The beta will probably end already in early June, then Blizzard will fine-tune all the details to finally get the game ready for release!

The Terran Ghost unit is fundamentally an upgraded version of their race. These are the units that have psionic ability; they are a lot stronger than average units and are quicker around the maps.

Ghosts wear a particular suit that when in cloaking mode glows turquoise blue. It acts as the unit’s second skin and allows them to sneak up to their targets undetected. They are highly trained and well controlled – each is fitted with a neural inhibiter to prevent them from straying from their purpose, though this may not always be the case.

Above all ghosts are the snipers of the battlefield. They shoot with precision accuracy and deadly intent. Together with their weapon of choice – the C-10 canister rifle – Ghosts are a unit to be feared in open battle.

The rifle itself is dangerous enough as it aids the Ghost units in showing base camp where to rain down a doom strike or a catastrophic nuke attack. The unit will seek out an enemy structure and use the laser on his weapon to call in the pain.

Tactically these units serve a multitude of functions, as spy scouts, bringers of destruction or skirmish snipers, the game could be won or lost with units like these.

Fans are still waiting for Blizzard to announce any new release date news for the most anticipated game in the universe: Starcraft 2. Tensions are running high as fans hit back against the recent (and somewhat predicted) delay of the new Starcraft game.

Comments are littering Starcraft 2 fan sites all over the internet as the news-well has run dry and frustrations reach boiling point. We have been loyal fans for decades now, patiently waiting the arrival of Wings of Liberty, but we are not even treated to a projected date in 2010.

Fans are not happy at this absence of release news. There have been calls to ‘fight back’ against the emotional tyranny that Blizzard holds against us. We sit day after day and still no news comes of anything – not the release date, not the beta release date.

The Starcraft 2 community is becoming disillusioned with the whole situation. We want the game and we want it now – even if it is only the beta version. All that we can do now here at Starcraft2Mania is wait, and hope that one day soon we will hear some good news!

As if Blizzcon wasn’t enough of a tease!

The recent Blizzcon Gaming Convention in Anaheim, California drew crowds from all over the world, with one of the biggest highlights being the superb array of costumes that fans wore to the event.

The Starcraft gaming fraternity made waves in the costume display, while a number of dedicated fans made it into the preliminary rounds of the grand costume contest. The evening featured a mix of style and playfulness as comedian Jay Mohr hosted the costume, dance, and sound-alike contests.

Costume contestants wandered around all day allowing the crowds to get a glimpse of their over-the-top attire. When the time came for the jam-packed costume contest to begin, the dozens of entries were narrowed down to determine the overall winners.

In the final stages, Sartharion, Kel’Thuzad, and Mistress of Pain imitators took to the stage to parade their theatrical garb. Representing the Starcraft franchise were appearances made by Jim Raynor and a group of Terran marines – all of whom made an impressive effort in the costume department.

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to claim the top spots, which were ultimately usurped by World of Warcraft and Diablo contenders. The top three finalists included the towering Kel’Thuzad, a human paladin – both from World of Warcraft fame – and an uncanny Mistress of Pain impersonator, whose spidery costume ensemble won her the winning position.

The effort made by all costume contestants is commendable, especially with regards to the heavier costumes that were lugged around for hours on end. It all demonstrates the utter dedication these fans have to their gaming pastime and their favourite virtual characters.

Even though not every costume enthusiast could claim first prize in the contest, the 25 000 convention attendees were still enthralled by the life-size Blizzard Entertainment characters traipsing around.

The event that took place on the 21st and 22nd August 2009 marked the 4th Blizzcon convention of its kind, and the costume contest was generously sponsored by Alienware and Intel. The occasion also served as an enjoyable gathering for Starcraft fans who are anxiously awaiting the imminent release of the game’s sequel, Starcraft 2, later this year.

This years epic mention goes to the WoW dragon:

What a Legend!

You know, occasionally there is something non-news related that comes to my attention that is just too funny not to share. Today, the case of an opinion article written on the Failure of Science and the Value of LOGIC. It’s not your run-of-the-mill one plus one equals two brand of logic. Oh no, this guy has his ever so special brand of LOGIC.

Yes, we’ve all been desperately waiting for a single bit of news as to the release date of Starcraft 2. So, it follows that most of us are reading everything printed about it. This has to be the funniest printed item I have read since “10 Things I Would Do for a Starcraft 2 Beta Key“.

No offense intended, okay maybe a little offense intended, but I’m thinking that the brand LOGIC used for this article is more like Lacking Obvious General Intellectual Coherency. Which doesn’t mean that the author can’t be right about his predictions after all, I was about to pull out my crystal ball to predict the Starcraft 2 beta release date. Sure doesn’t seem as if anyone else’s predictions have held up.

The author goes on to say we can no longer trust science and that you cannot trust LOGIC after science has failed – only he can prove that wrong if you can follow his LOGIC. Dudes, I am here to tell you the only person who can reliably predict the Starcraft 2 Beta release date is probably Jim Raynor. And following that particular brand of LOGIC then it stands to reason scientifically that this guy might be right.

Now there is no possible way that I can actually go through this rather peculiar brand of LOGIC, pretty much because I don’t understand it. I can only say, that because most people believe females to be illogical (they have been telling me that all my life), that LOGIC says that the author of that article must be female and the Starcraft 2 beta release date will be — sometime. So how’s that for logic? Sorry Captain Peabody.

One of the perks of writing about a game you enjoy, or hope to enjoy, like Starcraft 2 is when you find something incredibly funny you can share it. Well I did, and here it is. Now remember, this is completely not serious, though I suspect the person that posted the question might have been.

Now, I won’t post the whole “supposed” conversation or instant message from this unknown person, however, they were supposed to be visiting blizzard headquarters and being wooed by them. In the process this unknown person was supposedly given a beta key for Starcraft 2. As well as being let in on the secret that certain press and of course friends and family, bowling buddies, the neighborhood block watch, and an entire class of 6th graders, had been given keys already for the Starcraft 2 Beta. Yeah, right.

Now I know the good game developers, artists, and story writers are in high demand everywhere including at Blizzard, but I have a hard time swallowing the idea that any would be employee would be let in on anything top secret.

Okay, let me say it again, before you go rushing off trying to find somebody with the top super secret ultra hidden “Friends and Family beta key for Starcraft 2.” I’m sorry it’s just not happening folks. I knew this even before I read the official Blizzard response to this newest rumor.

It’s not that I doubt that certain people will be guaranteed keys to the Starcraft 2 Beta when it does indeed come. Blizzard will want media, there will be a core group of pro-gamers, and perhaps a short list of other persons. However, a secret “Friends and Family” beta just doesn’t fit in with the corporate image, or even the moneygrubbing corporation image people have been trying to foster since the plans for Starcraft 2 trilogy announcement. It doesn’t make economic sense.

Friends and family are all well and good, but if you ask me the game developer’s friends and family are probably going to be like the old story of the shoemaker’s kids – shoeless. Or in this case gameless. There are no doubt perks for working for a game company, but when it’s a corporation centered upon efficiency, quality and story line, as well as keeping a secret as well as blizzard seems to – well, special status is probably not in the cards for even developer’s families, golfing buddies, or the annoying media who keep asking –“When!”

So I urge you when the next rumor comes out where perhaps an unnamed, freckle faced, sixth grader is quoted as saying that his dad was a game developer and he had just gotten done playing the entire trilogy for Starcraft 2, don’t believe it.

It’s a pity really; that there is no super secret “Friends and Family Starcraft 2 beta”, because I was considering traveling to Blizzard HQ and claiming to be Kerrigan’s second cousin three times removed by marriage. With a couple of banelings in tow I would have calmly threatened to explode if someone did not give me a key. Oh well.

During this nerve-racking no release date, no news time, I’ve developed a little ritual to help myself through it all. This consists of a morning e-mail check, a quick check of my Battlenet account, and a search for the term “Starcraft 2 Release Date”.

Well, guess what this has brought? It has been full of so-called news, that Starcraft 2 is going to be delayed, and not too much else. Gee, who would have guessed? As far as I can tell the source is an unnamed analyst, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, and that was when he was speaking about another game.

So, maybe the guy in the back using the 1980s model Apple didn’t guess, but the rest of us pretty much knew this was coming. After all, it is almost the middle of July, and Blizzcon is due in August. Blizzcon is an opportunity for Blizzard to generate media attention, hype their new products and generally stimulate sales and interest in their games. You think they will begin the beta BEFORE such a huge media op? Not in my opinion.

Knowing just how good Blizzard is at hyping their products, a delay in the release of the beta is almost inevitable. With the beta delayed, it follows that the release date of Starcraft 2 will also be delayed. A beta period of 4 to 6 months is not unreasonable for beta testing. We have always said here on SC2M that an end of the year release would be optimistic at best.

So I don’t think I’m being too unrealistic by saying a delay in the Starcraft 2 release date is a no brainer.

Now given that deduction, and our experience with Blizzard’s love of media attention, you can see where I am heading with this. I would love to be proved wrong and look back at this post while playing the Starcraft 2 beta, and think how silly I was to ever believe Blizzard would delay a game release date.

1. I would get Tychus Findlay’s tattoo ‘Heavens Devils’ inked on each of my buttock cheeks.

2. Staple my mouth closed in order to develop my psionic ability.

3. Go into several large shopping centers and wait for the voice announcements, and on hearing one I will crawl up into a ball, hugging myself, all but screaming – THE ZERG ARE COMING!

4. Create from aluminum off cuts and tin foil my very own full body marine suit – and sentence myself to three days of service for the Terran Confederacy. Home, work, the pub – someone’s bound to notice.

5. Gather, in a great and mighty pile, all Starwars, Startrek and Battlestar Galactica memorabilia and burn it outside the Blizzard offices.

6. Go to an extremely expensive restaurant and try and get them to change the name of their soup to Baneling remains. Flow charts, diagrams and a Powerpoint presentation will be included.

7. Will modify my car to look like a Crucio Siege Tank.

8. I will rename my mother’s poodle Zergbait.

9. I will refer to all cockroaches as agents of the Overmind.

10. I will try to assimilate my friends…

The third highly anticipated Battle Report has been leaked! SC2M brings you the latest action as Dustin Browder and Robert Simpson commentate in the most epic battle yet.

The Zerg are swarming once again as the Protoss assemble their troops. Experienced Starcraft 2 gamer Yeon-Ho Lee steers the Zerg in the right direction as David Kim grabs control of the technically savvy Protoss nation.

Deep space – an empty scrap yard is about to become the birth place of an epic battle as we are privy to new map features, unit functions and terrain details.

The commentary begins as both Browder and Simpson take us through the heated battle. Eventually because he has the economic advantage, David Kim swings a victory for the Protoss with a clever distraction technique, a hidden warp prism and a group of angry Immortals.

In this particular report we are shown the new scrap yard map, the black smoke that cloaks units as they approach it and the Xel ‘Naga watch towers. The really cool thing about these watch towers is the strategic advantage that you gain by having one under your control. They illuminate the ground nearby which can warn you of an approaching attack and help you win the game.

Comedic as many of these battle reports can be, this one has been the most entertaining – we are treated to the tenacity of Kim’s single unit probe that dashed out of his base to harass the Zerg drones and prevent the swarm expansion. I would argue that it was the brilliant use of this probe in the first minute of the game that won it for Kim.

The Zerg were doomed to collect their minerals late, and at a slower rate than Kim’s super fast Protoss. As a result Kim didn’t hesitate to knock out two Colossus units, and sacrifice them for the win. A progressive and inspired tactic, one I will use in future on an unsuspecting buddy. You can just imagine Lee’s smile fade as he thought he had destroyed the Protoss main attack – only to meet his end at the hands of the warped in Immortals.

Main Highlights:

The awesome new destructible rocks that once flattened become a backdoor into an unsuspecting opponent’s base.

The Nullifiers force fields in action – they save Kim’s base on more than one occasion.

The ‘legend probe’ outrunning the Zergling horde.

Burrowing Zerg Roaches and their blinding regeneration powers.

Stalkers blink ability chasing off the horde.

A mass of Zerglings destroying a group of Stalkers.

A Queen shot down in her prime.

The Baneling sneak attack that nearly had the game for Lee.

The Infestor turn around – mind controlling the two Colossus units.

Hopefully we will be seeing a ton more of these before the beta is released, or at least one or two more. Come on Browder, you know you want to.