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BlizzCon 2007
- Thread starter pxleyes
- Start date
echoshifting
Banned
Okay a lot of great stuff from the Dungeons and Raids panel....
-Another new 25-man....boooooo blehhhhh boooooo Sounds like it will be the Sunwell.
-Zul'Aman coming, 10-man, follows Kara, meh, we knew that and they barely talked about it at all.
-A new 5-man! Cool and unexpected
-They are looking at ways to get higher level casual players into Naxx! Wow, best news out of the panel and one of the coolest announcements today. I never forgave Blizzard for Naxx; it is still an open wound for many a so-called 'casual' player. >.<
-Another new 25-man....boooooo blehhhhh boooooo Sounds like it will be the Sunwell.
-Zul'Aman coming, 10-man, follows Kara, meh, we knew that and they barely talked about it at all.
-A new 5-man! Cool and unexpected
-They are looking at ways to get higher level casual players into Naxx! Wow, best news out of the panel and one of the coolest announcements today. I never forgave Blizzard for Naxx; it is still an open wound for many a so-called 'casual' player. >.<
momolicious
Member
is there not going to be a starcraft 2 panel or something?
echoshifting
Banned
There are three Starcraft panels tomorrow - Art, Lore and a demo panel. Not sure if there are any live blogs for that.
Oh and there's another demo panel today, it just started. Again not sure where you can see it.
Oh and there's another demo panel today, it just started. Again not sure where you can see it.
cvkpaladin
Member
Any information concerning the movie they are making with Legendary Pictures?
Anyone notice the image caption at the bottom of the info page for the Terran Viking?
"The Lost Vikings"
:lol
"The Lost Vikings"
:lol
(for the uneducated, click here)
Well, GS uploaded the 10 minute Terran demo Blizzard showed earlier. Screens simply does not do this game justice, even though the video's PQ ain't great, the animations of each unit are very well done.
http://www.gamespot.com/events/blizzcon07/videos.html?tag=event_nav;videos
http://www.gamespot.com/events/blizzcon07/videos.html?tag=event_nav;videos
I just came back from the show. I scanned the thread and didn't see any write-ups from the StarCraft II demonstration so I guess I'll fill you guys in on what I remember. The demonstration began with Dustin Browder (Lead Designer) showing off a new pre-recorded demonstration of the Terran faction. Pardon the poor paragraph/sentence structure ahead since I'm just trying to write down everything I can remember.
Terran Faction Demonstration:
Among the new abilities demonstrated were the sniping and call-down abilities of the Ghosts. As the name implies, sniping is used to take out infantry units in a single shot. The call-down ability functions like the nuclear strike ability, but instead of a nuke falling out of the sky, a capsule lands in the area the Ghost has targeted and 6 or so marines jump out.
The Battlecruiser's new photon missile ability was another highlight. Two Battlecruisers targeted a large cluster of marines and let off a volley of missiles that completely wiped them out. It wasn't exactly clear if you could only have one or the other, but it seems like you choose to have a Battlecruiser specialize in this ability or the classic Yamato cannon ability from the original game.
The next unit demonstrated was the new Thor unit. The build order for the Thor unit is actually under the SCV's advanced buildings menu as opposed to be built in a standard building. Once complete, the building transforms into the unit. The video then showed off the unit's artillery strike ability. You simply target a building and the unit will launch a prolonged artillery strike against it. When it was demonstrated in the video, the game appeared to switch over to an in-game cutscene where the camera was zoomed in and positioned directly behind the Thor unit along with a heavy DOF effect on everything everything in the background. In this case, it targeted and completely destroyed a command center. Browder later mentioned that some of the unit abilities in the video were exaggerated for effect. When I used that ability against a Protoss Nexus, there was no cutscene and I only succeeded in completely depleting its shield. I don't think I actually did any damage to the building.
The video then demonstrated how a Thor's slow turning speed can be taken advantage of by the new Cobra unit. Functioning like the old Vulture units, a handful of Cobras circled the Thor while firing at it. Since the Thor has so much difficulty turning, it was barely able to keep up with the Cobras which pecked away at its health.
Campaign Demonstration:
Once Browder finished showing off the Terran faction, Rob Pardo took over and showed off the first glimpse of the campaign mode. He started off by giving a history of what Blizzard had tried to accomplish in the campaign modes from the previous games. With SCII, they want to build off of SCI's briefing room and WCIII's map that gave the player a rough idea of the layout of the world.
The scene opened with the camera focused on a planet (I think it was Mar Sara). It then zooms backwards and reveals the hull of a battlecruiser (the Hyperion). It continues to zoom further back until the camera stops in the main briefing room where we see three characters: James Raynor, Tychus Findlay (the marine from the announcement trailer), and Raynor's second-in-command (I forgot his name). Pardo then reveals that the Terran campaign focuses on Raynor's story. He says that the past four years have been tough on Raynor and he's become a bit of a booze hound. It appears that Raynor is trying to create a rag-tag group of followers to help him accomplish his goals.
I should probably mention at this point that this is all done using the in-game engine. The visuals look surprisingly sharp. Of course it should be noted that the models used in the scene are made up of a lot more polygons than the ones used during gameplay. Pardo then clicks on Raynor's second-in-command and a list of prompts appear. You can choose what Raynor asks each character as well as his responses to questions when asked by other characters. Pardo clicks on Findlay which initiates a similar series of exchanges. There are a number of computer displays in the background which he mentions can be used to access different options.
The interface is very reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventure games. Pardo clicks on a set of stairs and Raynor follows them down into the engineering bay where he bumps into a disgruntled subordinate who mutters something as he passes by. Raynor speaks with his ship's engineering expert who tells him that the men are growing restless and might mutiny soon if they aren't paid. It's then revealed that you must "buy" new units and upgrades. That is if you wish to build the new Viking units, you must buy the ability to build them beforehand. Pardo goes ahead and buys the Viking unit and then returns back to the bridge/briefing room. He then clicks on the map in the center which shows off a handful of planets. By clicking on one, the camera zooms in and narrates some history and lore regarding that particular planet. Pardo then reveals a new aspect of the campaign mode. You can choose the order of the missions you take. He then zooms out and chooses another planet and decides to accept a mission there.
In this mission, the players job is to retrieve a Xel' Naga artifact guarded by Protoss. Pardo completely bypasses the main Protoss base in the middle by taking a group of Vikings around the side of it and then transforming them into their walker form. He then sends them after the artifact which is guarded by some Colossus and Zealots. Pardo gets completely walloped and is forced to cheat by calling up console and entering in "cheat" to instantly summon two Thors and three Battlecruisers. Pardo enters the cheat again and summons another group of Thors and Battlecruisers. After retrieving the artifact, the mission ends and the game returns to the bridge. Raynor's second-in-command jokes that the mission was surprisingly easy.
Pardo then sends Raynor into the ship's cantina in search of Findlay who is no longer in the bridge. A cutscene is triggered as Raynor walks through the hallway towards the cantina. He pulls out a flask and takes a sip. The camera moves around ominously to suggest that Raynor's not alone in the hallway. Raynor, with his hand on his holster, spins around to find Zeratul who appears to be wounded. Zeratul tells him that the Xel' Naga have returned and that they must find the other artifacts or else the Xel' Naga will bring about the "end to everything." The demonstration ends and then they open up the floor to questions. I won't waste your time with them since most of the questions were pretty useless (i.e. Can I make an FPS with the included map maker?)
If you have any questions, ask ahead. I played four rounds. Two as Protoss and two as Terran. If I can't remember the answers now, I'll try to find them out tomorrow.
Here's a picture of the bridge:
Terran Faction Demonstration:
Among the new abilities demonstrated were the sniping and call-down abilities of the Ghosts. As the name implies, sniping is used to take out infantry units in a single shot. The call-down ability functions like the nuclear strike ability, but instead of a nuke falling out of the sky, a capsule lands in the area the Ghost has targeted and 6 or so marines jump out.
The Battlecruiser's new photon missile ability was another highlight. Two Battlecruisers targeted a large cluster of marines and let off a volley of missiles that completely wiped them out. It wasn't exactly clear if you could only have one or the other, but it seems like you choose to have a Battlecruiser specialize in this ability or the classic Yamato cannon ability from the original game.
The next unit demonstrated was the new Thor unit. The build order for the Thor unit is actually under the SCV's advanced buildings menu as opposed to be built in a standard building. Once complete, the building transforms into the unit. The video then showed off the unit's artillery strike ability. You simply target a building and the unit will launch a prolonged artillery strike against it. When it was demonstrated in the video, the game appeared to switch over to an in-game cutscene where the camera was zoomed in and positioned directly behind the Thor unit along with a heavy DOF effect on everything everything in the background. In this case, it targeted and completely destroyed a command center. Browder later mentioned that some of the unit abilities in the video were exaggerated for effect. When I used that ability against a Protoss Nexus, there was no cutscene and I only succeeded in completely depleting its shield. I don't think I actually did any damage to the building.
The video then demonstrated how a Thor's slow turning speed can be taken advantage of by the new Cobra unit. Functioning like the old Vulture units, a handful of Cobras circled the Thor while firing at it. Since the Thor has so much difficulty turning, it was barely able to keep up with the Cobras which pecked away at its health.
Campaign Demonstration:
Once Browder finished showing off the Terran faction, Rob Pardo took over and showed off the first glimpse of the campaign mode. He started off by giving a history of what Blizzard had tried to accomplish in the campaign modes from the previous games. With SCII, they want to build off of SCI's briefing room and WCIII's map that gave the player a rough idea of the layout of the world.
The scene opened with the camera focused on a planet (I think it was Mar Sara). It then zooms backwards and reveals the hull of a battlecruiser (the Hyperion). It continues to zoom further back until the camera stops in the main briefing room where we see three characters: James Raynor, Tychus Findlay (the marine from the announcement trailer), and Raynor's second-in-command (I forgot his name). Pardo then reveals that the Terran campaign focuses on Raynor's story. He says that the past four years have been tough on Raynor and he's become a bit of a booze hound. It appears that Raynor is trying to create a rag-tag group of followers to help him accomplish his goals.
I should probably mention at this point that this is all done using the in-game engine. The visuals look surprisingly sharp. Of course it should be noted that the models used in the scene are made up of a lot more polygons than the ones used during gameplay. Pardo then clicks on Raynor's second-in-command and a list of prompts appear. You can choose what Raynor asks each character as well as his responses to questions when asked by other characters. Pardo clicks on Findlay which initiates a similar series of exchanges. There are a number of computer displays in the background which he mentions can be used to access different options.
The interface is very reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventure games. Pardo clicks on a set of stairs and Raynor follows them down into the engineering bay where he bumps into a disgruntled subordinate who mutters something as he passes by. Raynor speaks with his ship's engineering expert who tells him that the men are growing restless and might mutiny soon if they aren't paid. It's then revealed that you must "buy" new units and upgrades. That is if you wish to build the new Viking units, you must buy the ability to build them beforehand. Pardo goes ahead and buys the Viking unit and then returns back to the bridge/briefing room. He then clicks on the map in the center which shows off a handful of planets. By clicking on one, the camera zooms in and narrates some history and lore regarding that particular planet. Pardo then reveals a new aspect of the campaign mode. You can choose the order of the missions you take. He then zooms out and chooses another planet and decides to accept a mission there.
In this mission, the players job is to retrieve a Xel' Naga artifact guarded by Protoss. Pardo completely bypasses the main Protoss base in the middle by taking a group of Vikings around the side of it and then transforming them into their walker form. He then sends them after the artifact which is guarded by some Colossus and Zealots. Pardo gets completely walloped and is forced to cheat by calling up console and entering in "cheat" to instantly summon two Thors and three Battlecruisers. Pardo enters the cheat again and summons another group of Thors and Battlecruisers. After retrieving the artifact, the mission ends and the game returns to the bridge. Raynor's second-in-command jokes that the mission was surprisingly easy.
Pardo then sends Raynor into the ship's cantina in search of Findlay who is no longer in the bridge. A cutscene is triggered as Raynor walks through the hallway towards the cantina. He pulls out a flask and takes a sip. The camera moves around ominously to suggest that Raynor's not alone in the hallway. Raynor, with his hand on his holster, spins around to find Zeratul who appears to be wounded. Zeratul tells him that the Xel' Naga have returned and that they must find the other artifacts or else the Xel' Naga will bring about the "end to everything." The demonstration ends and then they open up the floor to questions. I won't waste your time with them since most of the questions were pretty useless (i.e. Can I make an FPS with the included map maker?)
If you have any questions, ask ahead. I played four rounds. Two as Protoss and two as Terran. If I can't remember the answers now, I'll try to find them out tomorrow.
Here's a picture of the bridge:
So, are Death Knights going to be open to every race and class or what? I can't find anything solid about it. My friends say yes, but I keep tryin to tell them that nothing is confirmed as far as I know, and making them available to everyone just makes no sense to me.
Actually, the thought of just one Hero class at launch makes no sense to me, why not just hold off on them til you had all of them lined out?
Actually, the thought of just one Hero class at launch makes no sense to me, why not just hold off on them til you had all of them lined out?
CrushDance
Banned
HAWT.
echoshifting
Banned
Ramirez said:
I think it's best to think of it as just another class rather than a hero class. The only difference is it starts out at a higher level. I mean, it's not an 'upgrade' of another class so that's basically what it is.
You do a quest at level 80 to unlock the Death Knight class, but it does not replace your character; you make a new one. Sounds like the quest will be reasonably long - it's been compared to the Warlock Epic Mount quest. Right now they are keeping the Death Knight open to ALL races...which, I'm kinda hoping they'll back out on. Doing so will make it tough to introduce more hero classes in the future that could really only ever be one or two races in the game, like the Witch Doctor, or the Mountain King. And Night Elf/Tauren Death Knights....come on....but, I guess the core concept of the Death Knight involves treachery and abandoning all sense of one's past self, so the lore is pretty flexible here.
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
My favorite moment of today: I'm sitting in the Starcraft II Terran demo with Luke and Kathleen. I'm on my Blackjack reading GAF, I look over at Luke, who is also on his Blackjack reading GAF. :lol
I think we might both be a bit addicted.
Also - a flipped car on the 5 meant it took 2 hours to get from Burbank to Anaheim. ANGER.
I think we might both be a bit addicted.
Also - a flipped car on the 5 meant it took 2 hours to get from Burbank to Anaheim. ANGER.
KyanMehwulfe
Member
I can relate. Not at the event, but I basically had dozens of website windows open all day, every one of them dedicated to MMOs in regards to Blizzcon, and a few other things (new WAR media today, etc). Keeping tabs on new media, live feeds, updating blogs, responses from various general mmo and game-specific communities, etc.
All but two. One for a Quakecon feed. The other for GAF.
The event was fairly entertaing. From over the internet, it seemed to get a little worse as the day went by, though. Great start. Lots of excitement. Gorgeous new Northrend terrain, pretty Starcraft II shots, etc. Then the horrible tournament casting, the feed switching over to the panels then crushing our hearts by switching suddenly back to the tournament, certain details of the expansion sinking in ("let me get this right: we don't become Heroes, we reroll Heroes....?"), Mahr or whatever his name trying to crack WoW jokes and then decided English and Canadian teasing may work better, etc.
I think the saving grace for the evening for me was the great snips of the Starcraft 2 panel I saw. The sort of non-linear Terran campaign with persistant funds sounds really interesting, as does the heavy focus on story cutscenes to help the story more deeply and constantly.
Great day as a whole, though. I got a lot of stuff to read yet, and I think IGN was saying they were going to have nice quality versions of all the panels uploaded tonight. I'm looking forward to the PvP panel tomorow and the Starcraft finals (the one game which was cast well and has gameplay innately more entertaining to watch).
Still haven't got around to the new Quake Wars patch. I'd like to get on that for an hour maybe before I get sleep.
All but two. One for a Quakecon feed. The other for GAF.
The event was fairly entertaing. From over the internet, it seemed to get a little worse as the day went by, though. Great start. Lots of excitement. Gorgeous new Northrend terrain, pretty Starcraft II shots, etc. Then the horrible tournament casting, the feed switching over to the panels then crushing our hearts by switching suddenly back to the tournament, certain details of the expansion sinking in ("let me get this right: we don't become Heroes, we reroll Heroes....?"), Mahr or whatever his name trying to crack WoW jokes and then decided English and Canadian teasing may work better, etc.
I think the saving grace for the evening for me was the great snips of the Starcraft 2 panel I saw. The sort of non-linear Terran campaign with persistant funds sounds really interesting, as does the heavy focus on story cutscenes to help the story more deeply and constantly.
Great day as a whole, though. I got a lot of stuff to read yet, and I think IGN was saying they were going to have nice quality versions of all the panels uploaded tonight. I'm looking forward to the PvP panel tomorow and the Starcraft finals (the one game which was cast well and has gameplay innately more entertaining to watch).
Still haven't got around to the new Quake Wars patch. I'd like to get on that for an hour maybe before I get sleep.
Starcraft 2 is looking hooottt !!!
However, as a terran player in SC, I find all these specialized units who can either do air or ground attacks only a bit...crap. That means terran must build a huge mixture of units unlike protoss or something which got units who can do both air/ground attack.
However, as a terran player in SC, I find all these specialized units who can either do air or ground attacks only a bit...crap. That means terran must build a huge mixture of units unlike protoss or something which got units who can do both air/ground attack.
maniac-kun
Member
is there a video of the single player demonstration?
Leatherface
Member
Did they mention anything at all about Diablo 3? Is there still hope? =_(
jstevenson said:
Ouch. I'm glad I decided to take an alternate route. Incidentally, I was listening to the Fullmoon Show on the drive over. The podcast synched up perfectly with the drive so that it ended just as I pulled into the parking lot. Anyways, I'll be leaving soon for another day of Blizzcon.
PhoenixDark
Banned
The Terran demo was simply amazing; my mouth was open for most of it lol. After seeing that Protoss demo I remember everyone thinking holy crap, these guys are unstoppable. The Terran demo showed so many counter attack moves.
I can't WAIT to see the Zerg
I can't WAIT to see the Zerg
krypt0nian
Banned
Borys said:Simply nothing comes close to Blizzard's art.
Needs to be quoted for great justice.
Borys said:Simply nothing comes close to Blizzard's art.
AWESOME if real-time, I want a sci-fi RPG done in that engine
At least there is Mass Effect.
IAWTP. WoW still looks better to me than just about every other MMO out there and SC2 IS the best looking RTS I've ever seen.
And Holy Shit at the Radar Tower thing! That's awesome! (the effect is quite nice as well)
BolognaOni
Member
Man, almost makes me consider going back to WoW... but it's just so nice to play other games again!
Must... resist... urge... to reactivate...
Must... resist... urge... to reactivate...
Just finished watching that demonstration- SC2 just leapt to my most anticipated game of 2008. (I'm optimistic) If the Protoss demostration had me excited, this had me OMGZing at every new thing. The Radar, transforming buildings, Viking, (Which has one of the coolest animations ever) Thor, Reaper demolitions, Banshee, etc.- just awesome. Great to see that my most played race is looking extremely fun to play.
maniac-kun
Member
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Arsenal said:
When the exp requirements for FFXI were reduced, they actually took the opposite approach. Levels 1-51 require exactly the same amount of experience points, but they reduced the amount needed to get from there to lv75. (from 681,000 to 557,000)
They did also make the entire level range a tiny bit easier by releasing an item that let you gain up to 1000 extra points every 16 hours.