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 by Sol Invictus, Level 58
Last updated at February 11, 2010, 12:17 am
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Activision-Blizzard’s Q4 2009 conference call which took place earlier today revealed one very juicy detail that’s certain to entice any self-respecting gamer.
It took awhile for the Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime to get there, but he finally revealed when the Starcraft 2 beta would begin – at the end of this very month, with the game itself being set for a retail release in the middle of 2010, making this the first year in which two major Blizzard titles will see a release – with the other game being World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, which was announced last year at the BlizzCon annual convention.
Quoting Ars Technica's Ben Kuchera, who liveblogged the long event, "The beta test will be global. Eager to begin this phase of development, final stretch before release. Mid 2010 release."
In addition to the happy announcement, Blizzard released a preview video of the new Battle.net service, updated for Starcraft II, Diablo III and World of Warcraft with core integration into each title.
Not unlike Steam, the new Battle.net will feature a full fledged “adaptive and intelligent” matchmaking service, a leveling and achievement system, cross-game communication and support for both free and commercial DLCs (downloadable content), a move that was no doubt inspired by Bobby Kotick's lust for gold.
Thousands of players from across the world will be given invites into the Starcraft II beta, such as those who opted-in with the new account system already available on Battle.net. If you haven’t yet created an account, there’s still time.
A video tour of the new service can be viewed below, courtesy of GameTrailers.
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93 comments
Sol Invictus Feb 11, 2010 at 3:08 am
+2 votes
It'll be good to have a few months gap between the releases of Starcraft II and Cataclysm.
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hitcliff May 31, 2010 at 9:07 am
+1 votes
personally I will abandon everything, but enjoy the release of both. Cataclysm is perfect, but i adore Starcraft II, cause I like everything about this game: the game itself, the soundtrack (was happy to watch this video http://www.videorolls.com/watch/Starcraft-II-Wings-of-Liberty-Public-Beta-Soundtra/2 ) glad I didn't discover this game earlier, cause I would never be able to leave school
)))
)))herkeden Jul 22, 2010 at 7:44 am
+1 votes
in other news Supreme Commander 2 will be out on march second online games free online games mmo
games
games
The Extremist Feb 11, 2010 at 3:10 am
+3 votes
We're forced to trade LAN for Battle.net 2.0 and all we get in return is chat, achievements, and matchmaking?!
Try again Blizzard, this doesn't qualify as the improved game experience you promised for the removal of LAN.
Try again Blizzard, this doesn't qualify as the improved game experience you promised for the removal of LAN.
Parjker Feb 11, 2010 at 3:34 am
+2 votes
I'm looking forward to get my hand on these. Starcraft and Diablo has been my past time since decades ago. I hope it'll be release before or after the Bonnaroo 2010. I still have to prioritize my vacation first.
Martin Riggs Feb 11, 2010 at 11:50 am
+1 votes
Parjker said
I'm looking forward to get my hand on these. Starcraft and Diablo has been my past time since decades ago. I hope it'll be release before or after the Bonnaroo 2010. I still have to prioritize my vacation first.
hmmm Feb 11, 2010 at 2:45 pm
+0 votes
"before or after Bonnaroo" seems to include all of the year except for Bonnaroo, which is a 3 day time period. If you were not so quick to try to correct someone you might have realized that before or after a 3 day period does not include those 3 days.
To sum up, nice effort, but a douche is still a douche
To sum up, nice effort, but a douche is still a douche
Ghork Feb 11, 2010 at 4:36 am
+1 votes
in other news Supreme Commander 2 will be out on march second
SC2 Feb 15, 2010 at 6:17 pm
+1 votes
Nobody cares about Supreme Commander. The only reason people will talk about Supreme Commander 2 is cause they meant SC2 to be Starcraft, not some other poser RTS.
Ghork Feb 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm
+1 votes
pfft total annihilation was such a better game than sc (from a gameplay pov not competetive pov) much better ai graffics ui, unit control etc. supreme commander is the sequal, so go away with the poser, and dont claim sc was there first, dune 2 or such was.
if nobody cares their loss. i'll enjoy it
if nobody cares their loss. i'll enjoy it
Haze. Feb 11, 2010 at 5:21 am
+1 votes
Oh my this is some exciting news to start my day of with.
So I suppose around august or september then. Damn, it almost sounds abit unbelievable. ^^
So I suppose around august or september then. Damn, it almost sounds abit unbelievable. ^^
Cleric Feb 12, 2010 at 6:59 am
+1 votes
Indeed, but don't get too happy too quick... It's still a long way away...
SIL3NT-DE4TH Feb 11, 2010 at 8:21 am
+1 votes
From here on No game will be Released With Lan
John Doe Feb 11, 2010 at 11:49 am
+3 votes
If you read this, do not buy this game, do not let them set a new industry standard of no LAN. Blizzard go to hell.
James Feb 11, 2010 at 2:43 pm
-1 votes
To be honest, I believe people who want LAN so desperately, only want it so they may play a pirated copy of the game using a virtual private network. If you want a game so much, I'm sure yo won't mind using the network cable that you were going to use for LAN, to hook up to a router or modem, and play legitimately. Giving up LAN means they can employ a foolproof copy protection method. You buy it, you register it, or you can't play it. Steam has done this quite successfully, and it has been adopted by the gaming community in a very positive way.
Eric Feb 11, 2010 at 3:24 pm
+3 votes
I want LAN play in Starcraft beacuse I have a blast playing with friends locally and it is disappointing that they removed it. Well yes we can all play through Battle.net but it can add lag if you have 8 people all trying to play through the same internet connection.
I personally don't mind having to log in Battle.net before playing a LAN game, or better yet, connect to a Blizzard "activation" server every couple of weeks or so in order to play the game offline. But, I want the ability to play a multiplayer game locally without it slowing down or lagging because it is going through the Battle.net servers.
I personally don't mind having to log in Battle.net before playing a LAN game, or better yet, connect to a Blizzard "activation" server every couple of weeks or so in order to play the game offline. But, I want the ability to play a multiplayer game locally without it slowing down or lagging because it is going through the Battle.net servers.
James Feb 11, 2010 at 5:59 pm
+0 votes
Local games are not hosted on Battle.net. They will still be local games. The difference is that it will require you to be online.
Ghork Feb 11, 2010 at 7:41 pm
+2 votes
Anonymous said
Local games are not hosted on Battle.net. They will still be local games. The difference is that it will require you to be online.
lans with internet suck major ass compared to those w/o everyone ends up idling forums 4chan, or mmos and no real lan gaming is done.
either way Supreme Comander 2 will have lan so i have np with it.
hoping diablo 3 will have lan though, d2 sustained me and my ex roomie for 3 months when inet was broken once etc. good memories.
willybob Feb 11, 2010 at 8:38 pm
+0 votes
Ghork said
which completly removes the purpose of going to non internet lans
lans with internet suck major ass compared to those w/o everyone ends up idling forums 4chan, or mmos and no real lan gaming is done.
either way Supreme Comander 2 will have lan so i have np with it.
hoping diablo 3 will have lan though, d2 sustained me and my ex roomie for 3 months when inet was broken once etc. good memories.
lans with internet suck major ass compared to those w/o everyone ends up idling forums 4chan, or mmos and no real lan gaming is done.
either way Supreme Comander 2 will have lan so i have np with it.
hoping diablo 3 will have lan though, d2 sustained me and my ex roomie for 3 months when inet was broken once etc. good memories.
next complaint?
Ghork Feb 11, 2010 at 9:02 pm
+2 votes
that we dont have any access in the barn we converted to a conference room in the middle of nowere
Cleric Feb 12, 2010 at 7:11 am
+3 votes
Stong and extremly valid points you made there.
When at a LAN, you want to LAN, not have ppl just come together and
find them playing WoW or some ****, when you want to play with friends
literally side by side, and having some social gaming fun.
Plus, when the inet breaks (yes, the whole world doesn't have the best
service available with plenty of providers to compete with each other
for it) one would enjoy playing games with friends on a local network
when there is no other way due to telecommunicationsFAILED!
When at a LAN, you want to LAN, not have ppl just come together and
find them playing WoW or some ****, when you want to play with friends
literally side by side, and having some social gaming fun.
Plus, when the inet breaks (yes, the whole world doesn't have the best
service available with plenty of providers to compete with each other
for it) one would enjoy playing games with friends on a local network
when there is no other way due to telecommunicationsFAILED!
wow Feb 15, 2010 at 6:14 pm
+1 votes
You're a fool. If you're going to flame about something stupid at least flame at the right people(Activision). I'm guessing you're either a pirate or you don't have internet? Either way nobody cares.
draken Feb 11, 2010 at 12:12 pm
+0 votes
Starcraft 2 does have lan, but its the same as steam. U have to be online to use the lan function.
Cleric Feb 12, 2010 at 7:17 am
+1 votes
And that's another one of the many reasons why many gamers that like to LAN, hate Steam.
tomsh Feb 11, 2010 at 12:18 pm
+2 votes
Lan was cool in 1998, so it must still be cool.
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