Overwritten.net
Games => General Gaming => Topic started by: idolminds on Friday, April 27, 2007, 01:48:21 PM
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In Seoul, South Korea. (http://kotaku.com/gaming/luke%20-i-just-soiled-myself/blizz-confirms-new-product-next-month-255518.php) It's pretty much a given that it'll be Starcraft 2, seeing as how its practically South Korea's national sport.
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I guess this means I really need to begin StarCraft 1 and Brood War soon, eh...?
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Awesome. I read about this before and I'm pretty excited. I might have to get a new rig when this one comes out.
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Live for the swarm!
See, now this is one of the few acceptable "coming announcements" announcements.
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Agreed, Sy. Cool news... we'll all be eager, I'm sure. Blizz is one of the few huge companies that nobody hates because they're still awesome.
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It would be a very interesting twist if say Blizzard does announce a BRAND NEW IP completely.
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Weird. I've been waiting for this announcement for years, and I somehow feel underwhelmed now.
I think it's because unlike a lot of others, I love Starcraft for its story and universe. Since Starcraft is a RTS, it's like a cardinal rule that any sequels have to add new races, which will most likely dilute and de-legitimize it.
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They could learn something (more) from Warhammer and just break up the existing races into fully fleshed out factions with unique armies. I always thought it was strange that the Terran Directorate (or something along those lines) who came in from across the galaxy during the expansion had the same exact army as the rednecks from the original portions of the story.
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Well, Blizzard is in work w/ multiple projects, it seems (http://bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=77388)
Not surprised, as it is believed they are working on some new Diablo game, given that a composer has stated he is indeed working on the next Diablo -- though, we don't know if it'll be pure MMO or not.
And many believe the next announcement will be StarCraft 2. Though, I wonder if that'll be the typical game or if it'll be MMO or not.
Blizzard's Next-Gen MMO? [April 27, 2007, 7:25 pm ET] - Viewing Comments
This Blizzard Entertainment Employment Opportunities Page (http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/programmer-lead-engine.shtml) indicates that Blizzard is seeking an engine programmer to lead a team "focused on next-generation massively multiplayer online games." GameDaily BIZ (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15965) contacted Blizzard about this, but the developer is remaining tight lipped for now, saying they are "not ready to reveal any new projects at this time," but that they do indeed "have multiple unannounced projects in development and are exploring various options for the future of our franchises."
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I hope Diablo 3 isn't an MMO. I like the small parties and demon slaughtering. Yes, Diablo 3 must have blood everywhere. In fact, for no reason at all, the UI should bleed.
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They could learn something (more) from Warhammer and just break up the existing races into fully fleshed out factions with unique armies. I always thought it was strange that the Terran Directorate (or something along those lines) who came in from across the galaxy during the expansion had the same exact army as the rednecks from the original portions of the story.
Yeah, that could definitely work. It's the UED by the way: United Earth Directorate.
Well, this is Blizzard, so I guess we'll see this game in 2011 or so. At least we'll know it will probably be pretty good.
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Yeah, I hope D3 isn't an MMO. I like the multiplayer of Diablo, just on the small scale like Idol said.
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Please don't let it be an MMO. Also everyone should be ready to put a few hundred aside for the CEs.
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I doubt they'd make another MMO because it'd compete with WoW. Given the proper treatment, they can keep that cash cow going for a number of years.
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Yup good point Syan.
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IGN says they are working on an MMO, and maybe for consoles? Maybe they are bringing WoW to consoles?
http://pc.ign.com/articles/784/784124p1.html
Blizzard Hiring for Next-Gen MMO
The creator of WoW is developing its own competition.
by Daemon Hatfield
April 27, 2007 - Blizzard has updated its job listings with several positions that will be working on a next-gen massively multiplayer online game (MMO). The publisher/developer is seeking a Lead Engine Programmer, Lead Tools Programmer, and a Lead Technical Artist. Begin speculation…now.
The term "next-gen" is typically used to describe consoles, and World of Warcraft has been rumored to be heading to the Xbox 360. Of course, Blizzard's VP of Development Itzik Ben Bassat told Empire Magazine a few months ago that the company's next MMO would not be another WoW. The Lead Engine Programmer Blizzard is seeking will be in charge of developing an entirely new engine for this next-gen MMO, and a port of WoW would likely use a tweaked version of the existing engine.
There have also been ongoing rumors about the continuation of the StarCraft franchise as either another real-time strategy game or a World of StarCraft-type MMO.
Blizzard is set to make a major announcement at an event in Korea next month. IGN will be on hand at the event, and hopefully we'll learn more about this project at that time
edit:
After seeing D's post, my deduction is that WoW will be brought to the 360 while StarCrack 2 will be announced for the PC.
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From the few things I saw its a very good chance at Diablo 3
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Diablo-3-a-secret-revealed-1545.shtml (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Diablo-3-a-secret-revealed-1545.shtml)
http://www.megagames.com/news/html/pc/wowexpansion-diablo3demo.shtml (http://www.megagames.com/news/html/pc/wowexpansion-diablo3demo.shtml)
http://www.diablo3.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1286 (http://www.diablo3.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1286)
Personally I'm hoping those are correct.
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What if it is a combination? World of Diablocraft.
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(http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060616.jpg)
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There's a very good chance it's Diablo 3? Who are these people saying this? If that's the case, why is the announcement taking place in South Korea?
I think it's obviously something Starcraft-related.
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There's a very good chance it's Diablo 3? Who are these people saying this? If that's the case, why is the announcement taking place in South Korea?
I think it's obviously something Starcraft-related.
Maybe a StarCraft RPG, heh. ;)
And the next Diablo, maybe Diablo RTS, heh ;)
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There's a very good chance it's Diablo 3? Who are these people saying this? If that's the case, why is the announcement taking place in South Korea?
I think it's obviously something Starcraft-related.
Just because its in South Korea?
Any reason they can't be annoucing both? That would be considered a major annoucement. I dunno. I'm only speaking from what I've seen but I've seen more hinted at info for a new diablo game than a starcraft game.
Eh obviously its all guess work until they actually say anything.
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If they went to Korea and announced a game that wasn't Starcraft, somebody there would murder them.
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Besides, they still have Blizzcon and the revamped E3 to announce stuff.
South Korea = Starcraft 2
Blizzcon = WoW expansion
E3 = Diablo 3
Now on IGN there is an industry guy I was talking with, and he said Blizzard wants to get a certain game out there to steal some thunder from another game that is being made by former Blizzard folk that has a similar theme and playstyle as that Blizzard title.
Basically, Diablo 3 announcement to kill the hype for Hellgate. I wouldn't be surprised to see it this year.
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Good strategy. Except for the fact that Hellgate still looks awesome. I'll be getting both either way.
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Good strategy. Except for the fact that Hellgate still looks awesome. I'll be getting both either way.
Yeah, Hellgate does look freakin' bad-ass
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Looks like the next Bliz game might be World of Starcraft (MMO), according to ComputerAndVideoGames (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=163207&site=cvg)
The long-rumoured new instalment of Blizzard's massive StarCraft series is set to be unveiled later this month - and it's another massively-multiplayer online game in the style of World of Warcraft, CVG can reveal.
Well placed US sources have revealed to us that the StarCraft MMO will be unveiled at an upcoming Blizzard event on May 19 in South Korea - the epicentre of the sci-fi RTS series' rabid fandom.
The unveiling of the new instalment has previously been rumoured for the South Korea event, though we now know that the title is in fact an online spin-off and not a new RTS game as previously assumed.
Advertisement:
Of course this is massive news for both Vivendi and the MMO world; Blizzard's other online offering World of Warcraft has topped 6 million subscribers and is arguably the biggest game around today.
The question is, is there room for both World of Warcraft and a StarCraft MMO? The later will have to be a very different type of online game to convince gamers to subscribe to both of Blizzard's pair.
We will of course let you know as soon as soon as Blizzard officially confirms the game on May 19.
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I repeat my above post.
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There's been hints dropped by Blizzard in the last year regarding both a new Starcraft and a new Diablo. I'd bet both are in some stages of development.
The Starcraft MMO theory is interesting. On one hand, you're right....it would be stupid to fragment their market like that. They could prematurely kill the potential excess return they'll recieve from WoW. On the other hand, if they announce it this May, you can probably be sure that it's not going to hit the shelves for at least 2 years. By that time WoW will be winding down either way, and if their suscribers are going to be moving on to the next big MMO at that point, it might as well be another Blizzard product.
Personally, if I were in charge, that would be my ultimate goal...to get a MMO game out in the next 2-3 years. However, that wouldn't be what I was announcing now unless it was WoW2. Thinking about my franchises, I'd build one up a bit first...release either Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 first. Bring people back into the story, introduce some new classes and races for the inevitable MMO expansions. And introduce some new characters to act as prominent npcs in the upcoming MMO.
Releasing Starcraft 2 now and a Starcraft MMO in a few years would probably move more units and make a ton more money than doing the reverse.
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I think it would be stupid to introduce a World of Starcraft. One of the reasons WoW was successful was that the franchise was fresh in everyone's minds with WarCraft III.
If they want to do a StarCraft MMO, it is vital they release a RTS sequel first. Like GPW says, bring people back into the fold.
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I was thinking, what if they did something like a mixing of the two genres. Like, an RTS on a huge scale with tons of commanders? The idea has been tossed around with global campaigns and such where victories lead to taking over territories, but what if they did something with few set boundries and people actually had to really hold fronts on their own or team up to take out heavily fortified structures. Make units and structures more meaningful as they take earned resources and more time to built. Have verteran squads really mean something because the combat isn't restricted to single missions.
It could be pretty interesting and be the next real leap for the genre in a long while. The trick would to getting the usual Blizzard charms: having everything really tight and accessable. It could easily fall into maddness as commanders just mass up and blow through areas or no one follow any sort of plan and forming a giant unmoving front. Given the right balancing and tricks to keep masses of armies from being too powerful, it could work.
Of course, I doubt that'll happen. Odds are it'll be something more traditional. I just don't think Starcraft would work as a straight out MMO because the universe just doesn't lend itself to it. Single people and small groups don't go out and adventure so much. Armies gather and fight. Behind the lines people just live their lives.
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I can say that I would have zero interest in a Starcraft MMO, or really, even Starcraft 2. I enjoyed the first game for what it was, but it didn't last the way it has for many. I got very tired of it very quickly. The universe is fun enough, but not nearly so that I'd want to spend MMO-level time there. I'm just really not interested.
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I was thinking, what if they did something like a mixing of the two genres. Like, an RTS on a huge scale with tons of commanders? The idea has been tossed around with global campaigns and such where victories lead to taking over territories, but what if they did something with few set boundries and people actually had to really hold fronts on their own or team up to take out heavily fortified structures. Make units and structures more meaningful as they take earned resources and more time to built. Have verteran squads really mean something because the combat isn't restricted to single missions.
It could be pretty interesting and be the next real leap for the genre in a long while. The trick would to getting the usual Blizzard charms: having everything really tight and accessable. It could easily fall into maddness as commanders just mass up and blow through areas or no one follow any sort of plan and forming a giant unmoving front. Given the right balancing and tricks to keep masses of armies from being too powerful, it could work.
Of course, I doubt that'll happen. Odds are it'll be something more traditional. I just don't think Starcraft would work as a straight out MMO because the universe just doesn't lend itself to it. Single people and small groups don't go out and adventure so much. Armies gather and fight. Behind the lines people just live their lives.
That sounds really cool, but it also sounds innovative so that automatically means Blizzard won't do it.
I think they want to keep milking the MMO cow, and I would personally have more interest in a StarCraft MMO than WoW purely because it involves space. When SW:Galaxies was being developed, I thought it had huge potential as did the rest of the planet... but it turned out to be a big dud.
As for StarCraft II, if Blizzard do it, I wonder what sort of game it will be. Basically all their RTS games so far have been highly polished yet been basically the same. I think they need to innovate and bring something out on the level of Supreme Commander or Company of Heroes, but I doubt they'd do that. I have a feeling they will just play it safe.
I even worry about a Diablo sequel. Even though Diablo is easily one of my favorite games, I just want to see something different instead of more of the same...
I have to say, of all the worlds Blizzard has produced, I always found the WarCraft universe least interesting. It was easily the most clichéd. While the trouble with having a Diablo MMO is that it won't work well alongside Diablo III itself.
A StarCraft MMO would be interesting ground for Blizzard though, since it would be the first time they would be designing a game which is essentially going to be a first person shooter.
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Oh God please don't let it be an MMOG.
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It's not gonna be an MMO game. I've read a quote in multiple articles this past week where they deny any MMO other than WoW. Let me find it....
Got it.
We do not currently have any MMO development plans beyond the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft
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We do not currently have any MMO development plans beyond the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft. However like any business, we do lie on occasion
Just kidding...
It just doesn't make business sense for it to be a StarCraft MMO at this stage... that's why I can't believe it in the end.
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We do not currently have any MMO development plans beyond the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft
Hmmm...
I wonder how many Expansion packs WoW will actually have....
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Hmmm...
I wonder how many Expansion packs WoW will actually have....
Why? So you you start beating that "their milking the ip just like EA does" drum again? ;)
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Why? So you you start beating that "their milking the ip just like EA does" drum again? ;)
Maybe.... :P
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Hmmm....could Blizz be announcing both Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 possibly? (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1851)
Must everyone do these countdown things? You probably know that Blizzard will apparently make an announcement on a new game at an event in South Korea on May 19th. Yesterday the Blizzard site sported a Warcraft-related image and today there's a Diablo shot - I'll let you try to figure it out, although the frontrunner guess seems to be a World of Starcraft followed by Diablo 3.
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At the end of the day 19/05 will arrive, they'll announce the game, and 4 years later we'll get to play it.
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At the end of the day 19/05 will arrive, they'll announce the game, and 4 years later we'll get to play it.
I wonder how long their "next game(s)" has/have been in development already....
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I wonder how long their "next game(s)" has/have been in development already....
It doesn't matter they'll delay it and it'll be ages before we ever see it - this is Bliz the turtle of developers.
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If it's World of Starcraft, I along with millions of others will be very disappointed. Someone at work tried to tell me that there are people out there that would play a Starcraft MMOG that aren't playing WoW right now. I said, yeah, maybe there are, but the two (WoW and WoS) can't co-exist very well.
For a WoS to have WoW-like success, it would probably have to draw from WoW's current playerbase. I mean there are a lot of people out there that don't like MMOG's regardless of the universe, and there are a crop of MMOG players that will play anything similar.
WoW would see a drop in the number of players and who is to say that WoS would ever get anywhere close to the number of players that WoW has? MMOG's thrive on big communities.
I think it would be a mistake. It would be a slap in the face to Starcraft fans everywhere, especially the ones in South Korea.
Then again, if they haven't even started working on it, then it might not be a bad idea. WoW will be very aged by the time that a WoS would come out if development on it started the day after the announcement.
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Well, that's the thing. If it is a Starcraft MMO, it's pretty likely that it wouldn't be out soon enough to draw players away from WoW, but rather draw them away from whatever the next big MMO is when WoW is old, ugly, and dated. That said, I stick by my previous assesment; it would be stupid to jump straight to a Starcraft MMO without first revisiting the IP in a more traditional fashion.
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If it is an MMO then I think it sends a very obviously greedy message. I don't mind an MMO at all, but come on, do an RTS first.
Frankly I think the MMO rumors stem from the fact that Blizzard are bringing WoW to the 360/Live setup.
I wonder if it will mean you guys have to play with console kiddies.
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Frankly I think the MMO rumors stem from the fact that Blizzard are bringing WoW to the 360/Live setup.
huh? Did I miss something?
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huh? Did I miss something?
http://pc.ign.com/articles/784/784124p1.html
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Looks like Bliz released a new patch for Starcraft
Version 1.15. (http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=msc0411p)
Something I can always respect about Bliz -- them always patching old-ass games for much more modern systems. Kudos.
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Looks like Bliz released a new patch for Starcraft
Version 1.15. (http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=msc0411p)
Something I can always respect about Bliz -- them always patching old-ass games for much more modern systems. Kudos.
I realize this is pretty picky of me, but I never bought Warcraft 2: Battle.net Edition. I bought War 2 and the expansion when they were new, and it pissed me off that I had to buy them again to get the CPU speed fix and B.net support. Yea the new edition was only like $20, but it still bugged me that I was expected to buy a game that I had sitting at home, or just not play it.
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http://pc.ign.com/articles/784/784124p1.html
Oh I did miss something ;D
But man I hope its not true... I don't think I can keep saying no to WoW if it follows me to the console! arg!
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Blizzards show is starting right now. IGN is keeping updated here (http://pc.ign.com/articles/788/788627p1.html). The new game announcement will be happening any time now.
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Oh gods. That talentless semi-pretty girl is there. Someone needs to shoot her.
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Who is she?
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Some girl they gave a job to because she sent in a picture of her licking a PSP (or something like that). She knew a little about games, could form words together, and didn't look like what you expected a gaming girl to look like. I think IGN has since sent her on ever news event so they can take pictures of her rather than actually cover the event.
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my friend who works over at IGN says that she is married but flirts with anyone at the company wearing a suit. hmmm
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I've still never seen this chick. I stay the hell away from IGN whenever possible.
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Okay, I clicked the link. I was expecting more from her. I'm disappointed.
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Haven't you at least heard one of us (probably me) complain about her before?
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Oh yeah, I just never saw her or actually looked at anything with her or by her at IGN.
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don't worry sy... she is already 29. once her looks go then she's nothing! nothing!!
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Hey man what are you trying to say about people that are 29?
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Hey man what are you trying to say about people that are 29?
You heard me.
Geezer.
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Here it comes... come on...
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STARCRAFT 2 BITCHES
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Yup its official, its Starcraft 2
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3:00 - FMV sequence in a spaceship - looks Terran - zooming in on a metal door - door opening - reveals a guy with a cigar in chains - prisoner - door shuts behind him - there's so much bass the room is shaking - guy steps into some kind of metallic devicce - legs are strapped in - guy rising toward ceiling - Korean text on screen got people very excited - another part of the machine is dropping metal arms on him - machine whirring - applying armor to his torso - extremly detailed visuals here - now guy is strapping on gloves - armor is molding together - seems like a Terran marine - rockets turn on - zerg now onscreen - Marine delivers a line - StarCraft 2 officially announced.
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Holy crap! They are going to show actual gameplay footage already?!
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I'm happy with that. Hell yeah.
I wonder how the game actually looks though, like if they went the route of Dawn of War and things are more dynamic and such.
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I didn't play Starcraft, but I want to see the new footage. Maybe I'll grab the SC battlechest since its on clearance in a few places.
If they made it dynamic like DoW I'd probably be very interested.
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Wow, all this almost makes me kinda' want to go back and play Starcraft again. But only kinda'.
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So they chose Korea to announce StarCraft 2 because its their national sport. I guess there was some hype because as obvious as it was, there was some uncertainty. They milked that for all it was worth.
Holy crap! They are going to show actual gameplay footage already?!
No dear friend. Idol said they are showing an FMV.
I'm happy with that. Hell yeah.
I think I would have been more excited a few years ago.
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No...they are showing actual footage.. go to the IGN feed.. The lead designer is actually playing it for the crowd.
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3:14 - Protoss colossus - huge unit that can blast out dual lasers and use long legs to traverse differences in terrain height - in the demo two of them obliterate about fifty or so zerglings.
3:10 - Terran reapers - can hop across unever terrain with jump packs - two types of small pistols that don't activate immortals. Protoss now have the ability to create shields whereever they want. Protoss can now warp in units from manufacturing facilities anything within pylon range. New protoss unit - stalker - can teleport - quadripedal thing - can keep blinking forward - seems to be a shot cooldown on the ability. Zerg start coming in, giant worms pop out of ground unleasing zerglings. Protoss can use phase fields and teleporting abilities to create an army anywhere on the battlefield, according to Blizzard.
3:09 - controlling protoss zealots - still has psi blades and personal shield - new charge ability that let him quickly close range on enemies. Siege tanks shown - still the same type of behavior where they can lock down - take out zealots really quickly - new protoss unit - called immortals - have special shield that only activates upon being powerfully attacked - siege tanks could barely do any damage to them.
3:07 - Showing gameplay footage - Looks like protoss ships - floating over asteroid/ base structure - entering protoss ase - similar looking buildings - vespene gas still in the game - character pane shows up on right side - some protoss guy - shifts to terran bases floating on rockets over same type of territory - sill collecting crystals as resources - marines load out. Dustin is actually playing the game - nothing in the game is final.
3:05 - Morheim says everyone eager to see actual game - going to show actual gameplay - bringing up SC2 lead designer. Dustin Browder.
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Gees. This is further along than I would have expected. Maybe Blizzard finally learned to just announce a game when it's pretty far along.
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Gees. This is further along than I would have expected. Maybe Blizzard finally learned to just announce a game when it's pretty far along.
Makes me optimistic for a 2008 release
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The big question - how are they ever going to satisfy the Koreans? It's like... either this is going to have to be one hell of a game to live up to their expectations, or they'll love it even if it's total shit just because it's Starcraft. I'm sort of curious about all this now.
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Heh, interesting thought. Sort of like how everyone was excited for Counter-Strike: Source yet most of the "hardcore" players stayed with CS 1.6.
Hopefully by morning this footage will be online. I want to see what it looks like. Newest update mentions physics in place so you shoot down flying enemies and they crash and roll on the ground.
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GSpot is covering is as well. (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6171170.html)
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God bless the internet.
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Gees. This is further along than I would have expected. Maybe Blizzard finally learned to just announce a game when it's pretty far along.
OK NOW I am excited.
No...they are showing actual footage.. go to the IGN feed.. The lead designer is actually playing it for the crowd.
You were correct oh wise one. :-*
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God bless the internet.
Damn that looks awesome. That's interesting how the prisoner/slave was genetically modified to become a grunt. I wonder if this is going to be a story about a prisoner who is somehow aware of what happened to him and rebels or something.
Also I am going to install StarCraft and finally finish it hehe.
*needs to find a widescreen patch*
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Blizzard's so nice about this stuff. They already launched the game's website with the trailer and screens. Hell, tomorrow the gameplay video is supposed to be up.
http://www.starcraft2.com/
Looking at the screens, it looks like they purposely tried to stay close to the 2D look of the original... although it looks a little more cartoony and I can't say I'm immediately fond of it. I'm fine with staying close to your roots; it worked great for C&C3. This just looks more cartoony that I took the original to be.
Still, I'm excited. It can work in its own way and probably moves nicely (I guess we'll see tomorrow with the video).
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Wow that looks really disappointing. About time the game evolved... jeebus.
Looking at that I worry about Diablo 3. Imagine if that D3 just ends up looking slightly better than D2.
edit:
Well I went through them again, and I a bit happier now. It grows on you, though after Supreme Commander and Company of Heroes, I'd be disappointed if SC2 didn't look as good.
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I'm not much on the RTS genre; never really was.
I watched that Gameplay trailer on their website for SC2....
I don't think I ever really had much of an interest in playing a RTS near its very release.....until now.
I really need to play catch up and play SC: Original Campaign and SC: Brood War, which I do have installed on my PC.
Hey, for $8, when CC has it on sale some time back, I just couldn't pass-up The SC Battle Chest -- it is a classic, according to most; hehe.
EDIT:
I wonder when this game will actually be released....
Any projected dates yet....?
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Pug, you're disappointed? Have you seen some of the videos on Youtube? I think the visuals are awesome looking and completely blow Supreme Commander out of the water.
Anyway, yeah Starcraft 2. I'm really surprised how many people were convinced it was WoS. The South Koreans would have assassinated the Blizzard employees.
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I just saw this:
http://www.starcraft2.com/screenshots.xml
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Well check out some of the videos on Youtube then.
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GameSpot got all kinds of SC2 info (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6171172.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1)
Additional Starcraft II details unveiled at press conference
Blizzard holds additional Q&A session after announcing its highly anticipated seqel and covers more key points about the game and its future.
By Andrew Park, GameSpot
Posted May 19, 2007 2:29 am PT
SEOUL--After making the exciting announcement that a Starcraft sequel is in the works, Blizzard Entertainment held a follow-up press conference for reporters from Asia Pacific, American, and European territories. The conference included a panel of the studio's heaviest hitters, including president Mike Morhaime, chief operating officer Paul Sams, vice president of creative development Chris Metzen, vice president of game design Rob Pardo, Blizzard Korea managing director Jungwon Han, lead game producer Chris Sigaty, and lead game designer Dustin Browder.
The panel answered questions on numerous topics, including Starcraft II's development history, which Pardo expained "started shortly after Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne" back in 2003. According to Pardo, the game is "very far along," and that the game is already playable in multiplayer will all three factions. When asked about the release date, Pardo gave the answer you may have come to expect from Blizzard: "The game will be released when it's ready."
It's already 4 years in the making?!?!?!?
And the MP's already playable?? Well, hell -- this game might be coming sooner than we think, eh???
According to the panel, the game is apparently being developed by a team of approximately 40, though on the matter of the budget and the schedule, Morhaime simply said, "We don't really have a budget; we'll spend as much time and resources as we need to make this game great."
Nice!
When asked about how Blizzard was approaching the challenge of how to make a game that would appeal both to hardcore and to casual players, the panel replied that the game will appeal to hardcore fans by being geared toward "highly competitive, skill-based gameplay," as well as by efforts to "continue to drive new features onto Battle.net," Blizzard's in-house online game service, as well as encouraging players to watch match replays to get into the "drama" and emotion behind competition, similar to the way that close-in cameras helped popularize tournament poker.
To address concerns from hardcore fans, Blizzard commented on questions specific to gameplay and the competitive community, such as the play speed of the demonstration videos, which didn't run as quickly as the original Starcraft. This is because, according to Pardo, the game played during the demonstration was set on a slower speed; Pardo suggested that Starcraft II will have multiple speed settings, similar to Warcraft III. The panel also confirmed that the sequel will have only the three factions of the protoss, terrans, and zerg--there will be no fourth faction. To address another question, the panel suggested that the resource management system in the sequel will feature "some enhancements, but it will still be very similar to the resource management in Starcraft, and just as important."
Okay
When asked about system requirements, the panel replied that the requirements haven't been fully finalized, but that the game will support Pixel Shader 2.0 graphics and PCs with either Windows XP or Vista.
Good. Glad it ain't Vista only.
Given that the trailers shown at this morning's presentation featured cameo appearances from key Starcraft characters like Zeratul, Jim Raynor, and Kerrigan, when asked about the sequel's story, creative development VP Chris Metzen replied that those three characters will definitely appear in the game, and that the sequel will definitely expand on the story from Starcraft and Brood War, but that the studio would otherwise have to stay "tight-lipped" on further details.
Okay.
The panel also fielded broader questions pertaining to the sequel's future and Blizzard's future. When asked why Blizzard decided to develop Starcraft II rather than, for instance, another Diablo sequel or another massively multiplayer game, Morhaime replied that Starcraft II was a project that much of the company had wanted to work on for years, and that the current level of technology made the game seem like the right choice. Morhaime also pointed out that the new development proved that Blizzard "wasn't just a massively multiplayer company" that would rest on the laurels of the highly successful World of Warcraft. The panel also fielded a thorny question on the creation of new intellectual property. Blizzard has become known for focusing on creating games only from a select few IPs it owns (Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo), and that although several team members "would like to explore the creation of new IPs, [they] are still very much in love with the three," and that Blizzard's approach to developing games--that is, developing very few games at a time--meant that the company often finds itself focusing only on these properties.
And I guess this is why all Blizz's games -- SC, WC, and Diablo -- all have turned out as very high technical and production based games. They sure ain't turned out any "Beta in a box", now have they?
Morhaime also fielded a question on Blizzard's commitment to the PC as its primary game platform, citing the "indefinite hold" status of the studio's canceled console game Starcraft: Ghost as an impetus that eventually drove the company to focus on the PC as its primary platform--a decision that Morhaime suggests, "paid off in spades," given that the company's new focus now lets it work on Starcraft II and World of Warcraft expansions. The executive also suggested that Microsoft's new initiative to bring the Xbox Live experience to the PC in the form of Live Anywhere wouldn't change Blizzard's online strategy; the company will remain committed to supporting and developing Battle.net for online play.
Interesting.
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I just saw this:
http://www.starcraft2.com/screenshots.xml
I don't know what impressed me more, the screenshots or the little cutout window at the bottom of the page that lets you see the planet behind the web page. That was just cool.
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Hmm... it could be the art that turns me off.
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I wonder what engine this game is running on.
Given work on this began after WC3, I'd guess maybe it is being made on A Modified Engine they used for WC3.
Maybe on some new engine entirely?
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D.....
just.....
No...
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hahaha... haha...
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*still waits for a Diablo 3 announcement from Bliz, for the hell of it....*
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*waits for D to realize he doesn't like RTS games and go back to his NWN thread*
I gotta' say, the visuals really impress me. I think it looks pretty spot-on as far as evolving the original SC look but staying true to it, and while I haven't watched any videos yet, the screenshots look amazing. Imagining those at high res actually has me slightly giddy. It's been so long since I've really done any RTS stuff, I wonder if I could make it through the original campaign this time. I never made it through all 3 before, and I never even played Brood War.
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*waits for D to realize he doesn't like RTS games and go back to his NWN thread*
Hey, I'm almost done w/ NWN2...up to the battle w/ Garius :P
*thinks I need to try SC and SC: Brood War, since I already have the SC Battle Chest -- and have that installed, too....*
I gotta' say, the visuals really impress me. I think it looks pretty spot-on as far as evolving the original SC look but staying true to it, and while I haven't watched any videos yet, the screenshots look amazing. Imagining those at high res actually has me slightly giddy. It's been so long since I've really done any RTS stuff, I wonder if I could make it through the original campaign this time. I never made it through all 3 before, and I never even played Brood War.
I thought the gameplay video looked awesome -- especially when it shows crap-loads of enemies on screen and the game is running seamlessly....yeah, at least in the video, who knows how it'll run on our PCs. Given it's a Bliz game, should run well out the box -- unlike some companies.
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I wonder if I could make it through the original campaign this time. I never made it through all 3 before, and I never even played Brood War.
I did beat the original once and made it through most of the way another time. But I still need to finish Brood War. I didn't like its story or the new units.
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This is pretty exciting news. This may mean I have to get that new, gaming-orientated PC I've been putting off. I have some time to save up, I imagine.
Wow, all this almost makes me kinda' want to go back and play Starcraft again. But only kinda'.
Same. I don't know where my CDs are, though--gonna have to buy it again. $20 is decent, I suppose.
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Check Target. I saw the battle chest on clearance for $9 last time I was in there.
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Yeah? I'll do that. Thanks for the tip.
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Check Target. I saw the battle chest on clearance for $9 last time I was in there.
Hmmm....Have you seen the Diablo Battle Chest that cheap? :P
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Come on now...
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Come on now...
Hey, you never know.
Oh, Blizzard didn't develop the original Diablo expansion pack for Hellfire, right???
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Diablo Battle Chest? No. However the Targets around here are are getting rid of Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction separately for cheap...like $6 a box. All you'd be missing from the chest is Diablo 1 and the strat guide (which isnt really that useful).
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Diablo Battle Chest? No. However the Targets around here are are getting rid of Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction separately for cheap...like $6 a box. All you'd be missing from the chest is Diablo 1 and the strat guide (which isnt really that useful).
I *never* really need the strat guides, normally. They are nice to have, though.
For walkthroughs and stuff, that's what GameFaqs is for, for me and all -- hehe.
I was planning on buying D2 and the expansion separate for around $10 per piece, if the GameStop/EB has that rumored "Clearance sale" (http://cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137252) happening, which is supposedly in a few weeks or so.
Maybe I'll just go out and check a local Target, if that's the case...
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I don't know where the hell you people live to find this shit. My Target would in no way ever have a copy of Diablo 2. Ever. I mean, not now. And none of my Gamestops or EBs even really sell PC games anymore.
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I don't know where the hell you people live to find this shit. My Target would in no way ever have a copy of Diablo 2. Ever. I mean, not now. And none of my Gamestops or EBs even really sell PC games anymore.
At my local EB's and GS's -- and there are a few surrounding me -- they usually have one rack full of PC games.
While the the rest of the consoles, they have racks and racks of that stuff.
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Starcraft2.com has the movie demo up now... at decent resolutions to boot.
Now that I've seen these things in motion I like the look a lot more. It works more or less the way WCIII or even WoW do. Not high tech, but just solid and very good looking.
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Dudes.. i am going to install Brood war tomorrow. We should play.
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I almost pissed myself with the SC2 annoucement. Finally, my little Mac will have a decent RTS game to play. It also gives me a reason to upgrade to a Pro in the next year! Yay for excuses to upgrade!
I'm really impressed that Blizz isn't changing the formula too much. From a competitive standpoint, WC3 really dropped the soap, allowing SC to reign supreme in competitive RTS play. SC2 looks to take the formula that made SC so memorable, update it with improvements they've learned over the past few years, and kick out a new game that surpasses everything they've done previously.
The game also looks fantastic. The art is very sexy, especially in motion. The particle effects seem nice, the models look sharp, and the textures are top knotch. True, it's a bit brighter than one might expect, though I don't think it's "cartoony."
Now is the time to work any contacts I have to get into beta. :P I really am excited about this game!
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(http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20070521.jpg)
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Haha, man, that's good.
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LMAO @ that cartoon.
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I'm glad it's Startcraft 2, and not World of Starcraft. I was worried about having to choose between WoW, or WAR (if I switch when it comes out), and some new Blizzard MMO.
You know what I hate about RTS games? I suck at them. I actually LIKE the way they play, but I completely and totally suck ass at them. Anyone who was around when Warcraft III came out should remember our games we played. I pretty much always came in dead last, and was the first person to be out of the game. Most people don't seem to like playing against the computer in War 2, war 3, and SC, because it's just too easy and predictable. I don't enjoy it because the computer kicks my ass.
I remember in high school I used to play Warcraft 2 with a friend all night, every night. After a while we ended up doign us vs like 2 computer opponents. We tried me + a computer allied against just my friend, and I still got raped.
As horrible as I am at RTS, SC2 looks good. I'll probably do like I did with Warcraft 3: buy it, get through 5 mission in single player, get raped 2-3 times on battle.net, then shelf it.
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Yeah, bright's a far better word that cartoonish. But yeah, now that I've seen the thing in motion I've quickly made amends with the look of the game. I just had a bad gut level reaction because it wasn't blazingly new looking, which is strange because I often disagree with super high end looking games being the standard.
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So when I went to get Odin Sphere the guy asked me if I wanted to reserve Starcraft 2. I asked him when they pegged the release date for and he said "November 2007"
I lol'ed
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Dudes.. i am going to install Brood war tomorrow. We should play.
Yea I was going to do the same, but it is stuck at 800x600 is it?
I'm really impressed that Blizz isn't changing the formula too much. From a competitive standpoint, WC3 really dropped the soap, allowing SC to reign supreme in competitive RTS play. SC2 looks to take the formula that made SC so memorable, update it with improvements they've learned over the past few years, and kick out a new game that surpasses everything they've done previously.
I don't know... I am not that impressed with that fact. Let's see how it works out.
Anyway I just saw the cartoon... HILARIOUS!
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SC1 is 640x480 only, I believe.
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As I was ordering a couple things from Gamestop just a minute ago, I noticed SC1 Battlechest is now only $10. Now's the time to get it if you're local joints don't have it.
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As I was ordering a couple things from Gamestop just a minute ago, I noticed SC1 Battlechest is now only $10. Now's the time to get it if you're local joints don't have it.
Yeah, there's a lot of stuff on sale there, mentioned in my thread (http://www.overwritten.net/forum/index.php?topic=2202.0) about the sale going on until mid-June.
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Yeah, there's a lot of stuff on sale there, mentioned in my thread (http://www.overwritten.net/forum/index.php?topic=2202.0) about the sale going on until mid-June.
Hence my ordering stuff from Gamestop. :) I was debating putting this in that thread, too.
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No Starcraft 2 in 2007.
Game will ships "when it's done..." (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/no-starcraft-2-this-year/)
In an interview with MSNBC, Bizzard's vice president of game design Rob Pardo reveals some juicy details about the development of StarCraft 2. The first design steps were taken back in 2003, nearly five years after the release of the original game. It wasn't until 2004 that development was in full-swing. The team also considered adding a fourth race to the mix but in the end decided to stick with the tried-and-true trio.
And the question everyone wants to know: when will we get to play StarCraft 2? Pardo initially responded with Blizzard's usual response: "It'll ship when it's ready." A gentle coaxing later, he elaborated with "The only thing I can give you [that's] concrete is it's not going to be this year."
Joystiq am cry.
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No Starcraft 2 in 2007.
Game will ships "when it's done..." (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/no-starcraft-2-this-year/)
Jesus what a shocker....