches and it also shortens round length. Teams also have to use newer strategies that are based around fast paced action.”

tinkerbell of -gO?- responded “I like that fact that I can afford a gun on the first round, but I do miss having to work my guns. Also, getting awped on the first round sucks.”

Yoda of trP responded “It speeds up the game and forces players to use different strategies. before players had to carefully manage money in the opening rounds to avoid being blown out in the later rounds. with the old config if you lost the first round you would be out gunned for the next 3 rounds. Ive also noticed that there are a lot more AWPers with the new config causing teams that dont have atleast 2 good awpers to not only lose but get murdered. i like how we now Start out with money, and even if you lose every round with the losing bonus you can still to afford an ak and full armor ever round. I dont like however, the change in the timelimit of each round. with the shorter time, as terrorists we can nolonger walk to the bombsite and still have enough time to plant. I do favor the additional money but would rather the time limit be changed back”

Capitan of DD responded “Well, i think that they made it to advanced. its nice but i don’t think it should be that much money, maybe half money or something like that.”

Djan of Marvel Gaming responded “To be honest, I personally don’t like the new cpl config mainly because of the throwing away the cool pistol rounds. I think the 16k took away part of what made the competative play so fun and interesting.Now people just use guns and kinda forget about the epic pistol rounds.

Vanity of Anarchy’s Brutal Soldiers responded “Having the old Cal config changed over to the new Cpl config i think was a great idea, it allows players to use the weapons they feel most comfortable with and are best with. then rather have less money then an apposing player and to u lets say a Glock against a M4a1. If you are good, you could pull this off, but its just 1 thing less for players to complain about. Its Full Force vs Full Force. It also gives first year teams a helping hand, starting with 16k, so even if they’re strats aren’t that good. Maybe they’re aim is better then the other teams. Round time changed from 2 minutes to 1 minute and 34 seconds was a bad choice. by decreasing the time, its pushing players to rush themselves being on the T side and makes them rush shot wich will miss. I would rather have it about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. that would give players enough time to plan a strategy and exicute it. As another good choice they made was to decrease the rounds from 16 out of 30 all the way down to 13 out of 24. this will keep players concentrated in the match, then to have it exceeded to 16 out of 30 where players begin to get bored of losing, or bored of domninating the opposing team.”