UPDATE: IT WAS ABOUT TIME...

NS2 Alpha Build 152

October 27, 2010

The NS2 Alpha Build 152 is now live on Steam! This patch represented a large engineering effort, to make the physics, networking and hit registration work much better.

Here's a summary of the changes:

  * Fixed hit registration problems
  * Fixed various "hitching" problems
  * New commander minimap, with "blips"
  * New dedicated server web interface
  * A dozen or so new view model animations
  * Added alien "Crag" structure
  * Added sound occlusion so sounds behind walls/objects sound muffled
  * New marine Commander "Replicate" ability - instantly duplicates a built marine structure
  * Context-sensitive mouse cursors
  * Commander alerts
  * Marine squads, order giving and waypoints
  * Hive sight
  * Much better Lerk flight
  * Bullet spread like NS1
  * Drifter "flare" ability that blinds marines (will require research)
  * Soundscape filters when you are hurt, spectating, etc.
  * Low health screen effects
  * Marine power grid - Power nodes on walls power lights and marine structures. Damaging power nodes causes lights to flicker, hurting them a lot causes lights to power cycle ominously and killing them makes the lights go out for a bit, before switching to aux. power and coming back on to limited usage. Marine structures power down and stop working when power node is destroyed, and come back online when repaired.
  * Added marine flamethrower
  * Bullet tracers
  * Skulk bite now connects more often (capsule trace instead of line)
  * Reworked ns2_tram expansion, vents and lots of polish

For the exhaustive change list (there are hundreds of entries), go here. http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=111289


We'll see you on the servers for a bit, then it's back to working on the next release! We have tons more in the works for you and we're planning on releasing our patches much more often from now on.

Source: http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2010/10/ns2_alpha_build_152

Can't wait to get home and start downloading this.

.osiRiS would be possible to update the GetSome server with the latest patch?

SO EXCITED

Gameplay video is nice and the world looks very big.

Definitely like the "In Progress" section. I am dissapointed in their progress on patching. They said one per week however I don't think a lot of development is being done to warrant a download per week.



Once they sort out the performance issues it will be more playable and worth testing further. It's great that they have listened to the community and marines can once again build

I personally DO NOT like what they've done with the alien side... Alien commander.... and Georges can no longer build DC/MC/Hive... It's messing with the original game mechanics too much... What made NS great was the two sides were different. Marines had the commander and the aliens had none but would work more closely together as a team with several Georges pushing up, etc...

I think the alien teamwork will be lost if there is an alien commander. I can't see who would bother going George then...
It's too slow, can't climb walls, can't setup little hijack nests of OC's and DC's, etc...

Yea toofast my i7 struggles. Lowering the res to 1024 x 768 and detail to awful gives me constant smooth gameplay. At these settings NS2 feels like old NS1 but slightly better textures and diff models.

I tried this on lan with a friend and my movement to him was normal. His movement to me was laggy and jumpy, exactly like on his screen. So there are several factors causing the jumping.

1. Unoptimized graphics/textures/engine = users with low end rigs to skip, jump, lag out.
2. Bandwidth usage per player is ridiculous. On dedicated server people jump and lag out regardless. Possibly too much traffic for client/server/client.
3. Net code is really bad. However this could be a result of the above 2.
If A player is moving slowly and standing still. Shots hit and register without any problems.

They plan to do updates once a week.

Thanks to oriRiS for his help and effort to setup an NS2 Alpha server for us. Really appreciate it.

PS. Check your msn, left you a msg on some possible improvements.

Would be interested to know who else from GetSome is playing NS2 Alpha other than me and TooFast.
I know there are several GP users that do but anyone else from GetSome?

The amount of hours and hours I spent playing NS.
Monies well spent. Yea roughly 54 NZD.

Those that miss out on the Special Edition if later you find your self wanting to buy it you will miss out on the black armor

Who else will I see playing this tomorrow?

Yea $40 will be the Standard edition price after this promotion ends. ie. timer countdown 0.

I wanted to get the standard but the special black armor is nice. Also the extra $20 supports the dev team and gives that big of extra support for the PC community and any free future updates down the track.

Who's getting it and who will be playing in the Alpha tomorrow?

Those that don't know what NS2 is check out some links below:

http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/

More info about the game:
http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/about/

Main site:
http://www.naturalselection2.com/

Some videos from main site:
http://www.naturalselection2.com/videos/

Video's from dev diaries:
http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/videos/


It's going to be awesome!