StarCraft 2

[gummybear]

Well.... a lot of blizzard fanboy don't know much about history of things, I seen WOW noobs went to iRO just to flame that RO1 copied WOW's interface I doubt they know that RO1 came out long before WOW was even in concept.

There is no point in getting angry over them, just think of them high from smoking super glue.

Sadly, that is how the game industry works, one copy another's success. Just like WC copied off LOR the books, and the books based on some folk stories from Europe and so on. I am very sure that war40k the table game was also based on some type of work out there too.

hmmmm intresting, the counter stop at diablo... I really hope they are NOT making WoD @_@;;

[psycho bolt]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Well www.blizzard.com is counting down towards the game announcement. Whether its Starcraft 2 remains to be seen.

The background of the splash does seem a bit starry. Hmmm...

[Jazzrat]

Originally Posted by Skane

When Starcraft first appeared, the common snub was that it was copying the War40K universe, with the Terran being the Space Marines, the Protoss being the Eldar, and the Zerg being the Tyranids.

Starcraft was supposed to be the next Warhammer40k RTS but Blizzard couldnt get the license from Games Workshop. I bet those people in Games workshop are probably kicking themselves for denying Blizzard.

Originally Posted by gummybear

SC shouldn't fit into the same type of games as WC because the theme of SC is more of survival of races where WC is heros/conquest of kingdoms. Having upkeep tax doesn't make much sense in SC.....

Logic and fun doesn't always go hand in hand. WC and SC itself are very simple and basic when you look at games like Myth(1997) by Bungie which is fully 3D, dynamic weather effect, elevation and terrain effect but hardly many people know the game not to mention, the upkeep tax was implemented due to gameplay and balance, not because of realism or logic.

Sadly, that is how the game industry works, one copy another's success. Just like WC copied off LOR the books

Imitation is the best form of compliment. It's only sad when people copy BAD features off other game (cough*SoE*).

[wsheit]

Update: the URL www.starcraft2.com now has the same countdown as blizzard.com -it isn't even a re-direct anymore. None of the other possible sequel urls do anything at all, so it's looking more and more likely that we may get our sequel in some form.

[gummybear]

3 more days till it's offical :3

There is a actually a part of me kind of sad cause I was kind of liking the idea to play as a firebat in WoSC... oh well, if they are really going to have the 3rd person roleplaying controls for heros then I am sure I can still cook people with flame punches

I like fire and yes, I do the cheap firebat rush in SC1

[wsheit]

Originally Posted by gummybear

3 more days till it's offical :3

There is a actually a part of me kind of sad cause I was kind of liking the idea to play as a firebat in WoSC... oh well, if they are really going to have the 3rd person roleplaying controls for heros then I am sure I can still cook people with flame punches

I like fire and yes, I do the cheap firebat rush in SC1

Firebat rush? Such a thing exists? Is it really viable if other players are zerg? I've only played online in small quantities, so I'm not really too familiar with high level strategy.

I did go back recently and replay the campaigns; I was quite pleased to find that I could massacre the computer, but alas, the comps are nothing compared to people online...completely different ballgame.

[Mcdonalds]

hmmm, fire bats rushes only work when they're are a lot of them and definitely require stim packs. They work against zealots, zerglings, no wait, they rape them especially since these are basic units and most people mass these. Not really a strategy a like much, highly vulnerable to dragoons/vultures/tanks/hydras/marines, especially if these things are microed properly (all aiming at one firebat, and moving the whole group of units back including the most injured ones to the back of the group). If they firebats do make it through though, say goodbye to your probes/scvs/drones though.

[gummybear]

not really need slims, but it works very well if you do. if it works, your enemy is no more because flame hits 3 times in damage where a marine only hit 1 single damage. if it doesn't, usually a 2nd wave will do the job. Yes, you need to micro like crazy.

1 more day to go.

[Omniscient]

IGN and Games Radar confirm it: Starcraft 2 is coming

[Skane]

Originally Posted by Omniscient

IGN and Games Radar confirm it: Starcraft 2 is coming

Reading through those articles, I think it is a foregone conclusion that Starcraft 2 is going to 'suffer' more of the "Wait a tick, haven't we seen this before?" problem. Assault Marines and Webways (WH40K gamers will know what I'm talking about) immediately came to mind when I was browsing through the new units.

Not that it will stop me from playing it anyway. The main attraction in Starcraft for me has always been the story.

Heh.

ADD]

The Terrans forify the position with SAM turrets and dig in. But with a brilliant flash of
light, a Protoss Mothership appears. This is the most powerful, technologically advanced,
and expensive single unit in the game - so much so that the player is only allowed to have
one at a time. It has three devastating special abilities. First: the Time Bomb, which
creates a temporal distortion field around the Mothership that stops all incoming
projectiles, Neo-style, in mid air. When the field shut off, dozens of anti-air rockets
clattered impotently to the ground. Second: the Planet Cracker, which fires energy beams
straight down, annihilating anything below the Mothership. And third: the Black Hole,
which pulls in and crushes any air units in the area with a down-the-drain effect.

The demo concludes with a massive all-out war between the Terrans and the Protoss. All
the units we've seen so far go at it for several minutes in a huge battle. Neither side seems
to have the upper hand until we hear "Nuclear launch detected," and three Terran nukes
hit the screen, wiping out everything. Three Terran Ghosts decloak to gloat a bit, but then
find themselves surrounded by Zerglings that abruptly spring out of the ground. After
finishing off the Ghosts, the Zerglings are rearranged into the letters GG and enter their
mutation cocoons - a real crowd pleaser.

I'm very pleased that they finally allow us to use the "Planet Busting" Protoss ships (see opening cinematic of the original Starcraft (pre-expansion) for reference).

Cheers.

[wsheit]

Sounds like a lot of new units...seemed there were 4-5 for the protoss alone. If all of the old units are still in...gonna be crazy.

[Lebron]

http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/arti...9000515560.jpg
Can't Stop the RUSH!

[felix]

Yes all the old ones are still in. With new abilities. Screens

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I wanna see a gameplay video to get some idea.. but I don't like the W3 look at all.

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Edit

I think I'll lay down some thoughts just based on current info.
They said nothing is final and right now I want them to change everything.
Nothing is final for my current statements either. =P

1. You can keep the W3 feel but I don't want to see boxy crappy structures with just texture for detail. (starcraft was one of the best looking 2D games I've ever played, starcraft 2 shouldn't just be W3 x Sc cheap piece of crap)

2. Either 1) the uber anti-turtle units go or 2) there sure as hell better be enough strategic potential to counter them. Turtling was never an 100% option but this unit-x defeats complex strategy y is nothing but idiotic thinking. An eye for an eye a tactic for a strategy. Were the tactic is harder to do then the strategy.. not the other way around.

3. Some unit copy/pasting to 3d seriously needs to die. Terran bunkers look awesome in 2d, every version in 3d I've seen looks like crap. IMO they should fundamentally change them a lot to make them as visually pleasing as possible while still keeping them familiar.

4. Unit & Building chibification is not a good thing for SC. Sure, I feel there's somewhat better gameplay if the units and structures aren't 100% authentic. But structures should keep 1) veritable ration to each other (as in you don't have a bunker that's the size of a barracks) and 2) all structures should not/never/in any case be reduced in size so much that they are either, the size of some units or smaller. (units which they would previously be bigger then.

5. All this spell-like crap needs to get changed to something else. Starcraft isn't about magical powers.

6. Anything that makes bases W3 like needs to get scrapped and redone ASAP.

7. Marines seem to have been converted to footmen. Basically they seem to have guns and a shield (oh woah a shield! ) and also fire at a whooping 2meter distance. The idiot who though making ranged units fire at such short distances needs to get shot ASAP.

[Omniscient]

Originally Posted by Cats

I wanna see a gameplay video to get some idea.. but I don't like the W3 look at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sog2k6s7xVQ
Nowhere near the best quality, but you can see some of the animations and how things generally look and feel.

[Skane]

Judging from the screenshots, it looks like they are going to retain the 200 supply limit. Highest supply number I saw was 177.

Cheers.

[felix]

Heh.. wrote the edit before I noticed your post.
Still think the same way tho'

It has too much of the W3 feel towards units IMO.
And who the hell mixes that many so blindly.


-----------
Countdown OVER

[Skane]

It's a demo... it was meant to look pretty, not efficient.

Natch.

[felix]

Official FAQ -- Quote
See Blizzards Official Starcraft II site.. just opened a minute ago.

What is StarCraft II?

StarCraft II is the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game, and the sequel to the hit original, StarCraft. The game will include three completely distinct and balanced races, the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg, which have been overhauled and re-imagined with a number of new units for each, as well as new tricks for some of the classic units that are returning.
When is the game coming out?

At this point, it's too early to provide an initial estimate on the release date. As with all Blizzard games, we will take as much time as needed to ensure the game is as fun, balanced, and polished as possible.

Cats: Kudos for that ^^

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How will StarCraft II be different from StarCraft?

StarCraft II will run on a vibrant new 3D-graphics engine that will be capable of rendering beautiful landscapes as well as massive individual units and army sizes.

Cats: that thing is new?! you got to be kidding me..

We're also introducing a number of distinct new units to the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg, and even some of the familiar units that return in StarCraft II will have new tricks up their sleeves, which will give the game its own unique flavor.

In addition, Battle.net will be overhauled with some new and exciting features to enhance online play and competition, while the story-mode campaign will also offer some unique aspects for players who enjoy single-player content. We'll have more details on all these aspects in the months to come.

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Will there be both single-player and multiplayer components?

Yes, StarCraft II will include a unique story-mode campaign, as well as multiplayer capability over Battle.net. We'll provide more detail on both of these aspects a little further along in the development process.

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What will StarCraft II's story line be? Will any of the characters from the original StarCraft make an appearance in StarCraft II?

It's a little too early to get into details on the story. Once we're able to discuss the single-player campaign in detail, we'll also share some exciting information about the story line for the game.
How many cinematic cut-scenes will be included?

We know that StarCraft II players will expect to see some Blizzard-quality cinematic content in the game, and we have definite plans to include multiple cinematics, starting with a cinematic intro. We'll provide further confirmation once final determinations have been made.
How many races are in StarCraft II?

In StarCraft II, players will see the return of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg races. Our goal is to ensure that all the factions in the game play even more distinctly from one another than in the original StarCraft, while still maintaining the fine balance that helped make StarCraft such a classic. We're also introducing a number of new units to each race, as well as modifying some of the familiar units returning in StarCraft II. With these design refinements and the new features we have planned for the single-player and multiplayer elements of the game, StarCraft II will offer a next-generation StarCraft experience.

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StarCraft II has some big shoes to fill - is there added pressure in developing a follow-up to one of the most beloved games of all time?

We recognize that the bar is set pretty high, but this type of pressure is not new to us. Warcraft III had to follow in the footsteps of Warcraft II, and Diablo II had to follow the original Diablo. Creating a StarCraft game that's bigger and better than the original is definitely a big challenge, but it's one that we fully intend to meet and exceed.

Cats: Starcraft is biger then big.. compared to it W2 was average at best.

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Will the game be released in multiple countries? Will the release be simultaneous? Which countries and what languages will the game be localized in?

Our goal is to release the game simultaneously across the world in multiple languages. As we get closer to release, we'll have more details to share.

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Will there also be an expansion, and if so, what features will it contain?

Our focus has been and will continue to be on developing and refining the core StarCraft II experience, so we haven't really had much time to consider what types of things we would include with an expansion for the game if we were to do one.

Cats: Like this isn't just an expantion as well.

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Will there be a console version of StarCraft II?

StarCraft II is being developed for the PC. We have no current plans to bring the game to any console platform.

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Will Battle.net be overhauled? Will there be new features?

There will be some exciting new changes and features to Battle.net that will help us ensure that StarCraft II will be the ultimate competitive online real-time strategy game. We're not quite ready to discuss those features at this time, but we look forward to getting into more detail in the future.

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Will we still be able to play the original StarCraft on Battle.net after StarCraft II is released?

Yes, you will.

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Will there be clan management?

We're not quite ready to discuss specifics related to Battle.net at this time, but we look forward to doing so in the future.

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What steps are being taken to prevent cheating in multiplayer games?

We don't want to tip our hand to the people who may try to cheat on Battle.net, so we can't go into too much detail, but rest assured that security is one of our top priorities as we redesign and overhaul Battle.net, and we will take every precaution to ensure fairness in our online games. We've taken an aggressive stance against cheating in all of our games, and our players have overwhelmingly supported us in that, so we don't have any intention to make any changes in that regard.
Cost, Rating, Beta/Trial versions

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How much will StarCraft II cost? Where can I buy this game?

Pricing and availability will be determined and announced much closer to the release date.

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What will StarCraft II's rating be?

We are aiming for a T-rating in the US, and similar ratings elsewhere in the world, but those details won't be finalized until we get closer to release.

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Will there be a closed or open beta? How about a trial or demo version?

Decisions related to beta testing and trial or demo versions are usually made further along in the development process. We don't have any details available on these topics at the moment, but we will be happy to share the news once final decisions have been made.

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Will there be a collector's edition?

Decisions related to the types of retail packages available will be made much closer to the game's release date.
Technical Aspects

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What are the system requirements for StarCraft II?

We'll have more details on specific system requirements closer to the release date.

Cats: Right now looks like you need extraordanary old pc not to be able to to run it. And I do mean extraordinary.

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Will the game run natively on Windows Vista?

StarCraft II will be fully compatible with Windows Vista, as well as XP. We'll have more details on system requirements closer to release.

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Will StarCraft II be available on Mac simultaneously with PC?

As with all of Blizzard's recent releases, StarCraft II will ship on both PC and Mac simultaneously.

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Will StarCraft II take advantage of DirectX 10? What other graphical goodies are included?

The game will be compatible with DirectX 10, and we're still considering whether there will be exclusive DirectX 10 graphic effects, but the graphics engine will also be very scalable to ensure that a wide range of different systems will be capable of running StarCraft II. The new engine is also capable of rendering very large units, as well as large numbers of units on screen together. Havok physics have been integrated into the engine for added realism as well.

[Ottocycle]

edit: never mind

[Matt Soulblade]

Great. Now we just need to wait 2-3 years for Blizzard to release the game.