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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.

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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.

Big Orc on Campus: We tour through Blizzard

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 29th 2009 at 12:40PM }

Blizzard's main company headquarters are, much like any other, located somewhere inside a massive corporate building complex, this one deep inside Irvine, California. Once you get past the guard gate and make your way inside, it's not quite like most business parks. For one, Blizzard has its own ginormous Orc Wolfrider statue guarding the front doors.

There's enough lush green vegetation around to conceal a Fallout-style vault, or a mechanized army of robotic dragons ... which might be where your monthly World of Warcraft fees are going. At least part of that money went to pay for the company's own sand volleyball court, where brave employees reenact that scene from Top Gun.

What other secrets does the place hold? Read on to find out, and browse through the 99 images in the gallery below, which sadly doesn't include the photos we were asked not to show or talk about. Hopefully they'll let us do that soon. For now, let the speculation begin ...

Gallery: Blizzard Tour

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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]

StarCraft: Ghost concept art surfaces, game hasn't

by Xav de Matos { Mar 17th 2009 at 8:00PM }

StarCraft: Ghost was originally poised to be a direct competitor to the Splinter Cell and Metal Gear franchises, with similar action and stealth gameplay. Set four years after the events of StarCraft: The Brood War, it was once a hotly anticipated title for Blizzard fans. Yet, the game has eluded retail shelves after years of delays and swapped hands.

A gaggle of concept art is now available online of what once was Sam Fisher and Solid Snake's worst nightmare... a girl! For a little back story on the StarCraft: Ghost insanity, here is your daily history lesson:

2002 - StarCraft: Ghost is announced (at TGS), under the development eye of Nihilistic Software (of Conan fame)
2004 - Numerous delays forced Nihilistic to cede development duties to Swingin' Ape Studios (makers of Metal Arms: Glitch in the System)
2005 - A GameCube version of SG is officially canned and Blizzard decides to hold off on further development to assess the upcoming generation of consoles
Mid 2006 - StarCraft: Ghost is put on 'indefinite hold' by Blizzard, who has since moved on to StarCraft 2 development
Late 2006 - StarCraft Ghost: Nova was released in bookstores setting up the back story for the (now likely) vaporware title
2008 - Blizzard does not include Ghost in a presentation at D.I.C.E. referencing canceled games; Blizzard claims it was never officially canceled
2009 - Yeah, the game still doesn't exist

Korean pro Warcraft player says 'zug-zug' to a half-million dollar contract

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 16th 2009 at 11:15PM }

Korean professional gamer Jae Ho "Moon" Jang has signed a three-year, $486,500 contract to play with WeMade FOX in the Korean gaming leagues. His manager is working on introducing more quality players as there "aren't many first-class players in Korea." Um, if you're, like, really good at Warcraft/StarCraft ... now's the time to start learning Korean.

Best part: Jang isn't even the highest paid professional Korean player, just the highest paid Warcraft player. Top billing goes to his WeMade FOX teammate, Yoon Yeoi "NaDa" Lee, who signed a contract for $521,250 to play StarCraft back in 2007. Wow.

[Via VG247]

Blizzard looking for short stories based on its games

by Griffin McElroy { Mar 15th 2009 at 5:30PM }

If you consider yourself to be quite the wordsmith, we suggest turning your attention to a recently announced contest from the PC gaming juggernauts at Blizzard. The developer is currently asking literarily inclined fans to produce 3,000 to 10,000-word short stories set in the universe of the Warcraft, Diablo or Starcraft series. The author of the judges' favorite novelette gets a free ride to Blizzard HQ to meet the team's writing staff, and will take home a replica Frostmourne sword with which they can behead their harshest literary critics.

You can check out the official rules here. Yes, they're disqualifying entries containing any obscene or lewd activities -- so save your "throbbing" and "heaving" for your breathtakingly erotic Sonic the Hedgehog slash fiction.

[Via Big Download]

Watch PS3 run Starcraft (with help from Linux & Windows)

by David Hinkle { Feb 26th 2009 at 5:00PM }

With the PS3's ability to allow you to install your own OS, tech junkies have been tinkering with the console's potential since its launch a few Novembers back. There is one thing we haven't seen yet, though -- and that's a PS3 running Starcraft!

Accomplished through the use of Windows 95, with Qemu and Yellow Dog Linux, you too can can crush Zerg scum with the Protoss on your PS3. (Just don't think you're going to get Crysis to run on the thing.) Linux and Qemu really hog the Cell processor, so a low-end game like Starcraft is as stable as it gets. Zerg rush past the break to watch the video.

[Thanks, Evan!]

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New Starcraft 2 screens 'make it rain' zerglings

by Ross Miller { Jan 29th 2009 at 4:26PM }

Click above to play "Where's Waldo's half-eaten corpse?"

What's this, more StarCraft II screenshots? Admittedly, we're a bit powerless to stop ourselves from looking at these 10 or so new images from a Fansite kit that Blizzard discreetly updated (our compatriots say only eight of these are new, but we count two more that we've never seen before).

If you take nothing else from these screens, just remember that zerg rushes still elicit a sensory overload billed directly to your occipital lobe. Latest pics are in the front of the gallery. So Blizzard, how about a public beta soon to feed our addiction?