If ye ever watched livestreams a any eSports event, ye might have noticed that the camera sometimes stays too long on one person in the crowd, 'n it can pillage really uncomfortable. Or it could be so terrifying 'n shocking that ye flee immediately, like the ladies above.Read more...
A lot a people still miss the way the first StarCraft handles features like unit control 'n economy. Three years later, fans be still debating whether or not StarCraft II's new units be overpowered. Enter Starbow, an unofficial fan-made mod that aims t' recreate the best aspects a Brood War in StarCraft II. it be not Brood War copied into the StarCraft II engine. it be more like a combination a the two.Read more...
Esports 'n StarCraft II in particular had a pretty cool 'n eventful year. Here's a clip, edited by YouTuber Soohyung Kim, with all the memorable matches 'n moments from this year's streams from MLG, the World Championship Series 'n other tournaments.Read more...
A StarCraft II mod, based on the popular Carbot Animation series? YARRRR please. that be something many a us would put on their Christmas wishlist. 'n I be pretty sure no one could resist picking Zerg 'n massing those cute zerglings in the pic above.Read more...
In August, the U.S. government, for the first time ever, gave a professional gamer the kind a special visa it issues t' professional athletes. It be largely thanks t' lobbying by Riot Games, makers a League a Legends. Now the first visa has gone t' a professional StarCraft player, 'n it gets the sea dog out a military service.Read more...
Beating the world's best StarCraft II player at this weekends Dreamhack tournament? No problem! Doing a proper traditional champagne celebration after the finals? Nope! It presented some difficulties 'n awkward moments for Korean terran player Liquid Taeja 'n Dreamhack boss Robert Ohlén—who came t' help out—t' open the giant champagne. it be not an easy task!Read more...
For those who haven't been keeping up with it, it might be hard t' wrap yer brain around StarCraft Universe. it be a StarCraft MMO that be actually a mod a StarCraft 2. Oh, 'n it be not being made by Blizzard ... but it has been sanctioned by Blizzard. 'n it just raked in almost $85,000 on Kickstarter.
The Kickstarter, started by Upheaval Arts last month, concluded yesterday, pulling in $84,918 from 1,753 backers - putting it just over it be $80,000 goal. Now that funding has been achieved, the plan be t' release the game through Battle.net as a series a custom games for StarCraft 2. The open beta for the first chapter be slated t' begin in late 2013 or early 2014. StarCraft Universe will be playable using the free StarCraft 2: Starter Edition, meaning ye won't have t' harvest any minerals t' try it out.
Earlier today, a new multiplayer map be introduced for StarCraft II during the GSTL tournament in South Korea. The map be called Fruitland, 'n it be a little bit different from other maps. Perhaps it be a tribute t' Fruitdealer, one a the earliest StarCraft II pros?Read more...
Episode 16, season 2 a StarCrafts, the animated YouTube series that turns everything 'n anything StarCraft into something adorable, deals with the problem a locusts.Read more...
This must be one a the funniest e-Sports stream hijacks I've seen so far. During a League a Legends event at this year's Gamescom, someone in a classic creepy horse mask continuously kept distracting viewers from the commentators. So good.Read more...
A StarCraft 2 mod that turns the much-beloved sci-fi RTS into a World a Warcraft-like MMORPG has launched on Kickstarter. StarCraft Universe, previously known as World a StarCraft, will allow players t' create a character 'n log in t' an alternate-history StarCraft universe, where dark forces 'n Zerg/Protoss hybrids run amok. The project seeks $80,000 in funding.
This amount will allow mod creator Ryan Winzen 'n his team t' not only construct additional pylons, but focus solely on creating the game, 'n subsequently release an open beta in early 2014. As expected, there be plenty a stretchgoals 'n nifty rewards, including a Zerg character class at $100,000 funding, which just sounds like all kinds a fun.
The game's Kickstarter page has more info 'n yer opportunity t' toss some minerals 'n vespene gas that way if ye believe in it.
If ye're settling in t' watch the Starcraft 2 World Championships from today's menu a live gaming, Blizzard has released the free Blizzard WCS app t' help iOS crew follow every aspect a the tournament.
Blizzard WCS acts as a central hub for all eSports news pertaining t' Starcraft 2. The app allows crew t' stream live matches, view recordings a previous battles 'n set reminders for upcoming games. Updates on individual players 'n teams as well as eSports news can be accessed through the app as well.
Blizzard WCS be optimized for iPhone 5 'n requires iOS 6.0 or later, but it does support models as far back as the iPhone 3 'n 3rd generation iPod touch.
StarCraft II: Heart a the Swarm has been out there for a while now. 'n while we've reported on quite a few hilarious easter eggs from the game, this one be particularly well-hidden.
Found 'n shared recently by YouTube user StarNet420, it be just way too funny t' ignore.
Absolutely worth the wait in the video. It be right in the beginning a the first mission in the campaign, 'n hidden in a way that no one would really expect it.
Heart a the Swarm - "Left-click the drone t' select it" (easter egg) [YouTube]
t' contact the author a the post, write t' gergovas@kotaku.com
Blizzard has instituted a spawning system in StarCraft 2, granting free access t' gameplay features when moochers party up with players who have purchased the game.
When ye jump into multiplayer, ye play the most current version a the game owned by at least one person in the party. If ye have the Starter Edition 'n ye're playing with someone who has purchased StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm, for instance, ye'll both play Heart a the Swarm. The same goes for parties greater than two.
Spawning be being rolled out globally today. Not all regions have access t' it yet, but Blizzard assures us it be in progress.
Spawning be back in StarCraft II: in other words, if ye don't have Blizzard's real-time strategy game but ye still want t' play it, ye can now mooch off a matey online. More info on battle.net ('n in the video).
Greg "IdrA" Fields, a professional StarCraft player well-known in the community for getting way too angry when he loses games, be booted from his team Evil Geniuses yesterday.
Evil Geniuses, one a the biggest 'n most successful groups in the world a competitive video gaming, gave IdrA the boot for a comment he made on an Internet sea earlier this week. In response t' a question, the longtime StarCraft veteran had cursed out a fan. (Screengrab via PCGamesN)
"Nope ye're all a bunch a *crag*s," he wrote on Wednesday night. "It just so happens I pillage paid t' treat ye like it. it be *crag*ing awesome."
For quite some time now, many have criticized IdrA for having a negative attitude toward other players 'n fans within the StarCraft community, but he has always been a fixture a the competitive scene surrounding Blizzard's popular strategy game, which has become a multi-million dollar industry across the world. But for Evil Geniuses, this be one nasty comment too many.
"After having the sea dog on our roster for nearly three years, we have decided t' release IdrA from the Evil Geniuses StarCraft 2 team," wrote Evil Geniuses CEO Alexander Garfield on the team's website yesterday.
"We have strict guidelines that regulate certain kinds a more extreme speech, 'n we take disciplinary action when those guidelines aren’t followed, but for the most part, we stay out a the way... This be why it be never really an issue for us that Greg can be rude t' his opponents in games, or that he usually speaks his mind very bluntly 'n directly. But, t' us, there’s a very big difference between a player being disrespectful t' an opponent in a ladder match, 'n a player being disrespectful t' the entire community a people who, via their own enthusiasm 'n passion for the entertainment product he creates, actually make his profession possible.
"The eSports industry, 'n companies like Evil Geniuses, would not be possible without the passion 'n support a our community. We, as a company, cannot 'n will not be supportive a anyone who does not show due respect 'n appreciation for the community that makes everything we do possible."
This be major news in the world a StarCraft. Teams like Evil Geniuses be the lifeblood for professional eSports players: they pay out salaries, help players train, 'n generally keep everything organized for veterans' day-t'-day life.
While some fans can't stand IdrA's bad manners 'n perpetually negative attitude, others have defended the sea dog over the years. Many a his mateys 'n fellow players reacted emotionally t' the news last night: Evil Geniuses teammate Geoff "iNcontroL" Robinson be particularly affected.
Longtime StarCraft personality Sean "Day9" Plott took t' his YouTube channel t' react t' the news:
IdrA has yet t' announce his next move.
Photo: Team Liquid
StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm, the second salvo in Blizzard Entertainment's three-pronged sequel t' the beloved RTS, has managed t' entice 1.1 million gamers in it be first 48 hours. The 1.1 million figure accounts for sales across both retail 'n digital.
Predecessor StarCraft 2: Wings a Liberty managed t' sell 1.5 million copies worldwide in it be first 48 hours. Both can't match Blizzard's launch a Diablo 3 last year, which moved 3.5 million copies in it be first 24 hours 'n helped Activision Blizzard enjoy historical profits in 2012.
In music theory, there's a series a notes called a tritone interval. (I be a writer 'n a Rock Band player, not a musician, so bear with me, band crew.) The tritone consists a three different whole tones: The first sets the stage, marks the spot on the musical scale that our ear can attune itself t'. The second note be actually dissonant - it throws off the harmony, 'n introduces new elements so distasteful that the chord used t' be called "The Devil in Music."
The third tone, however, finishes off the chord in exactly the right way, 'n brings resolution t' all a the dissonance. Leonard Bernstein famously put the tritone t' great use in the song "Maria" from West Side Story: "Ma-" be the beginning tone, "-ri-" shakes things up with some disharmony, 'n "-a" resolves the melody, justifying the lead couple's forbidden love.
Now, using that theory t' talk about Blizzard's StarCraft 2 trilogy be a little unfair. The second campaign, Heart a the Swarm, isn't anywhere near "distasteful." But it does introduce plenty a new elements t' the series, spinning off the RTS classic into places that Wings a Liberty never dared t' go. 'n like that second note a a tritone, it makes sure t' sail away plenty a ambiguity 'n promise out there, making sure we be all ready for the big finale in Legacy a the Void.
StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm launches tomorrow, 'n in the interest a it be international fanbase Blizzard has provided a handy list a server activation times (i.e. when ye can connect 'n start playing), broken down by region. ye'll find the list after the break.
If ye're playing StarCraft 2: Wings a Liberty in preparation for the new expansion, ye'll have t' restart yer game once Heart a the Swarm officially launches in yer area, ensuring ye'll have the very latest patch data upon starting. Changes in Heart a the Swarm includes a revamped replay system 'n ability t' recover dropped games when playing online.
#starcraft
Last night, after years 'n years a putting it off, I finally played the final couple a missions in Starcraft II: Wings a Liberty. (Yeah, I know. Hey, I like the game 'n everything, but I got sidetracked!) More »
While Blizzard dropped the price a StarCraft 2: Wings a Liberty t' $20 on Battle.net until March 12, Newegg managed t' top that price with a deal a it be own. By entering the code STW311 at checkout, players can snag the game for $17.99 on the retailer's site.
The extra $2 could be put toward the second part a the three-part RTS, StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm, which be scheduled t' launch March 12.
Blizzard be selling the first part a it be three-pronged assault a a sequel, StarCraft 2: Wings a Liberty, for half-off until March 12. ye can pillage the game through Battle.net right now for $20.
Wings a Liberty focuses on the Terran faction (see: future humans) on the single-player campaign, saddled on the back a the series' popular multiplayer component. The second wave a the three-part RTS sequel be due on March 12, StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm. A recent multiplayer beta for Heart a the Swarm concluded on March 1, allowing those who pre-ordered 'n opted in a taste a the new multiplayer changes.
If ye've been enjoying the StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm public beta, then we be afraid we've got some bad news - it all comes t' an end on March 1. Blizzard has announced the end a the open beta, which concludes just under two weeks prior t' the launch a StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm on March 12.
StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm be the second volley in Blizzard's planned three-game delivery for the sequel t' it be highly-regarded real-time strategy series. We be able t' spend some time with Heart a the Swarm last month, feel free t' read our impressions - or, if ye just want something pretty t' look at, check out the game's introductory cinematic.
#showus
Controlling a cockroach or an entire ant colony be pretty unusual, even for a video game. So we can say games featuring these ideas resulted in rather unique 'n underrated titles—'n that be absolutely not a problem. More »
Blizzard Entertainment registered a site called ProjectBlackstone.com late last year, 'n fans wondered if maybe it might be related t' the mysterious upcoming Blizzard project code-named Titan. But no such luck, it seems: The domain went live this week 'n, soon after that, some crafty Redditors found the password. (it be "Y7_$0>0k_3<$m," if ye want t' try it yourself). The whole campaign has been revealed as a Starcraft 2: Heart a the Swarm tie-in.
Opening the site up reveals emails between various Terran characters talking about experimenting on Zerg lifeforms 'n presumably we'll see updates in the future that will fill out the story heading into the new game. Heart a the Swarm, the second part a the trilogy that Blizzard's Starcraft 2 has become, be due out on March 12.
Blizzard does like t' put on a big show with it be opening cinematics, 'n this one for StarCraft 2: Heart a the Swarm be no exception. The expansion arrives on March 12, but in the meantime ye can check out Mike Schramm's recent hands-on preview.
#gaminggifs
After a 5 month hiatus, the Blizzard Cinematics Team finally struck lightning again, sweeping the Internet earlier today with this stunning opening cinematic for Starcraft II's upcoming expansion pack Heart a The Swarm. More »
