Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 09:27
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
One of the most anticipated games of 2010 or an unnecessary revamp of a classic still played today? StarCraft II is undoubtedly set to cause a tsunami of interest leading up to and upon its release. In this FAQ from BlizzCon 2009 many queries regarding this new StarCraft iteration are touched upon.
Part 1 of the BlizzCon 2009 FAQ looked at the revamped Battle.Net service from Blizzard, in Part 2 we find out more about StarCraft II due in 2010.
StarCraft players are very passionate. Around 11 years after release, this game is still one of the mainstays of many a LAN, and in South Korea almost a national sport, with the players revered and well known.
The following FAQ touches on a lot of StarCraft II info, but will probably leave many hardcore fans still a little in the dark about aspects such as no-LAN play and the episodic release agenda.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - General
Q: What is StarCraft II?
A: StarCraft II is the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game, and the sequel to the hit original, StarCraft. The game will include three completely distinct and balanced races, the protoss, terran, and zerg, which have been overhauled and re-imagined with a number of new units for each, as well as new tricks for some of the classic units that are returning.
Q: When is the game coming out?
A: Our release target for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the first half of 2010. As with all Blizzard Entertainment games, we will take as much time as needed to ensure the game is as fun, balanced, and polished as possible.
Q: When will you begin the beta test for StarCraft II?
A: We’re not ready to give an exact date, but we’re working hard to release the beta as soon as possible.
Q: How will StarCraft II be different from StarCraft?
A: StarCraft II will run on a vibrant new 3D-graphics engine capable of rendering beautiful landscapes as well as massive army sizes. The speed, responsiveness, and epic-scale battles that made the original StarCraft such a memorable game are all realized in 3D with this brand-new engine.
We’re also introducing a number of distinct new units to the protoss, terran, and zerg, and some of the familiar units that return in StarCraft II will have new tricks up their sleeves, which will give the game its own unique flavor. The maps themselves will also offer new interactive elements that enhance the strategic nature of the game and create more tactical points of interest for players to contest. One example of this is the Xel’Naga watchtower structure—when captured, it reveals line of sight over a large area of the map, creating an advantage for the player in control of the tower.
In addition, Battle.net will be overhauled with some new and exciting features to enhance online play and competition, while the single-player campaign will also offer some unique aspects for players to enjoy. The single-player campaign in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty features branching missions and the ability to customize your army by purchasing special units and upgrades that persist between missions.
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