WoW Insider on G4 last night
by Mike Schramm 
May 22nd 2007 at 1:28PM
Here's video, direct from G4, of my appearance on Attack of the Show last night. A little bumpy-- I mixed up Warcraft 3 and WoW (who knows how that happened), and I said the Blood Elves when I meant Draenei, but otherwise I think I got my points across fairly well. I do think Blizzard is going to pull some good elements from WC3 and WoW into SC2, and of course I think this will be a uniquely Blizzard game, no matter who they hire to work on it. For the record, I was right: the poll had 60% of voters saying Starcraft 2 was not a letdown.
I did get a little cut off at the end (that's probably why the mic levels jump a bit), because I was trying to wholly disagree with Garnett: Blizzard is not going to bring this game to consoles. I do agree that they're aiming for Holiday 2008, though, if only because that'll be the 10th anniversary of Starcraft. Thanks to G4 for putting this all together, and thanks to everyone who tuned in and watched it live last night.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Interviews
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Frank Smith May 22nd 2007 2:15PM
elephants. lol.
Beaverius May 22nd 2007 2:10PM
Great job mike!
Garnett is obnoxious
Zarian May 22nd 2007 2:15PM
I think you did a great job and from what I saw it looked like you were there as a minority representation. Based both on the way you were cut into as well as what was said by the host after the two opinions, they wanted to make you look like more of a fanboy than someone to take serious.
Collinevan May 22nd 2007 2:16PM
Wow, I think that Garnett and Kevin are unbelievably short-sighted over this matter.
Blizzard will innovate. Blizzard will have something attractive.
Do they forget the fact that so much has changed in the gaming industry since Starcraft came out to work in SC2s favor?
What do I mean? Namely:
1. Gaming on the whole is more popular -- the market is bigger.
2. 8 Million players for WoW that believe in Blizzard can't be wrong... I predict most WoW players will at least try it.
3. Online gaming is bigger as well. People want games that give solid online play.
4. Everquest II came out with an expansion that was basically utilizing content from the orignial EQ and it proved to be a massive success comparatively.
I could go on and on and on and on and on. The game will be fine.. it will be fun.. it will be successful. Case closed!
Great job Mike!
Wartooth May 22nd 2007 2:18PM
hahaha, elephants, i cracked up! XD
Deadlock Jun 15th 2007 3:18PM
Good job on the interview, I can't believe that Garnett actully thinks that SCII will go to consoles. If it does, I'm sure it won't be for a long time after its release on the PC. As for a lack of innovation, what's to innovate when you got it so close to perfect the first time around (I'm including the expansion in this statement). Personally, even if all they did was put out SC1 with shiny graphics I'd be happy. But new units, new abilities and the continuation of a great storyline? All that makes me one happy panda.
dano May 22nd 2007 2:41PM
Starcraft was (is) the bomb!
Starcraft 2 will be the bomb.dot.com!
Nice job Mike.
Chedder May 22nd 2007 2:55PM
Garnett is a freaking moron. There is no way there putting this game on the New consoles. Who ever heard of any descent RTS on a console.
I think Mike was dead on balls accurate. It's a technical term.
Zonda May 22nd 2007 2:57PM
YAY ELEPHANTS!!!! I LOVE ELEPHANTS. but pretty good job!
Nelson May 22nd 2007 3:13PM
gg mike
Axium May 23rd 2007 5:17AM
Blizzard even said in the interview with IGN that they are not going to put it on Next-Gen cause they cost way to much!
Sylythn May 22nd 2007 3:28PM
Did you get an "I survived G4TechTV...my brain not so much..." tshirt?
RiLLs May 22nd 2007 3:39PM
@ Chedder
I hate it when people make comments like "Who ever heard of any decent RTS on a console" as if it can't be done. People were saying that exact same thing about first person shooters in the 90s. It can be done and will be done given the right talent to figure out how to make it work. Progress is already being made.
Chedder May 22nd 2007 3:59PM
@ RiLLs
I'm not saying it can't be done. Take a look at AdvanceWars. IMO one of the best strategy games every made. FPS games lend themselves to the console very well. However the only reason they do is because of the limited number of things going on at any one time. (i.e. You pick up a gun, you aim while moving, you shot while moving, aim jump and shoot.) However with RTS games you have a lot more things going on at a time. The mechanics of RTS games just don't lend themselves to consoles. in RTS game you have units harvesting, you have to build multiple different types buildings and bases. And each of those buildings produces several types of units, all the while you have to reconnoiter your enemy, build units to counter his strategy, send those units to attack at strategic points on the map, at the same time manage your economy and tech up.
I just don't see that happening on any of the new consoles. Unless of course they come with a keyboard and a mouse. That's the only way they would work.
Tigraine May 22nd 2007 4:07PM
@11
no.. it won't be done unless they get away from that little silly gamepad and stick to something new.
I don't think that a Mouse and a Keyboard are the perfect input devices, there is much to improve there. But a gamepad with 2 joysticks on it will never enable you to move fast enough around your units and the map to live up to the speed of the game.
Tigraine May 22nd 2007 4:09PM
And still, to prove the fact.
There is not one single Shooter on a Console that can be played against a PC gamer.
They just can't compete with the other input devices
Mike Schramm May 22nd 2007 4:10PM
I think RTS on a console is possible-- I haven't played C&C3 on the x360 but I heard it's doing well.
I just don't think Blizzard will ever bring this game to consoles. One of the reasons they ditched Ghost was because the console schedule screwed them, and I think they'd rather be the big PC developer then worry about paying licenses just to get on the consoles.
Bootsanator May 22nd 2007 4:29PM
Did anyone ever play command and conquer for N64? biggest waste of money in my life. hence, the skeptics of RTS's on a console :P
TheTreasoner May 22nd 2007 5:01PM
Its hilarious to me that Kevin at the end says that he's going to spend time in WoW, because Starcraft 2 won't offer anything innovative and new.
HELLO. EARTH TO KEVIN. WoW has almost nothing new or innovative... just a LOT of uniqueness and a lot of his aforementioned spit and polish on other ideas by other people.
I didn't really believe it when people called Kevin stupid before, but this, this is amazing.
cpsethgt May 22nd 2007 6:16PM
It's worth noting that the first Starcraft was released for the Nintendo 64 as Starcraft 64.
That being said, I agree that it is very unlikely we'll ever see Starcraft II on a console.