Blizzard: StarCraft II beta due this month

In other words, those who have a PC that can only run Starcraft-level graphics (circa Win98) needs to upgrade BIG TIME.

Actually, they'll probably prefer some people who own a PC that runs SC1 level graphics, since they'll want to see how SC2 runs on it.

I have a ton of blizzard cd-keys so I made a bunch of different accounts on different computers. crappy old ones, laptops, and my brand new baby. *crosses fingers*

Do the F-16's have legs?

I assure you that there are multiple functioning versions of starcraft 2 that exist in the blizzard vaults.

I did not know that. That would have been nice to have back when I paid $15 for a SC battlechest to replace my busted SC and BW CDs. Oh well, now I have extra CD Keys.

Most of the people who will play StarCraft 2 won't give a shit about Natal or Arc. The pc gamers who are going to play it usually aren't swayed by the "latest and greatest' in consoles.

StarCraft 2 comes out? The fans aren't going to give a shit what comes out for consoles. Modern Warfare 3? Guitar Hero 12? Who cares?

Believe it or not, there is a overlap between console and PC games, even the RTS crowd. Not everyone that purchases SC2 will be a hardcore RTS PC fan. There will also be people like me, that play the new cool thing in the market be it console or PC.

I know there is an overlap, my point is is the ones who are most interested in StarCraft 2 aren't going to jump ship the moment Natal or Arc comes out. Those two come out, how much of a drop will Blizzard see in players? Not much, I bet.

The "most interested in a RTS" crowd is not mainstream. As I said they are the hardcore SC2 or RTS fans. SC2 is a mass market, main stream game. It will compete with all games in the market.

If SC2 comes out during the same time period as other console games I want to get, I will think twice, or delay my purchase. Which was my point.

The hardcore will be hardcore fans. The mainstream crowd is what Blizzard wants and what they should shoot for. The mainstream gaming crowd are currently console players. It is best not to release SC2 during the same time as gaming changing (imo) technologies like Project Natal or the PS3 Arc.

Uhhh, WoW anyone...do you think World of Warcraft was really effected by the release of MW2 or MW or Guitar Hero or Uncharted...the list goes on and on, NO. Why? Well because Blizzard, much like Apple has created a culture and this culture really lives and breathes by that particular company. The reason why these products/companies are so mainstream is mainly due to that "hardcore" fanbase we are talking about.

Take a few marketing classes and you'll understand why many professors will spend a week or two purely talking about Apple.

The reason why World of Warcraft has 12 million subscribers is due to the fanaticism that Blizzard imbues on its consumers. The best advertising is that of your product users. They get their friends, family, and significant others to play and talk up the product...soon after more people start to purchase.

Sharkuk, it matters not what is coming, going or anything for that matter when it comes to Blizzard...it will be successful regardless.

No LAN they are making you go online through their authentication servers to play the game on a LAN.

That blows. Whenever I've hosted/been to small in-home LAN's, an internet connection is usually not available. I understand they want to protect their product but it's still disappointing.

This is in reply to x2Jiggy right above me...

............we should USE it.............