Counter-Strike: GO beta applications open to survey-takers

Valve is beefing up its beta testing for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and all gamers need to do to be considered is answer a few questions. Valve has announced that players interested in trying out the new shooter can fill out an online survey and hope to be chosen.

Writing on the game's official blog, Valve said those who take the survey will be considered for admittance into the ongoing trial period. According to Valve, "If you don't fill it out, you won't be getting a key."

Valve said over the coming months it will make selections based on the survey and admit players in waves. The developer did not reveal how it will choose participants but noted that it will bring in experienced players, new players, 1.6 players, Counter-Strike: Source Players, and users who have played neither game.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is currently in development for release on the PC, Mac, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network, but no mention has been made concerning a beta outside of the PC.

When Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was announced last summer, Valve said the game would be out in early 2012. It isn't clear if the developer is sticking with that release window, as the game's beta was delayed to early February.

As for when the beta will end, Valve writer Chet Faliszek said in October that Valve will ship the game when the community says it's ready. "We have no mandate from anybody of when we have to ship this," he said. "So we're more than happy to just keep working on this until it's ready to ship. By the end of this, everyone will be playing the game--it will be the released game that you're just playing. Then, at some point, we'll say, 'OK we're going to release it.'"

For more on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, check out GameSpot's latest preview.