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New StarCraft 2 screenshots

Blizzard has released a bunch of new StarCraft 2 screenshots, and boy does this game look pretty. Expect a lot of Koreans to upgrade their PC rigs in 2010, when the game hits the stores.

StarCraft 2 beta delayed until 2010

StarCraft 2 producer Chris Sigaty revealed at Russian game expo IgroMir (yep, they got game expos over there too), that the StarCraft 2 beta has been pushed into next year. Blizzard has previously announced that StarCraft 2, or rather, the first chapter, named Wings of Liberty, will be released during Q2 2010, which begins in March.

EA releases Command & Conquer 4 debut trailer

The wait between Command & Conquer: Generals and its successor, Command & Conquer 3, was about 5 years. EA seems to be avoiding a repeat as they have just released the debut trailer for Command & Conquer 4.

RTS fans, don’t expect any actual gameplay footage as the trailer features exclusivly what looks to be just cinematics. However, if you’re following the plot of the franchise you’ll be intrigued to hear that Nod head-honcho Kane makes an appearance in said trailer.

EA has no set release date for Command & Conquer 4 but they hope to have it hit the market sometime in 2010. Will the game have what it takes to oust Blizzard’s forthcoming Starcraft II? We’ll have to wait and find out.

BlizzCon 2009 Live Stream available for pre-order

Didn’t get a ticket to BlizzCon? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Luckily, Blizzard, RayV and DirecTV are offering over 16 hours of the event live for $39.95.

Below is what will be included during the live stream:

Exclusive interviews and commentary

Main stage presentations including opening ceremony

Tournament coverage and team highlights

Additionally, you will be given the exclusive BlizzCon 2009 WoW in-game pet; Grunty the Murloc Marine.

Read (RayV)

Starcraft 2 fans petition Blizzard to add LAN support

First Blizzard announced that Starcraft 2 would not feature LAN support, fans were discouraged, then Blizzard defended them not adding LAN support and fans were still discouraged. Finally, those who were discouraged banded together and did the only thing they could do; formed a petition.

There is currently over 25,000 signatures and the guys who put it together really put some effort into it, breaking down and explaining exactly why Blizzard should re-add LAN support.

Will this work? Probably not. Is it the effort that counts? You bet.

Read (PetitionOnline)

Blizzard says no LAN in Starcraft II is best idea

There was somwhat of an uproar from the community when Blizzard announced that they would not be featuring LAN support in their forthcoming RTS, Starcraft II.

Below is their reasoning for removing LAN, mentioning Battle.net and piracy:

“We don’t currently plan to support LAN play with StarCraft II, as we are building Battle.net to be the ideal destination for multiplayer gaming with StarCraft II and future Blizzard Entertainment games,” confirms a Blizzard rep. “While this was a difficult decision for us, we felt that moving away from LAN play and directing players to our upgraded Battle.net service was the best option to ensure a quality multiplayer experience with StarCraft II and safeguard against piracy.

“Several Battle.net features like advanced communication options, achievements, stat-tracking, and more, require players to be connected to the service, so we’re encouraging everyone to use Battle.net as much as possible to get the most out of StarCraft II. We’re looking forward to sharing more details about Battle.net and online functionality for StarCraft II in the near future.”

Regardless if its the best idea or not, Starccraft II is sure to be a highly competitve game which means a lot of tournaments. Without LAN tournament organizers are going to have 1 more problem to deal with, bummer.

Read (Destructoid)

WoW held up StarCraft 2 progress

It’s just not Blizzard’s day today, is it? Word comes from Eurogamer that the studio held up the release of its highly anticipated sequel to StarCraft for World of Warcraft.

Rob Pardo told the site that development on the sequel had begun in 2003 and that there had been a playable build since 2005. However, it was held up due to the appearance of World of Warcraft which saw a fair amount of the design team moving to MMO project to help finish the game.

Apparently, these people had lots of great experience and had knowledge and know-how to fix map editor problems, as well as dealing with balancing.

Now you know who to hate for holding up StarCraft 2. The original was released back in 1998. It’s been eleven years since then.

Blizzard: no LAN support in StarCraft 2

Sure to strike legions of stinky nerds who like to huddle in a single, hot room to play videogames competitively, it appears that Blizzard does not have any plans to add LAN multiplayer support to StarCraft 2.

This comes from different previews of the game on Kotaku and IncGamers, both of whom checked out the new Battle.net, the solo campaign and more. When they asked about multiplayer LAN play, this is what they received as an answer: “We will not support it.”

The studio additionally pointed out that there is “zero percent” chance of seeing the game on consoles.

If the news got you down, Joystiq adds salt to the wound by showing seven minutes of multiplayer play from the game. Go cry in the corner, you.

Blizzard shooting for 09 Starcraft II release

Despite beating around the bush every which way they can, Blizzard has finally come out and said during an investor webcast that they are hoping to have StarCraft II on shelves by the end of this year.

Joystiq quotes Blizzard president Mike Morhaime as saying:

“We’re targeting an end of year release this year for StarCraft II. But as always, we won’t release it until it meets our standards and the expectations of our players.”

So there is it, while it’s not completely definite its at least more definite that StarCraft II will in fact be hitting shelves by the end of the year, or so they hope. As for the beta? Still slated to be released sometime this summer.

Blizzard giving away Blizzcon tickets through fansites

Now don’t get your hopes up too high because unfortunately we weren’t able to secure any Blizzcon tickets to give away to you guys, the readers. Fortunately, there is a slew of websites that were more fortunate than us and were able to get their hands on some Bilzzcon tickets to give away.

Below is a compiled list of all known fan sites holding Blizzcon ticket giveways, courtesy of Starcraft Wire:

StarcraftWire.net – Giveaway 1 – Giveaway 2

BlizzPlanet

Diii.net – (coming soon)

Diablo-Source

StarCraft-Source

inStarCraft

StarCraft II Australia

StarCraft 2 Source

TankSpot

World of Raids

WoW Interface

So, you won’t be getting a Blizzcon ticket from us but at least you still have the opportunity to get your hands on one while Blizzard prepares to put some more up for sale.

You can read more about Blizzard’s annual convention, Blizzcon, here.

Starcraft II external beta coming this summer

Remember how we told you a few days ago that you could sign up for the Starcraft II beta? Well, that signup may be put to use sooner than we thought.

In a recent Activision Blizzard earnings call, Blizzard President Mike Morhaime was quoted to say that Starcraft II’s external beta testing will take place this summer.

So yes, this means that the general public (those who signed up) will actually get access to a beta form of Starcraft II. Hell, maybe us simple folk (those who didn’t sign up) will be treated to an open beta.

Hey, we can wish, can’t we?

Read (VG247)

New Starcraft II beta opt-in emerges

Want to increase your chances of getting access to the Starcraft II beta? Here’s how — Blizzard has recently announced that there will be an all new chance for Starcraft II enthusiasts to get access to the upcoming beta.

First and foremost, you must have a Battle.net account. After you have secured one of those you are going to want to head here, the beta profiles page. Once there, you will find an option to download a utility that will determine your system specs and upload them to Battle.net. Finally, check off Starcraft II and click Update Preferences.

While this won’t gaurantee your access to the Starcraft II beta, it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

Read (Kotaku)

Starcraft 2 beta coming this year

A member of StarCraft 2’s dev team has recently stopped by the game’s official forums to clear up some confusion surrounding the game and it’s release date.

While Blizzard has always used the ‘when it’s done’ philosophy when considering a release date for a game, Dustin Browder has said the beta for the game will in fact be made available in 2009.

As for the release of the final game? Well, it’s ”in the final stretch” according to Browder. Hopefully that means Starcraft 2 will be released this year or early next. 

Read (Joystiq)

Blizzard: StarCraft 2 in Final Stretch

Work on StarCraft 2 is going smooth and is “in the final stretch”, according to lead developer Dustin Browder, also known to the Blizzard community as “Cavez”. He dropped this tidbit while answering frequently asked questions over on BlizzBlues.

“When we know a date (for anything) for certain, we’ll let you know,” he wrote. “We don’t want to lie about the Beta, and we don’t even want to lie about the next Battle Report… Let’s be realistic. Our target dates are not something we hit more than half the time.”

He added that “unless something crazy happens” they are going to start the multiplayer beta this year. This is in line with quotes by Blizzard COO Paul Sam, who noted the beta would be coming in the months ahead.

StarCraft II in the Coming Months

Comments made by Blizzard COO Paul Sams during an Activision earnings call reveals that the best test for their highly anticipated strategy sequel StarCraft II will be released in the “months ahead”.

He added that an early version of the new Battle.net architecture will be included in the beta test. Testers have already been chosen, as those who attended BlizzCon 2008 received a voucher for beta access.

Sams, however, would not reveal when the studio plans on releasing the first of the three upcoming titles. He did confirm that a major “frontline” Blizzard title will be released this year. Diablo 3, anyone?