What Has Happened?
YKK_Zipper_Co
Join Date: 2004-04-22 Member: 28098Members
Join Date: 2004-04-22 Member: 28098Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Natural Selection... whaa???</div> To give some background I used to play NS a long time ago (maybe a year), so I am not a complete newbie...
NS changed a lot hasn't it? I left right as Flayra was releasing the patch that allowed aliens to evolve into any of the advanced species no matter the number of hives... And I thought that would be a big change...
What the hell is autocommander? Is this why I never see a commander in the chair? What the hell??
Individual marines can upgrade themselves? The major thing that I enjoyed about NS when I was playing it was the HUGE empasis on team play, especially on Marines. It took a good commander willing to work with their decent 'rines to even survive the initial skulk rush.
Oh yeah, it was really amusing for me to find out that skulk rushes are now a rarity... wow...
So what else has changed about the game?
I realized that basically all the aliens attacks have been switched around, or completely changed.
**edit** No babblers? What has happened to my beloved gorge? <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->
What has happened to the best half-life mod ever?!?!?!
Not that I am complaining its still fun, but I miss the epic games. I <b>liked</b> the long epic games, they made playing fun, you actually accomplished something, if i wanted a short easy little match I would play CS.
NS changed a lot hasn't it? I left right as Flayra was releasing the patch that allowed aliens to evolve into any of the advanced species no matter the number of hives... And I thought that would be a big change...
What the hell is autocommander? Is this why I never see a commander in the chair? What the hell??
Individual marines can upgrade themselves? The major thing that I enjoyed about NS when I was playing it was the HUGE empasis on team play, especially on Marines. It took a good commander willing to work with their decent 'rines to even survive the initial skulk rush.
Oh yeah, it was really amusing for me to find out that skulk rushes are now a rarity... wow...
So what else has changed about the game?
I realized that basically all the aliens attacks have been switched around, or completely changed.
**edit** No babblers? What has happened to my beloved gorge? <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->
What has happened to the best half-life mod ever?!?!?!
Not that I am complaining its still fun, but I miss the epic games. I <b>liked</b> the long epic games, they made playing fun, you actually accomplished something, if i wanted a short easy little match I would play CS.
Comments
Classic/NS (Maps with a NS_) and Combat (Maps with a CO_). Combat is basicly like warcraft 3 CS, in a sense, with wave spawn, and the objective is to destroy the hive/CC. Classic/NS is still the same old game, with a lot of new changes on it(Balance/etc, it has a very different feel now though than 1.04, etc. did).
Yeah there is a new type of NS, called combat (or CS-NS style). Yes combat sucks. NS is still fun, besides the point that teamwork isn't as needed as it was before.
Yes skulk rushes are a rarity because teamwork isn't what it used to be, and people would rather just rambo instead of trying to win the game early.
I still don't like the idea about any hive alien, as this promotes reswhhoring and LESS teamwork.
They removed the 1.04 gorge res bonus and made it so you could have as many gorges as players on your team, this allowed gorge rushes which were very fun... but was nerfed because they reduced the range on heal spray so it isn't really possible now.
There is a thing called RFK (res for kill) meaning each kill you do, will give you resources. For aliens, this brings ramboing and reswhhoring to a new level and for marines, it just helps the team out a LOT more.
Well that's all I have to say and welcome back Zipper.
Though my biggest gripe was what happened with the release of 2.0... 2.0z was almost PERFECTLY balanced, with a very distinct style and flavor. Unfortunately, some people considered it 'not fun' as they couldn't just rambo around blasting stuff, and still win. It was geared toward taking an area and locking it down.
Most notably, res towers did NOT give any RP until a minute after they were built. Meaning if you wanted an area, you had to secure it and make sure the RT wasn't going away... otherwise it was just wasted res. This is what countered the 'early game RT rush' on the Kharaa side, as if they took too much ground, they'd lose it all and be worse off, with no res to put everything up again.
Same with Marines... the double-the-strength-of-Kharaa RTs, plus electrification at its old level made it JUSTIFIED.
Then said folks came in, declared it not fun, and Flayra agreed. Sadly. We then had a two-DAY testing spree with two versions of the new code (2.0alt-z1 and 2.0alt-z2) before it was released.. making the 2.0 unveiling rather... double-edged. Horrible balance, bad dynamics, exploits all over.
I'd personally still like to see 2.0z released to the general public, and see which they liked better.. the rambo-fest, or the slower 'advance and conquer' style that was originally intended for it, which fit the cinematic style more effecitvely. Unfortunately, I don't think the code still exists. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
NS-same but much different
I think what has happened for NS is the general way a game evolves - and due to your absence you missed a few evolutions.
The game started as a sweet game with the purpose of bringing FPS and Strat games together - and it did that awesome!!!
then it needed to get better - strategies were refined, imballances found, and a new "feel" has emerged - a much cleaner, crisper, professional feel. (2.01 - rotating models!)
Now it is attempting to draw a crowd - boost its popularity amongst the general FPS player. Flayra is looking to make a career out of creating video games (something I will try to do in a few years) and that needs a fan base - and NS is a very easy way to create a very large fanbase - hence Combat!
Now we are approaching the "polishing" stage. I imagine there will be a little "going back to the roots" which all us Old timers want. It still needs to keep its professional feel, and it still needs the crowd, it just needs to recapture some of the elements from its youth - so to speak.
With playing, I think you will find the 3.0 beta 3 to be better than 1.04, but the beta 4 should be a vast improvment (being the first beta to address the "roots" feel). Just hang on, and enjoy the ride! - take a break if you need to, but know that the game is in good hands.
Personally I'm happy to go along with whatever changes are made and just play the game for what it is. I mean who doesn't like shooting aliens? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I agree that some of the changes have been to destroy teamwork. Combat dampens reflexes for teamwork. Individual alien res for kill encourages res whoring and ramboing that the alien team can no longer afford (since marines are so powerful in groups). But we'll adapt. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I play in long games ALOT, they usually last 1-3 hrs depending on the server's (lunix or voogru)
You probably weren't around for 1.0-1.04. Basically:
Gorges' fourth weapon slot was Babblers. The Fade had Bile Bomb, so it was like this:
Gorge-
1) Spit
2) Heal Spray
3) Web
4) Babblers
Fade-
1) Swipe
2) Blink
3) Acid Rocket
4) Bile Bomb
Babblers were basically Skulk bots. They run around chewing things until they explode in a mini-Xenocide. They had reduced damage and health, and they were REALLY stupid. It wasn't uncommon to spawn a bunch of babblers and then have to watch them run in to the same wall.
They were removed because the AI stunk and because, even with the basic AI, it put a heavy load on the servers.
Personally, I think in the end 3.0 is one best versions (except for the combat mode), but 1.04 certainly did have its highlights.
The only thing I miss from 1.04 is alien teamwork. THE END.</span>
You probably weren't around for 1.0-1.04. Basically:
Gorges' fourth weapon slot was Babblers. The Fade had Bile Bomb, so it was like this:
Gorge-
1) Spit
2) Heal Spray
3) Web
4) Babblers
Fade-
1) Swipe
2) Blink
3) Acid Rocket
4) Bile Bomb
Babblers were basically Skulk bots. They run around chewing things until they explode in a mini-Xenocide. They had reduced damage and health, and they were REALLY stupid. It wasn't uncommon to spawn a bunch of babblers and then have to watch them run in to the same wall.
They were removed because the AI stunk and because, even with the basic AI, it put a heavy load on the servers. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fade-
1) Swipe
2) Acid Rocket
3) Blink
4) Bile Bomb
Though my biggest gripe was what happened with the release of 2.0... 2.0z was almost PERFECTLY balanced, with a very distinct style and flavor. Unfortunately, some people considered it 'not fun' as they couldn't just rambo around blasting stuff, and still win. It was geared toward taking an area and locking it down.
Most notably, res towers did NOT give any RP until a minute after they were built. Meaning if you wanted an area, you had to secure it and make sure the RT wasn't going away... otherwise it was just wasted res. This is what countered the 'early game RT rush' on the Kharaa side, as if they took too much ground, they'd lose it all and be worse off, with no res to put everything up again.
Same with Marines... the double-the-strength-of-Kharaa RTs, plus electrification at its old level made it JUSTIFIED.
Then said folks came in, declared it not fun, and Flayra agreed. Sadly. We then had a two-DAY testing spree with two versions of the new code (2.0alt-z1 and 2.0alt-z2) before it was released.. making the 2.0 unveiling rather... double-edged. Horrible balance, bad dynamics, exploits all over.
I'd personally still like to see 2.0z released to the general public, and see which they liked better.. the rambo-fest, or the slower 'advance and conquer' style that was originally intended for it, which fit the cinematic style more effecitvely. Unfortunately, I don't think the code still exists. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yea. Ive always wanted to see the NS that was deemed "Perfectly balanced"
edit: epidemic, theres one 1.04 server up. Check on it every once in a while with ASE or something, you may get lucky and find a game <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
new awsome game > gets better, people miss the old crappyness. new people like the game > gets better > the old miss the old version, the new miss the last version > gets better etc etc untill you have a bunch of people complaining to bring back the old. if there was that many of you wouldnt there be 100 1.04 servers?