Natural Selection 2 is the sequel to Natural Selection, a popular modification for Half-Life released in 2002. It blends FPS and RTS gameplay in a sci-fi setting, pitting humanity’s TSA Marines against the Kharaa, an alien race.

• General details:
• Natural Selection 2 official website
• Official overview
• Official FAQ
• Will be standalone, not a modification of Half-Life 2 or any other game engine.
• Initially PC release, chance of Linux and OSX versions as well as an Xbox 360 release.
• “We can’t commit to a Mac or Linux version”
  ” We’re big Mac fans here and we want it and we have the same problem with other games.”
  -preorderfaq
• “Currently our engine and tools only work on Windows, and that will be the only platform Natural Selection 2 will be available on at release. However, most of the engine is not platform specific.” Mac support is possible, but is currently not on the plate for release due to time constraints. More in this Q&A.
• Steamworks is Windows specific, so Steam integration would obviously not work for a hypothetical Mac version.
• Steamworks is fully integrated.
• “NS2 will probably use Steamworks for your friends list, even if you’re not playing it through Steam.” – preorderfaq
• Minimum system requirements: (thanks locallyunscene)
• CPU: 2.0 Ghz
• RAM: 1gb
• Video Card: NVidia GeForce FX 6800, ATI Radeon x800

1. Release Date

• Release date: Early 2010 – “Charlie Cleveland: We were very hopeful but alas. We’re not shipping it this fall. We’re looking at early next year. Sorry about that!”

• Two-tiered preorder pricing structure:
  • Standard version US$20:
    • Direct download on release
    • Beta and tool access
  • Special Edition US$40:
    • Direct download on release
    • Alpha, beta and tool access
    • All black marine armor – unclear whether they will be able to perform the haka
    • Eternal gratitude – whenever Flayra does donuts in his Ferrari he will think of you.
      
• “It’s very likely we will have a non-Steam version that you can get directly from us in addition to a Steam version.” -Max
  • “Pre-order is stand-alone and will auto-update, but assume it doesn’t include the Steam version.” -preorder page
  • “If I pre-order NS2, can I play on Steam?
    There’s a good chance of this, but we can’t promise it yet. Once NS2 is using Steamworks and Steam, Valve will probably be able to make this happen, but that’s to be determined later. For now, we can’t promise this. “-preorderfaq
  • “You should be able to buy NS2 from Unknown Worlds or from Valve over Steam. What we don’t know currently is if you PRE-ORDER, whether you will be able to “convert” that into a Steam version of the game later, so it was just like you waited until it was released on Steam and bought it there. Valve has done this for other games with independent pre-order programs, but has not told us whether they will do it for us or not.” Readyroom.org

2. Media

All Natural Selection 2 media showcased here is in-engine.

• See our frame-by-frame analysis of the trailer
• Possibly another trailer in the works from the Kharaa perspective?
• Even more crappy analysis!



3. Alpha and Beta

• “We have no exact date for the alpha or beta.”
• Access to alpha and beta guaranteed by preordering the special edition.
• Access to beta guaranteed by preordering the standard edition.
• “Man, we’re cranking on the alpha! Our next goal is to release something small, polished and playable. It’s starting to come together!” -31st January 2010

4. Design Details

• NS2 Design mantras
• Easy to learn, difficult to master
• Depth first, accessibility later
• Concentrated coolness
• Make fewer ???
• Polish from beginning
• Shades of grey > black + white
• Control is King
• Visual clarity
• Do visuals suggest function?
• Avoid hidden modifiers
• Quality over Quantity
• Have fun making it
• Don’t ship until ready
• Pacing needs variety
• “Up” vs “down” time
• Legends must grow
• Include audio/visual subtelty
• Court investors(???)