In the original StarCraft, during the progress of upgrading a Spire to a Greater Spire or a Hatchery into a Lair reveals that the building becomes covered again with a large oval shaped skin. In the final build of StarCraft II, I believe that these buildings will not have such covering and you are able to see the progress of it growing without the need of selecting it. The same can go to Creep Colonies forming into either a Sunken or a Spore Colony.

The reason I have thought of this is because of WarCraft III when a Town Hall upgrading into a Keep then onto the Castle. Another building would be the Great Hall upgrading into a Stronghold then onto the Fortress. The player does not need to select the following buildings as mentioned to see their progress of upgrading it as it can easily be seen right in front of your eyes.

So, expect some hatcheries growing some tusks in the process and a spire forming a thicker layer into a greater spire. The same can go to the Creep Colonies, you can expect it to grow tentacles as it turns into a Sunken Colony or having it form a bit larger as it turns into a Spore Colony. I am 90% positive that you will see Zerg structures grow such appearance than covered by a large oval shaped skin.

And to be honest, I only think the use of the large oval shaped skin are for drones turning into structures. Hell, I'd be surprised to see the drones stretches their skin to create the large oval shaped skin appearance.

they almost look like tumors growing.

Quote from KrayZee

And to be honest, I only think the use of the large oval shaped skin are for drones turning into structures. Hell, I'd be surprised to see the drones stretches their skin to create the large oval shaped skin appearance.

Which is why it takes two minutes for hatcheries to finish building!

Quote from BeDazed

they almost look like tumors growing.

So true...


In all end, I agree with KrAzY.

Just to let anyone know, this is a heads up upgraded appearance.

I don't understand. Are you just imagining what Starcraft 2 -might- be like?

Quote from Esponeo

I don't understand. Are you just imagining what Starcraft 2 -might- be like?

No. The point of this topic reveals a large detail in the Zerg structures that will obviously appear in the final build (If not beta) of StarCraft II. It isn't just imagining, it's a thorough prediction of a fraction of what the final build of StarCraft II will definitely have. I don't have any doubts on this at all.

Don't the creep colonies kind of not exist anymore?

Anyway, I think they might keep the tumor-like appearance. Just as you don't see a caterpillar sprout wings and become a butterfly, or a hydralisk getting shorter and growing more legs to become a lurker, I don't think you'll see buildings just transforming. I think that the skin that grows over is a bit like an egg, or a chrysalis.

Yeah but a drone is still used to morph the new shit.

Quote from FatalException

Don't the creep colonies kind of not exist anymore?

Anyway, I think they might keep the tumor-like appearance. Just as you don't see a caterpillar sprout wings and become a butterfly, or a hydralisk getting shorter and growing more legs to become a lurker, I don't think you'll see buildings just transforming. I think that the skin that grows over is a bit like an egg, or a chrysalis.

The eggs are a different story. Especially the lurker egg in the original StarCraft, the wireframe is a lot different than the unit one. So that we all can assume it is still incomplete. And of course, why would Blizzard get rid of the egg?

As for the buildings, hatcheries turning into lairs will not have a tumor-like appearance during the process of upgrading it. It is pretty obvious through the appearance of the Lairs, it just grew tusks and that is basically it. What is the point of the tumor-like appearance just to have tusks? And if you notice, any race building on Vespene Geysers in StarCraft II, it removes the Geyser and begins the production of the structure. That is obvious of a placeholder, it is obvious that there will be a Geyser underneath those productions in the final build.

And one last thing, the developers of StarCraft II are the ones behind WarCraft III, not the original StarCraft. They tried to adapt from WarCraft III such as the multiple building selection, idle peons, shared control (Team Melee SC-style does not exist in WC3), inventory, blink, and so on into StarCraft II. And the topic that I'm making here is pretty obvious:

You should take a look of these structures yourself.

WarCraft III
Town Hall --» Keep --» Castle
Scout Tower --» Arcane Tower or Guard Tower or Cannon Tower

Great Hall --» Stronghold --» Fortress

Tree of Life --» Tree of Ages --» Tree of Eternity

Necropolis --» Halls of the Dead --» Black Citadel
Ziggurat --» Nerubian Tower or Spirit Tower


StarCraft II
Command Center --» Surveillance Station or Planetary Fortress

Hatchery --» Lair --» Hive
Spire --» Greater Spire

Gateway --» Warp Gate

I don't really care what they do with the graphics.... so long as I can tell what's morphing and what's done. The "tumors" made that VERY EASY. The last thing I want to happen is to make bad decisions in-game over because I think a 20% done Zerg building hasn't started morphing or an 80% Zerg building is done.

Quote from Mini Moose 2707

I don't really care what they do with the graphics.... so long as I can tell what's morphing and what's done. The "tumors" made that VERY EASY. The last thing I want to happen is to make bad decisions in-game over because I think a 20% done Zerg building hasn't started morphing or an 80% Zerg building is done.

Yes but I doubt this feature is a bad decision. It also reveals the progression of upgrading structures without the need to select. Of course people are going to care.

You can speculate all you want Blizzard is going to change the way it is now, they may change the visual appearance of the 'tumors' but thats it. Its much easier to see a hatchery going to lair than a Town Hall going to Keep. Starcraft has its own methods of doing things just like Warcraft has its own. If you ever played Warcraft 2 you would realize that showing Hall -> Keep is a Warcraft unique thing and that Starcraft has its own styles of showing change.

Quote from chuiu

You can speculate all you want Blizzard is going to change the way it is now, they may change the visual appearance of the 'tumors' but thats it. Its much easier to see a hatchery going to lair than a Town Hall going to Keep. Starcraft has its own methods of doing things just like Warcraft has its own. If you ever played Warcraft 2 you would realize that showing Hall -> Keep is a Warcraft unique thing and that Starcraft has its own styles of showing change.

The tumors may remain though, I'm talking about upgrading structures.

So am I.