Blizzard ponders over portable Starcraft, Diablo II

37 Comments by Ross Miller Jul 18th 2005 3:33PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PSP

Starcraft

Blizzard once again ignited a flame into the hearts of its devoted fanbase when it sent out in its newsletter a few tantalizing proposals. In it, Blizzard asked readers for their opinion on a port of Diablo II for DS and PSP featuring wireless multiplayer. If that wasn't enough, Blizzard further asked if its loyal followers would consider purchasing a Starcraft port on the Nintendo DS. With the advance in technology since these games were released, and their still massive popularity (go and check out battle.net and marvel at the sheer number of people still addicted to these games over 5 years after their release), this could be a huge hit for Blizzard, despite it essentially being a port of ages-old games.

At this stage, since nothing is confirmed, this is only rumor/speculation/wishful thinking. It seems Blizzard is continuing to test the console waters, first by re-releasing Rock and Roll racing and then the upcoming Starcraft: Ghost. This would seem to be another step towards a possibly lucrative trend in Blizzard's future. Still, despite being just a rumor, it is a fun rumor to ponder, and Nintendo's touch-screen console could benefit greatly from a real-time strategy game; the control scheme, at least theoretically, would work well. What do you think?

[via Pro-G]

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

striegs: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the RTS could become the genre of choice for the Nintendo DS. For example:

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000640030861/

You're absolutely correct. In theory, it would be perfect. Then again, a good theory does not necessarily translate into great gameplay.

Conrad Quilty-Harper: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Damn, I think I suddenly got interested in buying a portable console. I'd buy a DS in a shot to play a touch pad version of Starcraft over wifi! I hope this comes true.

Trae Shaw: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

"With the advance in technology since these games were released, and their still massive popularity (go and check out battle.net and marvel at the sheer number of people still addicted to these games over 5 years after their release)."

That's not a complete sentence.

Peter: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I don't own a portable platform but this would be something that would be really cool. From what I'm aware Advanced Wars is about as good as it gets on DS, and bringing in some old heavy-hitting PC titles would probably introduce a lot of people to them for the first time. Wireless StarCraft would totally rock though... except I'd have to go physically locate and damage the player who will only play 'Toss on BGH and cannon himself in :)

MikeUF: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Westwood long ago made a Command and Conquer for N64, in all honesty its control scheme sucked, but still it was a nice try at porting an RTS to a console system. Anyone think that if Blizzard were to take the leap, Westwood would be close behind?

Sander: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I can just imagine this..tap and hold to drag the screen, left top finger button help down and tip is a left click, right is a right click...goddamn this could be so good, the DS with it's touch screen is perfect for RTS and RPG...oh...and FPS...hmm, it's more like a computer than any other consoles out there, and thats why I love it =p

Dmitri: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Im happy to see the DS is finally getting it's own hype. Sony has been hogging it all.

Ross Miller: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Trae - Heh, thanks, I am very prone to making mistakes and getting ahead of myself in thought. Sorry about that, it's fixed now.

Rare Hare: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

wow. i've bought neither portable platform so far, but games like that on a DS could really persuade me to cough up the cash. :-D

anyway, yeah this sounds great :-).

chris: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I hpe they make it so you can download new maps or make it so you can make maps and transfer them to your ds or psp

Codejoy: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Good god if they release diablo II on the DS then i will have to buy another DS for the wife, and also probably 2 more on top of that (As backups for when we break our ds's from constant tapping).

I can't even begin to count how much time we spent LAN multiplayer on diabloII...though if they did bring it id hope it wasnt a direct exact port, cause well as I said we played the crap out of the game already years back...

Unknownguy: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

That would be amazing! I love starcraft and have a ds, that would be soo much fun!

Kudos Blizzard, if you go threw with it(Where is Starcraft 2??).

courtney: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I didn't even think about that guys, the DS would be perfect for RTS. #6 was on the money. I can't wait.

I havent liked many RTS on consoles, it just doesn't feel right. but the DS could be it.

RTS doen't need to look that great , so you can't use the whole PSP better graphics statement.

MikeUF: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I like the idea of watching your base on one screen then, attacking the enemy on the other. Make the screens swappable so that at any time you could actaully be watching and controlling two battles at once.

zero101: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I think it would be fantastic if either of these games made it to the DS. The DS' touch screen and relatively powerful graphic capabilities make it a no-brainer for some ports of older PC games.

As a matter of fact, there are already quite a few on the way... such as Age of Empires, Black and White, Worms, Zoo Tycoon, etc.

Matt Rix: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

"Westwood long ago made a Command and Conquer for N64, in all honesty its control scheme sucked, but still it was a nice try at porting an RTS to a console system. Anyone think that if Blizzard were to take the leap, Westwood would be close behind?"

There was starcraft for n64 too, which kinda sucked as well

Twist: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I have said this before and I will probably say it many more times but RTS games on consoles can work fine. I was skeptical too until I played Warcraft 2 on the PSone. Whoever ported it did an good job of it even though there was room for improvement (like the fact that it used half a memory card to save the game or you could just write down a 15 or so character password that did exactly the same thing). I hear that Starcraft on the N64 was decent as well but I never played it.

I am not really interested in the DS and the PSP is a little too pricey right now but I would buy an Xbox version of Starcraft in a second. Also Rock 'N' Roll Racing would make a great Xbox Live Arcade title. Or better yet a brand new game based on it with full 3D graphics (but the same isometric viewing angle and control system), Xbox Live support, Xbox LAN support, and support for player made tracks.

Rare Hare: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

#11 Codejoy:

yeah, if they make a diablo for DS, i'd hope they would make a NEW one rather than just a D2 port.

come to think of it, a lot of point and click RPGs might be great on the DS.. wow, this really opens up a lot of possibilites. now if only the DS had the same type of internet connectivity as the PSP, then they'd REALLY be in business.

Seth L: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

The thought of Starcraft over Wifi on the DS just geeked me out.

If this doesn't happen it will be a failure on Blizzard and Nintendo's parts.

brett: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Regular Tap: Left Click
Hold L button and Tap: Right Click
Arrow keys: scroll map
2nd Screen: Your choice between, Minimap, display another area of the map, unit/base stats, options screens.

Sounds like a winner to me.

If they allow the custom maps that are currently played on battle.net, I would buy a DS, and this game, the day it comes out.

Codejoy: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

brett that UI is just a bit too complicated, have you every played any pocketPC RTS's thats a pretty good template for how it shoudl go down:

the edges of the screen scroll, and they could do away with a right click by having a double tap, or tap and hold. Though your scheme isn't bad just depends on how many people want to hold their DS like that, I know my friends hate the idea of holding their DS and having to use the controls AND the stylus.

Control groups: Click hold and drag, then click a small tool-pallette that has a number on it.

Though limits the # of control groups one can have. and no keyboard short cuts for the real hard core RTS players could be a turn off...

Rise of nations on the DS next! :D

PvpMan: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Awesome!!! It would be just that awesome to play those games on a DS.

atnight: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

i'm all for this, especially on the DS, which as said before, lends itself to RTS with the touch-screen's mouse-like capabilities. My only thing is, as long as it takes Blizzard to make games with their revolving staff and what not, I want a Diablo 3 more than a handheld port of their games I've long sinced played into the ground.

Rare Hare: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

but, number 21 (atnight), there will probably be no Diablo III. with the story at ending the way it did in Diablo II, it's unlikely to impossible.

i wish they would make a SIMILAR game to Diablo but for the DS, since BLizzrd nailed the mouseclick RPG so well. the DS game could be all new stories and opportunities.

wow this sounds better and better..

Chris Maguire: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

WOO!!

I totally emailed them about this a little while ago and got a shady response from them (online at http://www.hypercombofinish.com/past.php?entry_num=36 under the comic).

If it gets made I want all the credit! :P

n8: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Oh. I thought we didn't like rehashing old games for new systems. I musta missed the memo.

fryhole: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Oh goodness...how many hours of my life were sucked away by Diablo II, I'm actually a little worried how much time I'd loose if I could carry it with me wherever I go. All I can say is...goodbye dating life...hello my new bow 'zon.

Chris: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

If I could hear "Orders captain?" on a DS, I would buy one right now. Maybe a few special maps just for the DS wouldn't hurt, either...

Imagine if the DS's wifi could connect to your wireless router and connect you with battle.net...Yeah right.

Jarquin: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

to 25:

The people that are not infavor of refreshing old games on new systems are the people that have only played a ps2 or xbox they never played computer games or anything before ps2. They seem too have a narrow view of the gaming world limited to only Halo and GTA. Don't get me wrong I love those games, but they never played games as good as Starcraft or Diablo II.

Daily: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

My concept of Starcraft DS

The Two Screens:
1. Map View, this allows for unit selection via stylus as well as issuing attacks to units.
2. Mini Map and unit options.

A push of a button(L/R/D/ABCD) or touch of the stylus will switch the two screens. This setup will probably fix most of the control issues.
Of course things like unit grouping will need to be addressed...

Cem: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I don't think you can compare the N64 versions of C&C and StarCraft to a possible DS version. The control scheme is totally different and more pc-like. I would absolutely LOVE StarCraft on the DS, I really can't wait!

emmzee: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Since DiabloII is probably my favorite PC game of all time (although I no longer play it due to the idiots/dupers/spammers/etc found on Bnet) I would definitely go out and buy a DS just to play a Diablo DS version ... I agree with previous posters though, it shouldn't just be a straight port. I'd assume if they did make a portable version, they'd go the subtitle route, ex. "Diablo: Dark Destiny" or something (although hopefully not so lame), rather than Diablo3 which they'd save for the next PC game.

Jonathan: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Please give us starcraft and diablo on the ds!!!

mr. T: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

alot of ds fans in here.......ok look at it this way it can also work on the psp. with the analog stick that can be the mouse. l and r with xyo[] combos can be the hot keys and there u go of course it would be hard to become a pro at it but change is always good! and they can probly make it 3d with the great graphics the psp comes with unlike the ds oh and u cant type on a ds while playing a game can u. well sony is coming out with a qwerty keyboard attactment for the psp so that would be kool to have chat like sc has already online psp has way more for it unlike ds it came with everthing it could give which wasnt alot dual screens comeon u have to hold it like 9 inches close to your face to be actually able to see everything with 20/20 vision
oh a idea that u could do is have starcraft ghost on psp that would be so awesome!!

Jared: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I have many friends who all agree Starcraft would be perfect for the DS, the touch screen system would just make things so easy! I dunno about the PSP I really can't see myself playing it very well on my PSP, the DS though will be much easyer

TheJae: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

You know, two days after getting my DS I was thinking to myself, "Damn, A Diablo II port on this thing would absolutely own." Blizzard should I hire me as a console project manager. Think about it though, two screens, inventory management and potions at the touch of a styles. A seperate screen for that god awful minimap (better than the pc!). The DS is capable of connecting to a wifi router and in fact nintendo is planning on doing exactly that with their titles Mario Kart DS and Metroid: Hunters. The only problem I see is fitting the entire Diablo II game on the DS system. The install is well over a gig and the current largest DS game is kicking around 256MB. Now you have to think that they will save a ton of space by converting the graphics to a DS screen ratio (both movies and in game graphics). They can probably get up to a gig in those little modified SD cards, though the current largest like I said is only 256MB. If they absolutely had to use more space I suppose they could put an extra 256-512 in a GBA cart that came packaged with the game. All in all I think its doable.

Abunar: Dec 23rd 2005; 4:32PM

This is weird.. a few days ago I had a sudden thought "Diablo 2 on a DS...would be SWEET!" I must be psychic.

I've never played Starcraft before but Diablo 2 would be great if they made a new story etc.. and got the controls right e.g. map and info on the top screen, graphics on the touchscreen.

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