27 July 2010, Singapore – Launched together with North America, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty was released at Funan Centre Atrium. I was there to witness the pandemonium as fans queued and waited in anticipation for 11 years for this version upgrade.
Brian Kindregan, the lead writer of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc was also present at the launch. His primary responsibility was to shape the story and characters for the StarCraft universe. Kindregan oversees all the in-game text in StarCraft II: Wars of Liberty and had a key role in developing the storyline for the franchise including coordinating with Blizzard Entertainment’s creative development department to ensure that the stories told in licensed products like novels and comic books maintain consistency with the StarCraft games.
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StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s 1998 real-time strategy game hit StarCraft. StarCraft II’s vibrant 3D-graphics engine centres on the clash between the protoss, terrans, and zerg, with each side deploying legions of veteran, upgraded and new unit types. Unparalleled online play for StarCraft II is available through a new version of Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment’s world-renowned gaming service. Battle.net has been redesigned from the ground up to be the premier online gaming destination for Blizzard gamers, with several enhancements and new features such as voice communications, cloud file storage, leagues and ladders, achievements, stat tracking and more.
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The solo campaign for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty picks up the saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War®. The story line chronicles the exploits of marshal-turned-rebel-leader Jim Raynor and features both familiar faces and new heroes. Players can tailor the experience, choosing their own mission path and selecting technology and research upgrades to suit their playing style throughout the 29-mission campaign. Several challenge missions are also included, with focused goals designed to ease players into the basics of multiplayer strategies.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is available on DVD-ROM for Windows® XP / Windows Vista® / Windows® 7 and Macintosh® in stores in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand for a suggested retail price of 700,000 IDR / 248 MYR / 3,500 PHP / 109 SGD / 2,500 THB. Players can also purchase the game digitally at www.starcraft2.com. With either the retail or digital purchase, players will be able to play online for no additional fee through Battle.net.
In addition to the unlimited-access purchase options described above, Blizzard Entertainment will be providing alternative pricing options following the launch of the game. Details and pricing for these will be announced at a later date.
The Southeast Asian version of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty gives players immediate access to play on servers based in Southeast Asia, alongside gamers from Australia and New Zealand. This datacenter provides high-quality gameplay and connectivity for local gamers, as well as a deeper, more accessible community experience complete with exclusive multiplayer leagues and ladders.
Blizzard also recognizes that, based on the connectivity options available in other Blizzard Entertainment® games, many players in Southeast Asia have longstanding friendships and rivalries with North American players and will want to continue those relationships with StarCraft II. As such, the company will arrange as soon as possible for players who purchased the
Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty to also have the ability to play on North American servers at no additional cost. The intention is to make this option available no later than 60 days after launch; further details are posted at the official StarCraft II community website: www.starcraft2.com. While Blizzard is pleased to offer this additional option, the
company encourages play on the local servers, which will offer lower latency and more action during peak hours in addition to the benefits noted above.
Here’re more of the launch videos:
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Below are photos that I took from the launch for your viewing pleasure.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty General
Q: What is StarCraft II?
A: StarCraft II is the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game, and the sequel to the hit original, StarCraft. The game will include three completely distinct and balanced races, the protoss, terran, and zerg, which have been overhauled and re-imagined with a number of new units for each, as well as new tricks for some of the classic units that are returning.
Q: What regions has the game been released in?
A: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty was released on July 27, 2010 in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Q: How will StarCraft II be different from StarCraft?
A: StarCraft II will run on a vibrant new 3D-graphics engine capable of rendering beautiful landscapes as well as massive army sizes. The speed, responsiveness, and epic-scale battles that made the original StarCraft such a memorable game are all realized in 3D with this brand-new engine. We’re also introducing a number of distinct new units to the protoss, terran, and zerg, and some of the familiar units that return in StarCraft II will have new tricks up their sleeves, which will give the game its own
unique flavor. The maps themselves will also offer new interactive elements that enhance the strategic nature of the game and create more tactical points of interest for players to contest. One example of this is the Xel’Naga watchtower structure—when captured, it reveals line of sight over a large area of the map, creating an advantage for the player in control of the tower.
Q: How many races are in StarCraft II?
A: In StarCraft II, players will see the return of the protoss, terran, and zerg races. Our goal is to ensure that all of the factions in the game play even more distinctly from one another than in the original StarCraft, while still maintaining the fine balance that helped make StarCraft a classic. We’re also introducing a number of new units to each race, as well as modifying some of the familiar units returning in StarCraft II. With these design refinements and the new features we have planned for the single-player and multiplayer elements of the game, StarCraft II will offer a next-generation StarCraft experience.
North American Server Access for Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand
StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ Players FAQ
Q: Who is eligible to play on the North American servers?
A: All players, including those in the regions of Hong Kong and Macau, who purchase the English Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand Standard or Collector’s Edition of StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ will have the option of playing on the North American Battle.net® servers in addition to the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand servers if they prefer.
Q: How much will this cost?
A: The option of playing on North American Battle.net servers will come at no additional cost to all players who have purchased the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft II.
Q: How will access to the North American servers be granted?
A: Our intention is to ensure that within 60 days after the launch of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, all players with a copy of the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version will automatically gain the ability to also access the North American servers — this will be handled through Battle.net account management.
Q: How will I know when I can access the North American servers?
A: We will have additional information on how and when to access the North American servers on our StarCraft II community site.
Q: What will happen with my Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand Battle.net account?
A: Once you get access to the North American Battle.net servers, you will have access to both regions for online play. You can choose which one to play on at any given time, and can switch back and forth at will.
Q: How will my friends list and rankings be handled?
A: All account-specific data, including friends lists, rankings, achievements, statistics, titles, and unlockable rewards, will be tracked separately for each region’s Battle.net servers, and will not carry over between them.
Q: If I have already purchased the North American version, can I also play on the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand servers?
A: No. To have the option to play on both servers, you must purchase the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. This solution is specifically targeted to address gamers in Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand who have social relationships with North American players from previous Blizzard Entertainment titles.
Q: Will I be able to play on any of the other StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty regional servers?
A: No. Players who purchase the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft II will have access to the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand and the North American Battle.net servers. No other multi-region play will be available at this time.
Related articles
- Blizzard Has No Clue How StarCraft II Will End (escapistmagazine.com)
- StarCraft II alternate pricing deals for Asian countries revealed (news.bigdownload.com)
- “Blizzard announces new StarCraft II custom mods” and related posts (vg247.com)
- “StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty HD Wallpaper” and related posts (daily-wallpaper.blogspot.com)
- Why The StarCraft II Team Is Making Mods [Blizzcon] (kotaku.com)
