Friends and Family Beta Key For Starcraft 2 –Now That is Funny!

July 20th, 2009

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.