Life After the Beta: Waiting For StarCraft 2

I was excited to see the first commercial released for StarCraft 2 since I had the luck to be included in the Beta testing phase that ended at the beginning of June.

The Waiting Makes it Worse

With such a long waiting period for a new release, there are always huge expectations. Take the Star Wars prequels for example, where years and years of waiting ended up in bitter disappointment when George Lucas failed to produce a quality product.

However, the difference between Star Wars and StarCraft is that Blizzard actually cares about what its fan base says, and has proved as much by opening the StarCraft 2 Beta to thousands of users. Those familiar with the original version, a large portion of who still play it on a regular basis, understand that there is a vast difference between the cinematic elements that are such a focus of the commercials, and the actual game play. If you’re looking for the game basics and fundamentals to have changed from Starcraft to Starcraft 2, then prepare to be disappointed. Unlike Lucas, Blizzard has maintained the game’s core integrity and resisted the urge to sell out under pressure. Don’t get me wrong, there are huge improvements in the “tech tree”, completely new units, and improved graphics and 3D modeling, but the basic game is still intact and just as addictive as ever.

A Careful Balancing Act

One of the main focuses of the Beta was to ensure that each race was carefully balanced through build time, unit cost and abilities to ensure that there are no “Zergling Rushes” that spoil game play. Incrementally, updates were applied to the Beta, adding or removing abilities and tweaking in game elements to ensure that no one race could dominate the others with an unfair advantage.

Leveraging Leagues and Placement

Another issue that seasoned players are familiar with in the original StarCraft is fixed in the sequel. In the previous version, you never knew if you would be playing playing against someone who couldn’t operate a mouse or a seasoned veteran with the potential to obliterate you with an unreal amount of units in less time than it took for you to build a single barrack. The Beta showed an intense interest in the balancing of players into leagues so that you can play against people relatively around your skill level.

In the new version, after starting you off with 5 starter matches against complete novices, on specially designed maps that slow down game play, you’re placed and scored on each match you win or lose. After even just a few rounds of being completely annihilated, when you score that first victory you’ll be fully hooked and eager for the next match.

You can mix it up playing 1 on 1 upwards to 4 on 4 players, with each a completely different experience as tactics and strategies shift. The league placement makes it possible for you to continue to improve your skills while avoiding frustrating scenarios where you couldn’t possibly win time and time again.

Online RTS VS. MMORPG

The part of Starcraft 2 they opened to Beta was the online multiplayer, so I can’t speak to the concerns about storyline and cinematics not matching up to related gameplay, but I can say that I am already missing having access to the game since the Beta closed to prepare for the full release. The real benefit of the match based real-time strategy game is that you can easily play just a couple of short quick rounds without having to plan an entire day or weekend organizing a raid. If “husband duties” call my name, then I can wrap up that match and go back to the real world in a matter of minutes.

Watching the Calendar

While you wait for the release you can take an entrance Exam for the Terran Dominion, or even join in a Propaganda campaign for some prizes. I eagerly anticipate the full release of StarCraft 2, and hopefully Blizzard can learn from Lucas’s mistakes and hope that it doesn’t have a Jar Jar Binks included to mess up their long anticipated return.

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Global threats face Internet freedoms

Online freedoms appear to be under threat across the world — with the exception of Australia where a national Internet filter has been shelved.

The European Parliament has voted to approve a call for search engines to keep records of all online activity (in the same way as internet service providers), a move billed as being designed “to tackle online child pornography and sex offending”. The move doesn’t create a law but calls on the European Commission and Council of Ministers to force European countries to change national laws.

There does appear to be some confusion, however. The Italian politician behind the move (speaking to a Swedish website, so take Google’s translation with a double dose of skepticism) says the changes are designed to affect sites such a Facebook and YouTube rather than search engines.

Asked why he used the term “search engines” in the document, he replied (taken word for word from Google Translate) “I did it partly because I wanted that the matter would be addressed. But also because I write about search engine all know what this is about, you do not I write about content providers.” Minus the dodgy translation, it appears he is saying the document used the term “search engine” because it is better known. That doesn’t seem a very sensible approach to what could be the basis of legislation.

Meanwhile Thailand is cracking down on websites “deemed to be defamatory to the monarchy”, having so far closed 43,000 such sites. The government has warned that internet service providers must comply with official demands or lose their license.

And Pakistan is reportedly investigating whether Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg bears any criminal responsibility for the site’s pages featuring depictions of the prophet Muhammad which led it to being blocked in the country. While it’s highly unlikely to go that far, the investigation is said to be centered on the offense of blasphemy, which can carry the death penalty in the country.

So for those in the Northern hemisphere wanting to avoid both the upcoming shortening evenings and the threat of online restrictions, Australia might be the place to be. A government plan to block sites which appear on an unpublished blacklist now looks unlikely to make it into legislation in the immediate future. The governing party appears to have decided that it won’t risk bringing in new laws and raising a controversy that would still be fresh during national elections expected later this year.

Earth: The Pale Blue Dot

Titled after one of Carl Sagan’s famous speeches, The Pale Blue Dot (if you’ve never heard it, I strongly suggest that you check it out), the following time-lapse video was produced by motion graphics artist Michael Marantz to pay homage not only to our planet, but to the resilience of the human spirit. Truly a fitting tribute to the beauty of our world.

Five Things You Should Never Say to Your D&D Party

A few months ago I wrote a post about things you should never say to your DM during a D&D—or any RPG–campaign. And while the DM wields the most power, you can’t underestimate the importance of good group rapport. Over the last two years I’ve absolutely lucked out with a fantastic group of players. We all have very different playing styles, but we have a great dynamic. And a huge part of our success has to do with mutual respect and a general understanding of our individual playing styles and preferences.

But until this fantastic group,  I hadn’t had the best luck with groupings in the past. Finding good party members is a balancing act at best, and can quickly spiral into ultimate fail—something about personal characters and competition that can just bring out the worst in people.

Yet, I think that many of the issues cropping up around the D&D table can be avoided with just a little etiquette. So, here’s some tips to bring peace to your D&D party, some general suggestions to keep in mind before you roll the dice.

“Man, looks like I’m going to take care of this boss all by myself the way I’m rolling!”
Don’t gloat.
It’s a game. We’re all at the mercy of the dice. But if the paladin next to you can’t seem to roll over a three, don’t rub it in that you’ve just rolled two crits and are on your way to destroying every last creature on the board single handedly. If your party member is in trouble, it’s your job—as a group—to help them out. Making them feel bad only adds to frustration and can lead to a boiling pot atmosphere. Instead of offering jibes pointing out the low rolls, how about thinking of ways your character can aid them. Or just offer some words of comfort. We all know how fickle the dice are, and pointing out someone’s bad day is just uncool.

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The Rise of Social Gaming & Zynga [Infographic]

The rise of Facebook and MySpace has brought with it a rise in “Social Gaming” – free to play games, often played by “casual gamers.” While these players do not spend money on platforms or subscriptions, they spend small dollards buying virtual goods. When you have a user base of 235 million, the little stuff adds up.

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Google’s Napping Pods Look Awesome

I’m totally jealous of the people working at Google right now. Check this out:

Yes, this is what Googlers call an “energy pod”. I personally know quite a few people who’d use that thing extensively. Heck, I’d even set one up in my home if I could! Not sure my wife would consent though considering the device’s retail price: $8000.

[Via ft.com | EnergyPod]

Amazing Batman Short Fan Film: City of Scars [Video]

When the Joker escapes from Arkham and murders the parents of a young boy, Batman recalls the pain of losing his own parents as a child. He is pushed past his limits to the point where his focus becomes revenge on all who stand in his way, including many of Gotham’s underworld. Finally, Batman is forced to look at the psychological profile of his own mind and accept the consequences of his life to find resolve.

Thanks Sherry!