StarCraft 2 is here
Posted on 23rd Jul 2010 at 17:40 by Alex Watson with 45 comments
...but we're still waiting. As you might have seen from our post on Twitter earlier, our review copy of StarCraft 2 is here, but we can't play it - the game has to authenticate using Blizzard's servers and they're not coming online until Tuesday, when the game actually launches.
As a result, there aren't going to be any pre-release reviews - not that this has done anything to dampen the hype - pre-orders in the US alone expected to hit three-quarters of a million. Heaven knows what the situation is like in South Korea.
As Harry pointed out, the fact we're actually going to wait to play the game means we can admire the box in quite some detail. It really is quite nice, complete with a double fold-out showing a massive battle between the Terrans and the Zerg. Less positively, the box also doesn't really clearly explain that you're getting the first chapter of a StarCraft 2 saga...
Still, I'm looking forward to the game, particularly the effort that Blizzard is saying its put into into the singleplayer portion of the game, with a huge story and unique units. For me, the RTS genre has stagnated since the excellent Company of Heroes - a shame, as its one that is unique to the PC (as numerous dreadful console RTS games such as Stormrise show).
Well, while we're all waiting, check out this stirring final trailer for the game (props to Ars for the pointer):
As a result, there aren't going to be any pre-release reviews - not that this has done anything to dampen the hype - pre-orders in the US alone expected to hit three-quarters of a million. Heaven knows what the situation is like in South Korea.
As Harry pointed out, the fact we're actually going to wait to play the game means we can admire the box in quite some detail. It really is quite nice, complete with a double fold-out showing a massive battle between the Terrans and the Zerg. Less positively, the box also doesn't really clearly explain that you're getting the first chapter of a StarCraft 2 saga...
Still, I'm looking forward to the game, particularly the effort that Blizzard is saying its put into into the singleplayer portion of the game, with a huge story and unique units. For me, the RTS genre has stagnated since the excellent Company of Heroes - a shame, as its one that is unique to the PC (as numerous dreadful console RTS games such as Stormrise show).
Well, while we're all waiting, check out this stirring final trailer for the game (props to Ars for the pointer):
45 Comments
Discuss in the forums Replyblaming Activision's greed.
Well, it's easy to do, but I think it could just as easily be put down to Blizzard's ambition - see the FAQ here: http://eu.starcraft2.com/faq.xml#trilogy
They see the game as being much bigger than just a one off. From what Joe's told me (he's played it, I haven't) there's going to be more than enough content in SC2: Wings of Liberty to justify its full price.
*ahem* Sorry. SC takes me back to the good old days.
If I buy it in Europe, will I be able to play while in the US ? (provided I get the appropriate client software) ?
Also, SCII is currently the top selling video game over on Amazon. yeehaw
Also, are they ignoring the Brood War timeline??
Though I would love to see more like CoH, by far it's my favourite RTS.
Don't forget about Men of War, in terms of RTS, the best ever!
Well, it's just my opinion - Harry would certainly beg to differ. But I wasn't a fan of DoW2 and Total War isn't really an RTS - it's much more a full on strategy game in my book.
that trailer however, ive always liked blizzards cgi.
i might pick up sc2 to see what to fuss is about after the world settles down.
It's more of the same Starcraft but immaculately well presented. But it is still only Starcraft. I never got into playing it competitively, likely never will, which leaves me with the single player. Now I've not played that in SC2 beyond skirmish modes, but frankly given the limitations of the game and environment as a single player game it doesn't strike me as having too much to offer. I like things like cover systems, terrain, intuitive strategies and immersion, those can't be added to Starcraft without ruining the purity of the gameplay, so I suspect that Starcraft 2 and I may simply have to agree to disagree.
SC2 has more content than SC and BW combined. Also Blizzard has always made expansions for their games, this time they are just making one extra. It's not like they are making DLC or some crap like that.
I can't play it because my PC won't cope, otherwise I would've pre-ordered. I still play the original and I love it!
be biggest selling game either way
As far as the crying about episodic, that is the way PC Gaming is moving, MMOs and Episodes. Enjoy it or check out how much it costs to invest in another hobby (hint: they are all much more expensive than PC Gaming).
S*D
second, episodes: if you've ever bought any blizzard RTS, you already knew there would be an expansion pack. AT LEAST ONE expansion pack. they have stated there will be two this time. oh no, activision has taken over and blizz is just a money hog! bohoo!! wah wah wah!
and to Star*Dagger: personally i found that supreme commander was extremely lacking in tactical depth. the main problem was that it was trying to be too epic: tons and tons of units, teching up to ginormous units, but when you do that, it starts becoming a game of statistics. quick, small movements and attacks are almost impossible at that scale. controlling several small squads with precise, down-to-the-second timing really amounts to nothing, and is about equivalent to just sending a stream of units straight from the factories. the exponentially increasing power with each tech level quickly renders the early-game technology moot, so while the game itself may have dozens of units, only a few are useful at any given time.
i was psyched when i first heard about supcom, but after playing it for a while i felt that "giant epic battles and giant epic units" was just another gimmick that ultimately detracted from the gameplay by making things like micromangement, hit-and-run, etc. mostly irrelevant.
it's always the same story
but people complained terrans were overpowered anyways.
Ive been playing beta for a few months and its quite fun, the first rts that ive played that ive really gotten into the competative multiplayer side of things
Afaik, it's going to work like WoW, if you have the EU version then you play with EU people, if you have the US version, then you play with US people.
The thing is I'm leaving to the US for a year, so I'd like to know if I buy the game in EU (and tie it to my battle.net account) I'll be able to play both in the US and in Europe (using different versions of the game if needed)
wow eu will work with wow usa you just change relm to wow us
Yes, StarCraft eclipsed SupCom 1 in terms of sales by a vast margin. Sometimes people struggle with new ideas / new concepts, and Supcom brought these to the table in bucket loads.
Its really hard these days playing any RTS that zooms you into the action 2 inches above the ground and doesnt let you zoom out. Starcraft 2 doesnt bring anything new to the table at all... just better graphics, more maps and a different campaign.... evolution for sure, but not revolution.
Meh.... It will sell millions, but innovative Starcraft 2 is most certainly not. (and thats exactly what the millions of Koreans wanted.. more of the same)
TA was released around the same time as Starcraft v1, and was infinitely better in almost all respects. TA introduced so many new and exciting innovations it left the competition (C&C, SC, etc) looking archaic. The ability to instantly zoom in/out of the map to get a global assessment is now essential for any RTS, in my opinion. I think TA and SupCom/FA both suffered from the fact they're hard to play, with a very steep learning curve; noobs need not apply.
This is what I love about them, they're the only RTS games that truly allow you to play the game any way you like (true sandbox games), instead of being directed to 'play by numbers'. I've always been surprised boring, plodding RTS games like C&C never incorporated ANY of the ingenius innovations of TA/SupCom/FA, and the fact that SC2 hasn't bothered either instantly brands it as just another pretty, but ultimately boring and generic RTS.
We need the genre to move forward, break new ground and introduce new ideas, not just render bloom effects for explosions.
While I'm here, I don't suppose anyone knows the cheapest place to get SC2 in the UK?
Oh please!
Half life episode 2 was fairly long, however.
Yes, providing you have a US WoW account. You can't decide to play on US servers one day and transfer all your characters over.
Can only find this: