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Watch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq!

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

A roaring crowd, concession-stand popcorn and panicked cries for additional pylons can only mean one thing: It's pro-gaming season. The sound of furiously clicking mice can be heard for miles around in Providence, Rhode Island, where Major League Gaming's Pro Circuit National Championships are happening right now.

The greatest Starcraft 2 players from around the world have assembled and are putting on one hell of a show, which you can enjoy irrespective of your proximity to The Ocean State thanks to the embedded stream above. Jump past the break for the day's complete schedule, and peep the tournament bracket here.

Continue reading Watch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq!

Watch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 as a third-person zombie shooter

David Hinkle — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:40:00 EST

With StarCraft 2 out in homes, mixing it up on over a million motherboards, the modding community's efforts are finally bearing fruit with the Galaxy Map Editor. This latest mod, which turns the real-time strategy game into a third-person shooter, comes courtesy of Denmark's own Mads. Rush past the break and check it out.

Continue reading StarCraft 2 as a third-person zombie shooter

StarCraft 2 as a third-person zombie shooter originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard details StarCraft 2 bugs, workarounds and hardware issues

David Hinkle — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We can't imagine why you'd be taking a break from StarCraft 2 right about now but, regardless, you've chosen quite the appropriate post to read while resting. Activision-Blizzard has revealed some of the discovered bugs and issues hassling the game, the majority of which seem to be sound related. There are also some problems with the game crashing on Windows 7 (maybe that's why you're taking that break).

If you're one of those people trying to download StarCraft 2 through Battle.net, you may want to prime yourself with the thread on hardware configurations below. We know, it's all a lot to digest, but keep in mind this is StarCraft 2 we're talking about -- AKA the most important thing ever. We'd hate for you to finally boot up your game after all these years of waiting only to run into a fatal error.

Blizzard details StarCraft 2 bugs, workarounds and hardware issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard: DRM a 'losing battle' for developers

JC Fletcher — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:45:00 EST

Ubisoft is the latest company to attach DRM to its PC games in an effort to curb piracy -- an initiative that has had basically the opposite of its intended effect in keeping out people who bought the games. Blizzard's Frank Pearce told VideoGamer that it's not the strategy Blizzard intends to implement in StarCraft II, with the company opting instead for a compelling Battle.net that will make people want to stay online in single-player, rather than requiring it. It's still a form of DRM, requiring online authentication, but it's also meant to serve other, gameplay-enhancing purposes.

"If we've done our job right and implemented Battle.net in a great way," the StarCraft II producer said, "people will want to be connected while they're playing the single player campaign so they can stay connected to their friends on Battle.net and earn the achievements on Battle.net."

Pearce called DRM "a losing battle for us," noting that the group of people who want to crack DRM is always "larger than our development teams." Pearce said "We need our development teams focused on content and cool features, not anti-piracy technology" -- something with which those of us patiently waiting for StarCraft II will agree.

Blizzard: DRM a 'losing battle' for developers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 May 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starcraft 2 offering subscription plans in Latin America, Asia and Russia

David Hinkle — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:30:00 EST

Plans for a subscription-based StarCraft 2 are in the works for Latin America, Asia and Russia. While US gamers will only pay a one-time fee to start harvesting Vespene Gas on July 27, players abroad will be offered two different ways to play: subscription or an all-access fee.

A press release detailing plans for localization in Latin American Spanish for Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile covers the subscription model. By picking up the title for $299 MXN / $119 ARS / $13,900 CLP -- about $30 USD -- gamers will be given access to the single-player and multiplayer portions of the game for 60 days. Once that period ends, they can re-up their subscription for a fee (which hasn't been disclosed yet). The other option is to download the game directly from Blizzard for a one-time fee of $59.99 USD, granting permanent access to the title.

During Activision's annual investors call yesterday, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime confirmed that Blizzard would pursue a similar pricing structure for Asian and Russian territories.

Source - Official press release
Source - Big Download confirms Asia and Russia inclusion

Starcraft 2 offering subscription plans in Latin America, Asia and Russia originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 given 'Adults Only' rating in South Korea

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST

According to a report by the Korea Times, Blizzard's upcoming StarCraft sequel has been given an Adults Only rating by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, effectively relegating the game to those 18 years old or older. Given the game's enormous popularity in the country -- and the previous "over-15" rating Blizzard received from the same board for SC2 earlier this year with an older build of the game -- the decision comes as a bit of a surprise. Apparently, the company was seeking an "over-12" in the country, and thusly resubmitted the most recent build of the game for rating. The ratings board says of the decision, "Considering that the RC version of the game is closer to what will be sold on the shelves compared to the beta versions, we looked more carefully at the content," allowing that, "this rating is not final, as Blizzard will get the chance to object to it."

For its part, Blizzard's South Korea reps told the paper that an immediate course of action has yet to be decided. "We have nothing to say at this point. We are discussing our official position on the matter as well as what would be the right reaction." We've reached out to Blizzard's US representatives and will update this post if we hear back.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

StarCraft 2 given 'Adults Only' rating in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision report lists World of Warcraft as a 'risk factor'

Mike Schramm — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST

If there's anything that all the chaos between Activision and Infinity Ward in the past 24 hours has taught us, it's that no one is safe and dry under Bobby Kotick's umbrella. And while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was one of Activision's biggest earners, that hasn't stopped the company from revamping the brand however it sees fit. So what about Activision's other big game, Blizzard's World of Warcraft? The same annual report released to the SEC yesterday that kicked off the Infinity Ward shakeup also mentions that Activision is worried about WoW becoming "obsolete," and that the regulatory issues in China could affect the entire company's bottom line.

So will we hear about Mike Morhaime being frogmarched off of the Blizzard campus? Not likely -- the fears about WoW are all in a section of the report labeled "Risk Factors," in which a company must disclose anything that could possibly go wrong with its financials in the future, just in case. In there, Activision worries about everything from credit card fraud to its ESRB ratings -- WoW is mentioned a lot because it makes up most of the revenue (in fact, one of the worries is that Activision depends on WoW too much), but these are all worst case scenario guesses. The report admits that Blizzard did decrease its net revenues last year, but then credits that to no new releases in 2009 and interrupted licensing fees from China. Assuming Blizzard releases both Starcraft II and Cataclysm as planned in 2010, the odds are low that Activision will raise the axe in that direction.

Activision report lists World of Warcraft as a 'risk factor' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: StarCraft II beta

David Hinkle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

Here's the thing about the StarCraft II beta: you've played this game before. In the time I've spent with the beta over the past 24-plus hours, I've been Zerg rushed, I've had my buildings annihilated by a group of Reapers that snuck through the back of my fortified area, and I've had Protoss ships lay waste to countless heavy Thor units -- which looked like they could have taken on anything and survived. And here's the other thing: I absolutely loved every minute of it, as familiar as it was.

The StarCraft II beta is hopefully indicative of what the final multiplayer product will be like: fast, pick-up-and-play games where resource management down to the millisecond can spell your doom or provide you that one squad of units that brings you back from the brink of annihilation. It's an incredibly polished experience, helped along through a clean and efficient UI that doesn't clutter the screen and by a simple matchmaking system that only requires a few clicks to get into a match or join a group of players.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Continue reading Hands-on: StarCraft II beta

Hands-on: StarCraft II beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protoss 'mini-campaign' invades StarCraft 2's 'Wings of Liberty'

Randy Nelson — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST

Although it still intends to release three versions of StarCraft 2 -- each featuring on a single-player campaign for the Terran, Protoss or Zerg races -- Blizzard has revealed that the first, the Terran-specific Wings of Liberty, will also feature "a Protoss mini-campaign that lets you control Protoss units," this according to an employee post on the game's official forums.

Not wanting to get anyone's hopes up too high, Blizzard says that the component is "way shorter than the Terran part," adding that it "will not prepare you for the multiplayer as Protoss, you won't be using all units or getting to know buildings and upgrades." The multiplayer component of StarCraft 2 will let players control all three races when Wings of Liberty hits ~~this year~~ someday.

[Via Big Download]

Protoss 'mini-campaign' invades StarCraft 2's 'Wings of Liberty' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best of WoW.com: October 13-20, 2009

Mike Schramm — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST

It's that magical time of year in Azeroth -- pumpkins adorn the inns, players are chowing down on candy like crazy, and a deep rhyming voice echoes throughout the world, originating from somewhere in the Scarlet Monastery. Yes, it's the in-game Hallow's End holiday again, and the Headless Horseman is terrorizing newbies and veterans alike. Head past the break for all the information you need about trick-or-treating your way through Azeroth.

Continue reading The best of WoW.com: October 13-20, 2009

The best of WoW.com: October 13-20, 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2 development and delays

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST

Dustin Browder is the man in the hot seat as Blizzard's lead designer for StarCraft 2. Ultimately, he's the one you can heap the blame (or the praise) upon when the final product finally ships. At the time of this interview, we didn't officially know SC2 would be delayed, but given the sheer amount of things they'd shown us during our visit, it became clear that there was no way StarCraft 2 would make 2009.

Still, Browder talks about the reasons for the delay, and ultimately gamers are going to be happy that they chose to make the game better, rather than rush it out for the holiday shopping frenzy. Read on for the full interview with him where we talk delays, easter eggs, the new matchmaking system, the single player experience, and hidden items in the game, including a fully playable Lost Viking arcade game with a data editor that will let you make your own scrolling shooters.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty - Single Player

Continue reading Interview: Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2 development and delays

Interview: Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2 development and delays originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Andy Chambers on writing StarCraft 2

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST

Andy Chambers has a lot of industry work under his belt, having worked at Games Workshop for more than 14 years before joining Blizzard in 2006. He's currently the creative director on Starcraft 2, which makes him the perfect guy to quiz about the single-player aspect of the game. It's an enormously ambitious project, which still hasn't been entirely figured out yet -- and that's the main reason for the delay Blizzard announced recently.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty - Single Player

Continue reading Interview: Andy Chambers on writing StarCraft 2

Interview: Andy Chambers on writing StarCraft 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Starcraft 2 - the single-player experience (finally!)

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST

Don't you just love embargoes? So do we. Expect a ton of StarCraft 2 information today.

Forget everything you know about StarCraft 2. Well, forget everything you know about the single-player campaign in StarCraft 2. Which at this point is pretty much ... nothing. We've told you all about the multiplayer and its upcoming changes, but the single-player experience has been one gigantic black hole. Until now. We recently spent a day at Blizzard's campus learning all about StarCraft 2's Wings of Liberty Terran campaign, the first in a series with the Zerg and Protoss expansions coming at a later date.

One thing is for sure: this isn't anything like the old StarCraft single-player campaign. Read on to find out what you'll be doing with Jim Raynor throughout the 30 or so missions in StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty - Single Player

Continue reading Hands-on: Starcraft 2 - the single-player experience (finally!)

Hands-on: Starcraft 2 - the single-player experience (finally!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer announces line of 'tournament-grade' StarCraft II peripherals (and also a bag)

JC Fletcher — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:36:00 EST

Serious StarCraft players know the best way to play: using peripherals that have the StarCraft logo, of course. Razer has announced that it will cater to these hardcore gamers with a line of StarCraft II peripherals, including a mouse, keyboard, and headset.

According to the press release, the devices will actually be a little more than cheap USB peripherals with the logo on them: Razer is working with Blizzard to develop the line, which will have "unique exclusive features to cater to the StarCraft II community." They should be really good thanks to the extra time the two companies have to work on them.

Razer is also releasing a StarCraft II messenger bag, which may or may not also be "tournament-grade." Lucky ticket buyers and Ozzy Osbourne will be able to get a look at the bag at BlizzCon.

Razer announces line of 'tournament-grade' StarCraft II peripherals (and also a bag) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: Expect a StarCraft II delay

David Hinkle — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST

With Activision recently pushing back Singularity to 2010, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia thinks the same fate will befall the highly anticipated StarCraft II. The game is currently slated for a release this October. However, the game's beta suffered a delay recently, which, according to Bhatia's comments to the Wall Street Journal, casts its Q4 2009 release target in doubt.

With Modern Warfare 2 on slate for later this year, Bhatia doesn't see the delay hurting Activision's coffers. In fact, it's suggested a 2010 release would actually help company profits during what is expected to be a relatively slow year.

Analyst: Expect a StarCraft II delay originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft II: Blizzard responds to lack of LAN support

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

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.

StarCraft II: Blizzard responds to lack of LAN support originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LAN support not included in StarCraft II

JC Fletcher — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST

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 2 (6/29/09)

LAN support not included in StarCraft II originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyes-on: Seven minutes of Starcraft 2 multiplayer footage

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:15:00 EST

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 2 (6/29/09)

Download in HD (250MB)

Continue reading Eyes-on: Seven minutes of Starcraft 2 multiplayer footage

Eyes-on: Seven minutes of Starcraft 2 multiplayer footage originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Majed Athab — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:05:00 EST

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]

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

Here's an early look at StarCraft II's battle report 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft II targeting an '09 release

Majed Athab — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:50:00 EST

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 2

[Via Big Download]

StarCraft II targeting an '09 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard opens beta test opt-in for Starcraft II

David Hinkle — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:45:00 EST

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!]

Blizzard opens beta test opt-in for Starcraft II originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 May 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft fans ticked about voice-over changes

Justin McElroy — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:16:00 EST

This is one of those stories you're either going to really care about or be utterly ambivalent to, so just hang in there with us, OK? Reports indicate that the voice actors who played Jim Raynor and Kerrigan in the original StarCraft are being replaced in the sequel, the news of which was apparently the equivalent of dropping -- is there a really big bomb in StarCraft? If so, it was like dropping that on the SC fan community.

As you can see here, every tool in the fanboy arsenal from petitions to YouTube videos are being deployed. Hoping to get in on the fun, we put the question to you, the Joystiq Biomass:

View Poll

StarCraft fans ticked about voice-over changes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starcraft 2 'in the final stretch,' beta this year 'unless something crazy happens'

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Strategy

The official forums for Starcraft II were recently alive with the hustle and bustle of curious Zergling enthusiasts when a member of the much-anticipated game's dev team dropped in to answer a few quick questions. Most of these dealt with gameplay intricacies, which he answered in explicit detail -- though when it came to the game's release and beta schedules, his responses were fairly ambiguous (much to the chagrin of the rabidly excited forumgoers).

To manage these unanswered queries, Starcraft II lead developer Dustin "Cavez" Browder began a new FAQ thread, in which two titilating timelines were referenced -- first, he explained that the beta will be opening in 2009 "unless something crazy happens." Second, while he couldn't give any set-in-stone answers regarding the game's launch date ("our target dates are not something we hit more than half the time," he explained), Browder teased that the dev team is "in the final stretch." Sounds like it's nearing completion -- could Starcraft II be Blizzard's promised "frontline release" for this year?

Starcraft 2 'in the final stretch,' beta this year 'unless something crazy happens' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision Blizzard predicts console sales in 2009, promises one big Blizzard title a year

JC Fletcher — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:17:00 EST

In last night's financial earnings conference call, Activision's president Mike Griffith offered the company's outlook on hardware sales for 2009. "For calendar year 2009, we expect the installed base of hardware in North America and Europe will be up eight million units for the PS3 and up eight million units for the Xbox 360," Griffith said. The company believes that "more than 16 million" Wiis will be sold in 2009.

He was somewhat less specific about portable hardware, saying only that the combined installed base of portable systems "will grow in excess of 21 million units." We can guess as to which hardware the company believes to have the most growth potential: the PSP, hampered by its seeming inability to support Guitar Hero, was the least profitable platform for Activision, comprising only 1% of its 2008 profits. The Wii topped that list at 15%.

The Blizzard arm of Activision Blizzard also offered portents for the future: Blizzard COO Paul Sams said that "Blizzard intends on delivering one frontline release per year. I think you can see in our numbers that that is contemplated." The company currently has StarCraft II and Diablo III in the works, as well as the guaranteed hit Whatever the Next World of WarCraft Expansion Is.

Activision Blizzard predicts console sales in 2009, promises one big Blizzard title a year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard gives E3 the cold shoulder

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST

Blizzard doesn't need you, E3! "Activision Blizzard Inc." is showing up at E3, but one half of that power couple already plans to stay home and count its money ... and laugh at all the broken homes it's created with World of Warcraft. Giant Bomb has been told by a Blizzard rep. that the powerhouse developer will "not be attending or participating in E3 2009."

Don't worry, kids. If you want to touch the Blizzard goods, it'll probably be at a public event and the company is gonna make you pay for the privilege! Put that $100 aside for Blizzcon now (if it happens this year) and prepare to hit F5 like a monkey as soon as tickets go on sale for a (slim) chance to enter the Blizzaphile lovefest.

[Image]

Blizzard gives E3 the cold shoulder originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clickable: Decide StarCraft 2's Dark Templar unit

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC

click for THREE new screens (hint: the first three)

If you're reading this, then you're still alive. Congratulations -- you must be drinking plenty of fluids and living off of stored "energy." But we're gonna have to ask you to put aside those delicious StarCraft II screens you've been digesting for the past 55-plus hours and fulfill your next test as a Blizzard devotee: Vote for the final version(s) of the Protoss unit Dark Templar -- right here. (Just don't hold your breath for a game credit.)

Oh, and when you're done, here are three new screens that are simply to die for:

Gallery: Starcraft 2

[Via Big Download]

Clickable: Decide StarCraft 2's Dark Templar unit originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warning: New StarCraft 2 screens

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC

click to embiggen (it's your funeral)

We're posting these new StarCraft II screens (we count six) with much reservation. After all, someone out there woke up this morning with no intention to die. But, having seen these new depictions of war-waging micro machines, this someone has triggered an inescapable obsession. Our friend will sit and stare until the eyes bleed, the throat dries and the body wavers. Eventually, this poor soul will keel over and, yes, drop dead. The doctors will call it many things: dehydration, exhaustion, heart failure. But we know the true cause. Love.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

[Via Big Download]

Warning: New StarCraft 2 screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard releases Starcraft 2 Battle Report

Ross Miller — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Strategy

Blizzard has released the first of what is to be a series of Starcraft 2 battle reports -- narrated videos of a match from the alpha version of the game. Here, we see associate game balance designers Matt Cooper and David Kim playing a 1-on-1 as Protoss and Terran, respectively, with commentary provided by lead designer Dustin Browder and e-Sports team member Robert Simpson.

The announcers are comically enthusiastic at times, especially when a particularly mobile Protoss probe manages to run circles around a marine. If that sounds like something you'd rather not hear or f you're trying to watch this at work, a transcript is available below the video so that you can follow along. The official Joystiq Crystal Ball[TM] is telling us that when SC2 is released (even it doesn't know when), the forums will light up with cries of unfair Marauder rushes.

Protip: HD version available on Big Download.

Blizzard releases Starcraft 2 Battle Report originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Best Of Big Download: October 13-19

Joystiq Staff — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Meta (about Joystiq)

If you take a look at our weekly roundup feature you might be able to figure out that the Big Download team is a little short of breath; it's been a very busy last seven days, and we can prove it right now:

Exclusive features

BlizzCon and related features: We have out our hands-on impressions of Diablo III and Starcraft II from the show floor along with coverage of the Diablo III Art and Lore panel. Our Boot Disk feature this week is related to BlizzCon as we look back at Diablo II and our Alt-Tab op-ed column takes a look at how the Activision-Blizzard merger might affect Blizzard the developer
Reviews: Big Download has our final word on Civilization IV: Colonization and the indie game hit World of Goo.
Previews: We have an exclusive hands-on preview of the next chapter in American McGee's Grimm
Interviews: Take your pick this week as we chat with the creators of Project Aftermath, Atmosphir, Sins of a Solar Empire Entrenchment and Blood Bowl along with a quick Q&A about this week's purchase of Gamecock by Southpeak.
Neverware: Cancelled PC Games Part Two: It's baack. Take a look at the many PC games that you will never get to play.
Video Game Cosplay Gallery: It's October so that means we are looking at all of the costumes made by fans and pros for their favorite video game characters.
Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac gaming takes a look at the title Droid Assault
MODMonday: Our weekly mod feature takes a look (again) at a Max Payne total conversion, the Half-Life influenced Max Freeman.
Big Iron: Our hardware column this week takes a look at how hardware can't improve gameplay.
Big Ideas: The weekly look at game concepts takes a gander at the double-jump. Really.
Freeware Friday: Our look at free PC games is all about the impressive strategy game P.U.R.E.
Virtual Bargain Bin: Our look at cheap PC games is about the classic Ubisoft title Beyond Good and Evil.
BigCast: After a week off, our BigCast podcast is revamped with a new format. Check it out.
Contest: You have a chance to win one of three copies of the PC version of Dead Space.

Continue reading The Best Of Big Download: October 13-19

The Best Of Big Download: October 13-19 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard VP: Starcraft 2 Trilogy on the 3-year plan

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Action, Online, Strategy

Blizzard's Vice President of Game Design Rob Pardo wants us to think about Starcraft 2's two followups, containing the Zerg and Protoss single player campaigns, as expansion packs, so does that mean they won't contain as much gameplay as the Terran-based initial game? Plus, you'll have to wait at least whole year between "expansions." Said Pardo, "With any luck, it would be like a year for each successive one, but that's going to be a target date, that's not a promise."

Since SC2 won't be out until 2009, you won't be able to play the Protoss single player until at least 2011. That's a long time to wait. Check out what Rob said after the break, and start yer speculatin'.

Continue reading Blizzard VP: Starcraft 2 Trilogy on the 3-year plan

Blizzard VP: Starcraft 2 Trilogy on the 3-year plan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II lore panel

Mike Schramm — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC

Chris Metzen and Andrew Chambers sat down at BlizzCon to chat about the lore and story behind the universe of Starcraft II. As we saw in the gameplay panel yesterday, Blizzard is aiming to really break a lot of new characters into the foreground using the adventure game-style cutscenes, and Metzen and Chambers seem really excited to bring some new faces into the RTS staple sequel.

To start off the panel, they ran through a few of the folks we'll meet in the Terran campaign. Dr. Hanson is a "Dr. Lady with glasses (so she looks really cute)," said Chambers -- originally she was designed to be a male citizen kind of person (someone the player just helps to make their way through the campaign), but they moved on to try and make Jim Raynor (Starcraft's protagionist) a sort of romantic interest. As much of a romantic interest as a hard-bitten mercenary can have, anyway.

Lots more from the SC2 lore panel below.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II lore panel

BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II lore panel originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlizzCon 2008: New Starcraft II gameplay footage and images

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Online, Strategy, Video, Galleries

Been itching for some Zerg action? Now you have it, in video form. Check out the new Starcraft 2 video above, and the new screenshots down below, straight from BlizzCon. We'll have a full hands-on with Starcraft 2 and the Zerg experience later.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II

BlizzCon 2008: New Starcraft II gameplay footage and images originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlizzCon 2008: The costume and dance contest

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC, Action, Adventure, RPGs, Video, MMO, Fashion, Galleries

One day of BlizzCon is already behind us, and with it came the announcement of the Wizard class for Diablo III, the fact that Starcraft II is going to be a trilogy, and the truism that World of Warcraft players really love their costume and dance contests.

Check out the video of the pants-off dance-off above, hit the links below that for some highlights, and then be sure and crawl through our galleries below for all that we've seen so far. Today brings more panels, more Diablo III news (omg wtf?!), and a closing ceremony featuring Patton Oswalt, Video Games Live, and Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain. We'll be bringing you audio and video, so keep watching.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Costume Contest

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

BlizzCon 2008: The costume and dance contest originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II gameplay panel notes

Mike Schramm — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC, Adventure, Strategy

Rob Pardo and Chris Metzen hosted the Starcraft II gameplay panel here in Anaheim this afternoon at BlizzCon 2008 -- they showed off, for the first time in public, some of the adventure-based gameplay and ingame cinematics that will come with Blizzard's next RTS release (or next three RTS releases, as the case may be).

After the break, what we saw of Starcraft II's Terran campaign, and Rob Pardo explains the reasoning behind Blizzard's decision to turn Starcraft II into three separate games.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II gameplay panel notes

BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II gameplay panel notes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard's Bob Colayco explains why Starcraft II took so long

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Strategy

Speaking at the AMD "Cinema 2.0" event in New York City yesterday, Blizzard's Bob Colayco took some time to talk about the shrouded-in-mystery Starcraft II. One of the more interesting points of the discussion: why it took so long for Blizzard to finally announce a sequel to the multi-million selling title.

Colayco noted that the original Starcraft was built on a 2D engine, in spite of the competition having largely switched over to 3D engines. The savings in processing were applied to larger, more epic battles with dozens of units being rendered on the screen at the same time. The crowded battlefield "captured the gamer's imagination more" than the barren fields of competing 3D games at the time, and helped cement Starcraft's place in videogaming culture.

In spite of their success, the team at Blizzard wasn't going to rush into a 3D Starcraft unless it could capture the same feeling of the original. "The truth is that only recently have we had this kind of 3D power where we're able to create a real Starcraft experience in 3D. What we want to see are hundreds of vehicles and creatures clashing on the battlefield, with dynamic lighting and shadows and all of these dazzling special effects -- that's the kind of gaming experience that our players expect from us."

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Blizzard's Bob Colayco explains why Starcraft II took so long originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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News from the Starcraft II panel at the Blizzard Invitational

Dan O'Halloran — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC, Strategy

Amid all the hype for Diablo 3, you may have missed hearing about the StarCraft II developer panel helmed by Blizzard's Rob Pardo at this weekend's Worldwide Invitational in Paris. Joystiq was there to catch all the details on the latest build of the game. See what team Blizzard had to say about the newfound power of the Zerg Queen, the upgraded Protoss Mothership and the reason behind de-emphasizing heroic classes. All this after the jump.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Continue reading News from the Starcraft II panel at the Blizzard Invitational

News from the Starcraft II panel at the Blizzard Invitational originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 4: Q&A

Dan O'Halloran — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC, Strategy

Q&A with Rob Pardo
Q: How will the planet systems be used?
A: The star map in the story campaigns is you mission selector. You will explore the story and have a lot of different paths to follow. You can choose from 2-7 missions depending on where you are in the story. There is a starmap in all three campaigns. but different for each race. For example, in the Terran campaign you will take a lot of mercenary missions for money to pay for technology.

Q: What role will hero and multiclass players play?
A: We are de-emphasizing heroes in Starcraft2. That's what Warcraft 3 is for. There will be some missions where you play named characters like Raynor, but not much. Mostly dialogue and story characters, not much as gameplay chars.

Q: Is the Zerg building infestation ability working on Protoss?
A: Yes.

Q: Will there be an Apple and PV version release at same time?
A: Yes, all of our PC games will also be available on Macs.

Q: Is there a Terran version of Queen/Mothership
A: No. Mothership not as unique as Queen and players can build multiple Motherships.

Q: What role is the roach unit supposed to have?
A: It doesn't have much health, but it does have very high regeneration. Its good to go up against enemy units with low damage output like marines, zealots, etc.

Q: Is the black hole still planned for the Protoss?
A: It used to be on the Mothership, but was taken away when the Mothership became a defense unit in the development of the game. It may come back later in a different way in the development process but no promises.

Q: What lies ahead in the evolution of units?
A: The Terran Thor unit is hard to find a role for. Right now it is much like the sieg tank/battle cruiser. It could get more abilities to differentiate it.

Q: The Merc Haven can't train reavers, just enables you to build them. Why?
A: The Merc Haven has gone through five or six designs, but we never fell in love with one. It needs more tinkering.

Q: What kind of units will come out from Protoss infested buildings?
A: I misspoke earlier. They [the Zerg] cannot infest Protoss buildings, but we're still deciding for sure.

Q: Will the Ghost unit get telekenisis or telepathic abilties like in the books and manga?
A: There is much experimentation right now with the unit and it's centered around the lore. There is a good chance, yes.

Q: Is it possible to play the story line in co-op mode?
A: No. It's been discussed, but it's too difficult to have two players both be the main character.

That's all from Paris. We'll have some hands-on write ups with the new Zerg demo they have set up. Check back soon.

Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 4: Q&A originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 3: Terran

Dan O'Halloran — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC, Strategy

The Terrans and their BFG's
Pardo then moved on to the final Starcraft race, the Terrans. The theme here they wanted to push was guns, guns and more guns. No Queen or Mothership here, just lots of units with lots of firepower.

The first unit Pardo talked about was the Jackal. It's a fast, mobile firebat that spits out fire lots of splash damage. With its speed and mobility it has the potential to take a big chunk out of your opponent's forces.

The next unit was The Thor. It's a large ground assault unit with two abilities. In addition to its anti-air flak cannons, it can self-repair. And if it is destroyed, its wreckage stays on the battlefield and can rebuild itself.

No Hero for you!
Finally, Pardo talked about some larger issues about the game they were working with. They didn't want the game to too heavily emphasize micromanaging units. They want players to have time to deal with the macro issues of resources, expansion and strategy. So they designed most units to be simple movers and shooters, not like the more complex units of Warcraft 3.

They also de-emphasized Hero classes for the same reason. Hero characters will mostly be met in the single player story mode and even then, as characters to talk to instead of taking control of them in battles.

In terms of development, the team is focusing currently on spell casters and special abilities that come later in the game as well as upgrades for base units. The story campaign is about one-third done.

The last point Pardo wanted to make before the panel was open to questions was about the evolution of Battle.net. With the release of SC2, Battle.net will be transformed to become what they hope is the premiere gaming platform for PC online play.

NEXT: Q&A with Rob Pardo ===>

Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 3: Terran originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 2: Protoss

Dan O'Halloran — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:23:00 EST

Filed under: Features, PC, Strategy

The Protoss are a force to be reckoned with
Pardo moved on to talk a bit about how the Protoss are progressing in the development of the game. Their psionics are the key theme to their race and Blizzard pushed that further, but also pulled back on the emphasis on spellcasting.

First he showed an example of their new force field ability used to control the battlefield. A video showed a swarm of zerglings rushing a Protoss base, but the Protoss force threw up a series of connected force fields that formed a funnel forcing the zergs into a choke point where they were easily destroyed.

While high damage Protoss spells like Psi Storm are returning, Blizzard also wanted to introduce some early game casters. Nullifiers were mentioned. And Stalkers were given a teleport ability that had interesting strategic potential. In another video of game play, force fields were raised forcing an attacking army to go around it. The Stalkers then teleported themselves to the other side of the force fields, behind the attacking army, and took them out from behind.

The return of the Mothership
The Protoss Mothership also makes an appearance. While not as powerful as the Zerg Queen, it has been given powerful support abilities. It is now a mobile battlefield teleporter, able to zap in troops to wherever it is at. It is also heavily armored and has an emergency ability called Time Bomb which renders it immune from damage for a short period of time. Since it isn't as versatile as the Zerg Queen, Protoss players will be able to have more than one Mothership in play at once.

NEXT: The Terrans and the diminishing Hero ===>

Starcraft II WWI '08 panel part 2: Protoss originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Retail chains showing December 3 release date for Starcraft II

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Strategy

Many froth-mouthed fans of Blizzard's intergalactic real-time strategy masterpiece Starcraft have anxiously been awaiting word on when the next installment of the series would land in their anticipatory laps. Blizz has been characteristically tight-lipped about the title's launch window, though we were recently informed that an online SKU search for Starcraft II on Best Buy, Circuit City, and Gamestop's web sites reveal the same supposed release date of December 3, 2008. With no confirmation from Blizzard, it's far from official -- though we imagine this won't stop dedicated zerglings from dropping by the office tomorrow, and requesting off the last month of the year.

[Thanks, Chad.]

Rumor: Retail chains showing December 3 release date for Starcraft II originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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