StarCraft 2 Status

A post on the Battle.net Forums by Dustin "Cavez" Browder, lead developer on StarCraft 2, answers some fan FAQs about Blizzard's RTS sequel, covering topics like the beta, saying "Unless something crazy happens, the Beta is going to happen this year," and their lack of a firm release schedule, admitting, "Let’s be realistic. Our target dates are not something we hit more than half the time." He follows that tempering of expectations with some optimism, though it's not 100% clear if he means they are in the final stretch of game development, or just the final stretch in producing the next battle report: "We don't want to lie about the Beta, and we don't even want to lie about the next Battle Report. When we know a date (for anything) for certain, we'll let you know. Hang in there. We're in the final stretch." Thanks StarCraftWire.
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27.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 18, 2009, 17:11
Kxmode
 
27.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 18, 2009, 17:11
Feb 18, 2009, 17:11
 Kxmode
 
Q: Is it done yet?
A: NO!!!1!!!one!!eleven!!OMG!!BBQ!!!
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
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26.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 22:26
Prez
 
26.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 22:26
Feb 17, 2009, 22:26
 Prez
 
Cool but slightly nerdy Superfriends Wonder Twins reference. I'm not going to ask what it means that I got it!
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
25.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 20:45
25.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 20:45
Feb 17, 2009, 20:45
 
I've been hardcore PC gaming since 1994.. and if you would've asked me "with what you know about Starcraft 2.. when do you think it will come out".
I would've said - August or so.

I had no idea they hyped that game the way they did/have and a beta MIGHT make it out before the end of this year?

Hype machine.. ACTIVATE!
shape of oversellingyourgameslongbeforetheyareduetocomeout
form of reallymanthisshitgetsoldquick
24.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 19:06
24.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 19:06
Feb 17, 2009, 19:06
 
I totally agree. This is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. The entire charm and brilliance of the original Starcraft's campaign was the intertwining of the 3 races' stories. I have almost completely lost interest in the singleplayer game once I found it has been changed like this. I still look forward to the multiplayer, but that disastrous (in my opinion) SP misstep just kills me.

To each their own. Personally, I thought the original SC campaign to be quite derivative and the AI boring. I didn't really "get" SC until I started playing multiplayer after being inspired by SCLegacy's Pimpest Plays series.

I'd buy SC2 even if they took out the singleplayer altogether.

As for the 10 years, I think the 9 year wait for TF2 was worth it, even if TF2 was released with 6 maps. And SC2 is going to have much more content than that.

This comment was edited on Feb 17, 2009, 19:10.
23.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 18:45
23.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 18:45
Feb 17, 2009, 18:45
 

I was being facetious with my original remark, but all this "OMG ITS SO WONDERFUL!!!" love that this game gets, I really don't understand.

Yea once they whacked it up into three parts my interest level went way down. they should have left it as before with the 3 races but hey money is every thing and there going milk this one baby!
22.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 17:54
Prez
 
22.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 17:54
Feb 17, 2009, 17:54
 Prez
 
Absolutely. You know why? Because it featured three races, each of which had an excellent campaign, with a storyline interwoven throughout all three campaigns. I think it might have been the first RTS to actually do a campaign that meshed so well together.

In SC2, we're getting 1 campaign each time. Yes, it'll be longer, but it's also not going to be as encompassing as the original, since it'll only features one race. Some people probably like that, I'm not a real big fan of it.

I totally agree. This is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. The entire charm and brilliance of the original Starcraft's campaign was the intertwining of the 3 races' stories. I have almost completely lost interest in the singleplayer game once I found it has been changed like this. I still look forward to the multiplayer, but that disastrous (in my opinion) SP misstep just kills me.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
21.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 17:39
21.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 17:39
Feb 17, 2009, 17:39
 
They'll ship Diablo 3 this year - or I'll kill them! So they'll ship Diablo 3 for Halloween, and SC2 next spring.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
20.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 17:02
20.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 17:02
Feb 17, 2009, 17:02
 
Look, obviously the multiplayer is just a highly refined Starcraft with some new units and a new (stunningly gorgeous) graphics engine.

Stunningly gorgeous? Really?

To each his own I guess. I especially love that every building still has the same detail (or rather, lack of it) it had 10 years ago...

But read up on what they're doing with the single player - the branching, choices, and other elements are far, far more ambitious than anything Starcraft ever did in its single player.

Sure, though they probably had to once they saw what DoW2 was doing. They're also stripping out the coolness of being able to play all 3 races in the campaign. So I'd call that an even swap.

And remember - unlike some RTSs, the single player campaign in the original Starcraft is one of the best-regarded RTS campaigns out there,

Absolutely. You know why? Because it featured three races, each of which had an excellent campaign, with a storyline interwoven throughout all three campaigns. I think it might have been the first RTS to actually do a campaign that meshed so well together.

In SC2, we're getting 1 campaign each time. Yes, it'll be longer, but it's also not going to be as encompassing as the original, since it'll only features one race. Some people probably like that, I'm not a real big fan of it.


I was being facetious with my original remark, but all this "OMG ITS SO WONDERFUL!!!" love that this game gets, I really don't understand.

Creston
Avatar 15604
19.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 16:27
19.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 16:27
Feb 17, 2009, 16:27
 
Aww come on Creston don't be a 'tard. 3D engine, so all the units have to be modeled, textured and animated. Plus you have the landscapes that also have to be created/textured/animated, plus you have the story mode models, textures, animations, AND ya need 5 years to produce awesome CGI cutscenes with awesome music, AND all the sound fx's/voice overs.

And that's not including balancing, battle.net, and plotting to overthrow the Korean government with your new army of players.

Dammit Creston, as a X2/X3 player I'd thought you'd think in broader strokes then that
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18.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
18.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
 
Personally, I don't care how long it takes to develop a game. Any game. Sequel or not. Until I've paid money for said game, I am in no way invested in it. Once it is released, I've paid my money, and I've played it...my only criteria for judging it is 'how does it stack up to every other game I've played' and 'how is it for the $X I paid for it'.

Excellent. We look forward to you staying out of every comments section, except for the released games, since that is obviously the only thing you can comment on.

Creston
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17.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
17.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
Feb 17, 2009, 14:58
 
If you're basically making the exact same game except with a slightly better graphics engine, why does it take you five years to develop?
Perhaps this is evidence that that's not what they're doing?

Look, obviously the multiplayer is just a highly refined Starcraft with some new units and a new (stunningly gorgeous) graphics engine. But read up on what they're doing with the single player - the branching, choices, and other elements are far, far more ambitious than anything Starcraft ever did in its single player.

And remember - unlike some RTSs, the single player campaign in the original Starcraft is one of the best-regarded RTS campaigns out there, with a story and characters that people actually care about. I'd say give Blizzard all the time they need to make something even more ambitious, since their established track record is pretty damned good
16.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
16.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
 
If you're basically making the exact same game except with a slightly better graphics engine, why does it take you five years to develop?

*facepalm*
15.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
Prez
 
15.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
Feb 17, 2009, 14:55
 Prez
 
I shudder to think how long it'll take for the other 2/3rds of the game to make it out.

No kidding. Blizzard, whatever their track record, certainly pushes the boundaries for responsible business with their release schedules.

Honestly, I wish WoW never came about. It would be nice to see Blizzard operate with a bit more of a sense of urgency. Instead, because of the WoW cash cow, it seems to be more like *Ka-ching!* "Anyone think we should do a Starcraft sequel?" *Ka-ching!* "Sure! Maybe we'll get started on that once we pick out our new Ferraris." *Ka-ching!* "Well, it's been 10 years. As I recall, it WAS kind of popular." *Ka-ching!* "Yeah, but once the fans buy it, we can't milk any more money out of it." *Ka-ching!* "What about World of Starcraft?" *Ka-ching!* "Too early. We need to hold that card right now, and play it once the WoW expansions stop selling, and subscriptions drop to less than 10 million." *Ka-ching!* "Well, what if we split the Starcraft campaign into 3 parts?" *Ka-ching!* "Boy howdy, that's a great idea!" *Ka-ching!* "Do you think they'll buy it?" *Ka-ching!* "Buy what, the game, or the lame-ass excuse we'll give for why it's been split into 3 parts?" *Ka-ching!* *Ka-ching!*

Okay, okay, I'm a cynical bastard. But 10 years is a long time to wait, only to be dragged by the nose for another 3 years with the usual Blizzard dribble of stalling and non-information.

This comment was edited on Feb 17, 2009, 14:56.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
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14.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 14:54
14.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 14:54
Feb 17, 2009, 14:54
 
I've never understood this attitude. It's not like you pre-ordered your copy 6 months after the original came out.

Personally, I don't care how long it takes to develop a game. Any game. Sequel or not. Until I've paid money for said game, I am in no way invested in it. Once it is released, I've paid my money, and I've played it...my only criteria for judging it is 'how does it stack up to every other game I've played' and 'how is it for the $X I paid for it'.

As far as I'm concerned, this game's only been in development since May 18, 2007...when it was announced and showed up on my radar.
13.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 13:35
13.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 13:35
Feb 17, 2009, 13:35
 
10 years of waiting for a sequel

I shudder to think how long it'll take for the other 2/3rds of the game to make it out.
12.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 13:15
12.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 13:15
Feb 17, 2009, 13:15
 
Apparently Blizzard uses a different definition of "in the final stretch" than the rest of the planet uses.
11.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 12:05
Prez
 
11.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 12:05
Feb 17, 2009, 12:05
 Prez
 
Hang in there? 10 years of waiting for a sequel, and we get "Hang in there"? The beta might be out this year? Oh,yay.

It's a damn good thing Blizzard makes such good games.

This comment was edited on Feb 17, 2009, 12:07.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
10.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 11:16
10.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 11:16
Feb 17, 2009, 11:16
 
If you're basically making the exact same game except with a slightly better graphics engine, why does it take you five years to develop?

Creston
Avatar 15604
9.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 10:44
9.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 10:44
Feb 17, 2009, 10:44
 
So does that mean Diablo 3 is on tap to ship? They said the other day they have plans to ship one product in 2009...

that would be expansion packs, 3, 4 and 5 for WoW.

honestly, i wouldn't complain any. I'd rather they spend an extra year putting together a quality product. their track record speaks for itself. and it's not like there aren't plenty of other games out there to keep us busy until then.

This comment was edited on Feb 17, 2009, 10:46.
I don't believe in a lot of things, but I do believe in duct tape.
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8.
 
Re: StarCraft 2 Status
Feb 17, 2009, 10:34
8.
Re: StarCraft 2 Status Feb 17, 2009, 10:34
Feb 17, 2009, 10:34
 
That's fine. It's done when it's done. There are plenty of games out there to tide me over.
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