News Archive

Welcome to the StarCraftZone news archive. Here you can browse all archived news that has been published on our website.

New Fansite Q&A!

SC2Pod.com - May 07, 2009

The third fansite, SC2Pod, has been given the glory of having some of their Starcraft 2 questions answered by the Blizzard Development team. This rounds Q&A features more technical questions about Starcraft 2's compatibility with wide-screens, its current art scheme, as well as some unit descriptions. One especially interesting question gives us a more in-depth understanding of the insurmountable task Blizzard faces in the creation of Starcraft 2.

11. What have been some of the hardest choices you have had to make during the development of StarCraft II?

Dustin Browder] There have been many tough choices in designing StarCraft II – Amongst the most difficult would be what parts of the original StarCraft should be in StarCraft II. Next would be what new mechanics are worthy of introduction to the StarCraft universe. Balancing visual appeal with the serious game play that StarCraft has always offered has always been challenging as well. Overall, we hope that the choices we have made will give our players the best possible StarCraft II experience.

Read the rest of the Q&A here.

New Battle.net Beta Signup System!

Battle.net - May 06, 2009

Blizzard recently updated their Battle.net account manager to include a new Beta Profile system. It allows users to upload their computer specs onto Battle.net to allow Blizzard to have more information during Beta Op-Ins. Please head on to Battle.net to upload your computer specs today to have a chance for Blizzard's official Starcraft II Beta Op-In!

Directions:

1) Log on to Battle.net

2) Under "Manage My Games" click on Beta Profile Settings

3) Click on either Mac or PC depending on your system, and check the Beta tests that you are interested in.

4) Run the program that is installed and upload your specs to Blizzard. Enjoy!

Exclusive Interview with Chris Sigaty, Beta Opt-In

www.Blizzard.com - May 06, 2009

Fansites involved in the FanSite Program including us were given access to an exclusive interview with Chris Sigaty, Lead Producer for StarCraft II and provided some insightful information regarding the upcoming beta! Here is a quick exerpt and two exclusive screenshots.

Q. What aspects of the game will be available for testing in this beta?

A. As with previous betas for our real-time strategy games, the StarCraft II beta test will be multiplayer only, and players will have access to all three races -- terrans, protoss, and zerg -- and all of their units. We'll include a selection of multiplayer maps, but they won't necessarily include all of the maps that will be in the final version of the game. We're making some great progress on the single-player campaign, but we don't plan to do a public beta since we want to keep the story under wraps until the game's out.

Our Beta Center has been updated to reflect these recent changes.

Battle.net Update!

Battle.net - April 30, 2009

After the release of the much-anticipated Battle Report 2. Many fans have been clamoring about all the new units and abilities seen within it. Fellow SCZ member DragonSharp reports many of the answers Karune and Cavez have given to the fans at Battle.net about the Battle Report and about Starcraft II in general. Among the information is a few tidbits about the Planetary Fortress upgrade for the Terran Comand Center.

Currently in testing, the PF (Planetary Fortress) is already quite beefy - It's ground attack has been buffed to 40 damage and has a 6 range. When upgrading to a PF, your command center also gets +2 building armor, making this building a very formidable obstacle, especially with 20 SCVs repairing at the same time. There have been many games I've seen the PF hold off raiding forces and sometimes even attacking forces by itself and SCVs. While I wouldn't think it'd be wise to convert your first Command Center to a PF, converting strategic expansions could be helpful, such as those at high yields or may be farther away from the rest of your bases.

On a side note cause I'm sure somebody is wondering this as well - the PF upgrade costs 150 minerals and 150 gas whereas the Orbital Command upgrade costs just 150 minerals. The PF prerequisite building is the Engineering Bay and the Orbital Command prerequisite building is the Barracks.

EDIT: The PF does splash damage as well.

Read the complete Q&A here!

StarCraft II Fansite Q&A Series #2

starfeeder.com - April 23, 2009

As Starcraft II's Beta nears release, Blizzard has started to regularly update data on Starcraft II. The recent series of Fansite Q&A's is Blizzard's newest concoction to leak out information on Starcraft II's current situation. While the first Fansite Q&A was with TeamLiquid.net, now, Starfeeder.com has been given the opportunity to have their many questions answered.

On a special note, the new Q&A describes a new Zerg Aerial Bomber, replacing the Swarm Guardian in previous Starcraft II builds.

Are any new units yet to be revealed? ie: Zerg heavy air unit?
[Dustin Browder] Zerg has a new flying heavy assault unit known as the Brood Lord. This one is buff! Much more intimidating than the Guardian and will still be morphed from the Mutalisk. This unit will be replacing the previously seen Swarm Guardian and will have new art as well. This unit currently has 350 hit points and a large range of 9, doing 25 damage and spawning a Broodling upon each attack, which will live for a few short seconds, doing minor melee damage.

The rest of the Q&A is located here.