StarCraft II Q&A Batch 51

[Dauntless]

Karune just updated his post on Battle.net with batch 51 of the Q&As.

---StarCraft II Q&A Batch 51 ---

1. Add an option in the menu to disable the windows key, and same thing goes for ALT-TAB?
And add an EASY way to squelch your opponent. When their name “IllIIlIIlIIlI​IlllI” (L & i), it's a little difficult.

While we are not considering disabling the windows key and Alt+Tab, we are looking into the naming policy to prevent problems like the one you described.

2. StarCraft 2's terrain properties such as Xel'Naga towers, destroyable barriers and Brush have a significant effect on gameplay and appear to create specific points of interest/advantage on the map. Are there plans to introduce additional terrain buffs/effect to the battlefield?

The current terrain features are not finalized. We still have these three map features in the game and we plan to keep them during the beta, but it is always possible to add more features if we find something that’s balanced and encourages exciting game play.

3. Since there are/were plans to integrate voice communications into multiplayer, will StarCraft 2 replays be able to include Audio, as well as chat?

Replay files do not include audio. However you will be able to see all text chats while you are watching replay.

4. You have talked a bit about replay functions lately and since patches will come up definitely former replays won’t work if the system sticks with SC1 or W3. Do you plan on making changes here so that players can view older replays ever after patches occur?

Yes, even as the game gets patched, you will be able to watch replays of matches played on older versions.

5. The interface we see in Battle Reports – is this interface available for Observers during a live game (in real time), or only while viewing replays, or both?

The interface you’ve seen in Battle Reports will be available in observer mode as well as in replays during beta.

6. StarCraft II is a package consisting of single player/campaign, multiplayer (+replay viewer), map editor and Battle.net. All four are complex and without a doubt require testing and patching. Has it been decided which of the above components are planned to be included in public beta testing?

You can have multiplayer game access through Battle.net during the beta and you can watch the replays as well. There will also be access to the Map Editor during the beta process but not necessarily from the start. Single player campaign will not be included in the beta.

---End of Transmission---

Karune posted up some new death animations. Including in the video are the various deaths of Hydralisks, Roaches, Zerglings and the new Lurker model!

Directly from the Battle.net forums:

"Chat with Devs: Between adding new unit models and sliming up the zerg buildings, the StarCraft II art team has also spent some time on some little details that make the game come alive, such as new unit death animations. Featured below, we have a protoss carrier being blown out of the sky by a squad of terran marines, as well as several zerg units falling to their fates.
http://us.starcraft2.com/features/mi...animations.xml

StarCraft II Q&A Batch 51 (to be updated tomorrow morning, few last minute questions added in regards to beta)"

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Beta is definitly getting closer!

Sources:
Battle.net StarCraft II Forums
StarCraft2.com

[Alar]

Not bad, not bad at all! I have to admit, I like the death animations, and the new model is better than the last.

And yes to Zerg Reaver.

[Edfishy]

Something's... "Warcraftish" about the blood. I love the animations, but the blood doesn't feel right.

Too much "mist" I suppose, and not enough blood ending up on the ground afterwards. The texture of the units body parts would be best if it were changed to a bloody texture using the same texture-swap system they're using for the Hydralisk Char-ing (hardy har har) animation. Right now they're just clean limbs falling on the ground.

The Lurker is huge, almost old Ultralisk size.

Love the progress though!

[Bisso]

Something's... "Warcraftish" about the blood. I love the animations, but the blood doesn't feel right.

weird, I thought the opposite. Marines explode in bloodbath even more than they did in SC 1 without talking about the Hydralisk death which is very gore. The body/tail that keeps moving with this pulsing blood fountain, that is quiet violent, much more than SC/WC3. And blood color is looking quiet real too, unlike the near pink one from WC3.

EDIT: while rewatching it, Marines do not explode but still spread alot of blood around.

But I want to point out how ugly Zerglings move! loll.. I don't like the bouncing animation. I just feel like it will be so easy to kite them ahah

[Zabimaru]

Blood, Flames and Death- very me. Me like.
You know, the only time that carrier model looked beautiful is when it was exploding just now- great effect, just wish the model was slightly different. I like these death animations a lot more then any warcraft3 one that’s for sure, and that can only be a good sign. Plus the corpses don’t linger for too long either.

[XSOLDIER]

Does it bother anyone else how ridiculous the Hydralisk's spine attack looks shooting up in a high arc, and then zooming down at it's target? They should be bullet-like and fire straight at the target, not be launched up like a mortar..


X

[RamiZ]

Does it bother anyone else how ridiculous the Hydralisk's spine attack looks shooting up in a high arc, and then zooming down at it's target? They should be bullet-like and fire straight at the target, not be launched up like a mortar..

Yeah i agree, but still it isnt too bad

[DemolitionSquid]

Think of them like arrows, not bullets.

[The_Blade]

ya but acording to lore they are shot at a so high speed, that they can move through any material even neo-steel and utralisk armor (even harder than neo-steel)

If we respect this, then an arc would mean they are not shot at "that" high speed rather need inclination to reach its trarget and wouldn't be able to do the damage it makes.

[RainbowToeSocks]

Id imagine that they did that to the hydra spines so that if they are attacking an air unit it doesnt look strange

I can only imagine that they have the attack animation and then the projectile as a separate animation that goes out and then zooms towards the enemy

if they shot it out straight then if it were to go for an air unit it would go straight then shoot up towards it. Instead of it just continuing upwards as it would be now

Sure they could just change it and make it different depending on if it was targeting a ground or air unit.. but hey... thats perfection.. this isnt valve we're talking about :P