I'm sure this is a long shot, but think of how much hype you could build for NS2 if you released a stand alone version of the original Natural Selection.

I'm sure valve wouldn't let you do it, but what if you could convince them to let you release it on steam for free. There is no Valve content (only the engine) in NS, so they just might do it.

At the very least, maybe you could convince them to release it for something like 5 to 10 bucks, and work out some profit sharing with them.

Just look at all of the old Quake 3 mods that got extended lives out of the open sourcing of the engine that allowed them to go stand alone.

It's always great to have free games to toss around at LAN parties.

Just my 2c.

would be nice if they did it for free as its always been for free, but i was suspecting for a while there around 3.2 the final main release that they would of steamed it for 2-3 bucks.

Can't you buy HL for 5-10 bucks already? Or are you just thinking of the ability to have it in the Steam store?

Really, just to get it separately in the steam store would be great. This is about promoting NS2 after all. If you show NS as a stand alone game instead of just a mod, then it definitely makes it look more professional.

But my original point was to release NS for free on steam. And if you think about it, it's really a win win for both valve and Unknown worlds. Valve gets to promote even more free content on their steam service, and Unknown Worlds hopefully gets an influx of new players interested in the Natural Selection Universe.

They would probably rather promote content that would make them money.

in college ive been trying to get people to download NS.

Most of them don't have hl1, only hl source.

If it was stand alone I swear NS would be so much bigger.

TIME FOR A PETITION.

HUmm how much is valve seelling rights to the HL code these days

get a open ended licence charlie make it a standalone then put it up for free.

maybe put it up for a couple of bucks for the first few months to pay back the licence make a few quid, line hte pockets of some contrating voice actors or artists for ns2, or even get some people back and do some morework for NS one to really ship it out there with wide screen, maps fixed and vista compatible.

I recall seeing discussions long ago on this forum regarding having NS show up on steam, but for whatever reason it didn't work out. IMO this would have been the best thing for UWE, but I don't remember exactly, but I thought UWE ended up not wanting it on there or something to that effect (maybe Steam's rules).

While using the HL engine to make a free mod does not require purchasing a license for the engine, to make a standalone game/sell it does. Depending on the cost of licensing the HL (goldsrc) engine, it could actually be an excellent and (comparatively) cheap marketing stunt - buy the engine license and give it away via steam.

I thought it was on steam in the HL Mods section. I'll look when I get home.

Yeah it is on the steam games list

I just looked, it is under the mods section. Any idea when that occured?

its been there since 3.1

I would like to ask the NS2 team, are you guys playing real or not? Do you really want NS2 to be successful in the market?

The reason why MSN did got popular and survived to "Live Messenger" was because EVERY copy of windows has MSN. Even better yet, hotmail was supported in creation of MSN accounts. If NS can't be shipped, free along with steam, ATLEAST make it on steam! I see a lot of HL1 crappy mods out there on steam, imagine if NS got on steam; imagine people starting to download this so called "Good free mod for HL1" in LAN parties etc! All you have to do, is show up a page of promotion/advertisement for NS2 right when NS shuts down. (like other demos) or simply advertise it in a little box behind the main menu!

Remember, what you're trying to do, is not to make people see and buy!

You are trying to get NS2's existence out there!! What i would recommend you doing, is to spend MONEY (yes, money) to provide FREE SHIPPING NS1 CD WORLD WIDE. (and please do make a big news about it, to spread the words in players' world)

(and also provide free download right off steam, which is why this topic exist)

trust me, you'll get players' attention and that's what you want.

(and yes, eventually you'll get your free NS1 shipping/CD money back through NS2's sales and way beyond that)
please do dare to imagine BIG.

err no to free shiped CD's that would be a waste of money

but buying a licence for NS 1 from valvue and makeing it a standalone game, for free or with a tiny fee on steam would be good granted a fee would shy away a fair chunk of market, so basicly buying the licence would be as good as burning money, even giveing it to a homeless person would see more instant gratification, but slip in that tiny bit of advertisment for ns2 in the standalone version and your sales will turn it into gold

ROFL at free CD's

yeah, really, it all comes down to that licensing of the HL engine.