Starcraft II split into trilogy

[GundamSonicZeroX]

ANAHEIM, California--For many, this morning's keynote address from Blizzard president Mike Morhaime was a bit anticlimactic. After revealing Starcraft II, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, and Diablo III at three consecutive events, Blizzard had nothing new to report on a new game from the company. That changed during the Starcraft II panel, as Blizzard's Rob Pardo revealed that rather than a single real-time strategy game, Starcraft II will now be released as a trilogy. After bemoaning the fact that Starcraft II was shaping up to be an undertaking far larger than the previous game, Pardo said the first game in the series--subtitled Wings of Liberty--will focus on the Terrans. Specifically, it will seek to resolve the conflict between Jim Raynor and Kerrigan, which was the crux of the original Starcraft. The second game, Heart of the Swarm, will focus on the Zerg, while the final game, Legacy of the Void, will be devoted to the Protoss. Pardo noted that each release will be a fully fledged campaign, featuring 26 to 30 missions apiece. The celebrity World of Warcraft designer also noted that while the ending of each game will be set, the middle of the game will play heavily to player choice, allowing for branching storylines. Pardo also said that the second two releases could be considered expansion packs, but that "we really want them to feel like stand-alone products." Unfortunately, Pardo did not reveal when the first game in the trilogy will arrive. For more on Starcraft II--now the Starcraft Trilogy--check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

 

[lupi]

What he really meant to say was, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[CrazyLazy]

If only there was an official thread for these kind of posts...

 

[caivoma]

Originally posted by: lupi
What he really meant to say was, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

True that! So instead of paying 50 dollars for SC2. They probably gonna charge 50dollars for the first game and 40 dollars each for the other 2.

 

[Zenoth]

It's currently being discussed in the hard-not-to-notice already existing SC2-focused thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2234061&enterthread=y

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Considering that there were already two other SC2 threads on the first page, I figured no one cared about the official SC2 thread anymore.

 

[Dacalo]

They freaking better make each campaign awesome and grand in scale, not some 10 mission shit.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: lupi
What he really meant to say was, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's certainly what it looks like Ah well, should still be fun. And who knows, maybe each installment will have more than just a race's campaign, and will actually be worth the money? Meh, probably wishful thinking.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
They freaking better make each campaign awesome and grand in scale, not some 10 mission shit.

It looked pretty cool to me... a lot more interactive and character-driven.

EDIT: Also one thing they didn't mention in that excerpt is how multiplayer will be in the game in full with the first release. The new packs are only single player content (maybe also including all the latest possible patches too, which would make sense... kinda like how newer WoW discs include patches).

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
They freaking better make each campaign awesome and grand in scale, not some 10 mission shit.

if you read the other thread, *each* campaign (terran, protoss, zerg) will be roughly the length of *all* of SC1, so 25-30 missions.

 

[Sylvanas]

This is good, it means there will be heaps of content which is exactly what we want- cannot wait for SC2, when it's released I'm taking the week off .

 

[Dumac]

This has been very thoroughly discussed in the other thread. I'm too lazy to copy and paste the more in depth posts here. Go read 'em.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

all three races will be present from the get-go in MP. how they're adding content with respect to the other two is still up in the air, from what i read.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
This is good, it means there will be heaps of content which is exactly what we want- cannot wait for SC2, when it's released I'm taking the week off .

Yeah im gonna suddenly get cholera or something for a few weeks the day it comes out

 

[CrazyLazy]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

correct.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: lupi
What he really meant to say was, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I think you mean "ChaChing!"

Seems a little like Blizzard is getting spoiled by their mega profits from WoW. I know how they could make even more money. Sell each class of D3 separately in 29.99 addon packs! <marketing>Brilliant!</brilliant>

 

[TidusZ]

Blizzard isn't splitting SC2 into three games to make more money. They are doing it to put more time and work into each campaign so you don't get your typical lacklustre story across each campaign (think every other rts to date). They also did it so they could get the game out next year so whiners wouldn't t.t all over their keyboards and possibly electrocute themselves. Personally I wish they had of waited.

 

[Skunkwourk]

does this mean 3 expansion packs too?

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

However, they've stated they will add MP content to the other two expansions. This may take the form of maps and also new units.

 

[Anubis]

this is a good thing its just the SINGLE PLAYER

They said 24-30 missions and a shitload of cutscenes for Terran alone. Starcraft had something like 35 missions total for all and less than 10 cutscenes.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Anubis
this is a good thing its just the SINGLE PLAYER

They said 24-30 missions and a shitload of cutscenes for Terran alone. Starcraft had something like 35 missions total for all and less than 10 cutscenes.

I am interested in single player only and I feel it is a bad idea. Despite only finding SC and BW ok as far as a single player game went, I really liked the way the story was played out. Going through each race one by one in the same game.

Splitting it up into 3 games would irritate me if I finished the Terran story way earlier than the second part was released.

Giving me 3 games, with the same amount of content but each game having an equal part of the storyline would make me happier.

On the plus side, the story driven campaign is a big one. That cannot be said for a lot of other RTS games.

 

[Eeezee]

Regardless, you're getting one game for the price of one game. I'm fine with this. I, too, am mostly buying SC2 for the singleplayer campaign, and I think it's great that they're going to give us something like 90 campaign missions when all is said and done

It wouldn't surprise me to see all 3 games released in rapid succession through a digital distribution scheme, either Steam or Blizzard's own brew.

Think of it this way, Elcs; you're getting SC2, SC3, and SC4 much more rapidly this way. They're just lumping them all together under SC2.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

correct.

how is this correct? From what i read they said nothing is certain yet. They said you would have 3 races and balanced play from the first game but, when the others come out you will be crippled for sure.

Of course the word "force" doesnt mean he has to buy it, but he will be forced too if he wants the new content the new units and such.

This is exactly what i expected the company that runs WOW to do. I have been a blizzard fan since Warcraft 1. This sucks....

i doubt i will buy this game now, and its what i have been waiting for. I think im done with PC gaming time to buy a 360.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: KeypoX

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

So, to play the real Starcraft II game -- online multiplayer against human opponents -- all you need is the first game in the trilogy? They won't force any online multiplayers to buy the other two?

correct.

how is this correct? From what i read they said nothing is certain yet. They said you would have 3 races and balanced play from the first game but, when the others come out you will be crippled for sure.

Of course the word "force" doesnt mean he has to buy it, but he will be forced too if he wants the new content the new units and such.

This is exactly what i expected the company that runs WOW to do. I have been a blizzard fan since Warcraft 1. This sucks....

i doubt i will buy this game now, and its what i have been waiting for. I think im done with PC gaming time to buy a 360.

.... so it's different than any expansion how?

when broodwar came out, regular SC owners "lost out" on a host of new units as well as balances, did they not? why hasn't anyone complained? in fact, why does no one complain about the idea of an expansion at all, if people are so clearly "losing out"?