Blizzard Working on Multiple Games, Including Another RTS?
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 3rd 2006 at 11:05PM
Maybe it's the fact that Blue only releases games seemingly once a millenia (I think we're almost finally approaching Starcraft: Ghost's original release date), but it seems like there's nothing Blizzard's fans love more than rampant speculation about what they're up to next.In that vein, we present the news that Blizzard has updated their Employment Opportunity board once again this past weekend, this time looking for "a talented level designer with experience building levels using any popular 3D Real-Time Strategy game toolset." Did you hear that? "3D Real-Time Strategy"? That almost sounds like it could be Starcra-- nah. Or maybe the next round of Warcra-- nahhhh. Or you never know, Blizzard could even be working on a completely new type of genre, something that combines its success with WoW with its strategic past. Could you imagine a Blizzard MMORTS? It could be anything! Isn't speculation fun?
Adding to the fun is another press release that Blizzard dropped today stating that the company will "strengthen its current development efforts by refocusing key members of its console team on other projects within the company." They didn't say much more than that, but I'm guessing it means Starcraft: Ghost is taking even more of a back seat than it had before. The only good news is that the press release also stated that the company will eventually tell us everything we need to know, about all future projects, at a future time. And when it comes to speculation fuel, it doesn't get much more vague than that.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amid Aug 4th 2006 2:30AM
Starcraft Ghost was cancled. All reference to it has been stripped from blizzard's home page.
Michael Aug 4th 2006 7:06AM
I personally lost faith (and interest) in tracking any speculation from Blizzard when the scrapped the Warcraft 4 project. (The one with the storyline of Thrall now Orc Warchief)
They hyped and hyped and did their marketing best to start a "feeding frenzy" of speculation....then just flushed it down the toilet.
So for me anyway, I personally don't give a damn what they say or release to the news....until it hits Beta it is all Corporate BS marketing and not worth a second (or first for that matter) look.
James Aug 4th 2006 9:00AM
Did they confirm Diablo 3 at E3? I can't wait to see what Blizz comes up with next...
Marcus Aug 4th 2006 11:51AM
I check the Blizzard job pages all the time. It gives me a sense of what they're "thinking" about doing rather than what they're actually doing. Plus, I apply for the ones I'd want to do(Game Programmer, Tool Programmer, etc). I've not heard back from them yet.
J Aug 4th 2006 1:19PM
This type of info is floating around everywhere, rumors and speculations.
As has been mentioned in the past couple of weeks, several interviews with top Blizzard execs have had them mention that the Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft IP franchises would continue to be developed well into the next decade, with some types of new games involving those lines. What form they will be - MMORPG, RTS, 1st person single-story-line, whatever, who knows. And, what platform - console, PC, portable, who knows. The bottom line is that Blizzard has stated multiple times, and recently, that there will be continued development. There has been a mention of possible new genres as well, but nothing concrete, yet.
In terms of a pure business model, it's a basic fact of business that in order to survive, a business has to keep growing and generating new products to continue making a profit. The execs at Blizzard aren't stupid and I'm sure they discuss, quite frequently, the development of new projects. It's just a matter of time.
One item I'd like to address is Starcraft: Ghost. Word has it from inside the company that this was canned basically because the development cycle was not keeping up with the very fast pace of new technology. So, they made a wise management move and canned it. Perhaps, though, you'll see the ideas, artwork, and models from that project used elsewhere :D
Until then, start saving for your flying mount. There will be plenty to see and do in the expansion.
mike Aug 4th 2006 1:30PM
Yup, looks like even though the Blizzard UK Ghost site linked to in the story is still up, Starcraft Ghost is done for.
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=63596
Oh well. RIP, cool looking stealthy chick.