Natural Selection 2 News Update - Live Developer Q&A No. 1

Hugh · May 2012

Please post comments on the topic Natural Selection 2 News Update - Live Developer Q&A No. 1 here

Champlo0 · May 2012

The Q&A was so short, it felt. I wish there had been a system of rating the questions we wanted answered, as viewers, the most.

fmpone · May 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Champlo0 @ May 8 2012, 10:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1934640"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>The Q&A was so short, it felt. I wish there had been a system of rating the questions we wanted answered, as viewers, the most.</div>

There will be more in the future

salor · May 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Champlo0 @ May 8 2012, 09:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1934640"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>The Q&A was so short, it felt. I wish there had been a system of rating the questions we wanted answered, as viewers, the most.</div>

The point is that it was live and unorganised...a system of community rated question usually takes time to organise etc...

This format of dev Q&A works for its intended purpose, so you/we have to be there on the live interview for a chance of your question being answered.

Champlo0 · May 2012

I was there, I just wish we could have given the devs an idea of what we wanted answered the most. There were a lot of questions thrown about that people might have wanted certain ones answered more than others.

paradoxum · May 2012

Free stuff for Gorge here to stay?

Basically killed Gorge for me now, don't think i'll ever Gorge again :(

I should clarify that it's not necessarily the structures being free that I don't like, it's the consequences of it, which is a hard cap on the amount of hydras he can build and also how they die when the gorge dies. I can't see this being changed while they are still free because then there are more problems..

tyrael64 · May 2012

was great, its live.

Techercizer · May 2012

I already feel like every day on these forums is a developer Q&A, but it was nice to see the developers clarifying their stances in a conversational format.

paradoxum · May 2012

Overall I liked it, laughed a lot, you guys are funny;

- Exosuit model finished, has some awesome animation with the cockpit coming up when you get in it or something
- "Vortex" Fade ability, suck marines in to a vortex o_o
- Secret NS1 -> NS2 map in the works! first I heard about that
- new map soon! hooray
- "quite a number of new maps in development"
- Shift coming maybe next patch or the one after?!
- Lerk poison dart
- Gorge "spider"? ability
- Onos primal scream / Skulk xenocide
- New menu soon and is apparently awesome

fenrir1179 · May 2012

sweet...
new menu!! last weapon used!?... :)
xenocide + celerity launch the missles!!!
I am sad to hear devoure won't be in .. I thought it would be kewl if you had a welder and you're devoured you could damage the onos before you die making his regen uneffective... I&S yeah yeah
gewd stuff all in all

Champlo0 · May 2012

Follow up question: Will the new menu also bring a new interface to the HUD?

Drummer · May 2012

<a href="http://youtu.be/4RsM4J7sXz8?t=29m" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/4RsM4J7sXz8?t=29m</a>

love that reaction flayra :P

edit: 29 mins in btw, youtube deep links are acting weird for me, not going to the same spot each time i click the link....

Ybarra · May 2012

Loved the Q&A guys, looking forward to next weeks!

*PS. Be ware of the red light.

Albe23 · May 2012

I really dig this concept, it helps you connect with your fans/community better. Also, you should give us a tour of the facilities.....

bEEb · May 2012

Good stuff.

Delta1 · May 2012

Oh You TEASE what with the last minute info on abilities? EVIL and the wait...

Great Q&A

Laosh'Ra · May 2012

as for tracking stats, i noticed there are a lot of strong oppinions especially about kill-death e.g. several people (including me) perceive tracking it as a threat to teamplay.
there are some interesting points for both sides and of course this is for UWE to decide in the end. all i want to say is: please think about this carefully! for those people who care a lot about stats, the choice of tracked stats might greatly influence their behaviour in the game.
here is internetexplorer's thread about understanding kill-death-ratios which stirred up quite some emotions (9500 views):
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=117168" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=117168</a>

Koruyo · May 2012

Text summary...
(tho i still suggest to watch the video, if there is stuff you are unhappy about - i really tried to make it short, so it might be better to listen to the real thing)

Exo?
The model is done, ppl are working on it, tho still unclear when it will come into the game.

What are you planning to do with the Flamethrower?
"I dont know, I dont see anything wrong with the flamethrower atm" "...it could properly use some tuning...?!"

How modeable will the game be?
Ns2 is aimed to be the most modable game ever.
Thats why it is coded in lua.

Why GL as attachment instead of individual weapon?
Once you had the GL in ns1 you were basically helpless against skulks, so it got changed for ns2.
Tho it might be a bit too powerful in ns2 and be against the design goal of the game, because of not really having a tradeoff over the rifle. One thing shouldnt make another obsolete.
Not sure if they are going to do anything about it, they are considering it.

Fade Maelstrom and some other ability i couldnt understand?
Maelstrom is now called Vortex, its still in the thinking process... It could be something like "When Fade dissapears he creats a vortex and ppl can get sucked into it."

Lerk lift?
Create a mod, it wont get into the offical build.
The future autodownload of mods and map files will take care of it => usefriendly... When you join a server it will just install it and you can have it in the game.
They are going to make sure ppl know what mods are active on what server before they join.
NS2 will use STEAM WORKSHOP!
"thats how serious we are about modding."

Autodownload?
Not next build, but its comming...

Will welders weld doors and vents?
Very unlikly for vents, but doors is planned. (It already is in the code in some form, but not activated)
Low priority atm to bring it into the game - there is tons of other stuff they want to do before adding it.

Riding skulks?
Nope.

[color="#FF8C00"][b]Onos door smash?
When welding doors comes in it will come too. Its already coded and works.

Babblers?
They are kinda working also, but not ready for release...
Will be smaller than the ones in ns1, and will be available trough the mature crag.

Onos devour?
"You have devour - everyone complains about it, you remove devour - everyone complains about it, common give us a break! :>"
Most ppl seem to complain about taking away control...
-> Read Design FAQ about the topic of taking away control of players.

Will energy scale with teamsize?
"NO! It will break the whole thing..." Energy is based of structures, structures are based of tres and tres doesnt scale.
THe whole point if tres is that it doesnt scale.

Riding on ARCS?
That sounds like a good mod...

Free stuff for gorges are here to stay?
It most likly will
"i think its working pretty well"
"It will need some more tuning, he may have too many structures, or may not have enough to do but Player structures cant cost pres"

Exo weapons?
Claw - smash and throw aliens backwards
Minigun
Plasma/railgun?

Maybe the option to dual wield.

Whats the Redlight? (there was a red light visible in their office - webcam)
Bathroom light.

Dynamic infestation?
Its still planned to get it in before 1.0, worse case is that it might come closly after.

What dev task are low priority that modders could start working on for uwe?
It might come out wrong, but optimization... Currently they are intensly focusing on the C++ code, so there is plenty you could do on improving the lua code. They are focusing on the C++ code, because they try to make it so that strong lua optimizations might not be needed anymore. They would love that ppl wont have to worry too much how they write their lua code particulary.

First-Person view for eggs?
It will come, but they are waiting on transparency first.

Separated sound channels - Voice, Gamesounds etc.?
Brian is working on the new main menu atm (maybe next build), once its finished they are free to add tons of more options.

Ns1 map in ns2?
There is one upcomming (i think its ns2_veil if im not mistaken)

Server favourite options?
=> After the new main menu is done... you might see a lot of that stuff getting added.

What are your overall thought of the balance of the game?
While it is the most balanced build by statistics right now, it still needs a lot of work/change.
Definitely not happy with how a lot of stuff works atm etc.
Charlies focus atm is the high level Aliengame.

Will Ns2 work with steamfriends and invites?
It already does.

How do you look at ns1 today - goods and bads?
accesability, scaleability, not enough clear defined roles for aliens etc.
Plan is to fix everything charlies wasnt happy about in ns1 in ns2.

Alien movement chamber, press E to move from hive to hive?
The ns2 movement chamber wont have that.
But Celerity will come, different to ns1 - a bit less efficienct in combat, and more to get from hive to hive very fast etc. They didnt really want to have something similar to marine phasegates.

Linux server?
Will come.

Will there be water in the game?
No, or at least very very very far down the pipe(so i guess maybe at some point after 1.0?) - they want to focus and really important stuff first, water is something you can live without - its not worth holding up ns2 for it.

Ns2 Linux client?
No! Maybe? at some point?... its very likly they will work on making a mac client at some point in the future, and after that is done, it would be a lot easier to work on a linux client... it possible.

Something about DLC that i couldnt understand, 3 different colors for explosions?
Unlikly.

Aliens ability look around while evolving?
You can look around your egg...

What are you planning to do with onos stomp?
Its pretty decent... It should disrupt you and not mean more or less autodeath/delayed death, thats something that is bugging them a bit still..

Shift?
Pretty soon... means, in the next 1-2 patches.

Adrenaline?
Wont come in...

HMG?
Will come in form of the exo minigun.

Will there be a option to adjust color saturation?
Not per se.
We are doing this dynamic in the game, color correction etc.

How long until anti-cheat?
Not yet a very big priority...
Very likly that they implement VAC at some point.
(Sidenote by me: In case charlie reads this, no we cant use punkbuster - devs need to contact evenbalance, you need a contract => it costs money)

What are your marketing plans for 1.0?
Trough the community spreading the word, by making a game ppl love and want to play. Steam. Also visiting conferences -> press, but they are not planning to make some special ads or stuff like that...

Matchmaking?
They are looking at the valve matchmaking and would love to put that in the game, charlie is currently looking into tracking what stats to track by players => tons of data for beatiful graphs statistiks etc.
So very likly they will do matchmaking. "Its very important for a game like ns..."
(but it might not hit 1.0)

Elo ranking?
Maybe longer term, we dont need that for 1.0, tho definitely something they would love to have in the game at some point.

Will devs play with us in public games?
"We already do that..."
But they are using spoof names a lot etc.

Ns radio integration mod?
Would be awesome, but it would need to be a lot cleaner to be official...

Will there be another tournament?
There will be lots of tournaments, Hugh/Ns2hd/Strayan says that he would love to do one for the beta at some point.

Why the hard push for the summer release date?
Its time, they will be ready, finances etc.
Also version 1.0 doesnt mean the end, "its just the beginning."
=> lots of features etc. that can and will come after 1.0

Rebinding commander keys?
Yes, will come. May not be in the first patch the new menu comes in but its 100% planned.

NS2 getting into MLG?
We need your help to do that => community effort...

When can we expect new maps?
Guess within a month one new map will be released. (currently putting on finishing touches etc)

When are the tier 3 abilitys comming?
Cant really answer when, but its relative late ~1,5-2months, maybe more, maybe less.
Fade - Vortex
Lerk - maybe "Poison Dart"
Gorge - maybe "Spider"
Onos - Primal Scream
Skulk - Xenocite

Unknown · May 2012

I really liked it (the youtube video) even though I missed it unfortunately.

I hope you'll really do it once a week, it's a great way to build a stronger bridge between the devs and the community.

crypt · May 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Koruyo @ May 9 2012, 04:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1934711"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Text summary...</div>
Thanks!

iKossu · May 2012

Nice video! Good information and nice features coming up. I know a tiny band-aid for the nade launcher problem: instead of getting 50% ammo refilled with every armory "tick", reduce it to 25% or less, like maybe even one grenade. I think that'd help reduce the endless nade spam to a hive when there's an armory and GL-marine(s) near one.

peregrinus · May 2012

Please keep the Q&A live, it's so much better that way. Yea there are lots of questions to sift through but Hugh did a good job of selecting them.

derWalter · May 2012

19:30 gmt is 20:30 where i live!

so ns2 primetime = YES!!

weezl · May 2012

Suggestion for the GL problem:

-Add a standalone and dedicated GL!
-Make the GL-attachment (GL-A) a weaker type of attack!

The "main" GL would be the hard-hitter/demolition, with long fuse-time, long range and large damage - just like in NS1!
The current GL-A would be a weaker type tactical-support with short fuse; and thereby short range, and with smaller damage.
Then there's a bunch of tweaks I personally would like to do to the GL-A, that might be some brainstorming for you...

-Maybe make it explode on contact (like GL-A was when first introduced into ns2).
This would definitely differentiate the two GL:s, the demolitions GL would have the classic ns1 explode-on-contact-with-enemy and be more used as a siege-weapon.
While the tactical GL-A would (with appriate dmg ofc) be much more practical versus lifeforms.
-As far as structure-dmg goes, have it only be effective against "small" structures, basically hydras+cysts (maybe a little less vs hydras).
-Versus players, it shouldn't 1-shot a skulk!
Maybe 2 shot skulk when no upg, w1 makes it 1-shot skulk, cara makes it 2-shot again, w2 makes it 1-shot again. This way there would be an arms-race between the two. Tradeoffs.
-Maybe have it be less effective vs onos (but in return he's MUCH easier to hit and target-magnet), and only slightly less effective vs fade, because both are "bigger" lifeforms. Skulk/gorge/lerk/ take full dmg.

As far as free and hard-limited buildings go... which is completely ******* ...it now seems it hasn't to do with UWE's lack in good game design, but is forced to be implemented because of lacking server/game performance "in long games" when they would be spammed.
BUT
Kham can and DOES spam buildings anyway in such games, there's whips ALL OVER! Filling the hallways. And plenty of groups with many crags + shade + several whips.
So UWE, you'd have to hard-limit those too!
And what about hard limiting marines to only having 2 bases?
Because 3-4 bases can also happen in such long games, you'd have to implement max:
2cc, 6ip, 4 armories, 2 arms, ~10 sentries, 4 obs, 2 robo, 2 proto ...etc etc.
Do you see what mess you've put yourselves in by changing the gorge like that?
Really, what is the problem, in long games, when gorge players put stuff everywhere?
It's just PURE HEAVENLY JOY to GL or ARC the ###### out of the alien infestation!!!! It gives such satisfaction and heightened team morale, plus you know it's demoralizing for aliens to lose territory.

[R8]DJBourgeoisie · May 2012

In a game where marines are supposed to stick together Flayra has a problem with the NS1 GL'er needing teammates to fend off skulks? :/ It is all beginning to make sense to me now.

player · May 2012

Yea that GL-stuff was a bit of face-palm moment. He also stated he considers it very realistic for a mod to be able to eclipse NS2-vanilla in terms of popularity, the way things have gone lately he is certainly doing his best to make that happen.

Atone · May 2012

I like the sound of gorge getting a spider. I imagine it'll be a small creature the gorge can control remotely to make webs, scout, and bother marines.

Fluid Core · May 2012

Not finnished listening yet, nor read the thread, but got to put it here or I would forget.

Suggestion for GL: make it not just a straight upgrade from rifle, making it different, by:

Dedicated Explosive weapon not an attachment

Primary fire: Shoot current grenades

Secondary fire: explode a grenade but doesn't fire it, triggering a directional, point-blank explosion. Deals higher damage in a small cone, but drop of quickly (full damage for maybe 1 meter, then down to no damage in the next 1 meter).

That makes it able to kill skulks, while not taking over the SG role due to slower fire and very short range.

ogz · May 2012

GL grenade = primary attack, secondary attack = riflebutt

there you go, ability to help fend off skulks and not OP

Security · May 2012

Thanks for the text summary, Koruyo.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Linux server?
Will come.</div>

.... when? This should be a top priority and definitively be finished before the final ships.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Onos devour?
"You have devour - everyone complains about it, you remove devour - everyone complains about it, common give us a break! :>"
Most ppl seem to complain about taking away control...
-> Read Design FAQ about the topic of taking away control of players.</div>

Imo. Player Knockdown is way more annoying than devour ever was. Devour was one of the unique things that made NS1 so fun for me. :/

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Adrenaline?
Wont come in...</div>

Why? Adrenaline was one of the abilities I was looking forward to see in NS2 again the most. :/

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Matchmaking?
They are looking at the valve matchmaking and would love to put that in the game, charlie is currently looking into tracking what stats to track by players => tons of data for beatiful graphs statistiks etc.
So very likly they will do matchmaking. "Its very important for a game like ns..."
(but it might not hit 1.0)</div>

Oh god, please no. I still have nightmares about the horrible L4D matchmaking system.
A good server list with a lot of options and filters will do just fine.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why the hard push for the summer release date?
Its time, they will be ready, finances etc.
Also version 1.0 doesnt mean the end, "its just the beginning."
=> lots of features etc. that can and will come after 1.0</div>

I guess we can just wait and see if that was such a good idea. I really do hope UWE surprises us and proves my pessimism wrong.

Industry · May 2012

The GL question was mine and man has that been bothering me for a while. It was good to hear they were thinking about the problems with it.

I understand they don't want GLers to be helpless but as it is right now the GL is too strong and they get the added benefit of an automatic rifle (thus giving no real downsides). I'd like to see the dedicated GL come back and have a secondary attack of a rifle butt or even fire an "unarmed" grenade at a higher velocity (kind of like a slug).

Natural Selection 2 News Update - Live Developer Q&A No. 1

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