The Natural Selection 2 Website announces the availability of a new patch for the alpha version of Unknown Worlds' action/strategy sequel (thanks joao). Word is: "We are making good progress with physics, animation and networking bugs in the alpha and have many improvements and fixes in our new patch." The complete patch notes follow.

Technical

• Fixed animation choppiness on player models
• Fixed client-side and server-side memory leaks
• Fixed bug where pressing Enter in the password dialog would append an invalid character to the password
  Fixed bug where the server browser (after starting a game) only listed LAN servers
• Fixed bug where using the subtractive blend mode for effects would somteimes corrupt the rendering
• Fixed bug where binding a server to a specific IP address would fail
• Fixed non-QWERTY or US keyboard layouts not working properly (doesn't fully work in chat yet)
• Fixed tilde for opening the console on some keyboards
• Fixed num lock not working when typing
• Fixed bug where Decoda would not properly launch a mod that had spaces in the directory name
• Fixed assert/crash when loading levels with certain types of concave faces
• Fixed bug where error messages would be reported incorrectly when a base class for a Lua class was not found
• Fixed timing discrepancies between the server and client when player input was processed (fixes shooting moving enemies)
• Fixed bug where the physics system was not properly reporting the material of hit surfaces
• Fixed bug where the disconnect message was printed multiple times in the log on the client when a server was shutdown
• Fixed bug where the mouse cursor was sometimes hidden in the main menu when a client was disconnected from the server
• Added keyboard repeat rate when typing
• Added additional error messages when a client disconnects from the server
• Added texture quality option to editor's general settings
• Added support for setting string material parameters on RenderModels
• Added the ability to connect to a server with a password from the console
• Added "sound_debug 1" in "dev" mode for finding sound problems (helpful for mod authors)
• Changed the cursor color in Deco/da to be the inverse of the background color
• Synchronized the "fullscreen" check box with the current window state
• Added Overview application for generating minimaps

Game

• Added doors. They open and close for players, but can also be "hacked" by a marine Commander. They can also be locked (locks will be able to be destroyed by alien growth in the future).
• New Commander tooltips that show you cost, requirements, cost, for most upgrades, structures and abilities.
• Fixed many sound problems (ricochets, spawn sounds, etc.).
• Fixed problem with running out of spawn points and falling through the world
• Fixed problem where multiple upgrades of the same type couldn't be performed (ie, more than one advanced armory).
• Alien morphing is no longer instant - you turn into an egg and go third-person for a time.
• Can no longer recycle occupied Command Stations.
• Commanders never collide with anything.
• Gorge spit and spray now fire instantly (you don't have to switch "modes").
• Added parasite ability to Skulk! Hive sight isn't currently enabled though.
• Marines no longer start with an infantry portal - they must build one. Infantry Portals must be built near a Command Station.
• Hives start with 3 Drifters and Command Stations start with 2 MACs.
• Marines can now help build structures like in NS1 (needs audio/visual effects still).
  Scoreboard now shows colored numbers instead of colored bars.
• Fixed problem where new hives didn't visually smash through tech point.
• Added commander hotkeys (but only working for alien Commander at the moment).
• Fixed problem where non-Commanding marines didn't get killed when closed in a Command Station.
• Added death animations and ragdolls to most structures and players.
• Fixed many commander icons.

Assets

• Many updated sound effects and updated reverb settings.
• ns2_tram updates.
• Many new MAC voiceovers and tuned him to be less repetitive.
• Added rifle sound variations.
• More sci-fi rifle reload, better sounding shotgun fire.
• Added sound variations and improvements to Gorge and Lerk.