starcraft-2 posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Surprising no one, StarCraft II fans petition for LAN support

by Justin McElroy { Jul 1st 2009 at 5:00PM }

You can say that we're getting old, but this petition, created by StarCraft II fans that want to see LAN support included in the game, is actually making us a little nostalgic. The air is once more thick with with slight, reedy voices crying fruitlessly out for ultimately inconsequential change! It's intoxicating!

But we have to admit that their opener, "We, your most loyal fans, implore you to reconsider adding LAN as a network feature to StarCraft II," is a little soft for our taste. C'mon guys, when this totally doesn't work at all, you need to feel like you gave it your best shot.

[Via Eurogamer]

StarCraft II: Blizzard responds to lack of LAN support

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 30th 2009 at 8:00AM }

Well, it's definitely true. Blizzard has killed LAN support in the upcoming StarCraft II, and here's the official word from Bob Colayco at Blizzard PR:

"We don't currently plan to support LAN play with StarCraft II, as we are building Battle.net to be the ideal destination for multiplayer gaming with StarCraft II and future Blizzard Entertainment games. While this was a difficult decision for us, we felt that moving away from LAN play and directing players to our upgraded Battle.net service was the best option to ensure a quality multiplayer experience with StarCraft II and safeguard against piracy.

Several Battle.net features like advanced communication options, achievements, stat-tracking, and more, require players to be connected to the service, so we're encouraging everyone to use Battle.net as much as possible to get the most out of StarCraft II. We're looking forward to sharing more details about Battle.net and online functionality for StarCraft II in the near future."

So, let it hereby be noted that pirates killed the LAN parrrrrty.

LAN support not included in StarCraft II

by JC Fletcher { Jun 29th 2009 at 4:30PM }

According to an IncGamers interview with members of the StarCraft II team, one of the major components of the original game won't be included in the sequel -- LAN play. "We don't have any plans to support LAN," VP of game design Rob Pardo told the site. Blizzard has reportedly confirmed to IGN that LAN support is indeed out the window. We're reaching out to Blizzard for comment as well, so don't throw out all your cables yet.

If this is true, Battle.net is the only multiplayer option in StarCraft II, and the era of the LAN party has officially ended -- we suppose you could still bring your computer over to someone else's house, but you no longer need to. More than that, we suspect that this will be just one of the things that thousands of daily StarCraft players are going to freak out about, because it's something in the new game that is the slightest bit different from the old game.

[Via IGN]

Gallery: Starcraft II (6/29/09)

Interview: Starcraft 2 lead producer Chris Sigaty

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 29th 2009 at 3:10PM }

Chris Sigaty has been a faithful Blizzard employee for thirteen years and served as the lead tester on the original Starcraft. He's worked his way up the ladder on various titles, and is now hauling the reins of three different races as the lead producer on the followup Starcraft 2. Additionally, he's the rhythm guitarist in Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain and has a rockin' metal head of hair.

We sat down with him recently to talk about the much anticipated sequel, which became a trilogy somewhere along the yellow brick road of development. Blizzard is still hoping to release Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty later this year, featuring the Terran single-player version of the game along with all three races in the multiplayer that you've come to love like a dear friend ... a dear friend that sucks up all of your free time and enjoys kicking you in the ribs when you're down.

Read on for all the Starcraft 2 goodies we could squeeze out of him, and find out why this title is poised to glue more butts to seats very soon.

Continued →

Blame World of Warcraft for StarCraft 2's tardiness

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 29th 2009 at 1:05PM }

We already blame World of Warcraft for most of the problems in the world -- loneliness, social atrophy and, generally, man's inhumanity towards man -- but now we've got another grudge to harbor against the MMO juggernaut: It delayed StarCraft 2 development for an entire year. That's 365 days of sweet, sweet strategy (by which of course we mean constant, unwavering zerg rushes) that we could have already been enjoying.

This startling revelation came to Eurogamer by way of Blizzard vice president of game design Rob Pardo, who explained, "A fair amount of the design team went onto World of Warcraft for a year to really help finish that game off." We guess that explains why Starcraft 2 took six years to finish. See, and here we assumed it was because they were all hopelessly addicted to WoW, not because they were actually making it.

Hands-on: StarCraft II multiplayer

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 29th 2009 at 12:15PM }

It's been nearly two years since we were first embarrassed in a StarCraft II multiplayer preview, but we recently got our long-awaited shot at redemption. During the interim, we've logged countless hours with the original StarCraft and its Brood War expansion (having picked up new, digital copies for a mere $15) in order to prepare for this opportunity. The bad news? We still managed to get owned. Although, in our defense, we were playing against some hardcore fansites, and the setup of Blizzard's recent hands-on event was not unlike being dropped into a televised StarCraft tournament match in Korea with an announcer saying, "Okay, and ... GO!"

That's the bad news. The good news is that StarCraft II looks simply amazing, and it plays even better. After you've pounded your brain with several hundred hours (for some of you, it's probably thousands of hours) of StarCraft, and you fire up StarCraft II, it's like being jolted by 1.21 jigawatts of mouse-clicking rapture -- which, thankfully, also numbed the pain of our ongoing losing streak.

Gallery: Starcraft II (6/29/09)

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Eyes-on: Seven minutes of Starcraft 2 multiplayer footage

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 29th 2009 at 10:15AM }

click here for high-res gallery or here for multiplayer video

Seven minutes and six seconds, to be exact. That's pure, raw, Starcraft 2 footage coming at you just beyond the break, and it features Terran, Zerg, and Protoss units going at it. If you're still not sated, try out the direct video file here (it's 250MB), free from flash encoding.

See how much you can resist trying to move the screen around with your own mouse, continually forgetting that – alas! – it's just a video. For us it happened right at the very end when that swarm of Ultralisks started pounding on that poor Terran Command Center. Ouch.

To kill time until the game ships (hopefully) later this year, be sure to check out our new hands-on with the multiplayer and our interview with lead producer Chris Sigaty, both coming later today, and the new images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Starcraft II (6/29/09)

Download in HD (250MB)

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Here's an early look at StarCraft II's battle report 3

by Majed Athab { Jun 19th 2009 at 2:05PM }

Another StarCraft II battle report just hit the interwebs. This one is out a little early, as you won't find it anywhere on the official site just yet. Blizzard's third battle report (as obtained by Gamez.nl) shows off some new units, a new map called Scrap Yard and also features over 17 minutes of Zerg vs. Protoss action.

While 17 minutes may not be enough to completely satiate a decade-long deficit of StarCraft goodness, it sure does leave us smiling and gets us excited about playing it later this year. Get briefed on the full battle report right after the break.

[Via Incgamers]

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StarCraft II targeting an '09 release

by Majed Athab { Jun 1st 2009 at 3:50PM }

Blizzard president Mike Morhaime confirmed in an investor webcast that StarCraft II has been planned for release later this year. "We're targeting an end of year release this year for StarCraft II," said Morhaime. "But as always, we won't release it until it meets our standards and the expectations of our players."

With the beta opening this summer, it looks like there will be more than enough StarCraft for fans to sink their Zerg-like talons into.

Gallery: Starcraft II

[Via Big Download]

Reminder: Second batch of BlizzCon tickets go on sale at 10AM Pacific today, May 30

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 30th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Don't have a ticket to BlizzCon 2009 and still want to go? Best lock and load, because the second batch of entry passes go on sale today at 10AM Pacific on the Blizzard site. The first set sold out in less than 30 minutes, so if you're not there at precisely the appointed hour when the golden passes go on sale ... seriously, just don't bother.

The tickets cost $125 apiece and there's always the option to "attend" though DirectTV's $40 pay-per-view. But just imagine all the sights, sounds and smells you'd be missing. Best of luck to the faithful (and forsaken) warriors attempting to grab a ticket.

[Via Big Download, WoW]

First round of BlizzCon 2009 tickets sold out in under 30 minutes

by Griffin McElroy { May 17th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Convinced that the creators of their favorite PC gaming titles just weren't making enough money with its MMO/Class 3 Narcotic, World of Warcraft, Blizzard fans came out of the woodwork yesterday to throw buckets of cash at the aforementioned developer. No, they weren't generously donating -- they were purchasing one of the rarest scraps of paper in existence: A golden ticket to BlizzCon 2009.

Said buckets of moolah were flying fast and furious -- the first round of tickets, priced at $125 a pop (a $25 increase over last year), sold out within 30 minutes. Don't fret if you don't get your hands on any of the remaining entry passes (the next round drops May 30) -- you can always pay-per-view the entire event on DirecTV (or online) for $39.99. A hefty fee, but given the huge games they'll likely be showcasing this year, it might just be worth it.

Blizzard opens beta test opt-in for Starcraft II

by David Hinkle { May 6th 2009 at 2:45PM }

We don't have to tell you how big a deal Starcraft II is. In the next few months, Blizzard will be ironing out the kinks through a beta test period for the RTS sequel, and right now you can try to get in on that action.

So, here's what you need to do:

Go into your Battle.net account management area (specifically the Beta Profile Settings page), where you will be able to sign up for beta opt-in status for Starcraft II
Upload a screenshot of your system specs (as directed)
???
Profit

It's a pretty easy process, but know that if you've already set up your beta opt-in status on Battle.net before, it does not apply here. You have to manually go in and do it again specifically for Starcraft II. We know it's a pain, but for Starcraft II, we're sure you'll manage.

[Thanks, Sal Zerilli!]

BlizzCon 09 tickets on sale May 16, event streamed online for first time

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 5th 2009 at 7:45PM }

Blizzard announced to its children today that they may pay for their return to the warm bosom of BlizzCon on May 16. The cost for the "Tickets of Comradery" will set back the faitful's coin purses by $125 -- that's a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Blizzard apparently has a new system in place to prevent last year's ticket fiasco. Come May 16, attendee hopefuls go to the ticketing website and sit their actual butts in a virtual queue -- this will not guarantee a ticket, just that you'll be in a line for a golden ticket.

For those who can't get to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 21 and 22, there's always the option of the pay-per-view package from DirecTV for $40. There will also be a live stream of the event online, also available for $40, for non-DirecTV customers. So, Blizzard horde, hopefully this year's ticketing process won't be visited by the "Failoc."

[Via WoW Insider]

Blizzcon 08 beta codes now being accepted

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 24th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Attention Blizzard fans: Remember those mysterious beta codes handed out at Blizzcon last year? Well, Blizzard is now accepting them. All you have to do is head over to this website, enter the appropriate info and you should receive an email confirming your "Blizzard Future Beta Sign-Up."

Alas, the email doesn't mention what the beta will actually be for, nor does it say when the beta will occur. If we had to guess -- and we do -- it's probably for StarCraft II or Diablo III, both of which have betas planned. StarCraft 2 seems the likelier choice, given that plans for a 2009 beta were revealed earlier this year.

[Thanks, Sean]