As is typical in the world of software development, the 'few days' that we thought we needed for upgrading the site has turned into three or four weeks! We're sorry for the 'information blackout' caused by this delay. We're doing everything we can to make sure the new site functions properly, and that it is open again as soon as possible. The site is now going through a last testing effort by the QA folks to ensure that once we open it, it will stay open. Right now we're planning to release it around Christmas.

The issues with the new site did not halt development on the actual game, however. NS v3.0 beta 6 continues to be worked on and is looking good, which is why we are at last comfortable with making this announcement: we will soon open the testing to the Constellation members, both to thank them for their continued support, and to help ensure that this release represents a well-balanced and polished gaming experience. We expect to open testing to our donors by the 30th of December, just when everyone's digestion will have made it possible to control a mouse again.

So what will the Constellation members test? The following is not a 'complete' changelog - it excludes minor 'polish' items as well as fixes to exploitable gameplay aspects, but it should give you an impression of what we have been working on since the release of NS v3.0 beta 5: beta 6 changelog.

In case you have questions regarding one of the points above, feel free to contact and ask us directly (NemesisZero or Zunni).

Thanks for your patience and interest, and we'll see you soon on the new site!

-- The Natural Selection team

Counter-Strike: Source and Source Engine updates are available and will be applied automatically when Steam is restarted. The changes include:

Counter-Strike: Source

• Solved disc in drive incompatibility error by removing Securom disc check routine


• Added map: de_prodigy


• Improved player movement against walls


• Improved choppy player movement when bouncing down slopes


• Purchase icon for defuser is shown


• Physics prop avoidance is scaled by the object's mass


• Detail prop fade distance can be controlled on a per-map basis with env_detail_controller


• Spectator GUI last mode is saved


• Added spectate player by name


• Grenades, weapons, etc., splash when they land in water


• Frag grenade deafness is delayed so the explosion is heard


• Fixed viewmodel lag


• Added consistency checking player model bounds


• Weapon reloads finish when the round restarts


• Autobuy and rebuy trigger a reload if you don't buy a primary weapon


• Rebuy doesn't drop pistols the player has picked up


• Dropped weapon ammo isn't lost if the player has another weapon using that ammo


• Re-added hostage hint messages


• Smoke grenade canisters fade out and are removed when smoke is dense


• Breakable glass is blown outward proportional to the damage recieved


• Soundscapes update for observers


• Fixed not being able to attach to ladder tops


• Misc fixes to spray import

Source Engine

• Fixed crash when trying to play an MP3 that doesn't exist or is an invalid format


• Fixed a crash when playing MP3 files with ID3 tags


• Fixed network being started early enough so UDP remote logging works


• World rendering optimizations


• Fixed problems with demo recording


• Added command "setinfo " to allow clients to add custom user info fields (creates a new cvar flagged as FCVAR_USERINFO)


• Enabled sv_downloadurl & sv_consistency on dedicated servers


• Fixed "kick " command via rcon if the name is surrounded by quotes


• Fixed bug in "logaddress_add" that wouldn't add the correct port if the port and address were surrounded by quotes


• Added "player_say" event for 3rd party plugins


• Fixed crash in dedicated servers when issuing a say before the map is run

So after a very long wait I am happy to present to you some of the first shots of G.H.O.S.T. Ops: The Avalon Project in motion. In the shots you can see the funky flashbang/melee attack effects, the smoke AND the laser beam effect. All pictures were taken on Crackerjacks excellent map, go_abandoned, please remember to note that everything you see is subject to change.
These screenshots are part of an Alpha test version and so any messages that look out of place are due to the debug mode being used and remember that we're still not at the final version yet.

I wanted to inform you that we just released the second batch of Media in the form of concept art for Psycho Hill. These feature one of the zombies from the first release in full colour, as well as 2 new zombies and a potential deputy candidate for the main character. On other news, mapping on the town of Breighton is progressing quite nicely. If things continue to work out this way, expect some map screenshots soon. In the mean time, Don't forget to sign up at the forums at www.electronic-labs.com/forum.

We have released the linux server files for upcoming Snow-War 2.0!
The windows client/server version should be released within this week. Basically everything is ready, but we need to prepare in other ways to the release.

Head to our Files section for download!
While you are there, remember to check out our two trailers for the release.

But I must say that this version DOES have few bugs that wer are aware of. The top most being:
-bots get stuck
-team menu is shown twice in CTF

My apologies for the inconvience these bugs might bring to you when playing, but our coder, Scott, is too busy at work (in a business trip) and family. Since fixing these bugs would delay the release all the way to January, I tought that maybe we can live with this for the christmas, and release a new version when we have it done.

So this will not be the final release after all :-)

Oh, and we are seeking for mirrors to host the release, and most of all SERVERS to host the actual mod on the release. If you can suppily us with mirror for the file, mail me at zilppuri at snowwar.hlgaming.com.

Please tell me:
-contact e-mail on where to give the release url when it's online
-location of the server (or simply say "several locations")

If you can host a server, you should mail me with this info:
-name of the server
-ip/address
-location
-up-time
-url if you have one

I was thinking of making some section on this website, where to put this info visible on the release date, so you will get maximum publicity for your server/site.

Help us make this a snowball-full christmas!

I did a little interview with the guys of the ElitePartisan Mod. I also wrote a little preview with some exclusive screenshots of the mod. You can take a look at it
here:
http://www.halflife.pexgames.com/games/halflife2/mods/elitepartisan/index.html.en


Here is the official newspost to the whole thing.
http://www.halflife.pexgames.com/news/1103205183.html

Chimera has whipped up four new sweet looking renders of our skinned weapons. These renders show off more detail on the weapons and fit with the new style of our website. Check them out on the weapons page.

Also, now that Half-Life 2 is out, we are looking to expand our development team. We are looking for these positions:
Modelers (specifically character modellers, but all are welcome)
Texture Artists
Level Designers.
You can find more info on our Open Positions page.

What is CST?

CST - or Custom Source Tools, is a tool set that aims to provide compile support for all Source Based games. It replaces the old Valve tools, by providing faster code, and quicker Bug Fixes.

What’s new, or changed?

In the Beta 1 we have

Added

Support for Bloodlines Custom RAD, use -bloodlines switch at the CSTRAD stage
Icons, and version information’s, to make the tools look friendlier
Enabled the DLL Redirect files, for people to use the old Valve Tools, if need be
Install Guide

Fixed

-Extra switch causing VRAD to come up with the "Warning" Text, in the original Valve Build

Removed

Nothing yet

Changed

Filename to stop HLSDK Overwriting the Valve version names of the tools

Where can I download the new tools?

You can download the new tools from http://www.zhlt.tk

How do I set up these tools?

You can find a guide to setting up the tools in the download, though you must have Internet Explore 5 or higher, because of the format the file is in. Though you can also view the online version at
http://ammahls.com/cst/setting_up_cst.htm

Join the GameSHOUT Radio Staff TONIGHT at 8:00PM EST (1:00AM GMT) LIVE!!

Listen to GameSHOUT Radio tonight starting at 8pm EST. We will also be in the #Radio channel on GamesNET IRC. Remember, GamesNET is the official IRC network for GameSHOUT.

Half-Life 2 be the topic of of the PC Playground Game Reviews tonight as we devote the whole show to a round-table review of HL2. You just might even have a chance to tell US what YOU thought of HL2. Next...another chance for YOU to join us LIVE on GameSHOUT Radio as we will help you with your problem areas and questions regarding HALF-LIFE 2!!! PLUS, of course your favorite Wacky News From Around the World, weird stuff from Louis and the Fact of the Day, and MUCH MUCH MORE! Heck, you never know WHO may just pop in to visit! So join us LIVE at 8:00PM EST (1:00AM GMT) at GameSHOUT Radio.

A platform update is available and will be applied automatically when Steam is restarted. The changes include:

Steam

• Source MODs will now automatically appear in the games list


• Improved startup process for Steam


• Fixed crash when creating a backup that would span multiple DVDs


• Fixed a bug that would unnecessarily validate Steam caches after a cache corruption


• Fixed Condition Zero: Deleted Scenes and Codename Gordon failing to backup correctly


• Fixed a bug where the message “the game files will be deleted and re-acquired” would repeat


• Fixed offline mode failing after not connecting to Steam for more than a month

Half-Life 2

• Optimization to the Steam filesystem to reduce game launch and level transition time

Source SDK

• Simplified debug-launch process for MOD developers. MOD developers no longer need to place a config file in their directory


• Added a registry key for MOD developers to use to locate a user’s Steam installation located at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Valve\\Steam\\SourceModInstallPath