- The Marine team sounds l33t phizat. What makes playing the aliens worthwhile?
Hmmm. Mutating into better classes. Sneaking through the dark. Attacking in swarms against the out-armored and out-clawed marines. Pound for pound, faster, tougher, and scarier than those damned jarheads. You also get some sweet features like cloaking, self-regeneration, different sizes, and other inhuman abilities. And you know, sometimes you just need to bite a guy's face off.

- What is FPRTSS (wipe that spit off your chin, boy)?
First Person Real Time Social Strategy. A phrase made possible by the efforts of the NS team, it refers to the mode where commanders can see top-down action on maps. The Marine commander coordinates his troops, watches the radar for incoming bogies, develops new gear, and sets up defensive hardware. He is the glue that binds the human team. The 'Social' refers to how the game is supposed to bring players closer together through innovations like the readyroom.

- What are the game modes?
While version 1 of NS is designed with mostly a team vs. team, wipe out the other team's structures and resources mode, mappers are given quite a bit of leeway in creating their own missions; we've heard about all sort of interesting situations that the map developers will have you playing. And Version 2? Well, check around the forums, but we've heard suggestions for rescues, escapes, defensive last stands - all sorts of nifty stuff.

- When is NS 1.1 coming out?
Bad things happen to those who ask MonsE that repeatedly.

- Will it suck?
No.

- Will it be wildly different, highly imaginative, and revitalize NS gameplay and the NS community?
Yes.

- It would be cool if we could rescue hostages and buy weapons and all the aliens wore ski masks, wouldn't it?
Riiiiiiight. No offense, but we feel that one's been done. And then copied. And then modified. And then spindled, mutilated, and defaced. Truth be told, no one will ever write a game like CS that can top CS. I should know because (/me rips off rubber mask) I AM GOOSEMAN! AHAHAHAHA! FOOLED YOU! GET OUT THERE AND BUY CONDITION ZERO NOW!!!

- Wooo, is there Voice over IP? HLTV? Multi-resolution Mesh? Buzzybuzzbuzzwords? All hail the SDK...
All the nifty sexy new technologies are being examined; the NS team has had access to HL 1008 code for some time now. Just like Prego, "It's in there"... sort of a 'Chunky Garden Style Half Life Mod'. See the features list for more info.

- I have some rump kicking ideas for this mod? How do I release my pent up frustrations?
Well, you can vist the forums and post to your tiny excited little heart's content. You never know who might be reading the forums and getting inspiration from your misguided rantin- err, cogent ideas. Or you can just mailbomb Flayra. That's what I do.

- What will keep this mod from becoming a major llama fest?
Actually, the NS team has discussed a number of ®AdminMod-like features to allow the players to keep each other in line, and to send those irritating types to a well-deserved digital grave. Players may be able to vote away weapons, health, or a place on the server. The commander himself, should he abuse his position of power, is subject to the same rules, and can be fired and replaced by his team. The NS team believes gaming online should be fun, not an exercise in tantric bloodpressure-level control.

- What's up with the name Natural Selection?
Dunno. I think Flayra was drunk. (Ed.- Actually, it refers to the Darwinian process of weeding out the genetically inferior, usually by conflict).

- What gives? This is the future and there's not a laser to be found? And there's no warp drive. And my ears aren't pointed at the tips.
Think of this as the 'semi-near future'. We are doing some Einsteinian stuff, like teleporting through phase gates. We don't have aliens who like us (and who's to blame them?). And we still think that the sound of a 10MM armor piercing round slamming into the husk of a grotesque hive is pretty satisfying. We just haven't gotten the total Dylithium Crystal aspect worked out quite yet. In all honesty, the NS team wants the grit and viscera that only near-future weaponry can buy you. Sci-fi can get trite in a heartbeat if you aren't careful.

- I demand that such and such weapon be in this mod? When will this happen?
Just as soon as you learn C++ and 3DSMax, toughguy.

- This site is pretty excellent looking, isn't it?
I take little credit for the artwork - that's my main man Comprox. Make sure you send him your business; these starving artist types are always looking for a crust of bread and some new paintbrushes.

-Is this Aliens? Space Hulk? Starcraft? AvP?
Nopers. You might see some similarities (sci-fi settings, xenomorphic critters, shoulderpads, etc.) but this game has no intention of violating copyright infringements. Actually, compared to many online games, it's quite revolutionary. However, if you remove the helmet from the space marine model, you will be shocked to find that it looks exactly like Sigourney Weaver! Shhhh, don't tell Fox.

- I keep getting booted out of the forum for flaming people, telling the board admin off, and swearing incessantly. Am I a lamer?
Yes.