Hey everyone!

We've been working on the NS2 beta like crazy. These past few weeks we added so much to the game that we thought we would show you some of the biggest changes in a patch video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-4lgOMO4aM

Don't forget to click "subscribe" in YouTube (it's a new channel for us) so you can get more updates like this. If you want to start playing, you can pre-order the beta now at http://www.naturalselection2.com

Thanks so much for your support.

-Charlie
P.S. I know this group says "official" but it really no longer is (long story)! Our officially official NS2 Steam group is here: http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/games/ns2 so you'll probably want to join this to stay in the loop.

Hello NSPlayers!

Usually we post a simple text change log describing the changes but we're trying something new this week: here's a short video that has the NS2 developers talking about and SHOWING what they worked on in this update:

http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2011/1/ns2_build_162_released

This build also includes several weeks of work rewriting the physics and collision systems to yield better performance and support for multi-threading. Our new physics/collision system is also designed to give us better control over the shapes the game uses to detect bullet hits, melee attacks and movement. This is something we're hoping to take advantage of in the next patch.

We're very interested to hear what you think about this format. Do you want to see more videos like this? More talking heads or less? Do you prefer us to focus on the game, technology or the personalities behind them?

Hey everyone,

We released a new trailer showing the Fade and moved to open beta. If you've already got NS2 (any version), it will auto-update. Otherwise, the next 10,000 people that pre-order can try it out!

Find all the info here:
http://www.naturalselection2.com

Thanks for your support everyone!

-Charlie and the NS2 Team

Hey everyone!

The NS2 Alpha Build 152 is now live on Steam! This alpha is available to those that pre-ordered the Special Edition already - it is closed to newcomers. But don't worry, we'll be opening it up to beta folks soonish as well.

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.

-Charlie and the NS2 Team

Hey everyone,

In case you haven't heard, we are releasing the first version of the NS2 alpha on Monday, July 26th. Screenshots, features, etc:

http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2010/7/ns2_alpha_date_set

If you want to get in on it, you'll need to buy the Special Edition of NS2 before then. It's also the last day to get the Special Edition and all-black marine armor:

http://www.naturalselection2.com/buy

Thanks everyone and see you in alpha!

-Flayra