Q&A batches have already stated they aren't even in Beta yet. It's October and this is Blizzard we're talking about. They would need at least 3 months to beta test and 3 months to execute changes based on feedback. You're looking at a minimum of half a year after they announce beta. They are definately not releasing in 2008. Maybe by Christmas next year, but doubtful that it'll be any earlier than that.

I'm going to be severely pissed if the majority of selected SC2 beta testers are WC3 fags.

Blizzard wouldn't do that. The majority will be WoW fags.

yea, i just hope that SC2 will be nicer as red alert 3. But i must say that RA3 has a good graphic engine and is nice to play, but sadly EA is pushing this games out, and so does the MP suck and has many bugs. red alert would be much better if Westwood makes them...

Souuu... i was to lacy to read all those posts but i at least have read the first one....
my informations are: spring 09....
this winter wow wrath of the lich king will appear... crap... and blizzard wont send
two games at the same time on the market, they would make less money if they do so
so: winter of this year cant be possible.

anyway: i think that SC2 is easier to create as wow addon
at sc2 is the most work balancing, and that dont need a whole year...
tell me sth different i wont belive it....

the sc2 mainpage's update is also more then a month ago... SUCKS -.-
uhh... i hate to get so less informations as blizzard is giving us...

Back to the theme: i dont belive that octobre 09 is the right date; i think it comes out
at the summer the latest! at all those screenshots SC2 looks very finished, or?

i bet about spring - summer 09, who will "contra-bet?"

i think you`re right but SC2 is much more as just balancing. The new Units and the battle.net and dont forget the Singleplayer! Starcraft 2 will be 3D that calls more time for modeling. WOWwrath of the lichthing has not a "real" story.
Oh, correct me when im wrong, but i heart that just 40 People are working on SC2.

not at all!
3d is easier to model, because you only require one 3d model, not like in SC 16 frames per Unit-GRP [at least 16]

ex. you`r right i didn`t ever model 3D graphics. But i think it is easyer to model 2D BUT it tooks more time as 3D models, so i think your right

Sprites are still easier though because you don't have to worry about technical limits of computers and getting the best look with the lowest polygon count. You don't have to fumble around with LOD's or find the right quality of texture for each model, etc. You also don't need as complex an engine. To sum things up, there's a very good reason why games are taking longer and longer to make.

The original Starcraft used 3D models as well, it's just that instead of the CPU calculating a 3D model, the hard drive loads up pre-rendered images of the 3D model (rotated 17 times). However, with sprites you do not have to worry about polygon limits, whereas with live 3D models the engine can only handle so many polygons. Thus, model complexity is limited by the specs of their target end-user system.

There is a lot that goes on with game development. Graphics are only one aspect of the entire process. The screenshots look complete because they are only going to display screenshots of things they have completed. They are not going to show you images of their half-finished map for Act 3, or the rough storyboard sketches for the ending cinematic they haven't started.

Not to mention a lot of the art isn't even fully refined yet, because the artists can't work on them until their design and function is finalized. Blizzard is still in the rough process of adding and cutting units that aren't working well in gameplay tests. Last Q&A I read stated the art team was only working on Act 1 of Singleplayer, meanwhile the design team was working fervently on Act 3. They have to ensure the gameplay works very well before they commit the time and resources of developing high-quality art. If an artist spends several weeks modeling, texturing, rigging, and animating a unit only to have that unit cut, that's time the artist could have devoted to something else that is guaranteed to be in the game, and thus contributes to the end-user experience.

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Post has been edited 6 time(s), last time on Oct 8 2008, 10:04 pm by Hercanic.

The game will be released soon.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

Next year soon. I still hold my April 1st prediction.

8 Months isn't so bad.

I concur.

Probably never!

Eh? October? i haven't heard that one, last time i checked the pre-order was suppose to be December 2008, but a month ago they removed the pre-order date, anyway at the moment thier working on balancing, the campaign is probably done.

I had the feeling that blizzard gave SC2 up just a while ago.
But actually... I think the terran-release will be in spring-sommer 09.. hopefully... if not... blizzard is too lazy

But seriously, I think everyone's better off forgetting about SC2 until it's released.