World of Starcraft information leaked
by Krystalle Voecks 
May 5th 2007 at 4:42PM
PC Gamer's online portal, Computerandvideogames.com (CVG) has reported that they have insider information confirming what the gaming world has suspected for some time. CVG states that it is indeed a StarCraft MMO currently in the works at Blizzard and not another chapter in the StarCraft RTS series. According to their article, the new StarCraft MMO will be announced at the upcoming Blizzard event slated for May 19th in South Korea. While I'm thrilled that there is another StarCraft in the pipes, I'm more than a bit curious about how Blizzard are going to be able to translate StarCraft's universe to an MMO. Will you be able to play as Protoss, Zerg, and Terran? Or will the Zerg become the new Scourge -- NPC's for Protoss and Terran players to battle against? Another question to my mind would be about the number of worlds in the StarCraft universe. Will you start on the home planet of your race and then as you gain levels, move to others? How is Blizzard planning on addressing the platform battles in space? Will they add in the option for in-space skirmishes (somewhat like EVE Online) which help to decide who controls different platforms and sectors of space as opposed to it all being land-battles? Or will you just board shuttles (teleport) from planet to platform to planet without ever actually spending much time in space?
For that matter, I suppose that all depends on where in the storyline it picks up. Would it be early in the storyline before Jim Raynor and Tassadar join forces to take out the Overmind? Or we are looking at a point after when the United Earth Directorate comes to take control of the Zerg, only to be destroyed by Kerrigan who has taken over the Broods and is leading the Zerg? Perhaps, like World of Warcraft, it will be after a massive defeat of the enemy (Zerg?) -- with another "tense peace" like the one that currently (supposedly) exists between the Alliance and the Horde.
Obviously, this leaves us with a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers. I suppose we'll all have to wait (and wonder) until the 19th when Blizzard confirms (or disproves) the leaked information that is currently being reported.
[via Tim & CVG]
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RJ May 5th 2007 4:51PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't someone at Blizzard say that they weren't ready to start work on a second MMO because they still have their hands full with WoW?
Junzim May 5th 2007 4:51PM
PEOPLE DON'T PEE ANYMORE! THEY JUST STOP PEEING!
Kyle May 5th 2007 4:59PM
I recall hearing something like that, RJ.
I really hope they don't make a Starcraft MMO. I think that two big MMOs would start to stretch their staff a bit thin.
Though perhaps the Starcraft MMO (if it is indeed that) is three or four years off. Then I could see that happening, as WoW starts to slow down.
Frogs May 5th 2007 6:24PM
Yeah, I doubt we're going to be playing a starcraft MMO anytime soon. Interesting, though... if not unexpected.
Krystalle Voecks May 5th 2007 5:14PM
Junzim - Penny Arcade ftw! :D
RJ & Kyle - We did indeed cite information in June 2006 about how everyone was speculating that Blizzard was going pure MMO in the future -- and how it was wrong. On the flip side, PC Gamer tends to be a fairly credible source. We thought it would be of interest to many WoW players, so here it is - with full credit to our source so people can judge the "leak" as true or false on their own.
For me, transferring StarCraft to an MMO creates more questions than answers, lore-wise. I just hope they offer a package deal on subscriptions if it is actually true. Otherwise, I'm going to have to get rid of my EVE account. :D
Finnicks May 5th 2007 5:22PM
Personally, I'm giving Blizzard the benefit of the doubt here. They are total idiots. Their fanbase has been screaming for StarCraft 2, in all its RTS glory, for far too many years for Blizzard to ignore.
I forsee Blizzard replacing World of Warcraft with "Worlds of StarCraft" in three or four years. It's inevitable and judged soley on Blizzard's runaway success with their first MMO, their second will probably be even more successful.
However, I am confident that Blizzard is smart enough to "set themselves up" for a StarCraft MMO w/ a few more lore-building StarCraft game, including the RTS sequel that everyone has been screaming for.
If Blizzard really does announce "Worlds of StarCraft" on May 19th, I will be very, very upset. I want StarCraft 2, dammit. We don't need another timesink MMO right now.
someone May 5th 2007 5:57PM
They would be morons to make a second MMO, it would just cut subscribtion from one game to the other...a zero net gain in money. Its like releasting 3 new starwars movies at the same time, how many people are going to go see all 3 opening night? Its just stupid marketing.
Blizzard is stupid, but they wont lose money.
someone May 5th 2007 5:57PM
They would be morons to make a second MMO, it would just cut subscribtion from one game to the other...a zero net gain in money. Its like releasing 3 new starwars movies at the same time, how many people are going to go see all 3 opening night? Its just stupid marketing.
Blizzard is stupid, but they wont lose money.
Justin May 5th 2007 6:05PM
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=21djeg.3.3
Name: Shadow Legacy
Registration Date: Feb 6, 2007
Hmm...
Same attorney who recorded World of Warcraft too.
Justin May 5th 2007 6:09PM
Bah...disregard.
Mats May 5th 2007 6:21PM
Could this be the RTS-MMO of the future? It would make sense for blizzard not to make another MMO that would eat of the WoW fanbase, so they need to make something that in another direction.
It could be a MMO where you play a general, who fights RTS battles to take over planets. The overall progression of your team gives you access to other planets?
Perhaps its a FPS like thing, where you play the little dudes on the battlefield, a sort of massive raid-pvp area, but in space?
All in all, I don't think we should think in WoW terms when it comes to this game. It might be more like a perfection and MMO adaptation of another genera of game.
oshin May 5th 2007 6:31PM
For those who are saying releasing another mmo is a mistake then your wrong, how long did wow take to develop ? now think about the fact people will probably be sick of wow after that period (its two years old at this stage even). If any thing its keeping there mmo market.
All i hope is that its not wow with a starcraft skin and space ships instead of Zeppelins, but i dont think blizzard would be that lame.
lolwtfstfu May 5th 2007 7:32PM
planetside and we all terran imo
Birthmark May 5th 2007 7:13PM
Boo. Totally not interested in World of Starcraft. WoW is my first MMORPG. The only other game in this genre I would play is Warhammer.
VerticalEvent May 5th 2007 7:01PM
Here's my take: WoS is in the works, but only in the planning stages, figuring out the answers to the questions you guys have posed, while working on technologies that would make them work.
I see them announcing SC2 in Korea, with a possible WoS announcement, as well. SC2 will launch early 200, with an expansion a year later. SC2 and SC2:Expansion will set up the story for an MMO, like WC3:FT did for the WarCraft univirse.Then, a year, year and a half after the expansions, WoS will be launched.
This is all speculation and has no actual background information. To me, this strikes me as a more logical process, then to just launch a WoS straight out of nowhere.
meh May 5th 2007 7:30PM
A lot of shortsighted people in this thread are a bit quick to call Blizzard "morons."
I suppose they think it would be better for Blizzard to rest on its laurels and let another company take all of their subscribers with a better game. It's better for them to compete against themselves with a new game than to let someone else do it.
Furthermore, Starcraft is a SCI-FI genre. It will appeal to an entire segement that at the moment is not interested in playing elves and wizards. What's more for people who like both genres, blizzard can offer multiple game pacakges. Play WoW and WoS for $20.00/mo. etc. This is not unheard of. More money is more money.
A good game is a good game that people will pay for. The idea that somehow if WoS is a huge success, that it would loose Blizzard money, is totally off base and shows a total lack of business understanding. If anything, they widen their demographic and get people hooked on 2 games at an additional level of incremental revenue, or retain their monthly subs longer than if they just sat on their hands waiting for someone else to steal their subs.
Grow a brain people.
Savok May 5th 2007 7:39PM
This is as stupid as the Warhammer 40k MMOG, for the same reasons even. Simply put there is very little room for exceptional people in the Starcraft universe, it's just too big with too many lives being snuffed out everyday.
This is unless it's as said, some RTS/MMOG hybrid.
Personally I'd like to see WoW get a SC expansion, I say this for 2 reasons
1. WoW has a firmly established multiverse
2. Lore is joke to Blizzard, so lets just say screw it and go all the way
Still, can't blame them for not doing SC2, Starcraft is literally perfect, how the fuck do you make a sequel to that?
RogueJedi86 May 5th 2007 10:19PM
They can't do a StarCraft MMO yet. WoW succeeded, but it had 3 games, each with an expansion, a dozen or more novels, etc. StarCraft has had all of ONE game/expansion, and maybe half a dozen novels. StarCraft's lore needs to be expanded a lot before they work on an MMO, especially if they want it to succeed.
sgashby May 5th 2007 11:20PM
"I'm more than a bit curious about how Blizzard are going to be able to translate StarCraft's universe to an MMO. Will you be able to play as Protoss, Zerg, and Terran? "
Well, if you've ever played EVE Online (which is the BEST MMO currently available, imo) then you'll know that a Starcraft MMO can be done. And it's Blizzard so pretty much anything can be achieved.
Ugkul May 5th 2007 11:59PM
funny how morons and total idiots are making like $100 mil a month.