This week we've got a few things to talk about.
We've published a patch to the Engine Test and tools which will be available on Steam later today. One of the more visible changes in this update is the addition of an "ambient" light type in the Editor. This light type will fill an area with even lighting and can be used to inexpensively boost the brightness of a large room. To prevent surfaces from appearing flat when using this type of light, you can alter the color that's coming from each of the 6 primary directions. This can be used to mimic the effects of global illumination where light bounces off walls, ceiling and the floor.
Here's the complete change list for this update:
Build 148
- Added support for ambient lights
- Added support for level cinematics in-game
- Added support for lag compensation when processing client commands on the server
- Changed the game to continue to render when it doesn't have focus in windowed mode
- Fixed bug where Decoda prompting for a registration key
- Fixed hitching when loading a particle effect (happened when the rifle was fired)
- Fixed occasional crash when deleting edges in the Editor
- Fixed Run Launch Pad... option in Steam
This week we also want to show you the Jetpack in NS2. The Jetpack is a late game marine upgrade that allows players to fly for short distances, get into vents and stay off the ground, away from snapping jaws. It is researched at Advanced Armory which then has a "prototype module" attached to it (tier 3). Once researched, players will be able to buy jetpacks from any armory they visit.
As you can see in the concept, the side thrusters pop out when launching, and retract back in when on the ground to give it a more compact profile. Here are some renders of the finished in-game model:
Finally, we have a Natural Selection 2 themed diorama that showed up on Brendan Mauro's desk one day. Brendan (BreadMan) is one of the mappers on the NS2 team and you might remember him as the soothing voice behind the Spark Editor video tutorials.
Brendan is also the artist behind the award-winning indie game Cogs. You can check out some of Brendan's other Lego creations here.
(buried)
Isn't this game finished yet?
Jesus Christ! I cannot wait for this game. Games seem to be becoming more and more bland as time goes on.
Hurry up and release as I need my taste for games refreshing.
Lego NS2 ftw.
Will there also be going out into space? Like leaving the ship for a short while to get to another or get into another hatch because you could get to a certain area from the inside.
Great update, can't wait to play around with the jetpacks!
Probably a good idea to make jet-packs have 2 functions:
1) A Jump Jet function where it uses 100% of it's boost to propel a person quickly over a distance or height, useful for long and high jumps.
2) On-going typical thrusters, for hovering and flying, although not as fast as boosting...
Not sure how you'd want to control it, or if you'd want it into the jetpack upgrade scheme so you can have more variety...
Having more vertical and horizontal areas would be interesting, especially when flight or high jumps are noted in the map.
I mean, if some of the environment involves space, can't there be a airlock that leads to a broken area of the space station that requires skills to navigate?
Btw, can aliens survive in space without having to breathe?
That brings up a good point. it'd be awesome to have some sort of zero G level or section of a level. Not sure how that could work from a commander's perspective of course.
Why are you suggest changes to the jetpack when the jetpack worked perfectly fine in the first NS? Your just overly complicating it for the sake of complicating it because you want more features. Stop suggesting things, thanks.
Lego or Legos?
The plural of Lego is Lego.
You are making me even more anxious with these updates, I gotta find a way to get a credit card as fast as I can!