NeoGAF

Corran Horn · 07:44 AM

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm Expansion Official Thread (Wings of Liberty Required)
Website: Heart of the Swarm | StarCraft 2 | Battle.net

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Platforms: PC & Mac
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Modes: Single Player & Multiplayer

Welcome to The Hive Mind
You are Sarah Kerrigan, former Queen of Blades. Once the most feared entity in the galaxy, you now wait in a cell in the depths of a high-security research laboratory. Before the murderous forces of the Terran Dominion close in, you must plot your escape to the dark reaches of space… and reclaim your living empire at the Heart of the Swarm.

The First Expansion to StarCraft 2 (Wings of Libery is required for Heart of the Swarm)

Brand new Campaign with about 20 missions

New Zerg evolutions throughout the campaign

Crazy addictive multiplayer yo

More #ESPORTS

The Story So Far... (Thanks to ZealousD)
StarCraft 1
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9226B77F797043B
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...4jDbVHkdeRneDn

Protoss

Teran

Zerg

Revised Training Modes

Improved AI

New Multiplayer Maps

New Balance Changes

Addition of Groups and Clans

Resume Replay Feature

Unranked Matchmaking

Brand New Leveling System

Improved Arcade Experience

Upgrades to Mod/Custom Map Scene

New Dances

Continued #ESPORTS Focus

Heart of the Swarm Tournaments
IEM Season VII - March 5-9 (Germany)

MLG Dallas - March 15-18

2013 Global StarCraft II League Season 2 - March 4-May 11 (Korea)

Liquidpedia Tournaments Site

Group: NeoGAF
Clan: NeoGAF[GAF]
MUMBLE INFORMATION:
Main server: IP = chi.eoreality.net and port = 64739
Backup server: IP = 67.23.187.114 and port = 20198
Download Here: http://mumble.sourceforge.net/
NeoGAF Thread: Click Here

Twitch.tv Heart of the Swarm Channel

GAF Streams
Corran's Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/corran666

Shake's Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/xmshake

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fanboi's Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/fanboigaf

Panda's Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pandagaf

PM Me to add to list

Metacritic.com

Fin

Corran Horn · (03-05-2013, 04:23 AM)

Slayerx · (03-05-2013, 04:24 AM)

Hype #vengeance.

antitrop · 04:31 AM

My body is so ready. Fantastic OT. I put thousands of hours into StarCraft II.

I have the CE pre-ordered for day 1 delivery, I liked the art book and Making Of DVD that came with WoL, hopefully there's some good stuff in this one. (WoL CE had SC: Brood War on a Jim Raynor Dog Tag USB drive, that shit was awesome).

I'll be playing through the campaign day 1, then hitting up the ladder. Eventually a Brutal play through, as well. Finishing WoL on Brutal was frustrating and not very fun, but a proud accomplishment.

I hit Master League in WoL, but I'm not expecting to put nearly that much time into HotS. I'll settle for high Diamond.
http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/549882/1/antitrop/

Mairu · (03-05-2013, 04:25 AM)

can't wait to finally play the campaign

Deadman · (03-05-2013, 04:26 AM)

I liked the hydra being a new unit :)

Tashi · (03-05-2013, 04:31 AM)

I'm pumped baby. Let's go!

Paches · (03-05-2013, 04:32 AM)

Looking forward to the campaign and widow mines.

kayos90 · (03-05-2013, 04:34 AM)

I'm ready baby.

Acheron · (03-05-2013, 04:35 AM)

Hook that Metzen writing into my veins.

KittyKittyBangBang · (03-05-2013, 04:37 AM)

Remachinate · 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by antitrop

I hit Master League in WoL, but I'm not expecting to put nearly that much time into HotS. I'll settle for high Diamond.

It took me 6 months after Master level was introduced in WoL to get myself up there; haven't touched it since.
http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/...1/Remachinate/

This expansion is going to make me spend another 6 months doing it again, I just know it.

antitrop · 04:42 AM

FieryBalrog · (03-05-2013, 04:40 AM)

pre-ordered

Striek · (03-05-2013, 04:40 AM)

Surprised its only a week to go. #sc2isdead

ghst · (03-05-2013, 04:40 AM)

and so the race begins between me hitting GM and void rays getting nerfed back to irrelevance.

Paches · (03-05-2013, 04:42 AM)

Originally Posted by antitrop

YOLO Viking appearance please!

Calidor · (03-05-2013, 04:42 AM)

I'm there day 1!

single player only! (:

woober · (03-05-2013, 04:42 AM)

MVP keen gif and White-Ra image in an OT? Couldn't be any more perfect.

antitrop · (03-05-2013, 04:45 AM)

Originally Posted by Paches-EJ-

YOLO Viking appearance please!

Check again, yo!

Crimsonlink · (03-05-2013, 04:47 AM)

Alright can't wait for Amazon to deliver it to me! Probably a good thing I won't get it till Tuesday afternoon since I have class those days lol.

Can hopefully make Plat or higher in this expansion since I struggle so much vs Toss late game.

ultron87 · (03-05-2013, 04:49 AM)

Yay! Excited for campaign and to get super stressed out by laddering again. Now to just decide whether to keep the faith maining Toss or switch it up.

jersoc · (03-05-2013, 04:50 AM)

digital ce same price? i don't think that's right.

semi excited to play again.

Pancakes · (03-05-2013, 04:51 AM)

Yay!

Corran Horn · (03-05-2013, 04:51 AM)

Originally Posted by jersoc

digital ce same price? i don't think that's right.

semi excited to play again.

Regular and Digital are same thing, just digital has a few extra items since its battle.net exclusive. Its not CE

Corran Horn · (03-05-2013, 04:53 AM)

Originally Posted by ultron87

Yay! Excited for campaign and to get super stressed out by laddering again. Now to just decide whether to keep the faith maining Toss or switch it up.

Play unranked ladder and tada! No stress!

antitrop · (03-05-2013, 04:54 AM)

Terran4lyfe

sixghost · (03-05-2013, 04:54 AM)

How is the competitive scene doing? I've seen random posts about it dying out compared to LoL and DOTA.

jersoc · (03-05-2013, 04:55 AM)

Originally Posted by Corran Horn

Regular and Digital are same thing, just digital has a few extra items since its battle.net exclusive. Its not CE

oh, i see. i swear i looked last week and it was 10 more. no reason not to get that then.

Corran Horn · (03-05-2013, 04:56 AM)

Originally Posted by sixghost

How is the competitive scene doing? I've seen random posts about it dying out compared to LoL and DOTA.

It still does decent, just doesnt really have that much hype anymore. People kinda hoping that new expansion will generate that again. LoL will always destroy SC2 in terms of ratings unless blizz gets smart and starts to think about doing a true Free to play model.

antitrop · 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by sixghost

How is the competitive scene doing? I've seen random posts about it dying out compared to LoL and DOTA.

IPL6 got cancelled today and IGN is trying to sell it off, but uh... eSports!
http://www.ign.com/ipl/all/news/ipl6...cial-statement

ZealousD · (03-05-2013, 04:56 AM)

Originally Posted by Corran Horn

The Story So Far... (Thanks to ZealousD)
StarCraft 1
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9226B77F797043B
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...4jDbVHkdeRneDn

Hey guys. You should watch these. I worked hard on them. :o

Corran Horn · (03-05-2013, 04:58 AM)

Originally Posted by jersoc

oh, i see. i swear i looked last week and it was 10 more. no reason not to get that then.

eh I guess I was wrong looking at it now. Fixed...thats alot of extra money for like nothing lol

ultron87 · (03-05-2013, 04:59 AM)

Originally Posted by Corran Horn

Play unranked ladder and tada! No stress!

It was never really the ranking part that stressed me out. More just that trying to play the game as fast and as actively as I know it should be is really stressful.

ghst · 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Corran Horn

It still does decent, just doesnt really have that much hype anymore. People kinda hoping that new expansion will generate that again. LoL will always destroy SC2 in terms of ratings unless blizz gets smart and starts to think about doing a true Free to play model.

or lower the skill ceiling enough that everyone's favourite lovable foreigners have a hope in hell of competing at the highest level.

i'm not sure having the competitive scene dominated by the worst matchup for the best part of a year helped, either.

Haunted · (03-05-2013, 05:03 AM)

Solid thread title, I approve.

Haunted · (03-05-2013, 05:05 AM)

Originally Posted by KittyKittyBangBang

:o

I need context for this one.

Zzoram · (03-05-2013, 05:05 AM)

Originally Posted by ghst

or lower the skill ceiling enough that everyone's favourite lovable foreigners have a hope in hell of competing at the highest level.

i'm not sure having the competitive scene dominated by the worst matchup for the best part of a year helped, either.

HotS is clearly going to raise the skill ceiling actually. The pros all seem to think so.

ghst · (03-05-2013, 05:08 AM)

Originally Posted by Zzoram

HotS is clearly going to raise the skill ceiling actually. The pros all seem to think so.

only four hours until we find out:

EscapingJail · 05:25 AM

Can't wait!

Originally Posted by sixghost

How is the competitive scene doing? I've seen random posts about it dying out compared to LoL and DOTA.

It's doing perfectly fine. Way more tournament content than the release of WoL ( 1-2 Big tournaments a week, with dozens of smaller online tournaments weekly.)

With HOTS coming out it's going to continue to get bigger and bigger.

Anyone saying otherwise is completely uninformed or just inciting a "this esport is better" war.

*hint hint* IPL died because IGN died, it's not rocket science.

antitrop · (03-05-2013, 05:10 AM)

Originally Posted by Haunted

:o

I need context for this one.

Beta showmatch vs Puck, qxc was up 3-1, then Puck cheesed him 3 games in a row to win the series. That was the end of the 7th game.

KittyKittyBangBang · (03-05-2013, 05:11 AM)

Originally Posted by Haunted

:o

I need context for this one.

That is Team Complexity's QXC, This was taken from his stream. I think he was pissed he got cheesed by early Void Rays. Love this GIF

FluxWaveZ · (03-05-2013, 05:21 AM)

Hell, it's about time.

velvet_nitemare · (03-05-2013, 05:27 AM)

Dat Queen of Blades is everything you believe in, i know!

Aaron · (03-05-2013, 05:28 AM)

Originally Posted by antitrop

IPL6 got cancelled today and IGN is trying to sell it off, but uh... eSports!
http://www.ign.com/ipl/all/news/ipl6...cial-statement

That also includes their LOL tourney, so it doesn't really matter about popularity.

Twisted-Gamer · (03-05-2013, 05:31 AM)

Originally Posted by Deadman

I liked the hydra being a new unit :)

can someone explain the joke? are hydras garbage now?

KittyKittyBangBang · (03-05-2013, 05:32 AM)

Originally Posted by antitrop

Beta showmatch vs Puck, qxc was up 3-1, then Puck cheesed him 3 games in a row to win the series. That was the end of the 7th game.

ohhhh, thanks for that backstory. That QXC has quite the temper

antitrop · (03-05-2013, 05:32 AM)

Originally Posted by Twisted-Gamer

can someone explain the joke? are hydras garbage now?

Speed upgrade makes them viable.

Building Hydras in Wings of Liberty competitive multiplayer was usually a good way to throw the game, because they were so slow without creep.

PhoenixDark · (03-05-2013, 05:33 AM)

But SC2 is dead :(

Panda hold me. Fuck Splinter

Keikaku · (03-05-2013, 05:33 AM)

Originally Posted by Twisted-Gamer

can someone explain the joke? are hydras garbage now?

Hydra's are much better now.