Starcraft 2

Starcraft Guides

2010-12-23T01:44:00.000-08:00

Now, you can view videos on Youtube all day long but you won’t get better at Starcraft 2. Why? Mostly because the pros practice every day but more importantly, there are different map and unit strategies that they utilize depending on their opponent.

So here’s a couple of guides to help with that – maps, units, tactics.

Starcraft 2 beta test signup

2009-10-07T07:01:00.002-07:00

Patience is such a stupid virtue! Blizzard have finally announced the Starcraft 2 beta test sign up.

The instructions are very simple:

Sign up for a battle.net account
If you have a Battle.net account, login here.
You’ll see a link “SC2 Beta Profile Settings
Download an app that will upload your system specs
You’re done

My guess is Starcraft 2 release date could be near too. The word is Activision-Blizzard are under pressure to release a major game in 2009 as their earnings don’t look too rosy. Of course, Blizzard are known for their motto: we release when the game is ready.

Starcraft 2 maps for sale

2009-10-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

According to Kotaku (and Rob Pardo specifically), you can now design your own map and SELL it. Previously, you were only able to design your own map and PLAY IT!

Blizzard wants to foster the best mod community in existence, and to that ends they’ve unveiled plans to single out premium custom-created maps for sales on a StarCraft 2 marketplace.

Maps will be split into two categories – normal and premium – with the former free and the latter for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to the map’s creators.

Blizzard hopes this will lead to more choice for StarCraft 2 players, and more innovative and creative custom maps fueled by the potential financial rewards.

I guess Blizzcon is a bit shy on Starcraft news, Diablo 3 got a new class – the Monk!

Starcraft 2 releases in 2009

2009-06-30T23:44:00.000-07:00

There’s been quite a bit of speculation about Starcraft 2 release date – as with all Blizzard games. Blizzard’s motto – it’s out when it’s ready – means that exact dates are now known before about a month before.

So it’s good news that Mike Morhaime said at E3 that Starcraft will be out in 2009. Of course, he put it in a conditional sentence!

Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime has said that Starcraft II will be released this year as long as it “meets our standards and the expectations of our players”.

The latest gameplay video I saw, there have been some new Protoss units, so I guess Blizzard never tire of adding/subtracting units.

Starcraft 2 gameplay

2008-09-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

This is the panel discussion regarding Stracraft 2 gameplay at the WWI in Paris (where Diablo 3 was announced). The video is a bit long but worth it!

There’s still nothing on Starcraft’s release date though - I hope it’s early 2009! Stay tuned for an announcement about updates to online play!

Starcraft 2 release date update

2008-09-21T08:54:00.001-07:00

For a long time, Blizzard have stated that the new version of Battle.net will premiere with Starcraft 2.

So when they say the new version will probably be ready by Christmas 2008, you’d think it might be Starcraft 2 release date too. At the same time, there have been definitive statements from Blizzard that Starcraft 2 will not come out in 2008.

So the consensus on forums is that Battle.net 2.0 will come out in December - together with a Starcraft 2 beta. As to the game release - that’ll probably happen in early 2009.

New Blizzcast

2008-02-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Blizzard has started a podcast (audio only for now). You can get the audio and/or you can read the transcript.

In this podcast (a.k.a. Blizzcast), they have two interviews. The first is with Samwise Didier, Blizzard’s Art Director and concept artist who has worked on both Starcraft and Warcraft.
The second interview is with WOW’s lead designer for World of Warcraft, Jeff Kaplan. He’s talking about the changes in WoW patch 2.4.

Looks like a new MMO called RIFT, is hot on the heels of WoW.

Beta playable at Blizzcon

2007-07-11T05:19:00.000-07:00

Despite what Rob Pardo said about the game not being launched this year, there's plenty of evidence that a Starcraft 2 beta will make an appearance at Blizzcon.

Here's the gist:

In case you needed any more reasons to want to go to BlizzCon, they've just announced that convention-goers will be treated to a playable demo of StarCraft II. Of course, who knows how much "playable demo" there is to the game yet, but but Blizzard tells us that "attendees can sample the new units and gameplay elements for themselves in multiplayer battles."

Starcraft 2 beta in 2008?

2007-06-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

In his Gamespot interview, Chris Sigaty said that Blizzard usually takes “three and a half or four years to finish a game” and that Starcraft 2 would enter alpha testing later in the year.

Rob Pardo has poured some cold water on fan’s hopes for a Chirstmas release in 2007. In his MSN interview, Rob rules out any possibility for an early release:

The only thing I can give you [that’s] concrete is it’s not going to be this year. Some people were hoping, because of how advanced Starcraft 2 looks, that we’d have it out by Christmas, but that’s definitely not happening.

Does that mean that a Starcraft 2 beta is out of question as well? IGN has put a bet on that and if the alpha is later in the year, I wouldn’t rule out a beta by Chirstmas.

2007-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

Blizzard has been kind enough to post high resolution versions of the gameplay video we got earlier. I viewed the 1280x768 video on my new 20" LG display and I'm definitely looking forward to more of this!

Download gameplay video (Windows version)
Download gameplay video (Mac version)

More here.

Stracraft 2 trailer and gameplay videos

2007-05-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here you go:

Starcraft 2 trailer

Starcraft gameplay videos

Starcraft 2 is now official

2007-05-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

Blizzard has just announced the sequel to Starcraft. I must say it was about time. The original Starcraft came out in 1998, almost a decade ago.

I’m over at Starcraft2.com to go through the screenshots and other goodies! The races will remain the same: Zerg, Terran, and Protoss. You can view a video of the Protoss ultimate battleship - the Protoss Mothership.

Starcraft 2 teaser

2007-05-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

If you go to Blizzard’s site, you’ll see a teaser that loads before it loads the homepage.
It seems that yesterday, it was stuck showing a Diablo teaser. Today however it’s a different story!

A lot of people are convinced this is another proof that Blizzard are preparing for a Starcraft 2 announcement in Korea.

Starcraft 2 announcement in Korea

2007-05-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

There’s been a leak concerning the upcoming Blizzard’s World Wide Invitational (WWI) on May 19th in Korea.
According to insiders, there’s a definite possibility that Blizzard will choose this time to preview some content from the upcoming Starcraft 2. An ex-Blizzard employee has confirmed Starcraft 2 has been in development for some time and Blizzard are getting ready to start the hype machine.
I’m quoting directly from Korean (with translation), so you can make up your own mind.
<스타크래프트2>가 5월 19일 개최되는 블리자드 월드와이드 인비테이셔널(WWI)에서 전세계 최초로 공개된다.
StarCraft 2 will be revealed for the first time to the world at Blizzard’s World Wide Invitational (WWI) on May 19th.
25일 게임업계에 따르면 블리자드 엔터테인먼트 코리아(이하 블리자드 코리아)는 5월 19일 시작되는 WWI에서 <스타크래프트2>의 동영상과 게임 내용을 최초로 발표할 것으로 확인됐다. 또, <스타크래프트2> 핵심 개발자들이 현장에 참석해 질의응답 시간도 진행된다.
On the 25th, according to the game developers, it has been confirmed that Blizzard Entertainment Korea (aka Blizzard Korea) will present VODs and game content at the WWI that is starting on May 19th. Also, StarCraft 2’s main developers will also attend to answer some questions.
<스타크래프트2>는 3D로 개발되고 있으며, 새로운 종족이 추가되고 기존 종족의 유닛과 특성에 많은 변화가 있을 것으로 확인됐다. 이외의 자세한 내용은 WWI에서도 일부만 공개될 것으로 보인다.
It has been confirmed that StarCraft 2 is being developed in 3D, a new race has been added and existing units’ characteristics will have many changes. Additional details will only be revealed to certain parts of WWI.
Starcraft 2 has been mentioned by three of Blizzard’s bosses: Mike Morhaime, Paul Sams and Itzik Ben Bassat, respectively being president, COO, and VP Biz Dev.
A word of caution though. Officially, Blizzard are NOT confirming anything at this point.
블리자드 코리아의 박영목 이사는 “차기작에 관해서는 현재 답변 드릴 내용이 없다. 차기작은 19일 WWI에서 발표할 것이다. 19일 현장에 와서 확인하기 바란다”며 <스타크래프트2>가 19일날 발표될 차기작임을 확인해 달라는 요청을 거부했다.
Blizzard Korea’s Park Young-Mok director said “There is not content available for answer for the sequel. The sequel will be released at the WWI on the 19th. Please confirm it at the site on the 19th” and denied the confirmation on if StarCraft 2 is indeed the sequel that is to be announced on the 19th.
This isn’t a susprise as Blizzard have a strong tradition of secrecy. Considering the impact Starcraft could have on gaming (especially in Korea), Blizzard will need to make the most of the announcement.
Update: Blizzard just posted a Diablo 3 teaser on their homepage.