The "premier online gaming destination," aka Battle.net 2.0, has been fingered as the reason for no StarCraft II this year; albeit it not directly, but we know the truth. Top big wig Mike Griffith also revealed the Call of Duty 4 entry has almost cleared 14 million copies sold around the globe, with Modern Warfare 2 being the most pre-order Acti game yet.
In an interview with Strategy Informer, EA LA's producer Jim Vessella said that Blizzard's Starcraft II will be a great boom for the RTS genre and is excited to see how everyone reacts to it when it's released. "I think Starcraft II is going to be a great boom for the RTS genre. I’m really excited to play it and see it come out and how everyone reacts to it." said Vessella.
In fact the online petition has cleared over 106,000 signatures now, pleading with Blizzard to include a LAN feature in StarCraft II that doesn't require Internet access at all. They argue it would "bring further depth and life" to the game. Blizz have said they want the new Battle.net to be the multiplayer conduit for all their games now, which will include Diablo III.
Blizzard are going all out on the power of their map-maker for StarCraft II, in fact they showed three custom made maps from developers that weren't quite RTS. Actually they weren't RTS at all, they were an Action-RPG first person shooter and a top down space shooter; it's incredibly versatile. Premium creations will be peddled for monies.
Blizzard's Chris Sigaty, producer of StarCraft II, has revealed during Russian games expo IgroMir that there's no beta for fans in 2009. It's been pushed back to next year instead, with the first StarCraft II chapter due in spring. The beta will include the new Battle.net.
Developer Blizzard has confirmed that there will be a "Protoss mini-campaign" in the upcoming, Terran-centric 'StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty'. It's "way shorter" than the Terran part says Blizz, but "very fun to have" a go at. It won't be enough to prepare you for online matches though.
Apparently Blizzard posted the official beta FAQ for StarCraft II on the website, only to then rip it down fast noticing their most tantalising mistake. Avid fans got a hold of it before that happened, with the Internets now spilling the juicy details. It looks completely real enough...
The closed beta for Blizzard's latest StarCraft instalment is finally up and running, with gamers having "started to receive invitations". This is the "first phase of the beta" with multiplayer up for testing, as well as peaks at the new Battle.net. They want "concentrated feedback".
So much awesome exists in StarCraft II that its menu can barely contain it, at least that's what some testers have found with PCs going critical. Graphics cards are taxed to their limit causing overheat issues, but luckily a simple fix will reverse your own global warming catastrophe.
The upcoming StarCraft II from Blizzard is highly sought after, and so then is beta access. Some gamers have been sharing their accounts. Where's the harm in sharing the beta wealth with chums? Blizz will suspend your account. Such user generosity "is not allowed" they warn.
Developer Blizzard has lifted the lid off a Collector's Edition for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. For World of Warcraft fans it even includes a pet. StarCraft II is expected the first half of this year, with Blizz naming a date "in the coming weeks." A ton of goodies lay within the CE copies.
Activision plans to charge Russian gamers a monthly subscription fee for StarCraft II, with the game itself reportedly to sell a little cheaper. It'll cost 999 ruble (EUR 25), and come with one-year playtime online, but not with European users. Jewel case copies are less with 120 days.
Gamers in Korea, as well as big businesses, take StarCraft competitive multiplayer very seriously because it's worth huge money to many. As with all sports, even e-sports, cheating lurks in the shadows. A number of players, coaches and other officials are accused of rigging.
Korean Air branded adverts, the major sponsor for Korea's StarCraft e-sports, have been teasing StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty with a date. The date is May 22nd but this is more likely to be some day for a finals or special StarCraft League event. Blizzard are yet to date a release.
All you map and mod makers out there better listen up because Blizzard will be rolling out some major new updates to the StarCraft II Beta. This week they should release the map and mod editor for the RTS, so all in the beta program can get a taste of creative freedom - woot.
Blizzard has confirmed that it will be appealing the 'Adults Only' age rating it received in South Korea, which made Starcraft II unsuitable to anyone under the age of 18...
Blizzard promises to deliver Collector's Editions for the other two major instalments to StarCraft II but only if "fan excitement" levels are high. All World of Warcraft add-ons get beefed up bundles. A bulging Collector's Edition of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty has been revealed.
Blizzard has finally launched their MAC beta client for StarCraft II so anyone in the US can grab a hold of it right now from the new Battle.net. Unfortunately European users are greeted by a 403 error on the site. The MAC client is available in "English (US)" and not (EU) - mix up?
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty will be released in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau starting on July 27, 2010. "We've been looking forward to revisiting the StarCraft universe for many years, and we're excited that the time for that is almost here," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "Thanks to our beta testers, we're making great progress on the final stages of development, and we'll be ready to welcome players all over the world to StarCraft II and the new Battle.net in just a few months."
Blizzard has revealed that Facebook and its legion of 'friends' will integrate with their new Battle.net service when StarCraft II hits the stores. That means you can populate Battle.net friends lists real quick. There's no word if Diablo III or World of Warcraft will join in the social marriage.