BlizzCon 2009: StarCraft Ghost lives on (in spirit)
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Aug 22nd 2009 at 9:00PM } 
During the StarCraft 2 gameplay panel at BlizzCon, Dustin Browder spent much of the time talking abut the upcoming map editor that ships with SC2. If he's to be believed, it's the most powerful piece of software on the planet. Which might be a slight exaggeration. Those developers all have bias running in their veins.
However, we were fairly impressed when they showed us that the editor allows first-person game creation. What?! Yes, that even includes details as far down as UI manipulation and an inventory system. That's a lot more than you'd expect from a simple "map editor." One employee-created game was an FPS featuring a very familiar, bouncing-ponytailed Ghost that was created in just a few days.
Blizzard officially put StarCraft: Ghost on indefinite hold back in 2006, and they've been telling us here that it's still the case. Although some enterprising modder/mapper out there might just want create their own version.
However, we were fairly impressed when they showed us that the editor allows first-person game creation. What?! Yes, that even includes details as far down as UI manipulation and an inventory system. That's a lot more than you'd expect from a simple "map editor." One employee-created game was an FPS featuring a very familiar, bouncing-ponytailed Ghost that was created in just a few days.
Blizzard officially put StarCraft: Ghost on indefinite hold back in 2006, and they've been telling us here that it's still the case. Although some enterprising modder/mapper out there might just want create their own version.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
G3ORGE @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:03PM
OMG!!! this takes me back, this game should come out.
Autobot @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:05PM
See, this is why gaming conventions are absolutely AWESOME.
aacman007 @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:06PM
Dammit, I guarantee Blizzard woulda pimped dat bitch out, son... Oh well, if I learned anything from Valve and Blizzard is... Give it time.
Doctor Spud @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:08PM
Simply awesome. I want to put my hands on this baby. Which brings me back to the article about kicking babies...
Nerdy Desi @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:09PM
So ironically, this game was meant for consoles but modders may be able to create it for the PC?
TherionMEC @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:15PM
This is third person, not first person.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:49PM
they said you CAN make it in first person though.
TherionMEC @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:04PM
I don't recall that from the presentation, but seeing what they put on I wouldn't doubt it. However, my point still stands, what they presented was in third person.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:55PM
"However, we were fairly impressed when they showed us that the editor allows first-person game creation. What?! Yes, that even includes details as far down as UI manipulation and an inventory system."
right there, in the article. and yeah, it does say this game is an FPS but maybe they switched to third person to show off the character model?
TherionMEC @ Aug 23rd 2009 12:11AM
I watched the show, that's what both the article and I are using as a source, and there was no first person view mentioned or used.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 23rd 2009 2:12AM
strange. can we get a ruling on this, mr. kelly?
Kevin Kelly @ Aug 23rd 2009 2:17AM
THE RULING IS... I can't remember what they said. It's true that the videos they showed were all third-person, I brain-farted when I typed this up. However, I wouldn't be surprised to learn you can do first-person as well as third-person. I mean, they stuck a freaking inventory system in it.
I'll scrub through the audio later to see what they said, but for now, let's just think about how cool this all is.
*thinks*
Ignorancia @ Aug 23rd 2009 6:25AM
I watched the panel as well, and there was no mention of First Person - anything.
glenn @ Aug 24th 2009 12:21AM
first person is what they NEED. RTS will eventually go there and i'm not interested until they do. the RTS genre just hasn't really evolved enough for me to the point where every new games feels like C&C did.
the ability to set up the battle and then move into first person will be awesome.
yes i know, i should just stick to FPS
Arkanti (formerly Ihavepants) @ Aug 24th 2009 9:23AM
There are quite a few games like that Glenn
You should look up Savage 2
Justin B @ Aug 27th 2009 1:36PM
I was at the panel. What they said was that first person mouse look would be available in the final editor, but that it wasn't prepared for this demonstration.
BigD145 @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:20PM
Starcraft 2 RPG or FPS? Yes, please.
Zerokku @ Aug 23rd 2009 3:04AM
Why not both?
Wes @ Aug 23rd 2009 12:23PM
I was thinking the shame thing. What I reallly relaly loved about Starcraft 1 was the custom maps. There were so many from v-tec paintball to DotA to the many different rpg games, survival maps, the smash-tv maps, maps with all kind of modified gameplay.
I think this will make the rpg custom maps so much much better and so awesome. I CAN'T wait.
MOT @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:22PM
I don't see why everybody wants a Starcraft game. I don't think it'd be as good as the normal thing.
DBuck_Eye @ Aug 23rd 2009 1:08AM
Yeah, Starcraft is nowhere near as good as actually commanding your own army in a real inter-galactic space war, like normal people do.
Blank-Mage @ Aug 24th 2009 2:04AM
Makes me think of Haruhi.
Edog Lost @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:25PM
Looks like Jet Force Gemini
KylHu @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:18PM
Now there's a game that needs a current-gen sequel.
Blank-Mage @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:47PM
They give us the tools so they can sue us later, you know.
Shmil @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:48PM
I... I think I might cry.
Giroro @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:50PM
I would like to point out that image is in third person, not first person
Justin @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:06PM
I would wager that even IF an "enterprising modder" happened to re-create SC:Ghost, the punishment for his talent and creativity would be swift and without mercy.
nutman @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:16PM
I remember playing a COD 4 map in Warcraft 3 that was first person.
Einhanderkiller @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:12PM
Warcraft III also has side-scrolling maps with gameplay similar to Soldat.
Balloonfighter99 @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:25PM
Is this the same series that's considered South Korea's national sport? I really know nothing about this franchise so please be kind. Who is the "bouncing-ponytailed Ghost", cause it looks like Zero Suit Samus to me.
Arkanti (formerly Ihavepants) @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:08PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcraft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcraft_ghost
jeff @ Aug 22nd 2009 10:19PM
Or how bout since it was almost done they just finish it.
Einhanderkiller @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:13PM
After watching the presentation and listening to the Q&A, I think StarCraft 2 custom maps will be the greatest thing ever.
Arnie @ Aug 23rd 2009 12:03AM
Dragon Age:Origins Map Editor for the PC also contains a AI & Scripting editor & allows for some real easy manipulation & map creation. Its pretty powerful too.
TherionMEC @ Aug 23rd 2009 6:47AM
Do you have a link with info on that, I'm rather interested.
Arnie @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:04AM
I saw the details on the official Dragon Age website but they seem to be gone now or hidden very well. In any case found this link describing some of the features of the toolset. It was one of the reasons I bought this game on the PC instead of the consoles.
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54964
jimmygotsmack @ Aug 23rd 2009 12:34AM
What is an abut? Is that the name? The Abut map editor for star craft?
Arkanti (formerly Ihavepants) @ Aug 23rd 2009 12:36AM
about*
rallion @ Aug 23rd 2009 1:04AM
Starcraft and Warcraft III taught me to respect Blizzard's dedication to mod-ability. Starcraft's editor looks a little weak now, but for its time it was crazy. Warcraft III brought in serious programmability on a level that, AFAIK, has only been matched by games like Neverwinter Nights 1/2 and Oblivion/Fallout 3 -- and it still has a massive advantage over those games in terms of usability. That's partially because of the genre difference, but only partially.
So basically, I'm pretty excited about getting my hands on that editor.
DrunkenPandaren @ Aug 23rd 2009 1:17AM
I think the important thing here is that Nova has a model for SC2. Does this mean she'll be a bad ass hero with Raynor and the rest?
Einhanderkiller @ Aug 23rd 2009 3:07PM
Yes.
Wilhelm @ Aug 23rd 2009 1:25AM
I highly doubt it, but does someone who knows shit about computers, do you think my laptop MIGHT be capable of running SC2, even at the minimum specs? (I know the specs haven't been released yet so all guesses)
3 GB RAM
intel core duo processor - 1.83 GHz, 2mb L2 cache
"up to 358mb mobile intel graphic media accelerator x3100" - thats what it says on the sticker lol
College student, so probably won't be able to go buy a top of the line gaming comp.
Arkanti (formerly Ihavepants) @ Aug 23rd 2009 1:43AM
No, it won't.
"up to 358mb mobile intel graphic media accelerator x3100"- This is your problem.
Wilhelm @ Aug 23rd 2009 4:17AM
Figured that'd be it. Sadly can't really update that since it's a laptop... or can you these days?
meledeo @ Aug 23rd 2009 7:46AM
Unfortunately yours looks like it's an integrated video board, as is usually the case for laptops. So in a nutshell, no you cannot.
Arkanti (formerly Ihavepants) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:45AM
I think we're past that point meledeo...
ripslymemc @ Aug 23rd 2009 3:07AM
I'm confident we'll be seeing a starcraft: ghost in form of a starcraft 2 mod soon.
so its like, two games in one! awesome!
Lukeyo @ Aug 23rd 2009 5:57AM
Three hundred games.*
Charlie_Six @ Aug 23rd 2009 2:02PM
This is great news! RTS games like Company of Heroes and now Starcraft 2 have so much detail from a top-down perspective that you kinda feel the game's graphics are wasted from that singular view. I always thought they could just change the perspective and make a pretty decent action shooter-type game. Now they have... :D