Cultural and economic hurricane, old friend, ferocious competitorStarCraft has had an illustrious decade. This tribute will begin with establishing the paper trail, the storm of praise that occured with the release of
StarCraft.
The Standard by Which All Real Time Strategy Games are Judged - GameSpot
#7, Top 50 Games of All Time, PC Gamer
#7, Top 100 Games of All Time - IGN
#9, Top 100 Games of All Time - Entertainment Weekly/G4.tv
IGN Users' Favorite Game of All Time - IGN
Number-one selling PC Game of 1998 - PC Data
Computer Game of the Year - Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS)
Game of the Year - Computer Gaming World
Game of the Year - European Consumer Trade Show Industry Award
Game of the Year - PC Powerplay
Game of the Year - Gamesmania
Best Game of the Year - PCFan
Taiwan Gamer's Choice of Game of the Year - PC Gamer China
Strategy Game of the Year - Computer Games Strategy Plus
Strategy Game of the Year - Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS)
Real Time Strategy Game of The Year - PC Gamer
Strategy Game of the Year - Gamespot
Strategy Game of the Year - Games Domain
Strategy Game of the Year - Gamesmania
Best Real Time Strategy Game - Editor's Choice - Gamezilla
Best Real Time Strategy Game - Reader's Choice - Gamezilla
Best Real Time Strategy Game - Reader's Choice - Gamecenter
Best Real Time Strategy Game - Reader's Choice - Duelist Magazine
Best Real Time Strategy Title - PCFan
Mulitplayer Game of The Year - 1999 Milia Awards
Multiplayer Game of the Year - Gamecenter
Mulitplayer Game of The Year - The Gamers Net
Best Multiplayer Title - PCFan
Best New Multiplayer Online Game - 1999 Codie Awards
Best use of Online Multiplayer Gaming (Editor Award) - HotGames.com
Best Online Game - Reader's Choice - Duelist Magazine
Special Achievement Award - Best Story - Gamespot
Special Achievement Award - Best Multiplayer Game - Gamespot
Best use of Sound in a Computer Game (Reader Award) - HotGames.com
#1 Reader's Top 50 - PC Gamer
Best Depth - PC Accelerator
5 out of 5 Stars Editor's Choice - Computer Gaming World
5 out of 5 Gameworthy Rating - C/NET Gamecenter
9.4 out of 10 - Online Game Review
92% Editors Choice - PC Gamer
4.5 out of 5 star rating - Computer games Strategy Plus
5 out of 5 star rating - Mac 3D Total Action
9.1 out of 10 rating - Gamespot
A+ - Gameweek
4 out of 4 star rating - USA Today
Being "The Standard by Which All Real Time Strategy Games are Judged" aside, the vast collection of praise from critics should be taken with a grain of salt. Considering that
StarCraft smashed the scene as an unbalanced product in the first year of release, this praise is merely the
beginning of economical and cultural dominance. This is a rare statement for the computer gaming industry.
In the age of disposable havoc-physic-engine-crazed games, there is something to be said for the quality of gameplay.
StarCraft is easy to play, however mastering it is considered a career. This tension permiates the game. This tension consumes our interest. This tension is a rarity. The sense of originality is extended to how
StarCraft became successful. To some extent,
StarCraft was - and is - the quiet revolution. Neither whirlwind global releases nor endless hype were relied on to assure dominance. There is no cheese (if you will); there is only "straight up" success.
StarCraft is the quiet giant.
This is somewhat ironic considering the multimillion dollar success and screaming fans during live matches. 3.31.08 - regardless to the "World of" or a sequel - is
StarCraft's. The "game" has transcended those boundries to forge a legacy worth paying our respect to. Far more importantly,
StarCraft has witnessed Marines on Cheeto bags.
