More Starcraft 2 rumors

Zaggy

<div class="IPBDescription">is it finally coming?</div>Korean source (for the korean readers <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />)
<a href="http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?id=95251&category=102" target="_blank">http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?i...mp;category=102</a>

Link to korean->english translation of the news:
<a href="http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=52433" target="_blank">http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=52433</a>


copy paste of english text:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->StarCraft 2 will be revealed for the first time to the world at Blizzard's World Wide Invitational (WWI) on May 19th.

On the 25th, according to the game developers, it has been confirmed that Blizzard Entertainment Korea (aka Blizzard Korea) will present VODs and game content at the WWI that is starting on May 19th. Also, StarCraft 2's main developers will also attend to answer some questions.

It has been confirmed that StarCraft 2 is being developed in 3D, a new race has been added and existing units' characteristics will have many changes. Additional details will only be revealed to certain parts of WWI.

Blizzard has invited over 100 international media and has prepared both Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium and Fencing Stadium for this event -- the biggest area ever for a short-term game event.

StarCraft 2's announcement preparation is proceeding with secrecy, and only the core group at Blizzard Korea knows the specific details and situation. As they have done in the past, Blizzard is not planning to reveal or release any details for the "best surprise announcement".

However, trustworthy information is being leaked from previous Blizzard employees, and through an acquaintance of ex-Blizzard North employees, StarCraft 2's development and its announcement at the WWI has been confirmed.

Last February 28th, Blizzard president, Mike Morhaime, has hinted that "At the WWI in May, there will be a surprise announcement" for the announcement of a sequel, Blizzard Korea has confirmed, on the 25th, an unrevealed sequel's announcement.

Blizzard Korea's Park Young-Mok director said "There is not content available for answer for the sequel. The sequel will be released at the WWI on the 19th. Please confirm it at the site on the 19th" and denied the confirmation on if StarCraft 2 is indeed the sequel that is to be announced on the 19th.

MBC Game's Lee Sang-Ho head said "Frankly, it's half anticipation and half worry. If SC2 is released in a form that is compatible with e-sports broadcast, there will be many new gamers and the entire industry will develop. However if it comes out in a form that is not easy to broadcast, like WarCraft 3, StarCraft fans will focus on the sequel while the original league will suffer a decline", expressing a cautious mindset.

OnGameNet's StarCraft commentator Um Jae-Kyung said "Blizzard has probably already grasped the difference between this nation's gamers and foreign gamers' difference in inclination through WarCraft 3. So I'm hoping for a more balanced structure, a structure with e-sports in mind. However, I believe that the e-sports league will continue to focus on StarCraft and a new league focusing on StarCraft 2 will form, the industry growing bigger as a result. As a gamer, I'm really looking forward to it.

Blizzard's WWI is on its third year and will take place from May 19th to 20th at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium and Weight Lifting Stadium (translator's note: I thought it was fencing? o.O). Many e-sports games as well as events such as WarCraft 3 ladder season 5 Asia region preliminaries, for the first time, a World of Warcraft Arena Tournament Off-line Regional Finals will take place.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Warrior

Ill believe it when I see it.

Zor2

Great news! I really hope this isn't some faked rumour :<

Can anyone explain why Starcraft is so successful in Korea but Warcraft III was not?

To me, the games are extremely similar. Is Warcraft III not basically Starcraft with a 4th race, heroes, better graphics and a fantasy setting?

cshank4

Basically, W3 is really micro-managey, but Starcraft generally isn't?

Zig

I think the micromanagement in SC is much broader and more natural, while the micro of WC3 is much more forced due to the lower unit cap.. it becomes an obsessed monotony of pulling back each unit that's being attacked, etc..

TychoCelchuuu

Yeah, in Warcraft 3 it comes down to telling individual people to use individual items on other individual units to heal them, and moving back and forth different parts of your army and stuff. Pretty crazy.

[WHO]Them

Even if they do announce it. We won't see it until 2010.

But here's hoping they at least announce it.

Thaldarin

I have a feeling they will unveil a new game or product at the event, although I do not think it will be Starcraft related.

Surge

<!--quoteo(post=1623689:date=Apr 28 2007, 10:35 PM:name=Zig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zig @ Apr 28 2007, 10:35 PM) [snapback]1623689[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I think the micromanagement in SC is much broader and more natural, while the micro of WC3 is much more forced due to the lower unit cap.. it becomes an obsessed monotony of pulling back each unit that's being attacked, etc..
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ugh. Play against people who like to mutalisk rush, and you'll see that happening.

Scythe

I know for sure that Blizzard is going to announce something big on the 19th of May, whether it's Starcraft 2 is yet to be seen. I'm taking this news with a grain of salt.

Here's hoping for an MMORTS.

--Scythe--

Quaunaut

Blizz wouldn't even dare an MMORTS. They're perfectionists, not innovators.

But considering they just posted 3 additional job openings for a "Next-Gen MMO", thats what this may be.

Chocolate

Great! I hope to see the new Starcraft soon, I was defiantly getting bored of the <strike>new</strike> old game a little.

I hope it isn't micromanagement, I hate that because a real commander probably wouldn't be micromanaging and its just long and boring. That's why I like NS commander the most, people take care of the tactics themselves. All you need to do is to get them to follow your orders in the first place <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />.

EDIT: I mean old game.... I put new game instead of old.... bah...

Surge

<!--quoteo(post=1623720:date=Apr 29 2007, 02:22 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Apr 29 2007, 02:22 AM) [snapback]1623720[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Blizz wouldn't even dare an MMORTS. They're perfectionists, not innovators.

But considering they just posted 3 additional job openings for a "Next-Gen MMO", thats what this may be.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

More like World of Warcraft 2.

Drfuzzy

It will come with the WoW money-cow runs dry.

MMORTS would be severely awesome, but how would it work? teams build together on many fronts or would it have to include massive strong defense for bases.

Transmission

I can understand that W3 has more micro due to the smaller scale, but why would it be less conducive to the "e-sports" scene? It should be just as easy to watch.

Tyrain

*dances the happydance*

Kouji_San

<!--quoteo(post=1623739:date=Apr 29 2007, 07:23 AM:name=Tyrain)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tyrain @ Apr 29 2007, 07:23 AM) [snapback]1623739[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
*dances the happydance*
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
*joins*

MamboKing

<!--quoteo(post=1623727:date=Apr 29 2007, 12:11 AM:name=Drfuzzy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drfuzzy @ Apr 29 2007, 12:11 AM) [snapback]1623727[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
It will come with the WoW money-cow runs dry.

MMORTS would be severely awesome, but how would it work? teams build together on many fronts or would it have to include massive strong defense for bases.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<a href="http://www.nicelycrafted.com/todc/" target="_blank">It could work like this one</a>

TychoCelchuuu

Shattered Galaxy was also an MMORTS.

SkinnY

I want my World of Starcraft! damn you blizzard for not making that to begin with! damn you! *runs off crying*

SmoodCroozn

Warcraft 3 matches are boring to watch. It's just your hero with a couple of units. A couple of skirmishes, then a town portal to avoid losing your units then one big showdown at the end. Units are slow, take long to kill and strategies... The same heroes are used every game. Undead? Death Knight. Human? Better take mage. Yawn.

Starcraft has marines dying, tanks firing, etc.

W3 is easier to play for me, because I generally don't like pushing the scv button 40 times each game.

Perhaps if they take the scale of starcraft, yet have the simplicity of W3's building, then I could see potential.

Zor2

Unsurprisingly, a lot of the pro-Starcraft gamers want any Starcraft 2 to have minimal innovation. Personally I wouldn't mind that either. Starcraft 1 + modern graphics + 4th race + several new/modified units and buildings per race would be great imo.

Having just tried to watch a pro game of Warcraft on Youtube (search "warcraft 4k grubby"), I see your point Smoodcroozn, pro Starcraft games (search "starcraft boxer") are much more exciting. Town Portal scroll is really crap :/

semipsychotic

The reason Starcraft 2 hasn't already been made is that Starcraft is the Holy Grail of game balance. Races <i>that</i> asymmetrical should be impossible to equalize so they each fight evenly in the great arena of the internet, but Blizzard did it. A Starcraft 2 would need to exceed its predecessor, or it would be a failure: not in sales, but in spirit. Blizzard has an extremely talented (and ambitious) staff, and regardless of the money involved, they don't want to disappoint the world by throwing out a rehash of the first game, nor do they want to overextend and destroy their precise balance.

[WHO]Them

You've got a good point. But if they packaged it right, people would more than welcome a hi-res art expansion pack to the original.

Aegeri

<!--quoteo(post=1623724:date=Apr 28 2007, 10:43 PM:name=Surge)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Surge @ Apr 28 2007, 10:43 PM) [snapback]1623724[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
More like World of Warcraft 2.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
More like World of Starcraft.

Though if it is SC2, I hope it's a genuine RTS and none of this Warcraft 3 hero dependant ish.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Warcraft 3 matches are boring to watch. It's just your hero with a couple of units. A couple of skirmishes, then a town portal to avoid losing your units then one big showdown at the end. Units are slow, take long to kill and strategies... The same heroes are used every game. Undead? Death Knight. Human? Better take mage. Yawn.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree. I seriously hope SC isn't about heroes or anything like that. I really don't like the concept at all. Your army and choice of strategy should dictate a game, not one individual unit.

SmoodCroozn

<!--quoteo(post=1623903:date=Apr 29 2007, 07:06 PM:name=semipsychotic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(semipsychotic @ Apr 29 2007, 07:06 PM) [snapback]1623903[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
The reason Starcraft 2 hasn't already been made is that Starcraft is the Holy Grail of game balance. Races <i>that</i> asymmetrical should be impossible to equalize so they each fight evenly in the great arena of the internet, but Blizzard did it. A Starcraft 2 would need to exceed its predecessor, or it would be a failure: not in sales, but in spirit. Blizzard has an extremely talented (and ambitious) staff, and regardless of the money involved, they don't want to disappoint the world by throwing out a rehash of the first game, nor do they want to overextend and destroy their precise balance.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->They could have made the scout a lot more useful for its massive cost...

scaryface

there's always some rumor going around about starcraft 2, so i'll take the rumor with a grain of salt.
if there is a starcraft 2, i don't know how it could possibly compare to it's predecessor.

Surge

<!--quoteo(post=1623903:date=Apr 30 2007, 01:06 AM:name=semipsychotic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(semipsychotic @ Apr 30 2007, 01:06 AM) [snapback]1623903[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
The reason Starcraft 2 hasn't already been made is that Starcraft is the Holy Grail of game balance. Races <i>that</i> asymmetrical should be impossible to equalize so they each fight evenly in the great arena of the internet, but Blizzard did it. A Starcraft 2 would need to exceed its predecessor, or it would be a failure: not in sales, but in spirit. Blizzard has an extremely talented (and ambitious) staff, and regardless of the money involved, they don't want to disappoint the world by throwing out a rehash of the first game, nor do they want to overextend and destroy their precise balance.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It's not completely balanced, but it's probably the best-balanced RTS out there.

Tyrain

<a href="http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/" target="_blank">http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/</a> <- Check this site (I'm serious.)

SpaceJesus

<!--quoteo(post=1623959:date=Apr 30 2007, 02:32 AM:name=Aegeri)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aegeri @ Apr 30 2007, 02:32 AM) [snapback]1623959[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Though if it is SC2, I hope it's a genuine RTS and none of this Warcraft 3 hero dependant ish.
I agree. I seriously hope SC isn't about heroes or anything like that. I really don't like the concept at all. Your army and choice of strategy should dictate a game, not one individual unit.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Seriously though, the 'hero' concept in RTS is really good, it's just that WC3 implemented it badly. Heroes bring metagame to the midgame. Instead of just harassing and spamming the build queues, you actually have something to break the monotony <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
Look at Dawn of War - THQ pulled it off brilliantly (even if it was more of a super-unit than a metagame feature).

sherpa

id like a small-scale SC (WC3 unit limit minus heroes, or at least remove micromanagement from vanilla units if heroes make an appearance) but i can't see that happening as SC still has a huge following.

blizzard being the perfectors not innovators that they are, and SC being immensely popular, will see SC2 being an updated SC1, in my opinion.