News Archive

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

Happy 11th StarCraft & April Fools!

StarCraftZone.com - April 02, 2009

Congratulations on submitting for the Starcraft 2 FSP beta registration! This e-mail is confirmation that your submission has been received and is valid. Unfortunately, in true April Fool's Day tradition, you have been duped! APRIL FOOLS! Despair not, it's not as bad as it seems!

We have no beta keys to distribute at the moment but, as promised, all users who submitted for today's registration will be eligible for a fansite beta key drawing when the real beta begins. No other users will be eligible for this drawing - only those who participated in today's event. So a gigantic "HAHA!" to all of those who thought this wasn't for real because they are the ones who really got fooled. We really are going to give away beta keys!

We hope you enjoyed your 24 hours of suspense and we hope you have found a laugh and perhaps some excitement today as we surely have. We look forward to the Starcraft 2 beta just as much as you do, and we hope you'll stay tuned for when the actual beta is released, as we will be hosting additional contests and drawings for beta keys.

Again, all users who have submitted an e-mail to sc2beta@gmail.com prior to 10:00 p.m. (PST) are eligible for a Starcraft 2 Beta Key drawing from the participating fansites. Users will be identified by their e-mail submissions, so please make sure your e-mail remains valid so you can be contacted.

Thank you for your participation! And Happy Birthday StarCraft! Oh, by the way, we baked a cake. Enjoy a slice, won't you?

• Starcraft.org
• StarCraft2Forum.org
• SCLegacy.com
• StarcraftZone.com

New StarCraft II Unit - Terra-Tron!

StarCraft2.com - April 01, 2009

Direct from Blizzard:

With the use of magnetic flux generators and through some simple modifications to our existing building schematics, we've found we can utilize structures that already exist in our bases to assemble the frame of a siege-class combat walker—a construct that some of my colleagues insist on calling the Terra-tron. The Terra-tron is best deployed as a last-ditch effort to hold an important location on the grid. Currently the cost of operation is a bit of a problem, as energy conduits and pipes become dislodged or severed and leave dangerously exposed electrical wiring, steel framework, and sewage systems. However, let me assure you that we are working diligently on new waste-containment systems that should eliminate this problem and get our buildings back up to code in the near future.

Aside from being a pretty cool April Fool's joke, this unit should spark some interesting mod ideas if they throw this unit into the StarCraft 2 editor for us to use. ;) As Terra-Tron would say, "Hell!...its morphin' time!"

FSP Beta Registration

StarCraftZone.com - April 01, 2009

First off, we want to congratulate you for making it this far. We realize that Starcraft 2 has been a long time coming and we want to thank you for your patience. From the first release of Starcraft on April 1, 1998 until Starcraft 2's formal announcement on May 19, 2007, many of you have been waiting patiently. We're glad to say that the wait for a select few of you is over. As of 10:00 p.m. (PST) March 31, 2009, Fan Site Program sites will begin the first stage of registering for Starcraft 2 beta keys. Official registration for the Starcraft 2 beta has not yet begun, nor has a date been set, but we would like to extend an opportunity to select fansite participants to submit an application from which we will select a number of participants for the Starcraft 2 beta testing. The following fansites have been approved to participate in this first wave of early application submission:

• Starcraft.org
• StarCraft2Forum.org
• SCLegacy.com
• StarCraftZone.com

Please submit a short application (300 words or less) telling us why you should be selected to participate in the upcoming Starcraft 2 beta. Please be aware that applications longer than 300 words will not be reviewed. One entry per person. The applications will be judged and the winners decided by the staff of the sites listed above. Applications must be received by 10:00 p.m. (PST) April 1, 2009. Entries received after this period will not be considered. You should submit your application to sc2beta@gmail.com. We look forward to reviewing your entries, and will notify receipt of your submission via e-mail. Happy Birthday, StarCraft!

BlizzCast 8

Blizzard.com - March 31, 2009

Blizzcast #8 has just been released. Check it out on Blizzard's Website.

Welcome to BlizzCast episode 8! This is Bashiok the Diablo Community Manager and in this episode of BlizzCast I'll be sitting down with our Diablo III Lead Technical Artist Julian Love, as well as Mike Nicholson our Senior Artist on UI design. We’ll explore the special effects that create the visually impressive world of Sanctuary, as well as the latest changes to the UI that are going in to this hotly anticipated sequel.

Also in this episode Bornakk will once again sit down with our developers to ask questions our listeners have sent in. This Q&A session features World of Warcraft's Tom Chilton, Diablo III's Jay Wilson, and StarCraft 2's Dustin Browder.

Blizzard Developing A Fifth Unnanounced Title

blizzard.com - March 26, 2009

Blizzard recently posted two new job listings looking to hire talented software engineers for as of yet unanounced game currently in development. It was later confirmed in a Blizzard response that indeed they are working on yet another unanounced title that isn't the next-gen MMO or any relation to their three popular franchises.

1. This brand-new game is not a World of Warcraft expansion, and it is not related to the Next-Gen MMO.

2. In the present, the brand-new game is using the World of Warcraft engine merely for testing purposes.

3. The Client Software Engineer job opening is to hire the person that will have the responsibility to develop an engine from scratch for this game.  This new engine will be built depending on the skill and interest of the person hired for this position.

There definitely isn't a better time to be a Blizzard fan! As more info becomes available, you'll be sure to hear about it here at StarCraftZone.