Overview
Starcraft - World Cyber Games Grand Finale '07
Starcraft is one of the most important RTS of all time. The game was a turning point in RTS history for the whole world and Blizzard as well. Starcraft continues to be one of the most competitively played games, a definitive icon in the ‘eSports’ segment of the entertainment industry. World-recognized players compete for cash prizes.
Developing Starcraft II, Blizzard must take a hard look at the successes of Starcraft I. Their concern is not surpassing other game developers, and instead their concern is surpassing themselves. This is Blizzard’s reputation.
Starcraft II is being developed to not only be a great RTS, but a great eSports game as well. The difference between what makes something eSports and what makes something competitive… It is hard to put into words. Perhaps because Blizzard understands the principles so well, they can continue to make great games that truly fit this category.
Learning From the Past
Stracraft I, Pre-Alpha, using the Warcraft II engine.
Starcraft I actually received horrible reviews when it was first shown at E3. With the success of Warcraft II, Blizzard had rushed headlong into this new franchise, and in the process they found themselves learning the hard way what makes a game really work and relaly shine.
At that time the build was using a modified Warcraft II engine. Blizzard took the feedback to heart, and completely remade everything by early 1997. A new engine, new unit graphics, new isometric landscape (versus the top-down Warcraft II look).
The remake proved to be a more well received game. This kind of fanatical perfection that occurred for Starcraft I we now see in every game Blizzard makes. And rather then letting the world tell them first, Blizzard is now ultra critical of themselves and their work. It has shown through in all their recent games, and we are certainly seeing now in Starcraft II. A video is a video game, but a Blizzard game… a Blizzard game is real game because they spend the extra time needed to achieve perfection. And even then, patches are released. This is a crucial part of Blizzard’s game development theory.
