Do you have access to the Steam beta feature? This could be a great way to test NS2 builds before release.
Not for every release, of course - only when you think a certain fix or feature needs more scrutiny.
We're going to be using an internal Steam testing beta for final testing from now on, and may or may not use a public Steam beta branch if we need more data for future patches. We've consistently had issues where the build that is pushed to Steam differs from the last internal build previously tested, often resulting in map bugs that go live without ever having been seen or even existing in the internal build. Since changing the "internal" Steam build to the "live" Steam build is just the push of a button we're able to do a much better job of verifying that the patch we are about to push is what we actually think it is before it goes live for everyone.
Also, as Decoy mentioned, we have full control of our own release schedule now which means we won't have issues that are discovered at the eleventh hour (like the docking and mineshaft problems) ever make it to live again. If we find crippling bugs or map issues created by the build machine in the final RC (which always seems to happen one way or another) we can and will make sure that they're fixed, and postpone the release a day or few if necessary.
SebMelbourne, AUJoin Date: 2013-04-01Member: 184576Members, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Silver, Retired Community Developer
Neither of those things, Vanilla is what is powering the forums for UWE. Vanilla has been updated so that the Community Devs have blue backgrounds and an icon on their posts.
so, this game is officially declared dead by UW now. Let's see how long the community can hold it above waters...all the best to you guys.
Jaded much? If a company creates a product and needs to create new product to stay ahead, they're not calling their old product dead, they're just moving on, which every studio everywhere has done... forever. Would you watch a movie in the theaters over and over if it was re-released every six months?
Plus, clearly they're still involved in okaying everything that goes into these new builds, despite the fact that it's the community members who've done the work. So to say they've called it dead or abandoned it or whatever is ultimately untrue.
Build 266 is now in the final phase of testing. STEAM BETA builds will be used to make sure the leap from our internal build process to the valve system doesn't present any new bugs or issues. Just one more way of making sure our builds are as stable as possible. But yes, Build 266 will be released publicly very soon (days maybe).
so, this game is officially declared dead by UW now. Let's see how long the community can hold it above waters...all the best to you guys.
Not at all. We very much want to keep the game alive, but with our focus shifting to new projects, it was becoming hard to justify diverting the resources to keep patching the game. As we were discussing the best way forward, we were approached by members of the community with their proposal to take over and handle the updates. We discussed this internally and concluded that we had enough faith in the community team that had been put together, and that it was important enough to those of us at UWE that NS2 had continued life, that it was worthwhile to let the community team take over (one of the members is actually an UWE dev).
This was a risky proposition, because, while NS2 is not a perfect game, there are a myriad number of ways that it can be made worse, through large gameplay changes and the introduction of new game breaking bugs. But we believe in the NS2 and we believe in the CDT and trust that they will be able to keep the game alive and healthy for some time to come.
Ok didn't see this in the confirmed fix list, and I don't think it's been mentioned before so here goes...
What are the chances of getting something to show on the map which direction the phase gates are going? Either by numbering them or putting an arrow on the line that goes from pg to pg.
I have no idea how hard or easy this would be, but it would probably help Marines out quite a bit.
Also is there any way to add a loading screen tooltip informing the player they can press J (default) to bring up the tech tree and see what's been researched. I see so many games where someone is asking "do we have (x) yet" which is almost always followed with "press J and you can see for yourself"
Ok didn't see this in the confirmed fix list, and I don't think it's been mentioned before so here goes...
What are the chances of getting something to show on the map which direction the phase gates are going? Either by numbering them or putting an arrow on the line that goes from pg to pg.
thats a really cool move. UWE has always been unconventional and tried different, but does that mean UWE is going to do nothing for NS2 anymore ("at all")?
thats a really cool move. UWE has always been unconventional and tried different, but does that mean UWE is going to do nothing for NS2 anymore ("at all")?
Not at all, it just means they have realized that at the moment they are too busy with other projects to maintain ns2. That doesn't mean uwe won't contribute anything to ns2 at all anymore.
You have to know that one ( maybe even more in the future ) member of the CDT is also a uwe dev.
A way of queuing for slots on server, like Battle-Fields... took an hour to get on YO Clan last night.... *cought @Obraxis \:D/
As I mentioned before, queueing is quite tedious. You don't see the progress of the queue; if a spot gets free, everyone in queue tries to join it but ofc only the first one can join, the rest gets thrown back to the Main Menu with "Server full" message. In the end it comes down to who reacts faster on that event and requeues again. @MuckyMcFly I don't know if I should give you this tipp as I also wan't to join YO quickly... but use Steam Friends "Game Info" > "Join Server if spots free" (something like that in english)
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Also, as Decoy mentioned, we have full control of our own release schedule now which means we won't have issues that are discovered at the eleventh hour (like the docking and mineshaft problems) ever make it to live again. If we find crippling bugs or map issues created by the build machine in the final RC (which always seems to happen one way or another) we can and will make sure that they're fixed, and postpone the release a day or few if necessary.
*soon is whenever we think it's stable
And then, add a console command for chuckle so we can finally just bind it to a key.
Seriously, this grinds my OCDs every game :P
Oh you're right, there is the chuckle command.
Can we have the skulk taunt back too, then? :P
This tweet though.
Plus, clearly they're still involved in okaying everything that goes into these new builds, despite the fact that it's the community members who've done the work. So to say they've called it dead or abandoned it or whatever is ultimately untrue.
Get ninja'd @Jekt
This was a risky proposition, because, while NS2 is not a perfect game, there are a myriad number of ways that it can be made worse, through large gameplay changes and the introduction of new game breaking bugs. But we believe in the NS2 and we believe in the CDT and trust that they will be able to keep the game alive and healthy for some time to come.
What are the chances of getting something to show on the map which direction the phase gates are going? Either by numbering them or putting an arrow on the line that goes from pg to pg.
I have no idea how hard or easy this would be, but it would probably help Marines out quite a bit.
Also is there any way to add a loading screen tooltip informing the player they can press J (default) to bring up the tech tree and see what's been researched. I see so many games where someone is asking "do we have (x) yet" which is almost always followed with "press J and you can see for yourself"
Just a thought, can't wait to see what's in 266.
It's like you've read our change-log already
Not at all, it just means they have realized that at the moment they are too busy with other projects to maintain ns2. That doesn't mean uwe won't contribute anything to ns2 at all anymore.
You have to know that one ( maybe even more in the future ) member of the CDT is also a uwe dev.
http://unknownworlds.com/ns2/combat-standalone-revealed/
@MuckyMcFly I don't know if I should give you this tipp as I also wan't to join YO quickly... but use Steam Friends "Game Info" > "Join Server if spots free" (something like that in english)