The Unofficial StarCraft 2 Thread (OP is WIP)

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: They are not yet available.
Q: Will online multi-player still be free over Battle.net?
A: Yes.
Q: How is the campaign set up?
A: The StarCraft 2 "Trilogy" consists of the base StarCraft 2 game and two subsequent expansion sets. StarCraft 2 is subtitled Wings of Liberty (working title) and will include a lengthy single-player campaign that focuses on the Terrans and puts players in the role of Jim Raynor, one of the series' main heroes. The first expansion set, Heart of the Swarm (working title), will follow later and include a single-player campaign focusing on the Zerg and Kerrigan, Queen of Blades. The second expansion set, Legacy of the Void (working title), will continue the story experience with a single-player campaign centered on the Protoss.

Q: Why is Blizzard trying to milk us with these expansion packs when they could just include all three races in the core game?
A: Shut the f**k up, complainer. This coming from a guy who pretty much exclusively plays the Protoss. The campaigns are going to be massive and very in depth; about the size of the all three race's campaigns from the original put together. Blizzard knows what they're doing.

To quote the official site:

Blizzard wrote:

We're aiming to push the boundaries of storytelling and character development in RTS games through the unique single-player campaign design of StarCraft II. Players will be able to choose their mission path and technology upgrades for their army as they advance through the campaign. In order to make these choices meaningful while creating an epic story and well-developed characters for each faction, we needed to focus on a single race for a large number of missions.

The Trilogy also allows us to create more in-game and prerendered cinematics to tell the story in between missions. There will be more interactive sets and elements for players to explore during each campaign, along with other interesting design elements to differentiate the single-player game from multiplayer matches. For example, the technology choices within the terran single-player campaign will include special upgrades and unit types that are unique to the single-player game. These could include the ability to purchase classic units such as the wraith or firebat to add to Jim Raynor's army.

Q: Will I only be able to play as the Terran until the expansion packs are released?
A: No, all three races are included in every version of the game. You can still play the other races in local and online matches. Only the campaign will be Terran exclusive.
Q: Will there be a closed or open beta? How about a trial or demo version?
A: StarCraft 2 will have a beta test period in the future. However, it's still too early to determine the exact nature and timing of the beta. Blizzard also hasn't decided yet whether there will be any trial or demo versions.
Q: Will the map editor be packaged with the game?
A: Yes.
Q: Will Nova from Starcraft: Ghost be in this game?
A: All evidence leads us to believe she will be.

(Special thanks to bjw for supporting a lot of these links.)

If there's anything else you think would go well in the OP, give me an idea.

This'll act act my first post in the thread, separated from the OP. Who else is looking forward to this game? Personally, I've never been more excited for a game in my life.

I don't know about you guys, but the map editor is 90% of the reason I want this game. I must've spent way more time in my map editors (Xtra Editor in particular, though I did dabble in StarForge.) than actually in the game because I enjoyed it so much. Some things I'm hoping to be in the editor are the ability to use number based variables (either in conjunction with or in the place of switches) and the ability to make very vast maps with multi-level terrain (where as the original was limited to three levels: subterranean, ground and high-ground).

Also, I don't know where to fit it into the OP, but if you have an hour to kill, read this massive Q&A.

**DPooch** · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 1469 Location: Cecil, PA

Good thing someone made this, even with the release still TBA.

OP looks nice.

Hopefully it comes out next year, I want to do so much with the map editor.
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jameslikecoulter wrote:

pretty chill

**bjwdestroyer** · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:15 am Post subject:

Hehe, nice to see a professional-looking OP. I was planning to do this myself, but who knows how long it would have taken before I'd actually decide to get off my lazy ass and get to typing.

Some additional videos for those who haven't watched the various Battle Reports:
Battle Report #1
Battle Report #2
Battle Report #3
Battle Report #4

Other than that, back at BlizzCon '09, we did get word that SC2's closed-beta would begin sometime at the end of this year, and that SC2's release can be expected sometime Q1-Q2 of 2010. Hopefully, Blizzard will manage to keep this promise.

I look forward to playing against ScoreHero in the ladder, and even though I'm not completely sold on MBS, gimmicky micro features, and that fucking imbalanced Zerg Queen, I really really really can't wait for SC2.

Along with many other fans, we've been waiting a decade for this.
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**Proclaim** · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 536

How many times has this game been delayed? I remember reading in PC Gaming awhile ago that it was set to be out Q3-4 '08 and now delayed to '10...

Oh well, it will probably be pretty sweet when it comes out, but I bet the gameplay will be alot slower, due to fps lag because of my terrible graphics card.

Nice OP.
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**TheTrueSatanist** · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:23 pm Post subject:

I never actually played SC, but I heard it was awesome because all three sides were different and yet very well balanced. I also heard that hardcore players still play, despite outdated graphics. What are all the races and backstories?

I can almost guarantee though, that every other RTS' online community will just disappear to SC2 once it is out
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The Guide to neatening up guides. FRETICONS!

Some slogans for Scorehero, courtesy of Sloganizer
Scorehero. Impossible is nothing
I'd sleep with Scorehero
Some for TheTrueSatanist:
Jesus loves TheTrueSatanist

**DPooch** · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 1469 Location: Cecil, PA

I'm thinking that I should finally go through and play the entire campaign.

I have before, but I mostly used "there is no cow level" and I think I still don't exactly understand the story.

But I have a question from this.

Are there heroes in the map editor that aren't actually in the story?

I don't recall Gui Montag ever being mentioned. Did I miss something?
(Or some of the Zerg units like The Unclean One or so.)

And is there a possibility of him being in SC2?
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jameslikecoulter wrote:

pretty chill

**ravagetalon** · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

the game is done. The only thing holding this back is Blizzard is taking for fucking ever to finish the new Battle.net.
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**TSorbera** · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 2117

**bjwdestroyer** · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject:

**DPooch** · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 1469 Location: Cecil, PA

**bjwdestroyer** · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:43 am Post subject: