Preview: StarCraft II

[Nomad]

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. But you're clearly already paying for internet (or else you wouldn't be chatting here...) so it isn't like there are additional expenses for you, personally.

If you're looking forward to StarCraft II, you're almost certainly a gamer (though it isn't a 100% thing, it's a pretty safe bet), and most gamers are ALREADY budgeting for the internet. I think it's kind of a strawman argument to argue that it's an additional expense when the vast majority of people who are gamers are probably already finding a way to pay for online. Obviously, not all of them, but a significant amount.

Clutches and manual transmissions were standard on cars for decades, too. Same with non-HD resolutions on televisions. Technology has evolved past them, and there will be a day when broadband achieves near complete penetration, and so pure LAN will literally be obsolete, if it isn't very close to being so already.

I am obviously not getting through to you. I have an internet connection, because I can personally afford it. But if you examine my post more closely, you will see that I mentioned two of my friends don't... And that's just assuming we want to meet up at someone's house. We might also want to do it at the university, for example, where internet access is not entirely unrestricted, so to speak.

And again, if you examine my post more closely, you will see that I already mentioned several times that I am part of a minority. But the thing is that my demographic actually does exist, and although it is comparatively small, it still consists of a great deal of people... It's just that we aren't very well represented in these discussions because, you know, it's hard to argue on the internet if you don't have access to the internet. It's unfair to expect us to "find a way" to shell out that additional expense because we are ancient artifacts.

My point with LAN being industrial standard is that it obviously isn't a gigantic hassle to add in, so I see no reason why they chose to exclude it - apart from offline players "not getting full access to online features" (features that we don't even want to have access to) or "LAN being obsolete" (which it obviously isn't, since people are asking for it).

Virtually everyone can adapt to virtually everything. You could also adapt to your chair not having a cushion on it. It would be uncomfortable, but you could handle it. And it would be less of a hassle for your chair manufacturer if they didn't have to include a cushion. You could handle your car not having a windshield. It would be uncomfortable and very bothersome when it rains, but you could always drive a little bit slower and keep it under tarpaulin during bad weather - and it'd be a lot cheaper for the manufacturer if they didn't include a windshield. But it's industrial standard to include them, people expect them, they don't hurt anyone and the costs are comparatively small. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever not to include LAN functionality. None.

 

[Samcanuck]

Wait what, it is released. If not, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[John Funk]

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. But you're clearly already paying for internet (or else you wouldn't be chatting here...) so it isn't like there are additional expenses for you, personally.

If you're looking forward to StarCraft II, you're almost certainly a gamer (though it isn't a 100% thing, it's a pretty safe bet), and most gamers are ALREADY budgeting for the internet. I think it's kind of a strawman argument to argue that it's an additional expense when the vast majority of people who are gamers are probably already finding a way to pay for online. Obviously, not all of them, but a significant amount.

Clutches and manual transmissions were standard on cars for decades, too. Same with non-HD resolutions on televisions. Technology has evolved past them, and there will be a day when broadband achieves near complete penetration, and so pure LAN will literally be obsolete, if it isn't very close to being so already.

I am obviously not getting through to you. I have an internet connection, because I can personally afford it. But if you examine my post more closely, you will see that I mentioned two of my friends don't... And that's just assuming we want to meet up at someone's house. We might also want to do it at the university, for example, where internet access is not entirely unrestricted, so to speak.

And again, if you examine my post more closely, you will see that I already mentioned several times that I am part of a minority. But the thing is that my demographic actually does exist, and although it is comparatively small, it still consists of a great deal of people... It's just that we aren't very well represented in these discussions because, you know, it's hard to argue on the internet if you don't have access to the internet. It's unfair to expect us to "find a way" to shell out that additional expense because we are ancient artifacts.

My point with LAN being industrial standard is that it obviously isn't a gigantic hassle to add in, so I see no reason why they chose to exclude it - apart from offline players "not getting full access to online features" (features that we don't even want to have access to) or "LAN being obsolete" (which it obviously isn't, since people are asking for it).

Virtually everyone can adapt to virtually everything. You could also adapt to your chair not having a cushion on it. It would be uncomfortable, but you could handle it. And it would be less of a hassle for your chair manufacturer if they didn't have to include a cushion. You could handle your car not having a windshield. It would be uncomfortable and very bothersome when it rains, but you could always drive a little bit slower and keep it under tarpaulin during bad weather - and it'd be a lot cheaper for the manufacturer if they didn't include a windshield. But it's industrial standard to include them, people expect them, they don't hurt anyone and the costs are comparatively small. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever not to include LAN functionality. None.

We're getting nowhere with this. I realize that there are people for whom the lack of true LAN is inconvenient, but I believe that just because something has been a standard does not mean it's irreplaceable, and that nothing better will ever come along.

Developers have no obligation to put in any feature whatsoever, and the reason for not having LAN is simply because Blizzard didn't want to develop a game with LAN in mind. It's the furthest thing in the world from a deal-breaker for me, but for others it might be different.

I think you'll be missing out, but you are well within your right to vote with your wallet.

 

[Nomad]

Developers have no obligation to put in any feature whatsoever, and the reason for not having LAN is simply because Blizzard didn't want to develop a game with LAN in mind. It's the furthest thing in the world from a deal-breaker for me, but for others it might be different.

I would like to make one closing statement, because I feel I have once again been misunderstood;

I have never claimed they have an obligation to include something. Just like your chair-manufacturer has no obligation to include a cushion. But since there are obviously a lot of consumers that want this feature, it would be the intelligent thing to include it... Just like it is intelligent to include a cushion in a chair.

I don't know much about game development, but I simply cannot understand how they would need to make major adjustments to the game in order to include LAN play. I am not voting with my wallet. I am simply not paying for a product that I do not want - and Starcraft II is not a product that I want, as long as it doesn't include the one thing I would want it for. It is not a moral statement, it is not a cry of outrage. It is an observation that the upcoming product does not meet my requirements, and I will therefore not buy it. Just like I won't buy the next installment of the Twilight series or something - I just plainly don't want it.

 

[gelgamath]

you lost the game

 

[Timotei]

Can't wait for the game to come out.

I love the sound bit at the end. Aldaris is never satisfied.

 

[theultimateend]

I'm happy. It'll be nice to play an RTS that doesn't go by the newschool bullshit model of "People are too ADD to deal with resources" -.-

 

[Hawgh]

After delaying with 2, yes two, consecutive ebay scams of $100 each I finally got a sc2 key..

Ironically enough I got it for free from a site promotion, I thought it was a bait for my personal info. but it was legitimate.

Anyway the site URL is here: Link removed

hope everyone gets keys too.

Oh you gotta be shitting...well, everyone!

 

[Enai Siaion]

It seems we'll be sticking to Starcraft I, however, because the mighty multiplayers decided we weren't worth the effort of including a feature that has been industrial standard for the last decade.

Blame the pirates. Making an internet connection required to play is the ONLY way to prevent rampant piracy and third party LAN-emulation networks. You can probably still pirate single player, but that defeats the point of Starcraft II.

 

[Nateman742]

It seems we'll be sticking to Starcraft I, however, because the mighty multiplayers decided we weren't worth the effort of including a feature that has been industrial standard for the last decade.

Blame the pirates. Making an internet connection required to play is the ONLY way to prevent rampant piracy and third party LAN-emulation networks. You can probably still pirate single player, but that defeats the point of Starcraft II.

It's only a matter of time before private servers using custom clients start showing up; There's no stopping that process in today's market. A percentage of people always break the terms of service, and any legal action in this case would not only cost money but likely demonize Blizzard in the eyes of the gaming community. I don't think lack of LAN is an anti-piracy measure. They wanted to take the multiplayer in a new direction and they're doing it.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

I love blizzard rts games. BTW im pretty sure warcraft 3 had the replay option.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

I lost interest in Star Craft 2 loooong ago. I mean lets be serious here, how many RTS's have come out in the time starcraft announced itself never the less begun development

CnC3+expansion, CnC Red Alert 3+ expansion, CnC4!

3 games and two expansions before blizzards ONE game. I'm sure Starcraft 2 is going to be great and all but it's pretty unreasonable that that many games from one company can come out before their 1.

Like any good game they take time to make sur eit will be good.
Besides Blizzard doesn't look at the game and says its gotta compete with everything comming out now, it has to compete with stuff comming out for the next 12 years so they can complete starcraft 3.

 

[Dannie]

Look OK I guess, but I'm not that into RTS.

 

[Snotnarok]

I lost interest in Star Craft 2 loooong ago. I mean lets be serious here, how many RTS's have come out in the time starcraft announced itself never the less begun development

CnC3+expansion, CnC Red Alert 3+ expansion, CnC4!

3 games and two expansions before blizzards ONE game. I'm sure Starcraft 2 is going to be great and all but it's pretty unreasonable that that many games from one company can come out before their 1.

Like any good game they take time to make sur eit will be good.
Besides Blizzard doesn't look at the game and says its gotta compete with everything comming out now, it has to compete with stuff comming out for the next 12 years so they can complete starcraft 3.

I'm pretty sure Blizzard is taking it's time because they have WoW and aren't in a rush because of that.

 

[johnnyjazz]

I see a lot of people today who dont really like the orignial starcraft,but it´s quiet obvious. i´m grown up on that stuff and back in the days starcraft was one of most intense and mindblowing games i ever played, doh cheers for good review.

hopefully i get a beta key someday, and when that day comes i challenge you to a battel =)

 

[Craftybonds]

I'm probably going to buy this, but i think it absolutely blows that there is no lan play.

i'm hoping it's some poorly executed advertising scheme where they reveal lan play at the last moment...but then i remembered how much blizzard loves my (and everyone's) money.

 

[ninjajoeman]

we need more pylons...
SCREW THAT WE NEED MORE BETA KEYS!

 

[Xaioli]

Zerg RUSH!!!

 

[radred]

I tried to get into the first Starcraft, but it just seemed so slow-paced and bland. I played for a couple of hours, and never did it seem like actual fun. Which is a shame, because I've always had a certain fascination with RTS's, just that I haven't found one to entertain me enough.

if you think it was too slowpaced you obviously were not playing it right

 

[radred]

I tried to get into the first Starcraft, but it just seemed so slow-paced and bland. I played for a couple of hours, and never did it seem like actual fun. Which is a shame, because I've always had a certain fascination with RTS's, just that I haven't found one to entertain me enough.

if you think it was too slowpaced you obviously were not playing it right

So... you didn't get to see the singleplayer? Disappointing - I'm not really interested in the multiplayer aspect of most RTS's because I'm basically not very good at them, but I liked Starcraft 1 for having a good story mixed in with the RTS battles.

They're keeping the singleplayer very close to their chests until the game comes out.

Righto - I'll have to look and see for the review when it comes out - though did Blizzard go ahead with the plan to split the singleplayer plot into 3 parts, only 1 of which comes with the game? i.e. the rest are downloadable content..?

I heard talk of that awhile go (a year, I think) - just wanna see if it was troll talk or real.

ummmm... wrong
the game will be released in three seperate installments
each one with the next campaign

whilst this is kinda annoying each race has more levels in its campaign then the entire starcraft 1 (i think, don't quote me on this. its just what ive heard)

and if your worried about buying one game for the price of three just remember, wait a year or two and you will be able to buy the coverted BATTLE CHEST!