Counterstrike: User-created versions of “Half-life” game kicks ass – popularity outnumbers official version by a factor 100+! (CustomerMade liveblogging #4)

  • Jon Lund 

Research done by Lars Bo Jeppesen, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School, shows that Counterstrike – one of the many versions of the Half-Life game developped by users on the internet – is not only significantly but hugely more popular than the versions the Valve Software company themselves has released. That’s what his chart of recorded user-minutes globally, which he presented in todays first presentation, showed.

Increases lifetime of product
Not only has Valve achived a much better product, since they released 80 % of the code (along with a modifier program) to the HalfLife game on the internet in 1998. They also hugely increased the lifetime of the product. From a normal lifespan of 8-12 months of computergames before they wear out, Counterstrike has maintained its popularity. First year sales of 2 millions was followed by 2. and 3. year sales of  2 millions each. 

About Lars Bo Jeppesen
The official conference presentation of Lars Bo Jeppensen reads: Lars Bo Jeppesen’s research focuses on the end consumer’s role as co-developer in commercial innovation processes. The main part of his studies deals with business models for involving user communities in product developments. Based on examples from the computer game industry, his studies show that companies, through the facilitation of user development, have made the foundations for significant commercial successes. One example is Counter Strike and other so-called mods, developed by users of Valve Software’s computer game Half-Life, which paved way for increased sales of Valve’s products. Lars Bo Jeppesen has published a wide range of articles on this subject in international journals. 

Live blogging from CustomerMade
This post is brought to you live blogging (well, this particular paragraph was actually written in advance just yesterday evening) from the The CustomerMade conference – one day of focus on usergenerated content, products and services: about how “the market itself is taking over all phases of production, from concept development and design to finished product” as the official website reads. Arranged by O’Reilly Media and Innovation Lab in corporation with  Foreningen af Danske InternetMedier (my organisation) – the IAB Denmark, among others.

More posts from CustomerMade
Here’s my other posts written during the day from CustomerMade: