Natural Selection 2

**Thorsen** · 02-01-10, 12:04 PM

So with the announcement that Natural Selection 2 is FINALLY about to hit alpha release, I decided it was time to get other TTPer's opinions on it, and its predecessor.

I began my online gaming career with Natural Selection, waaay back when it was first released. I have probably spent more time playing the original NS than any other game ever. It has always, and will always rank as my favorite game I've ever played. I can't explain exactly what about it drew me in so much, but I loved the hell out of that game.

Now the former mod team-turned developers, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, are working on the sequel; Natural Selection 2.

They have coded the game from the ground up, with a brand new engine, next gen graphics, physics, and complex and refreshing game play.

For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise, its a FPS/RTS hybrid set in space in the near-ish future. It pits "low tech" marines against a bacterial life form known as the Kharaa in battles for control of human expansions in space. The marines operate under the rule of the commander (A player who enters the "Command Chair".) The Commander sees the game from a top down RTS perspective, where he can issue move, build or attack orders, research technology, place buildings, and drop equipment. In order to accomplish these tasks, the commander needed res (resources) which could be extracted by building res towers on res nodes. It was this resource model that provided the main strategy and conflict in the game.

In the original NS, the aliens had no commander, instead operating as a communal team. Oddly, they didn't share resources like the marines, but each had their own individual resource pool. Aliens all began life as Skulks: Small, dog-like, hunter killers. They had low health and moved quickly. From there they could evolve into higher life forms ranging from the chubby, slow Gorge, to the massive and powerful Onos.

Natural Selection 2 has been in development for a VERY long time due to several large events that changed the direction and development process. But they are now very close to alpha stage. As a pre order customer I will be participating in the alpha. My questions are.

A) Anyone else at TTP who has played the original?

B) Anyone else going to be in the alpha?

C) Is TTP considering hosting a NS2 server at release?

Thanks guys.

**Cojiro** · 02-01-10, 12:13 PM

A) fuck yea i loved that game i spent hours a day every day playing it. FUCKING EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B) link me! if i gotta pay for that shit i want in. even if its $200 and im poor as fuck I WANT IT
C) I sure as fuck hope so. im sure we can make a strong argument for it. surely not combat mode (which was also fuckign epic) but the regular game mode.

**Anti-Squeaker** · 02-01-10, 12:18 PM

I'd be interested in the alpha. Never played the original (too young

), but it looks hella fun. I hope TTP gets a server.

**Potemkine** · 02-01-10, 12:23 PM

The big questions are, does it have dedicated servers, does it have VoIP already in the game, What are the admin functionality tools, and is there a player base/demand for it both here, and the rest of the world.

**Cojiro** · 02-01-10, 01:11 PM

well the first game had voip, dedicated servers, admin functionality, and a greater player base demand then dod. so the second game has these shoes to fill

**Cojiro** · 02-01-10, 02:16 PM

goddam you got me all hyped. i might dl the original when i get home today if i can

**bust331** · 02-01-10, 02:53 PM

Never heard of it...but the trailer looks sweet as hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxfjf...layer_embedded

Filmed using the in-game engine.

**Thorsen** · 02-01-10, 03:02 PM

To get in alpha all you need to do is pre order. Its about 40 bucks I think.

As far as I know it will feature dedicated servers, voip and admin functions. Its a PC only title, being developed by and for PC gamers, so I would imagine these features will be present.

**Riot_Starter** · 02-08-10, 10:03 AM

Oh man. I loved NS1 and played it for years. I played it after CS and I never went back. I probably would still be playing it if TF2 hadn't come out. I've been following the NS2 development, but was hesitant to pre-order until I saw some gameplay footage. Well, I think I'm sold:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu23z...layer_embedded

I'm going to pre-order, so I can get into the alpha and get hooked all over again.

As for a TTP server, I really hope they pick it up. The game is very team oriented and requires communication and coordination of all the players to succeed. The sides are not identical, so the game has some good depth to it. It has a very good mapmaking community, which produces great maps that the developers regularly made "official" (before Valve made it cool

).

**Watsyurdeal?** · 02-08-10, 06:43 PM

Hm, this game intrigues me. Anyone know a good place where I can watch some gameplay?

And also, I have TFC installed on my computer. Would I be able to run NS off that?