Blizzard Presents SC2 in China 03.14.2008
Blizzard is presenting Starcraft 2 in China today. Information is still being translated by yogomove of our forums, but we do have a few pictures and two Q&A's covering some excellent content.
Q&A Part 1
How large will the replays of SC2 be? Will it be possible for us to "jump" to certain time point during watching?
For the reason of sharing and uploading onto internet, replays won't be too large. Replays only record game process by commands AIs and players had made (just like those of original SC and War3), so jumping to certain time point will not be possible.
Will there be Battle.net in China? If so, will it be set up at the same time SC2 is released in China?
The Chinese market is very important to us, so Battle.Net China will surely be set up; but about the time, the only thing I can say is that I hope it will be as soon as possible.
After official release of SC2, will games between players to be held only through Battle.Net, or will Intranet games still be allowed? Will the game be modified in order not to support games on those popular platforms? (Translator's note: for there is currently no Battle.Net in China, most of SC and War3 games between players are played on those platforms, and these platform softwares are thought to be damaging Blizzard's copyright)
Battle.Net will provide players with perfect game experience, while at the same time we've improved a lot on it's functionality. It is not convenient to tell you more about this problem here and now, but Battle.Net will be the best platform to experience Blizzard games.
As you have just said, Battle.Net will improve and users will get better experience, will Blizzard consider to make Battle.Net no longer free?
Our first goal is to better the game now; commercial things shall be considered only after the game is perfect. In long term, the billing method will be decided differently according to features of individual locations.
Has Blizzard considered to add more functions on game observing, in order to make more people able to watch live broadcast?
We have noticed this, and observation method of SC2 will be quite different from our older games. Yes, it will be much more powerful.
It's good to know some video details on what will be required for Starcraft 2. Replays are big issue and a lot of fans aren't happy that you can't rewind, but as big of a feature that is, if Blizzard is willing to sacrifice it for some other features they mentioned in another Q&A session, what exactly are those features?
Q&A Part 2
What will Blizzard say to players who use bugs or "special tricks" in game, i.e. using Starcraft's engine problem to morph zergling to mutalisk?
We define this as exploiting. When we find these actions lowering funs of playing, we fix them asap. For SC2, the game has already designed many things which need tricks, i.e. Infestor.
Will SC2 be altered in order to enter Chinese market?
We are discussing this problem with local partners and the Blizzard China. Blizzard is to provide worldwide players with equal and fair game environment, but we have to consider localization elements.
Blizzard will be directly responsible for SC2's release in Korea, will this be the case in China?
Details are still being discussed, and not decided yet. (Translator's note: Chinese government forbids any foreign game publisher to publish their online game directly in China, and restricts those foreign game companies with online games to enlarge their company in China.)
What will be the requirement of the game?
For the game is still refining, we cannot decide it yet. But the game used Pixel Shader 2.0, your system has to support it in order to run the game; also your video card shall be higher than GForce 5200.
Have you any plan to ensure balance of three races?
Blizzard has a very strict way to test balance; from closed alpha, closed beta, in-company beta, beta for friends and families of Blizzard members, to public test, we collect data and feedback step by step to fix balance.
Will there be a open beta for SC2 in future?
The detailed testing plan is not decided yet, we cannot say now that it will be an open test or a closed one, and same to the question whether this testing will include players of certain region or whole globe as testers.
Does release of SC2 developing plan mean that Blizzard has turned its attention from WOW to SC2?
Our eyes are focused on all games we developed, including providing patches for games released thousands of years ago.
What about the most important thing Blizzard consider of choosing Chinese partner?
Chemistry goes first. After that, there should be same goals. Goals of Blizzard includes providing players with better service and high-quality game experience, and our partner shall hold the same view.
10 years of Starcraft has passed, and millions of players love this game. Will there be any plan for Blizzard to make movies or cartoons base on these settings?
No detailed plan yet, but this idea sounds really cool.
What projects are Blizzard doing at the moment?
Patches of WOW, Diablo II, and as what we've done during past ten years----Starcraft.
Today we've tried the multiple player part of the game, so how is the process of single player campaign?
Today we are supposed to share Zerg with all of you, so we won't talk much of single player campaign. But campaign will be of a tree-shape arrangement, players can choose different passages, different level-ups and different bonuses during their playing. The frameworks of the game is done, but the order of three campaigns matching different races has not been decided yet.
Will SC2 introduce macros, as WOW did?
No, for we would like it to be a highly-competitive game, instead of "push a button and burn enemy base to ground in a sec".
Can you tell us about the development team?
About 40 guys and girls are doing development of SC2, 1/3 are programmers, 1/3 are artists, 1/3 are designers. Members of the team come from Korea, China, America and Europe, some of them are pro gamers.
Blizzard has clearly covered their bases when it comes to staffing their development team with a wide variety of areas of expertise. There's some interesting content here.
Q&A Part III
What does Blizzard think of pirated software, especially when looking at SC2?
Pirated software is a serious problem to deal with. One of our points now is to build a player community around Battle.Net which repulses pirate players on their own.
It is said that SC2 is chosen for WCG2008 competition games, what will you say about it?
We've heard that SC2 is voted by players, we are surely glad about the number of our supporters; but Blizzard cannot make any promise about it before the game is released.
It is said that Starcraft: Ghost has revived, is it true?
Revived? This project is never announced to be dead or cancelled officially.
Which race do you like best, Frank?
Terran, for I am old and slow, which is suitable for the style of Terran.
Last week it is rumored Blizzard has moved to new offices.
Yes, but the new ones are still in Irvine.
It is also rumored that the area of offices has enlarged for 65%, does that mean Blizzard is planning to increase the number of their employees?
Before that Blizzard had four working sites in Irvine, and some of them became way too crowded, so we moved somewhere larger. Though the office is still way crowded.
Will Queen Sarah Kerrigan be back in SC2?
Definitely yes.
It's a shame we didn't get any confirmation on Starcraft: Ghost. Although, it hasn't been officially canceled.
