sc2: will blizz do anything to keep wc3 alive?

ChillPill · 21st May 2007, 23:42 CEST

Like most everyone here, I've been to the starcraft2.com site, I've seen all the footage, read all the articles, listened to all the interviews... And as much as I look forward to SC2-- and believe me I do-- I can't help but wonder if Blizzard will do anything to keep WC3 going? I can understand letting SC gently fade to black because SC2 is, after all, its heir apparent, and I think most SC pro-gamers-- guys like xelloz, NaDa, Nal_Ra, JulyZerg etc-- will actually see their pro-gaming career continue through SC2 as the gameplay seems relatively intact (no heroes or low unit caps, for example), as does the presence of many original SC units.

WC3? Now that's a different creature entirely. WC3 is just taking off in China and experiencing a rebirth of sorts in Europe. I would think Blizzard would like to keep its pro-gaming WC3 ambassadors, guys like Sky, Moon, etc. playing WC3, if only to continue the gospel of WC3 now engulfing China, one of the foremost economic frontiers.

Any predictions? Might we see a "super patch" that adds more neutral heroes, or more racial heroes? A second expansion pack perhaps (unheard of, I know)?

Thoughts?

ChillPill · 21st May 2007, 23:45 CEST

Anyone want to start a petition to Blizz? I'll draft it, if anyone wants to get on board. ;D

Army · 21st May 2007, 23:51 CEST

When WC3 appeared, did Blizzard stop supporting SC?

ChillPill · 22nd May 2007, 00:09 CEST

Your point is duly noted, Army. But some rejoinders:

1.) SC was a much more balanced game early on in its incarnation. WC3, contrarily, was heavily criticized and then ostracized by a lot of gamers who found the game too glitchy and imbalanced early on. It is only now finding its footing, which comes just as the ground is shaken from underneath it by the announcement of SC2.

2.) Blizzard didn't need to support SC besides the occasional tech patch up. The Korean pro-gaming leagues had secured its legacy beyond reproach. There was no need to add new units or gameplay features. Korea had lionized the game to the point that it was a virtual religion. WC3 has had no such security.

China is embracing it now as their own, but that was, again, before SC2 was announced.

3.) WC3 never surpassed the success of SC. Thus, Blizz never really had to worry about it being rendered obsolete. Now, the tables are turned. WC3, the more vulnerable game, is threatened by a sequel that promises to be ten times better than its predecessor, a predecessor WC3 could never beat then, how can anyone realistically expect it to compete against SC 2.0 now?

Army · 22nd May 2007, 00:24 CEST

I see it different, games are like wine, they need time to mature. Happens to every game.

Esport for a game isn't really that hyped in the first few years when nobody really understands the game enough to actually understand what's happening.

StarCraft needed time in Korea, the progamers came, they are famous now. WarCraft 3 took it to the next step, it became global, tournaments all around the world and after it's 4 years of existence the Frozen Throne has created those esport idols that come with time.

Why would Blizzard let a product fall, did they ever do it before?

They are f.e. currently working on a new StarCraft patch, organising tournaments around the globe, cooperating iwth esport events and so on..

masaa · 22nd May 2007, 02:10 CEST

Well I can just hope starcraft II can live up all the expectations. In my opinion blizzard didnt put to much effort into WC3, they never cared about a "spectator programm" (waaghTV/GGTV). And they never solved the problem for playing without lag over big distances. So once again the community had to solve this kind of problems (GGC, WaaghArena) but the solutions are not perfect since all this programs have a lot of bugs.
So will there be a spectator programm since the beginning of SC2? I think SourceTV came also a lot later then CSS.
What is always the most important for a game to be succesful is the gameplay, which blizzard normally does well.
So I doubt that SC2 will take over the wc3 community very fast. It will need a lot of patches and work after release till the community switch completly. Would ofcourse be nice to have a community as big as the current sc and wc3 community together but if this takes to long there will soon be WC4 and everything starts again.

So keys to success for SC2 must be
-spectator friendly
-balanced
-good gameplay
-tournaments supporting it

kittensandmilk · 22nd May 2007, 03:33 CEST

a good and im not sure how hard it would be to program feature would be an in-game web browser you know? so you can look at league websites and such without having to minimize, and maybe a microphone system like xbox live has? or an even better thing would be a video chat program like xbox 360 offers. granted they charge 5$ a month for their services, it sohuldnt be too hard for just a web browser from blizzard

Ego1st · 22nd May 2007, 07:02 CEST

I totally agree with Army's posts... I can't see any reason, why they should give up WCIII?
Keep on fighting Warcraft!

RESTINPEE · 22nd May 2007, 07:12 CEST

i gues they will do some minor balancing patches once in a while but nothing serious ~

ryu_tw · 22nd May 2007, 08:42 CEST

I really agree with Army.
As, for now blizzard will have to released a patch for wc3 or like chillpill said a expansion would be nice with new races and new.........
I don't want wc3 to die!

NotStudent · 22nd May 2007, 18:05 CEST

do not worry,sc is sc and wc3 is wc3,they are different.

Dendra · 23rd May 2007, 02:17 CEST

wc3 is still not near perfection, sc is perfect if you neglect a few unit bugs here and there.
both wc3 and sc are growing in asia, vietnam had like 300k ppl for sc wcg qualifications last year.

i doubt sc and wc3 will die once sc2 comes out, progaming sc scene in korea is 2strong and wc3 is very popular all over the world and people can get to top more easily since even europeans have nice prize money tours, unlike sc whereas koreans are 2x stronger and it's impossible for a non-korean to become a progamer since he has no motivation like koreans that play the game 24/7 since age of 10-16.

abnorm · 23rd May 2007, 12:33 CEST

dota rullzzz

kittensandmilk · 23rd May 2007, 14:03 CEST

dendra, you fail to realize that i am the best starcraft player ever with my mass overlord and goliath strategy

21st May 2007, 23:51 CEST	#3
Army ESNation Minister Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 924	When WC3 appeared, did Blizzard stop supporting SC? __________________ pobudeczka na bacon i jajeczka

22nd May 2007, 00:24 CEST	#5
Army ESNation Minister Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 924	I see it different, games are like wine, they need time to mature. Happens to every game. Esport for a game isn't really that hyped in the first few years when nobody really understands the game enough to actually understand what's happening. StarCraft needed time in Korea, the progamers came, they are famous now. WarCraft 3 took it to the next step, it became global, tournaments all around the world and after it's 4 years of existence the Frozen Throne has created those esport idols that come with time. Why would Blizzard let a product fall, did they ever do it before? They are f.e. currently working on a new StarCraft patch, organising tournaments around the globe, cooperating iwth esport events and so on.. __________________ pobudeczka na bacon i jajeczka

22nd May 2007, 07:02 CEST	#8
Ego1st Adequate Citizen Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 434	I totally agree with Army's posts... I can't see any reason, why they should give up WCIII? Keep on fighting Warcraft! __________________ We always think of what's missing,but never of what we got.

22nd May 2007, 08:42 CEST	#10
ryu_tw Citizen Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 156	I really agree with Army. As, for now blizzard will have to released a patch for wc3 or like chillpill said a expansion would be nice with new races and new......... I don't want wc3 to die! __________________ I don't think of the Future, it comes soon enough!

23rd May 2007, 02:17 CEST	#12
Dendra Hardcore Citizen Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,219	wc3 is still not near perfection, sc is perfect if you neglect a few unit bugs here and there. both wc3 and sc are growing in asia, vietnam had like 300k ppl for sc wcg qualifications last year. i doubt sc and wc3 will die once sc2 comes out, progaming sc scene in korea is 2strong and wc3 is very popular all over the world and people can get to top more easily since even europeans have nice prize money tours, unlike sc whereas koreans are 2x stronger and it's impossible for a non-korean to become a progamer since he has no motivation like koreans that play the game 24/7 since age of 10-16. __________________ If force won't work, use greater force.

21st May 2007, 23:42 CEST	#1
ChillPill Citizen Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 174	Like most everyone here, I've been to the starcraft2.com site, I've seen all the footage, read all the articles, listened to all the interviews... And as much as I look forward to SC2-- and believe me I do-- I can't help but wonder if Blizzard will do anything to keep WC3 going? I can understand letting SC gently fade to black because SC2 is, after all, its heir apparent, and I think most SC pro-gamers-- guys like xelloz, NaDa, Nal_Ra, JulyZerg etc-- will actually see their pro-gaming career continue through SC2 as the gameplay seems relatively intact (no heroes or low unit caps, for example), as does the presence of many original SC units. WC3? Now that's a different creature entirely. WC3 is just taking off in China and experiencing a rebirth of sorts in Europe. I would think Blizzard would like to keep its pro-gaming WC3 ambassadors, guys like Sky, Moon, etc. playing WC3, if only to continue the gospel of WC3 now engulfing China, one of the foremost economic frontiers. Any predictions? Might we see a "super patch" that adds more neutral heroes, or more racial heroes? A second expansion pack perhaps (unheard of, I know)? Thoughts?

21st May 2007, 23:45 CEST	#2
ChillPill Citizen Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 174	Anyone want to start a petition to Blizz? I'll draft it, if anyone wants to get on board. ;D

22nd May 2007, 00:09 CEST	#4
ChillPill Citizen Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 174	Your point is duly noted, Army. But some rejoinders: 1.) SC was a much more balanced game early on in its incarnation. WC3, contrarily, was heavily criticized and then ostracized by a lot of gamers who found the game too glitchy and imbalanced early on. It is only now finding its footing, which comes just as the ground is shaken from underneath it by the announcement of SC2. 2.) Blizzard didn't need to support SC besides the occasional tech patch up. The Korean pro-gaming leagues had secured its legacy beyond reproach. There was no need to add new units or gameplay features. Korea had lionized the game to the point that it was a virtual religion. WC3 has had no such security. China is embracing it now as their own, but that was, again, before SC2 was announced. 3.) WC3 never surpassed the success of SC. Thus, Blizz never really had to worry about it being rendered obsolete. Now, the tables are turned. WC3, the more vulnerable game, is threatened by a sequel that promises to be ten times better than its predecessor, a predecessor WC3 could never beat then, how can anyone realistically expect it to compete against SC 2.0 now?

22nd May 2007, 02:10 CEST	#6
masaa Junior Citizen Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 65	Well I can just hope starcraft II can live up all the expectations. In my opinion blizzard didnt put to much effort into WC3, they never cared about a "spectator programm" (waaghTV/GGTV). And they never solved the problem for playing without lag over big distances. So once again the community had to solve this kind of problems (GGC, WaaghArena) but the solutions are not perfect since all this programs have a lot of bugs. So will there be a spectator programm since the beginning of SC2? I think SourceTV came also a lot later then CSS. What is always the most important for a game to be succesful is the gameplay, which blizzard normally does well. So I doubt that SC2 will take over the wc3 community very fast. It will need a lot of patches and work after release till the community switch completly. Would ofcourse be nice to have a community as big as the current sc and wc3 community together but if this takes to long there will soon be WC4 and everything starts again. So keys to success for SC2 must be -spectator friendly -balanced -good gameplay -tournaments supporting it

22nd May 2007, 03:33 CEST	#7
kittensandmilk Citizen Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 404	a good and im not sure how hard it would be to program feature would be an in-game web browser you know? so you can look at league websites and such without having to minimize, and maybe a microphone system like xbox live has? or an even better thing would be a video chat program like xbox 360 offers. granted they charge 5$ a month for their services, it sohuldnt be too hard for just a web browser from blizzard

22nd May 2007, 07:12 CEST	#9
RESTINPEE Adequate Citizen Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 465 My Mood:	i gues they will do some minor balancing patches once in a while but nothing serious ~

22nd May 2007, 18:05 CEST	#11
NotStudent Newbie Citizen Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11	do not worry,sc is sc and wc3 is wc3,they are different.

23rd May 2007, 12:33 CEST	#13
abnorm Newbie Citizen Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 7	dota rullzzz

23rd May 2007, 14:03 CEST	#14
kittensandmilk Citizen Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 404	dendra, you fail to realize that i am the best starcraft player ever with my mass overlord and goliath strategy

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