Q&A #10

[Turalyon]

Blizzard already admitted that they made mistakes with the choices in game and plan on fixing it in future releases.

"Fix" them? I can't see how they can without it getting further out of control. At the end of the day, the choices in WoL are inconsequential (in the scheme of WoL's story, it was padding that could be removed to no detriment) despite whole realities changing after making those choices. I'd be satisfied in just having them partially addressed in dialogue if not at all in HotS so as not to draw any more attention to their misconceived implementation in the first place.

[Visions of Khas]

Blizzard already admitted that they made mistakes with the choices in game and plan on fixing it in future releases.

"Fix" them? I can't see how they can without it getting further out of control.

You don't seem to understand, Imperial Guard. Mistakes are intolerable among gamers. All Blizzard can do to save what little honor they retain is to fall upon their sword model of Frostmourne. For it would be too easy to expect them to just learn from their mistakes and move on. Like mature people.

[Pr0nogo]

You don't seem to understand, Imperial Guard. Mistakes are intolerable among gamers. All Blizzard can do to save what little honor they retain is to fall upon their sword model of Frostmourne. For it would be too easy to expect them to just learn from their mistakes and move on. Like mature people.

They should die with their dying industry, but not because they've made a mistake in including inconsequential padding disguised as 'choices'. While that only added to the argument against their existence, Blizzard has long outlived their useful days and, much like every other detrimental institution in the world, must be eschewed from our social climate entirely. They have demonstrated immaturity and a stark inability to learn from their mistakes, ergo the Q&As attempting to fix problems with the lore that shouldn't exist in the first place and only resulting in more problems with their worlds. Before you attempt to play nonchalantly and condescendingly against the voices of reason, make sure you cloak yourself with a socially-acceptable form of stupidity, like religion or right-wing politics.

[Visions of Khas]

My entire post was sarcastic. However, I don't know which parts of your post are or are not.

So you honestly don't believe it's possible for them to re-evaluate their goals, successes and failures up to this point and try to improve upon them? You don't think they can take criticism and build upon it? This is an honest question, not a sarcastic one.

[Turalyon]

My entire post was sarcastic. However, I don't know which parts of your post are or are not.

So you honestly don't believe it's possible for them to re-evaluate their goals, successes and failures up to this point and try to improve upon them? You don't think they can take criticism and build upon it? This is an honest question, not a sarcastic one.

It's lucky I was able to see the sarcasm...

As to answering that "honest question" of yours, the only thing I can come up with is a bit of Homer's wisdom: “You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.”

[TcheQuevara]

Pr0nogo, your opinion doesn't matter anymore. You have given up of voting with your money.

You don't seem to understand, Imperial Guard. Mistakes are intolerable among gamers. All Blizzard can do to save what little honor they retain is to fall upon their sword model of Frostmourne. For it would be too easy to expect them to just learn from their mistakes and move on. Like mature people.

Finally someone who understands what I feel. Seriously Blizzard, if you all suicided using vintage-Blizzard themed weapons, maybe the metaphorical justice could move my heart to forgive you for ruining everything I once loved.

The choices in WoL were harmed mostly by Raynor's quantic infalibility, but Gradius correctly pointed that besides that, the effects of the choices were lacking. Even if they decided that no choice would affect the ending, they lacked flavour. All that changed after a choice was the mission you were going to play. All that came after - dialogues, cutscenes, characters, souvenirs - also happened after regular missions. Pretty lame for a game were "making your choices" was supposed to be a design theme.

[ImperialGuard]

"Fix" them? I can't see how they can without it getting further out of control.

Not that hard. Just don't mention Tosh or Hanson in future games. Those characters were built for Raynor and seeing as we're playing different people in each game, we won't be with the same people throughout the trilogy. The aforementioned characters are not that important unless blizzard states otherwise. Blizzard threw them in the game as complete cannon fodder, hell you didn't even have to complete their missions to end the game. Furthermore, since Blizzard already stated what choices were canon, they don't have to explain themselves when they come up in future novels or comics.

[Hawki]

Finally someone who understands what I feel.

Oh, I understand, or at least, understand the feeling itself, even if that feeling doesn't come from the same source. Just be greatful that you're not the only one getting angst from said source. Being alone in that feeling? Much worse. Trust me.

[Telenil]

That doesn't grant them automatic amnesty. Our complaints are just as valid now as they were before they admitted they were in the wrong.

Technically true of course, but it seems to me that there is nothing to prove anymore once the writers have acknowledged their mistake. It feels like arguing on something everyone agrees on. I mean, I really don't take storylines lightly, but if I thought WoL had ruined all and any Starcraft story forever, I would have moved on to an other game long ago. Quicker and cleaner than waiting for the writers to fall on a limited edition blade - not to mention other people might replace them

It doesn't surprise me to learn that "Tassadar" couldn't move from his place. Staying in the middle of devastated ruins, rampaging Zerg and the Overmind's remnants feels like an odd way to spend your days if you have any choice.

The thing that really irritates me is, Tassadar told Zeratul big stuff about the Overmind, but claims his present state is "a tale for an other day". The obvious course of action upon hearing this is to call Shakuras, say what has happened, tell Artanis to bring a science team, preservers and representatives of the Hierarchy, then make a full interrogation of the ghost to get everything straight - check if he is really who he claims to be, what he has learned about the Zerg, and how exactly he did. But I've got a feeling this won't happen, because a) the Protoss would stop trying to kill Kerrigan (and what would happen to our ZvP levels, may I ask?), b) that would instantly solve a big part of the plot whole there are two expansions to go, and c) Tassadar was introduced as they "needed someone Zeratul would immediately believe", I'm not sure they thought about how important it could be to the rest of the world.
Oh wait, I am using human logic. Weren't we already told to give it up when discussing the Starcraft 2 Protoss?

[Gradius]

As far as Tassadar goes, I'd rather see it retconned. There's a reason that fans keep suggesting that Tassadar is just an illusion used to trick Zeratul & isn't real. It's SC's version of indoctrination theory.

Blizzard already admitted that they made mistakes with the choices in game and plan on fixing it in future releases.

Right, but you guys said "the choices aren't that important in the Starcraft universe", implying that repeating the same mistake wouldn't even matter in future expansions either because this isn't mass effect.

Oh, I understand, or at least, understand the feeling itself, even if that feeling doesn't come from the same source. Just be greatful that you're not the only one getting angst from said source. Being alone in that feeling? Much worse. Trust me.

I don't think you have much reason to be angsty over these Q&As as a fan of the game. To this day Kindregan has not admitted that the Overmind deal is even a retcon, or that any of their "mistakes" have been detrimental to the lore - in fact he says the exact opposite. I can understand why you'd be miffed at the choice of questions he picks to answer, but the only guffaw he's actually admitted to is the Thor, a pretty tough one to handwave away. But other than that he'll tell you there are no real plotholes or flaws, just "lack of 100% perfect execution" or "lack of detailed elaboration" or "less-than-optimal choice of dialog". He reiterates that "we're always looking to improve", but that goes for even the best stories.

Personally, my expectations for HoTS have been lowered.