The trickle of information of the upcoming Starcraft 2 has me wanting the game more than ever. Blizzard released screenshots and videos of the Zerg. My usual source has me salivating and counting the days to the launch of the game. Being Blizzard though, I’m sure that I will have to endure another three months after that date. The wait will be worth it.
Starcraft holds a special place in my heart. I remember my old roommate Rick ensnared me with tales of redneck Space Marines back in the long, long ago. I played and played, andthen came Brood Wars and I was done for. I had never played a RTS like it before or since. Sure, many other RTS titles have come along and enhanced and changed the landscape of RTS games, but Starcraft is still my baby. I’ve had many long-winded and pointless debates over which RTS is the best, but no amount of proof or logic will convince me otherwise.
Starcraft 2, from everything that I’ve read and seen, will be Starcraft 1 with a 3D makeover and a few new units at the expense of older ones. The core gameplay will be the same. Not too surprisingly, if it had been changed drastically I very likely would have bought it still. It is also very possible that purchase would have precipitated my reacquaintance with the original. That’s just they way it is for me. I just want a certain experience to be tweaked and refined and I will be happy. For me, it’s all about: Starcraft, Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, Street Fighter, and Zelda. These franchises can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. They literally can change just a few things to the game or add a new character/unit and I will assuredly plop my money down and pick it up on day one. Guaranteed.
I think that all gamers put certain games and series ahead of others, but isn’t that human nature? The problem of course, to which Irving will attest at great length, is the inevitable milking of a franchise. I understand the business side of sequels: less programming time, installed fan base, greater overall profit from the amount of work put into it. But then comes the screaming of the non-fans of the franchise:
"Where is the innovation? It’s just the same game over and over again!"
This is of course all well and true, but there has to be a middleground. Companies like EA, Capcom, and Nintendo are the worst offenders, but all companies have done it from time to time. It’s almost like you have to whore out a franchise or two to keep everyone employed and drum up some extra money to try something new and pray that people will buy it. It’s a crap-shoot with no guarantees of victory. What are you going to do?
- Dover
P.S. Had the comic continued, the Marine would have killed Billy using hit-and-run tactics and a generous amount of stim packs. Terrans for life!
