Clanless Fun

A Q&A article by MSNBC asking Blizzards Rob Pardo (Vice President - Game design) about topics such as development processes, team motivation, courting casual players and expectations from StarCraft 2.

Q: How’d you manage to keep it secret for so long?

A: We keep games under code names and we teach developers to refer to games by their code name. And we’re just really careful about talking about the game internally. We don’t bring external folks through unannounced product areas. But I think even I’m surprised that we were able to keep it under wraps all the way to the end.

Q: The real-time strategy field is crowded right now with quality titles like “Supreme Commander,” “Company of Heroes,” and “Dawn of War.” How will “StarCraft 2” distinguish itself?

A: We’ve definitely never been shy to go into a crowded field, especially a genre that historically we’ve been one of the kings of. “StarCraft 2” will distinguish itself really well through online play. We’re building it to be the best competitive RTS on the market. RTSs, especially the ones you mentioned, are focused on single-player only.

We really are hoping to innovate more in the single-player [game] than we have in the past — we’re just not releasing details about it yet. But our story and our world and our IP [that] we developed in “StarCraft” is superior to what we’re going to be competing against.

Read the article here

“Valve’s goal with Half-Life 2: The Orange Box is to offer a great single-player title (Episode Two), a unique gameplay experience (Portal), and an awesome multiplayer game (Team Fortress 2). From our play date at Valve, it appears the legendary company will be able to deliver on all three aspects. While Episode Two is one sweet shooter and Portal is the next evolution in puzzle games, it’s Team Fortress 2 that proved the most impressive.

Team Fortress 2 is a fast-paced class-based online shooter. Valve’s challenge in reviving the long-dormant TF franchise was in creating a great experience no matter which of the nine classes a player chose. Along with making each class visually different, Valve managed to infuse each class with its own personality. Each requires a different type of strategy; but all nine classes are useful. And, more importantly, each is fun to play.”

See this article by IGN, the piece provides some insight on the classes used in Team Fortress 2.

“The demo gives you 3 tracks and 3 race types to try out.

Firstly there’s the point-to-point, against-the-clock action that’s a hallmark of the series. The demo pits you and your Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX against a testing Italian rally stage. This mode is also playable in multiplayer.

Secondly, test your nerve in off-road racing as you race against 9 fearsome AI drivers in a CORR class 1 buggy packing 650bhp.

Finally, take on the rally legend himself, Colin McRae, in a Subaru Impreza – the race is on a twisting tarmac crossover track in Germany.”

Downloads:

• mirror 1
• mirror 2

Scheduled for release: June 15th

ABC Island one of the most visited places in Second Life, has been obliterated.

“It looks like we’ve had some enormous cyber-bomb set off on our site. Somebody has nuked us in some way, shape or form, and they’ve obliterated almost every object on the site.“

I never understood this “game”, the hype the …. fuzz about some huge chat room.

Read more about it here.

Perhaps some of you may know it already, but it is good news: ->click<-

Another reason not to go for Vista yet

You need a new phone, mp3 player, video player, email client, navigator, etc.?
And you have too much money to spend?
Then check this out: new Nokia “phone” N95

Dutch website:
http://www.nseries.nl/

English website:
http://www.nseries.com/index.html#l=products,n95

Video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX5eh7eLaVQ

Sure, most people know that smoking is bad for you, but unless you see an immediate effect, it can be easy to get complacent. That’s why this wearable demonstration may be just what the doctor ordered…

More: –>click<–

“Starcraft II continues the epic sage of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.

Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company’s world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.”

Features:

• Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game
• Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg
• New units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race
• Groundbreaking single-player “story-mode” campaign
• Vibrant new 3D-graphics engine with support for dazzling visual effects and massive unit and army sizes
• Full multiplayer support, with new competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net
• Full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience

One thing still troubles me a bit, the FAQ mentions the following:

Q: Will StarCraft II take advantage of DirectX 10? What other graphical goodies are included?

A: The game will be compatible with DirectX 10, and we’re still considering whether there will be exclusive DirectX 10 graphic effects, but the graphics engine will also be very scalable to ensure that a wide range of different systems will be capable of running StarCraft II. The new engine is also capable of rendering very large units, as well as large numbers of units on screen together. Havok physics have been integrated into the engine for added realism as well.

I hope scalable means use of DirectX 9.

See http://www.starcraft2.com for further info, trailers, screenies etc.

Game developer Blizzard, known from there games like the Warcraft series, Starcraft and World of Warcraft, is currenly messing with our heads.

For some time now, there is some sort of countdown on Blizzard’s website with a big question mark at the end.
At this time there is plenty of speculation going on at several gaming sites.

Personally I would love to see a new Starcraft game, this could well be my WoW killer.

/me crosses fingers

Lots of changes will be made with this upcoming patch:

• The Black Temple is now available for play and Illidan awaits. Are you prepared?
• Players with Honored or higher reputation with the Consortium should seek out Protectorate Advisor Rahim at the Stormspire in Netherstorm or Commander Ameer at the Protectorate Watch Post in Netherstorm to get a briefing on the most recent nefarious activities of the Ethereum.
• Skettis is now available. Players will need a flying mount to reach this new area.
• Nether Drakes (280% mount) are now in the game and can be gained by continuing the Netherwing faction and quest line.
• Ogri’la is now available. Level 70 players can find this new quest line in Blade’s Edge Mountains.
• New Arena: The Ruins of Lordaeron Arena is now available for play
• Changes to classes
• Changes to professions
• Etc etc ….

See these links for more info and all changes:

• Black Temple Preview
• Public Test Realm Patch Notes

To this day, there is no announced release date. The patch is already being distributed trough the Blizzard background downloader.