@Mpalm.: is it that they made them run on older systems or is it that all their games came out 1-2 years past their original release date?

clintonskneecap

The plastic toy-like graphics make the game even more appealing; a throwback to my tabletop strategy days.

BossMonk

@clintonskneecap:

Er... you... umm.. sorry but you're quite wrong. Those games had good graphics, but Blizzard has ALWAYS made their games to run on older systems. Blizzard games never had mind blowing graphics. As for SC1 map editor being the only good thing about SC? And the multiplayer, whoever rushes first? Have you ever even played SC? Maybe in games with two noobs you get whoever rushes first wins, but... that's usually it.

Mpalm.

@clintonskneecap: I guess I still don't see how this is no better than 2002. To that end, I would ask, in terms of "what", really? Lens flare? Bump mapping? Shimmery glop? I mean, really, what has 2007 given us that 2002 didn't other than effects that many people find over-applied anyway? (yeah... I'm half sarcastic there... but only half)
 
I look at it and I am wowed. Of course special effects give me goosebumps too, but not everything that creates that result in me is a straight progression of processor power... art direction pushes a lot of that too.
 
For me, after seeing RTS games over the last 5 years, with the exception of CoH which is pretty amazing, this is one that I find more stunning than most.
 
Of course, in terms of what a processor is "capable" of, I can see where you're coming from, sure... but in term of whether or not it "should even matter", much less whether or not the game is begin designed for a lesser system, I think this is kinda nailing it. Going too far in any direction is going to risk being gratuitous to a degree, perhaps even missing the mark on the art direction for the game.
 
I'm reminded of a music sidebar where some journalist was asking a famous guitarist or other who his own favorite guitarists were... and one of the answers was "Robert Smith"... not because he was the most technical or creative of musicians, but because (in the interviewed person's own words) "he know when not to play".
 
In a way, I find this similar... it's not just a question of targeting lesser systems... it's a matter of whether or not some of the recent advancements really made anything look "better".
 
Perhaps it would help me more to see your perspective on why the original wowed you and this doesn't... because I'm missing where this is seemingly dated by comparison to the original or other titles, perhaps through my own confusions. Not being difficult (at least not intentionally :D ), actually genuinely curious what I may be missing here, since it seems pretty tight to me.

dv8godd

@Ajh: I can see you have not been to korea I was just stationed in Seoul for the last 2 years.

clintonskneecap

@Ajh:

10-20 times times the speed for 1/2 the price.

And the only peculiarity I've noticed to Korean computing is how hard it is to get AMD or ATI hardware (at least as of 2 years ago). They are very much in the Nvidea and Intel camps.

TechnoDestructo

@Pezdispenser: It's highly likely that Blizzard will announce zerg in just 2 days. They have invited press and fansite representatives for an event on the 10th of March.

mizeriq

No Zerg yet? :'(

My keyboard gently weeps...

Pezdispenser

This one of the few PC games that I'm looking forward to. Every time I see new Starcraft II screens I have the sudden urge to play a few missions of the original.

TKWarrior

It's the most beautiful thing I've seen all day.

Now I'm really dying for my rts fix.

Malmer

Looks...like the old one only updated. Fine by me!

@clintonskneecap: The Korean market's computers are no more or less powerful than a western market. They also have better internet access than the US.

Ajh

I dont like the Starcraft artstyle. Is very Starcraftish. But look at the turrets on A.jpg,.. fugly!. That much colors, don't mach, and the thing don't really look like a turret. Lack style. Is like these ridiculous "high fantasy" armors. But.. wait... Starcraft is high fantasy, some maybe is right.

tei

@mizeriq: not being better*
I need to sleep more often.

mizeriq

@clintonskneecap: You're just making things up, if you zoom in you can easily see that the units in DoW look blocky and their animation jerky/abrupt... in SC2 the models are detailed and with very fluid motion, you can even see the zealot's "ponytail" jump up and down when he's running... so much for not beter than anything that came out the last 4-5 years(even WC3:TFT came out less than 5 years ago ffs).

SC multiplayer being about who rushes first, lol... what about fast expansion builds being common in games with at least decent players, since 2004?

mizeriq

*WARNING* Do not, under any circumstance, play Starcraft or any game bearing the name "Starcraft" against a citizen or longtime resident of South Korea.

garytek

@clintonskneecap:
SC "straight" multiplayer is so much more than "who rushes first". A rush is usually a very quick way to dispose of a less skilled opponent, but a good player won't have problems defending a "rush". Starcraft has alot to do with initiative, however, and in a decent level game one should expect to be under attack basically all the time after... 3 minutes or so of game.
With a decent opponent, it's hard to *win* with a rush, the purpose of such an attack is mainly slowing down your opponent's development, taking initiative and getting info about what they're building. That doesn't even come close to deciding the fate of a game, however.

exeprime

The economy of South Korea is going to grind to a halt for a week when this game comes out.

TechnoDestructo

Starcraft 2 is going to be amazing when it comes out. It's probably one of the only games I am looking forward to this year other than Brawl.

Lunar

Graphics will be incredible.

The thing about Blizzard games is that the actual animated game looks a million times better than the screen shots because the physics, the kinematics, and choices they make in animation.

Graphics are not a static thing.

dcartist

why are the firebats the size of the Vikings?

man_in_gauze

@Mpalm.: Diablo 1 and 2, WC 3, and SC2 had great graphics when they where released. The only great thing about SC1 is the map editior the single player campagin was ok it could have been great if it didn't have those stupid stealth like missions. DoW and CoH both have better single player campigns.

As for the multiplayer well the straight multiplayer is not so great because it comes down to who rushes first. However the custome maps are where SC shines. Ghost Nuke Maddness will always be a favorite of mine. CoH and DoW have much better straight multiplayer games.

@journeyman: It dosn't look very graphic heavy if you can play WC3 I am sure you can play this.

clintonskneecap

As a Korean, this is somewhat arousing

AngryTankManMax

It'll be awesome when I get my new computer. Then I will be able to run this beast in all its glory. Yes. Excellent.

journeyman

@clintonskneecap:

Since when has blizzard games been known for graphics anyway? Hell, starcraft 1 has horrid graphics now, but it's still a better game than Dawn of War and Company of Heroes.

Mpalm.

The day this game comes out I will send all my consoles to a retirement home as I no longer will have any need for them.

2SBs

Is it just me or would Battlestar Galactica make an awesome RTS?

PownerOfNewbs

/It is a good day to die.

Just try to kill me now suckers!

also, these make lovely wallpapers!

Machete_Bear

@dv8godd: I was hoping for something that would wow me like the original starcraft did. I mean it looks like a slightly better version of the WC3 engine. I understand why they didn't go all out graphics wise I mean they have to let Koreans be able to handle it after all they are SC largest market. But still graphics wise its no better then anything that came out 4-5 years ago.

clintonskneecap

@Emmanuel Goldstein: @Jashin: there is no cow level

I win ^___^

cheesecake000

WE REQUIRE MORE VESPINE GAS!

Emmanuel Goldstein

Hm. I like the new direction that Starcraft II is going towards...
But some screenshots seem a bit too Warcraft III-like to me.

It does look gorgeous, but all the weird cartoonyness makes it hard to concentrate on what's going on in there.

RPharazonius

very nice. those blue orb/shields look awesome, as well as the lasers

elislider

@Sollus: If your computer can run Warcraft III then it can run this

FLYBOY611

@clintonskneecap: Is it not brown and grey enough? ;)
 
I dunno... I think these are fairly beautiful, considering the over-pasteurization of style recently. Bright, vivid, detailed, keeping with the original art direction but updated a touch for more modern quality.
 
What was it you were expecting? I mean... this is StarCraft, ya know? They're not inventing a new IP, they're rolling one of their biggest IPs forward while still staying true to it's soul. This is pretty much the sweet spot for the game as far as I can imagine. I look at it and get the feeling that a lot more attention was paid to how this looks than the vast majority of games that have come out in the last 5 or so years.

dv8godd

I wish I had a PC that could run this gem.

Sollus

@mizeriq: that can be seen jumping*

mizeriq

@Aleeightone: It allows hiring of the mercenaries(although the dancing night elf on top of the building suggests otherwise) that can be jumping from the cliff on the left in the same screenshot.

mizeriq

am I the only one who thinks they look just ok. I mean they are good but not great. If this had come out maybe 5 years ago with those graphics I would have been all over it but since seeing games like Company of Heros and even Dawn of War I can't say they are that great. I will of course still buy this when it comes out in two years.

clintonskneecap

We need additional pylons!

Jashin

Awesome.....

Black-Dog-Howls

@ErskinPig: I don't disagree but I feel like RTS will continue to be a super-niche genre until they can break out and show some order or magnitude innovation. Right now, just not seeing it.

PownerOfNewbs

@Forkball: Would you say you "constructed a pylon" in your pants? Ey? Ey?? Wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more?

ShaggE

@PownerOfNewbs: Agreed, but this will be a great game regardless due to the aformentioned awesomeness of Blizzard.

ErskinPig

Those pictures made me spawn more overlords in my pants.

Forkball

(sigh) Despite all the hype, and Blizzard's awesomeness, all RTS's truly do look the same.

PownerOfNewbs

Scrumptious! Almost as good as the fine wine coming out of Maynard James Keenan's pants!

Integral_Taken

@Mr.SithNinja: Boing11 was using a literary technique called "exaggeration for the purpose of humor".

ShaggE

@boing11: "You know how when you grab a woman's breast... it feels like... a bag of sand."

SmilingPolitely

@boing11: If you think ANY video game is better than sex, you either have never had it or are doing it wrong.

Mr.SithNinja

I SUCK ASS AT STARCRAFT

but i will be getting this, even if means a new PC

greygecko

Why must you tease me. I want this more then anything.

Import98

This game will be better than sex.

You heard me.

boing11

lol man I can't wait to watch my friends play this.

I don't enjoy playing RTSes but I totally love watching other people play.

Dauragon C. Mikado

Did anyone else notice the terran building with "BAR" on it? Can't help but wonder what unit that produces...

Aleeightone

Yum!

kiigan

@Moonshadow101: I second that

Smadubaku

@pooster: haha, nvm. just started reading the article and they did re-texture. LOL

pooster

Wow, is it just me or did they re-texture some of the units and buildings? Terran looks extremely nice with worn-like metal.

pooster

@Moonshadow101: i have a dual core hamster.

comedy

@Trowble (XBL/PSN): I doubt it. If Blizzard does one thing right, it's making sure their games can run on hamster-wheel-powered rigs. If they do two things right, it's that, and making great games.

Moonshadow101

@Trowble (XBL/PSN): Given it's Blizzard game, I'm sure it will work fine on the vast majority of computers made in the past 5 years. It just won't look as spiffy as the screenshots if you aren't running new stuff, of course.

darthmole12

That's a lot of units on screen, and the attention to detail is pretty impressive.

darthmole12

Specs please! From the looks of things, something tells me my laptop going to get raped.

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

Very hot.

wild_world_girl