"[URL=""http://www.mediaesports.com/""]Micro Media[/URL] recently posted an article titled [URL=""http://www.mediaesports.com/starcraft2/unlocking-starcraft-2""]""Unlocking StarCraft II""[/URL] by Dan ""Artosis"" Stemkoski. StarCraft II's current unit builds are compared to the original ""StarCraft model"" in an attempt to decern the meaning of various changes:
[QUOTE=""Dan 'Artosis' Stemkoski""]It may not seem it at first glance, but upon a close examination of StarCraft: Brood War alongside what we already know about StarCraft 2, we can figure out the likely shape of things to come. Obviously anything shown to us thus far can be completely changed or removed, but let’s do our best with the information that we have.[/QUOTE]
It's an interesting line to take. By looking at where Blizzard has taken its games (not only StarCraft but its other title's as well), and what we have learned about Blizzard's planned direction for StarCraft II, is it possible to tell what may be released next? Having read this article, it seems it definitely is. The predictions made within this article are well thought-out and are generally grounded in fact. While the article was written before the latest Q&A, Artosis is accurate and explains, in-depth, about [I]why[/I] changes are being made. While it contains no new information, it is a definite must read for those who wish to remain in the know.
[CENTER][IMG]http://sclegacy.com/images/uploaded/starcraftiinews/MicroMediaLogo.png[/IMG][/CENTER]
Micro Media, an e-sports based StarCraft II fansite, operates the [b]Ascension[/b] series which pits the highly skilled players of the foreign competitive scene against each other in a series of grueling three-way pools to determine the final bracket. To date, there have been eight rounds featuring players such as Mondragon, IDrA, XiaoZi, and White-Ra battling to the finals. Artosis himself is a seasoned Terran veteran of the foreign scene, and is currently one of two dynamic commentators for the Ascension series.
[B]Source:[/B]
[URL=""http://www.mediaesports.com/starcraft2/unlocking-starcraft-2""]Micro Media's ""Unlocking StarCraft II"" Article[/URL]"
 The StarCraft Community is one of the largest, most vocal, and most dedicated fan communities to exist around a game or franchise and ever since the leaders of the community met with Blizzard officially last year, at the first RTS Community Summit, we have increasingly been officially recognized. To help our partnership to continue to grow Blizzard recently added a new page to StarCraft2.com - the "Community" page. This page's banner is made up from fan art and the page is soley dedicated to features for, by, and from the community. In addition to linking to several community resources it also features some of Blizzard's favorite user created StarCraft content. This page has some very ambitious goals and while it is currently sparse, it has potential to become a great resource. Keep watching for more improvements and products that spawned from the community's group brainstorm with Blizzard.  Also, several days ago a new job posting went up at Blizzard.com - Assistant Community Manager. Assistant Community Manager
Blizzard Entertainment is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and proactive assistant community manager for our RTS (real-time strategy) titles, including StarCraft II. This individual should be well aware of the latest technologies and techniques used in building and maintaining successful gaming communities. Furthermore, the assistant community manager must be both a team player and able to complete tasks with minimal supervision. Areas of responsibility include interacting with fansites, moderating the official forums, and assisting with various events such as gaming conventions and player gatherings. Lastly, this individual should have a strong desire to work collaboratively on a team to evolve the way we support and expand the Blizzard Entertainment gaming community.
The ideal candidate would be an avid Blizzard Entertainment RTS gamer with experience as a member or moderator of a forum-based community. This person would also have a strong understanding of popular social networking trends on the Internet, as well as a desire to continually take on new projects. An even temper and a passion for providing top-notch customer service in a fast-paced environment are essential. Also, the ideal assistant community manager will be highly motivated, conscientious, and detail-oriented, with excellent communication skills. For anyone that has been a part of this amazing and talented community for some time would be a perfect candidate. This is for many of us, a dream job and a fantastic opportunity. If you're interested and think you have what it takes to work with both Karune and our community, be sure to check it out. SC:L isn't the only place that values talent and dedication! Sources:StarCraft2.com's Community PageAssistant Community Manager Job Opportunity
Despite the fact that Karune's Q&A Batch 26 has been posted up only a few days ago, Karune has managed to pull through with another informative batch. This time however, Dustin Browder answers a few questions about gameplay. We're back to tie up some loose ends about the Nullifier from our last batch, as well as some more focus on gameplay design, to fuel our discussion on the forums (especially to those who are already anxiously creating their build orders- don't lie, I know you are out there :) )
Chat with Devs: This week I talked with Dustin Browder, our Lead Designer for StarCraft II, to answer some more questions in regards to StarCraft II gameplay. I presented Dustin with some very specific gameplay questions from teamliquid.net, which he was very excited to be able to answer for the eSports community. Hopefully I will be able to get him back for a BlizzCast interview down the road.
Gameplay Blog: By the way, Im still looking for a good name for this section, that I hope everyone here could help me with Additionally, this week I want to elaborate on the second ability of the Protoss Nullifier mentioned in the last Q&A Batch. The Null Void, an ability currently at 50 energy cost, prevents abilities from being cast in an area of effect radius. In recent skirmishes with Terran opponents, when my Zealots engaged a group of M&Ms (Marines & Medics), my Nullifiers were able to cast Null Void over the enemy group, and the Medics were unable to heal for a good 15 seconds. When they retreated out of the Null Void area, I cast a second Null Void on them, and by that time, more than half of their Marines had fallen to my Zealots. Furthermore, my Nullifiers, having a base ranged attack, were able to focus fire on fleeing Marines.
However, I still did end up losing that game versus the Terran player, as Ghosts later on were able to devastate my army with EMP, followed with their Marauder units, replacing the old Firebat, making quick work of my ground army. GG. Next time.
As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if your enjoying these Q&As!
---StarCraft II Q&A Batch 27---
1) How will the map pool for the ladder be handled? Only maps made by Blizzard or will there be opportunities for mapmakers to contribute? If so, how will new maps be selected/balanced and how often are you planning on updating the map pool?
Dustin Browder: The map pool for competitive play will only be Blizzard maps or Blizzard-approved maps. We are always excited to see new maps from the community and when we see new cool maps we will definitely include them in the pool. I have no idea how often this will happen. It really depends on the map makers and our schedule. We also have some really cool plans for mod support for Battle.net for StarCraft II, which we will be rolling out to the community soon. We have all watched with great enthusiasm the impact that mod makers have had upon our previous games, especially Warcraft III, and we really want to continue to support and encourage this community.
2) Terran in StarCraft 1 had a very interesting dynamic in that the optimal strategy combating a Zerg would require large amounts of infantry and science vessels, whereas Protoss would require a large amount of factory units, leading to more diverse gameplay between the two matchups. This dynamic existed in mirror matchups as well - Goliaths, Battlecruisers and Wraiths were very useful in Terran vs Terran, but are rarely seen versus Protoss and Zerg (with the exception of Goliath vs Carrier).
Protoss and Zerg also had this trait - Protoss would often need large amounts of Corsairs, Zealots, and Archons to combat Zerg and a large amount of Dragoons, Arbiters, and Carriers to combat Terran, skipping zealots entirely until the speed upgrade is done. Zergs would frequently use Hydralisks versus Protoss, but would always immediately morph them to Lurkers vs Terran until Plague was researched.
For some people this was viewed as a positive aspect of SC, others are frequently disappointed that Terran cannot realistically integrate marines into their strategy vs Protoss and so forth. What style of gameplay is StarCraft II looking to attain - will each of the 9 different matchups play in a unique fashion with less viable strategies overall, or is the game looking to ensure that every unit has a useful role against every race?
- Zanno
Dustin Browder: So far StarCraft II plays similar to the original StarCraft in that different matchups require a different unit mix. On the design team we enjoy this type of gameplay and prefer to have players use different strategies and different units against different races. Our goal is that every unit will have some use against each race, but that players will tend to prefer certain units against certain races. We are going to strive to make sure that no unit is completely worthless against any one race but there will definitely be better and worse choices depending on the enemy race, strategy, the map, and your start position on the map.
3) In StarCraft 1 the basic tier 1 units were balanced against higher tech units almost equally by their unique role within each race as they were by unique unit upgrades and a greater benefit from the standard upgrades.
How much effort are you putting into making lower tech units viable higher up in the tech tree in ways other than upgrades that just makes them a "better unit" such as hit points and damage?
(This question is brought up because of the Terran Marine +HP upgrade which IMHO is really cheap)
- CuddlyCuteKitten
Dustin Browder: We are putting a huge amount of effort into making sure that the tier 1 units are useful throughout the game. We are also putting a large amount of effort into trying to get as much mileage as we can out of each of our upgrades so that upgrades really change how you can use a unit (but without fundamentally altering its role). The Marine is an example of a work-in-progress unit. We think the shield looks cool, but we are still working on how it will affect gameplay. Actually, in current builds Marines+Medics+Stim are so powerful that the shield is not that necessary in a lot of matchups.
4) Some new maps used in the pro scene for StarCraft have started to include permanent spells like "Dark Swarm" and "Disruption Web" as a part of terrain. Are there any plans to allow this as a kind of special terrain by default or allow map makers to add it as a special attribute to some sections of the terrain?
Examples would be areas with decreased movement for some or all units like shallow water, terrain making units immune to missile fire like dark swarm or terrain making the units unable to fire like web.
If you plan to include it will it be usable on melee maps or UMS only?
- CuddlyCuteKitten
Dustin Browder: Our data editor allows the creation of this type of terrain. You could easily put this type of terrain on melee maps. We have not finalized our feature set for terrain yet so I dont know what will make the final cut for the default Blizzard maps.
---End of Transmission---
Source:
Karune's StarCraft II Q&A Batch 27
StarCraft II Q&A Batch Archive - Batch 27
Karune has posted up Q&A Batch 26, this time answering some lore questions and discussing new gameplay mechanics for the Protoss. This batch we're going to shed some light on the storyline and lore aspect of StarCraft II. Following StarCraft and even Brood War, there have always been many unanswered questions surrounding the powers of the Protoss, which we'll be tackling today.
Chat with Devs: For this batch, Ive been fortunate to snag some time with our Lead Writer for StarCraft II, Andy Chambers, and I had a chance to talk to him about what happens to Protoss warriors after they die. On the forums, there has been much speculation to what the true meaning of the blue flash of light that is seen when a Protoss Zealot dies. Furthermore, have you ever wondered how exactly an EMP burst would have an effect on Psi energy? Andy gives us insight into the Protoss ways in fan questions 1 and 3.
Gameplay Blog: Force Fields are my new favorite ability! During my latest skirmish with a Zerg opponent, I was rushed early with Zerglings. The Protoss Nullifiers (previous known as the Stasis Orb) and their 15 second Force Field ability saved the day. As the attacking Zerglings charged up my ramp on the classic Lost Temple map, I simply created a Force Field in between the group of Zerglings, separating his attacking force. With their numbers divided, my Zealots easily took care of the split force of Zerglings, allowing me to make a decisive counter-attack. In subsequent games, I have found that the Force Field is quite useful in many situations, as you are able to create your own choke points, separate incoming armies, and also erect barriers as needed for your Protoss Stalkers to take advantage of their Blink ability. Furthermore, the Force Field can provide another obstacle for melee units approaching your Colossus, whereas your Colossus is able to step over the Force Field at ease. These Protoss Nullifiers at tier 1 are now one of your most effective defenses to an early game rush. Currently, the Force Field ability costs 30 energy with the Nullifiers energy capacity at 100. Next batch, well see if we can find some interesting games with the Nullifiers other new ability, the Null Void.
As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if your enjoying these Q&As!
---StarCraft II Q&A Batch 26---
1. Do Protoss warriors actually die? What is the blue flash when they die?
In the chaos of the battlefield, Protoss warriors fight with tremendous power and grace, but even so, they can be mortally wounded. Then the Protoss' foes often bear witness to a startling sight: the injured Protoss disappears in a bright flash of light. Such a vision has caused primitive races to quail in superstitious fear, and yet it has no supernatural cause. On the contrary, it is merely the result of teleportation, which is one of the chief strengths of Protoss technology. Protoss warriors typically have teleport mechanisms built into their armor. If the warrior is sufficiently injured, a properly functioning mechanism will automatically teleport the body to the nearest safe haven.
A Protoss warrior who is badly injured but still living may be placed in a dragoon--or latterly an immortal--shell to continue to fight. This is the choice of the individual warrior. Some warriors elect to shoulder the burden of remaining among the living instead of joining the sum of Protoss lives embodied in the Khala. It is worthy of note that the lives of individual Protoss that have passed into the Khala are no longer coherent entities, and the Protoss cannot speak with their dead per se. However, there are memories and strands of experience that can be accessed. Only the most skilled Protoss preservers can locate and follow specific desired strands of knowledge. The tremendous value of preservers comes from the fact that they carry within themselves and can access the sum total of Protoss experience at an individual level.
2. Will there be more ways to give energy(mana) to a caster? ([url]www.starcraft2.hu[/url])
Protoss casters will have an ability to transfer energy from one caster to another. This ability will allow for a lot of micromanagement opportunities to maximize the amount of energy to a single caster, for the maximum number of special abilities casted.
3. On what kind of energy are based Protoss shields? If they are based on PSI energy, how can be possible for a Terran EMP attack to drain their energy? ([url]www.starcraft-2.cz[/url])
Protoss energy sources are highly esoteric because their starting point was the Protoss' use of their own psionic powers to protect themselves; to charge their tools and weapons; and to make, manipulate, or meld matter. Over time technological advances have enabled the Protoss to mimic these psionic processes to the extent that the Protoss can now construct inorganic devices to tap into the same universal processes to power shields, drives, weapons, and robots. Thus, for example, the energy field projected by a pylon that powers Protoss structures cannot truly be called psionic in nature, just as the shields protecting a zealot are not purely technological constructs. Rather, the two processes are so closely interlinked that they are almost the same. As a result, Protoss power sources and particularly their shields are vulnerable to disruption by technological means such as EMP weapons. Similarly such power sources can be restored or recharged from artificially stored energy.
4. Are you planning to make another statue, for example, statue of Kerrigan? ([url]www.starcraftcz.com[/url])
We are planning to fully explore the high end collectibles realm with plenty of StarCraft II merchandise, and yes, there are projects already in the works.
---End of Transmission---
Karune answered another question asking whether the force field is vulnerable or not to attack.
Force Fields are invulnerable for their casted duration.
It is also possible to completely block off your entrance using Nullifiers.
Yes, you could block off a choke point for a very long time. Although, there is probably more than one way to enter your base :)
Karune also talked about how the testing of ghosts as tier 1.5 unit turned out.
I think the Devs are liking the Ghost as a more used unit than in the original StarCraft. It is still up in the air, to if they will keep the EMP ability, but we will see in time. Balance tweaks will still be happening on the Ghost of course, but it is likely it will stay as an earlier created unit than in the original.
Source:
[URL=""http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=269104&p=1&#post269104""]Karune's Starcraft II Q&A Batch 26[/URL] StarCraft II Q&A Batch Archive - Batch 26
Many of us have been wondering what is in store for the StarCraft II single-player mode and what exactly Blizzard has planned for the future of the StarCraft Universe. Zeratul's ominous warning to James Raynor aboard the Hyperion has confirmed that the Xel'Naga are indeed returning. But what exactly are their intentions? Attempting to draw conclusions from the official sources and various vague references from Blizzard employees can be rather daunting. I, however, in my first editorial, have endeavored to do exactly that. Source:SC:L Editorial - Xel'Naga Storyline Projection
Earlier today Karune posted the latest discussion topic - eSports. January Discussion Topic of the Month: eSports
Blizzard has a tradition of supporting competitive play. We have seen our games thrive to become popular eSports titles played in leagues worldwide. For StarCraft II we would like to continue in this spirit and offer you an enjoyable experience as a spectator, shoutcaster or participant in tournaments. We'd like to hear your opinion on eSports!
If you have a StarCraft II fan site and would like to participate, please email me at [email]
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
[/email].
eSports Questions for Fans:
* How do you experience eSports?
* What should a game offer to make it a good eSports game?
* What would you like to see in StarCraft II to enhance the eSports experience?
* Additional Feedback you would like to give
Each StarCraft II fansite will be featuring different types of questions, so be sure to also visit those sites. All of this feedback will be compiled and sent to the dev team and I. This discussion topic is likely to generate some extraordinary feedback. This is one of the most important issues concerning the development of StarCraft II. Whether or not you play competetively or even care about the eSports scene, StarCraft II's legacy depends upon it's ability to attract and support excellent players and capture the imaginations of a very large and critical fanbase. In addition to the questions posed officially by Blizzard, think about and respond to the following: How does the eSport scene affect the way you play StarCraft?
What types of UI elements are essential for StarCraft's eSports success?
What types of gameplay elements contribute to lasting (and fun) eSports appeal?
How important to StarCraft II is/should eSports be?
Would accomodations to StarCraft II's build, that may possibly effect its ease/learning curve, bother you? As always all of your feedback will be personally read and aggregated by our staff and sent along to the StarCraft II dev team. You can participate by either posting in our official thread at our official forums here or by replying to this news post. Sources:Official Blizzforum's Discussion TopicOfficial Battle.net Feedback Thread
Karune delivers some useful information once again - Q&A Batch 25 is up and ready to rock and roll. Hope everyone had a wonderful new year and if you haven't seen it already, check out the first episode of our BlizzCast show, interviewing Sam Didier, our StarCraft II Art Director!
BlizzCast Episode #1:
[url]http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=248338&p=1&#post248338[/url]
Chat with Devs: This week I got a chance to talk to Sam Didier, our StarCraft II Art Director, about some of the feedback weve gotten from our most recent monthly discussion. Over the next few weeks we will be trying out a few things on the upcoming screenshots, including a reduced saturation which will increase the realism of the units and environment. This is just a test, so we will see how it goes afterwards, but we look forward to getting everyones feedback.
Gameplay Blog: With the new year, I thought everyone might enjoy a small new section to the Q&As that will happen periodically, featuring some hands-on feedback of the current builds of StarCraft II at the office. This past week Ive been able to play a few 1 versus 1 skirmish games with our new balance designer, David Kim. Even at this early stage, StarCraft II is shaping up to be an incredibly diverse game in terms of strategy. In addition to many of the original StarCraft strategies (which Ive been tending to stick with), there are several new strategies based on both the newly introduced units, as well as hybrid combinations of legacy and new units. One of the most interesting strategies in our current build is the Nomad rush. Nomads are both effective at supporting an ongoing battle with Auto Turrets (which have building armor) and defending against a raid with rapid deployment, but are surprisingly very effective at raiding as well. Im not talking about minor harassment, kill a probe or two, type of thing. Get four of these Nomads into a mineral line and you can deploy 8 Auto Turrets in no time, wreaking havoc to even a moderately defended position. Each Auto Turret is like having an instant Marine, with rapid fire, and building armor. Could this replace Siege Tank drops? Probably not, but these Auto Turrets dont cost minerals or supply.
As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if your enjoying these Q&As!
--- StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 25 ---
1. Does the Nomad have all the abilities an SCV has? (Of course it has its own abilities, but it would be interesting to know if you can at least temporarily replace lost SCVs with Nomads in a game.)(broodwar.de)
No, Nomads will not have the abilities of a SCV. The buildings a Nomad will be able to build, will be unique to the Nomad unit. And you cant gather resources with a Nomad.
2. How will damage against Protoss Shields be calculated with the new damage bonus system?(Starcraft-Source.com)
Protoss shields will take up the characteristics of their normal armor type. For example, if a Protoss Zealot with light armor gets shot by a Terran Ghost with plus light armor damage, the Zealots shields will also take that light armor bonus damage. On the same note, if a Protoss Colossus were to be hit by a Protoss Stalker with bonus damage towards armored unit, the shields would also take that additional damage.
3. Artwork and rumors about SCII have shown Terran cities like Augustgrad. Will Starcraft 2 contain building doodads as seen in the original artwork (ie. skyscrapers, homes, etc)? (starcraft.org)
Yes, many of the original iconic doodads will be recreated for StarCraft II.
4.Can the shadow ops contain "one nuke and one drop pod" or "any 2 of nukes and drop pods"? (thewarcenter.net)
Currently, the Shadow Ops can contain both a nuke and a drop pod at the same time, but will not be able to contain two of one type within a single Shadow Ops building. Drop pods can be loaded with 12 infantry units of the players choosing. On certain maps, a fast expanding SCV drop pod strategy may prove highly effective.
5. Will the native resolution of Starcraft 2 be widescreen or 4:3? (gamereplays.org)
The plan is to have both of those resolutions supported, along with everything between 5:4 and 16:9. Larger screens will have slightly more viewable range than a smaller screen, but from our tests, the differences will be very minor.
---End of Transmission--- Interesting strategies revealed, and an entire new segment to drool over; this gameplay blog should prove to be a large new source of information for us. In response to a question asking if Blizzard were worried if the "haters" of the Artistic Style of StarCraft II might ruin it for those who are fans of it, Karune responded: We are still very much in an experimental phase and I hope most will agree, it is never a bad thing to try new things out. Ultimately, I believe the devs will make the best decision to produce the best possible StarCraft II experience for everyone here.
Also, I was hoping to come up with a better name than 'Gameplay Blog' for my hands on section. Do you guys have any ideas you would like to see? I yield to the community on this one ;)
There you have it, Blizzard will do what they think is best, but they're listening. Also, lets get some really good names for the gameplay blog! I was thinking "Karune's Super Awesome Happy Making StarCraft II Time" but I could be pursuaded otherwise.
Sources:
Karune's StarCraft II Q&A Batch 25
StarCraft II Q&A Batch Archive - Batch 25
 Earlier today Blizzard released the first episode of their very own podcast: BlizzCast. Karune: For our first episode, we’ll be starting with an interview with our very own art director, and concept artist, Sam Didier, where we’ll be talking about what it is like to concept art for both the Warcraft and the StarCraft franchise. Following that, we’ll be having Drysc interview our lead designer for World of Warcraft, Jeff Kaplan, about the latest tidbits in regards to Patch 2.4, highlighting on the Sunwell Plateau. So go listen! StarCraft: Legacy will be writing up a full review in the near future, with our and the community's opinions as well as analyzing the entire presentation. Sources:BlizzCast Episode 1
Blizzard has updated StarCraft2.com with information on the new and improved Siege Tank. The Crucio is the Dominion update of the immensely popular but aging Arclite siege tank. The Arclite was renowned throughout the Confederacy for its devastating firepower and stalwart emplacement/advance tactics. Originally designed to serve as a "final defense" security cannon, the siege tank adopted a two-stage configuration in its final form: a mobile assault mode and a deployed siege mode that brought its massive shock cannon to bear. The immense flexibility of an armored battle tank that could advance and then deploy itself as heavy artillery was a huge success, and the design was widely copied.
Although the Arclite was supremely effective in the artillery role, it suffered some shortcomings as a battle tank. It was a superb defensive unit, but in offensive operations it required substantial support to get to a forward emplacement. Enemies would often make strenuous efforts to get close to an emplaced siege tank battery so they could exploit its "deadzone." If they were successful, this tactic usually meant destruction for the Arclites because even in assault mode the machines were too undergunned and poorly armored to fight off a determined close-range assault.
The Crucio has been designed for increased survivability with an enlarged, reinforced turret and hull. The new turret layout also features an upgraded assault-mode armament package so that the Crucio can fend for itself more successfully in an open battlefield. Force deployment costs for the Crucio have increased over the older Arclite, but the increased versatility of the powerful new siege tank more than compensates for the additional expense. The new sleek look of the Siege Tank was not originally designed like this. Many may remember that the old Siege Tank from the Protoss Demo back in May and its "lego-ey" feel. This has obviously changed since then, thanks to the community outcry, and it looks as if the Siege Tank is better than ever. Along with this update, two new pieces of artwork and one new screenshot have been added. Source:StarCraft2.com Update: The Terran Siege TankToday we also received word that the Firebat is *currently* out of the game! Karune writes: Correct, the Firebat is healed by Medics still, though in the current build, the Firebat has been taking out, to test a new Terran unit that could possibly fill its role. This is definitely an interesting development for the Terrans. What is this new unit? Source:Karune's Battle.net Firebat Post
Recently, StarCraft-Source interviewed Karune, one of Blizzard's RTS Community Managers and the embodiment of hope for those of us who feed on regular updates. The interview included Karune's opinions on the StarCraft II community and some details of his job and previous experience: SC-Source: Were you a Community Manager for World of Warcraft before Starcraft 2? If you were, how does the community compare to Starcraft 2's so far?
Karune: Since, I have joined the video game industry, I have always managed RTS communities. Prior to Blizzard, I went by the name SAGEKING. Since I have joined Blizzard, I have helped with the World of Warcraft community, but am primarily responsible for the StarCraft II community. Thus far, Id have to say that the StarCraft franchise is undoubtedly the KING of RTS, with the largest following in the world, and the most number of active players. It is quite an honor to be a part of this community, as the capabilities and talent of this community has surpassed my expectations in numerous ways. There was also some specific information on the Protoss development and the Firebat: SC-Source: Is the increase to the Firebat's hitpoints enough to keep it alive and effective in battle?
Karune: Yes, these suckers are quite the beasts on the battlefield, especially against melee.
SC-Source: Information about the Protoss has been very stagnant, can you enlighten us on what the development team is testing?
Karune: They are currently testing a new Protoss air unit. Finally, a little information that may be of interest to those of you who are not a fan of the new Zergling: SC-Source: Has the debate over the wings on the Zergling prompted any artistic changes?
Karune: In January, there will be an interview between Samwise and I, in which we do touch upon this subject. For the full interview, click here. In other Karune based news, he recently posted a video on YouTube in response to TowerPowerNerf, a disgruntled and disappointed Warcraft III fan (whose videos are here and here), commentating on the delay of the latest WarCraft III patch. There isn't any StarCraft II news in there, but for those of you who wondered what Karune (or his girlfriend) sounded/looked like, it's your holy grail. It should also be noted that this isn't an "official" Blizzard video, but something Karune did in his spare time. TowerPowerNerf responded to Karune's video with another video in which he thanks Karune for his response. Sources:Karune's YouTube VideoStarCraft-Source's Interview With Karune
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