In Regards to Starcraft II
 

At this point Starcraft II is both something I am anticipating and dreading. There is obvious a unique emphasis this time around on units with very specific roles, which has already seen the downfall of the dragoon, and the firebat (at least in the form we knew them), and there is discussion on if they are going to end up removing the Hydralisk. The graphics look beautiful, the new units so far are imaginative... but so far I just don't feel like I'm actually watching a sequel to starcraft... it just feels more like an excuse to test a dozen new game physics calculations.

I feel like this game could easily go one of two ways... either it is going to end up being everything a Starcraft II should be, and it will astound and amaze everybody... or... it could just be a completely different incarnation, something so altered that it doesn't even feel the same anymore.

Personally, I think it is all really going to depend on what they come up with for the zerg. They have almost unlimited room to work with here, dealing with a purely biological species, so I am hoping that the zerg are something incredible.

Starcraft was great for many reasons. For one, it was PERFECTLY balanced. Every race was equal to the others at the end of the day... that kind of precision is going to be very hard to recreate in a new system with all kinds of new units.

I'm really hoping that Blizzard pulls this off, because I WILL be buying this no matter what, but it would definately be even better if it turned out to be everything I ever dreamed it would be.

you know what a really great alternative to playing Starcraft II is? playing Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War, since Blizzard took all thier ideas from that anyway.

on a much less calaous note, i'm not expecting them to re-invent the wheel. they struck gold on thier first attempt, and i'm not sure what Bliz can to do improve upon the game without throwing something out of ballance. it seems to be more a matter of refining the original gameplay into a faster, more intense and larger-scale game. but i guess we allready knew that.

Starcraft was okay for the time it was released, so I imagine Starcraft II will be okay too.

I doubt it will be the best anything, though.

I'm just hoping for a continuation on the Duran/Xel'Naga storyline.

What? So, yeah, the storyline is really all I wanna see. I don't care what else they changed, just tell me what happens with Duran's Zer'Toss experiments in your usual Blizzardy way, and I'm cool with it.

Thanks - I've been waiting for a chance to use this one:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...h/20060410.jpg

That being imaged, I don't agree with you that Warcraft stole the entire concept of Warhammer. That's like saying David Blaine is ripping off David Copperfield - they're both magicians, but they've each got their own tricks and fanbases.

Blizzard is the Carlos Mencia of Intellectual Property.

They need to change the gameplay somewhat to justify making a sequel. Except the obligatory graphical overhaul and new story, if it had the same exact units and balance between the races it wouldn't really be a true sequel. Hopefully the changes they make aren't BAD, though, but some change is better than no change at all even if the changes were "bad".

First of all:
I have and play Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War.

I prefer Starcraft.
1. It has a plotline other than "you're all here fighting, get used to it."
2. I like the resource management systems you have to develop in Starcraft
3. Every race in Starcraft is unique and seperate from the others.
Did Blizzard copy warhammer? Yes, they did... with Warcraft: Orcs and Humans. Were the Zerg inspired by the Tyranids? Definitely. ARE the Zerg Tyranids? No, they are something unique and well-developed.
Warhammer has plenty of perks though, the squad system, for one example, and the Necrons will ALWAYS be unbeatable in my eyes. Would a Necron army defeat a zerg army?
...sweet jesus I'd pay to see that battle... provided that you have an ARMADA of Pariah's and Flayed Ones and MASSIVE hordes of scarab swarms standing by the stave off the initial zergling rush.

Secondly, I'm really hoping they make it all work. Like I said, I am buying this because I want to know how the story ends.. but I'd really appreciate it if it turned out to be a replacement for Starcraft in my eyes... but idk if that will really be possible.

Also, after what he did to Warcraft lore becaus he "forgot," pray to god they don't allow Chris Metzen within 100 meters of any meeting involving Starcraft II... otherwise it will probably end up that the Xel'Naga were actually humans from Atlantis, and Kerrigan is going back to earth to raid their city of its power and thus become immortal.

If by plotline you mean ridiculously cliched characters who consistently make terrible, yet highly predictable decisions, and an overall story that is highly formulaic.

I guess my main problem was there was no one to identify with. All the characters were assholes. Which is kind of annoying when I have to play as them.

I expect Blizzard will keep the balance mostly in check. They know that's why so many people liked Starcraft. With all the new units, there's got to be change, but I don't think they'd let balance slip away for the sake of something new.