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StarCraft 2 Beta and the $150 Price Tag

Before we get into the gory gameplay, balance and multimedia details which were revealed during BlizzCon, here are two important and confirmed bits of information our readers should know about:

Michael Morhaime

1) As confirmed by Mike Morhaime, President of Blizzard Entertainment, this year’s BlizzCon attendees receive StarCraft 2 beta keys.

No, the StarCraft 2 Beta was not announced, and no planned schedule exists. However, it is reasonable to assume that Blizzard will make the beta available before 2009’s Blizzcon.

2) During the StarCraft Gameplay Panel, it has been revealed that StarCraft 2 will be released as a game trilogy:

  • Wings of Liberty (Terran)
  • Heart of the Swarm (Zerg)
  • Legacy of the Void (Protoss)

The trilogy is required only for the single player campaign, and the full-featured multiplayer (Battle.net) experience will be available to players who purchase even just one of the above. Splitting the game into 3 distinct products was an uneasy development decision, according to Rob Pardo, who said it was made due to StarCraft 2’s giant single-player project scope, among other considerations.

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47 Comments to “StarCraft 2 Beta and the $150 Price Tag”


  1. Naix — October 11, 2008 @ 2:48 pm

    This is a GOOD thing for the game, its a bad thing for people who dont want to spend too much money.

    I am personally glad Blizzard is taking a “new step” with the Single Player, the SP in Warcraft 3 and TFT was just a bad a rehash and overall predictable ****, there was nothing new and it never felt epic as some SC missions did.

    With 30 missions to go, CGI cinematics, the new and improved ways to make the Single Player better i am certain it will be a amazing experience, for those who care about the story.

    For those who dont and just want to “pwn soam noobs lolz, LF2M Kara need healers” can just buy the one game and go noob it up on Bnet.

  2. Adisuki — October 11, 2008 @ 4:08 pm

    What about the price? Are the $150 just a rumor? If yes, is it going to be $50 for each campaign, or are we going to see some discounts for the owners of previous ones?

  3. Buzz — October 11, 2008 @ 4:22 pm

    The $150 price tag is just a speculation on the three pieces costing $50 each. That’s plenty reasonable given the quality of the products.

    Blizzard, please don’t screw us over with DRM. It doesn’t stop pirates anyway. I WILL PAY TO OWN THE GAME! I WILL NOT PIRATE IT, EVEN THOUGH I CAN!

  4. bargamer — October 11, 2008 @ 5:01 pm

    I agree, horribly-implemented DRM + $150 for the SP would pretty much be a repeat of the EA/Spore drama. I don’t know that the game industry would SURVIVE two such blows to player loyalty. /doomandgloom

  5. Neavea — October 11, 2008 @ 5:06 pm

    I wonder whats going to happen with all the preorders… o.O

  6. moose — October 11, 2008 @ 6:17 pm

    I refuse to buy the game three times. Bad decision blizzard.

  7. jeremy — October 11, 2008 @ 6:17 pm

    I think it would be really unfair if we had to pay full price for all three episodes of the game. That would basically mean that we were paying for the multiplayer portion 3 times just to get the whole single player experience. It seems much more fair to either grant a discount for 2nd and 3rd portions of the game, or else to make the 2nd and 3rd campaigns expansion packs to the game.

  8. moose — October 11, 2008 @ 6:22 pm

    On second thought, there will most likely be a battle chest with the whole thing for $70-100

  9. schwungsau — October 11, 2008 @ 6:46 pm

    each of this parts will be have more game in it, as most of the others games that comes out today….

  10. Battlarmd — October 11, 2008 @ 8:11 pm

    I think this is not a bad idea.
    yes price is up, but think this way… with each extension, will probably come some expansion of the previous, it might be a cheap way to do an expansion pack.

    I have always loved the terran and protoss compagnes, but the zerg missions never made too much sense to me…

  11. Wander — October 11, 2008 @ 8:50 pm

    OMG now I am going to think twice before buy the whole “Trilogy”.

    Well, personally I always count the single campaign as a “bouns” to the game and I as a casual player generally play a donze times of ladder , play a lot of custom maps (you know DOTA stuff) and why would I really interested in SC2 campaign? It wont auto update itself and I would rather just get it when it made “viedo guide” by others (a hell lot of ppl does that even sale their guides in HD viedo recorded on DVD)

    Better think carefully blizzard, ppl wont be fooled by this.

    (sorry for my engrlish)

  12. Anonymous — October 12, 2008 @ 2:18 am

    BEEP BEEP blizzard want my money BEEP BEEPfirst wow now this. i miss the good old tiems of blizzard

    *comment Moderated. Anderson.

  13. 최고 소스 — October 12, 2008 @ 2:55 am

    rofl, naix has unwittingly admitted to playing BOTH WoW, AND DotA XD. He makes a good point regardless

  14. 4poolfastexpandwtf? — October 12, 2008 @ 3:00 am

    Hey, dont complain about the price! I live in Australia, and here the industry screws twice. Not only do we receive all our games like 3 months later than the rest of the world, but we also have to pay sometimes 3x the price you would in the US.

    IMO, by making the SP a trilogy, that gives Bliz the opportunity to acknowledge any criticism given to the Terran single player campaign, and hopefully fix and improve upon it.

  15. Anonymous — October 12, 2008 @ 3:05 am

    Naix on a plane ^^
    Trilogy???? `\_(o-º)_/` i dunno, lol

  16. victorvndoom — October 12, 2008 @ 8:14 am

    ok first they wreck the patch of wrath of lichking and now this:p

    hope they get the price down to the price of a expansion pack

  17. Dariath — October 12, 2008 @ 9:14 am

    Aiyo. People, people, people. If Blizzard had said: We’re releasing the game with one Campaign only, because that’s all the time we have, they’d complain.. but, they’d still love it. Then, down the road they announce an expansion pack.

    Then, down the line, they release an expansion pack. And everyone would be okay. No one complains about expansion packs normally.

    This is the same thing. They are just announcing the expansion packs -early-. You’ll get new units, new terrain, BNet improvements, and a new storyline with each release. The only downside is if you are a Protoss fan, you got awhile to wait for the campaign (Which is me). You’re getting a full, 40 hour storyline campaign. You’re getting a full game. With 2 expansion packs. That’s one more than BW had.

    If Blizzard said they were releasing an expansion pack for SC 1, heads would explode with joy. So, I guess my thought process is… Why the hell are people complaining when we’re getting MORE of an awesome game.

  18. Adisuki — October 12, 2008 @ 12:48 pm

    @Dariath: If you are a Protoss fan, you won’t have to wait, because they annaunced a mini-protoss-campaign in the first “episode” :)

    I am a little worried ’bout the balance changes of the trilogy. While on SC1 the had 10 years to perfect the game, now they will always have to start from the begining when they release a new expansion (new units and upgrades for the MP).

    Anyways, here, a short interview with Dustin Browder:
    http://www.mymym.com/en/coverage/529/18.html

  19. hotclaw — October 12, 2008 @ 1:33 pm

    They perfected SC1 a few years after Brood War was released. I doubt the other instalments in the trilogy will add so much to the multiplayer that it will take very long to balance each time. Also, they will learn from the evolution of the game on Battle.net, allowing them to avoid implementing new units that are (too) overpowered.

  20. Anonymous — October 12, 2008 @ 2:28 pm

    For single player you get a better experience. For multiplayer it’s like getting expansion packs. Sure, nobody likes buying expansion packs, but when have Blizzard expansion packs not been worth the money?

  21. Dariath — October 12, 2008 @ 2:36 pm

    And also, not many RTS get large patches (MMOs do). Think of two large content patches coming your way. For the LOW, LOW PRICE of 39.95! ACT NOW!

  22. Anonymous — October 12, 2008 @ 3:06 pm

    How many people will want a few copies for LAN play anyway? Plenty.

    This is a fine move.

  23. SteelVelocity — October 12, 2008 @ 6:26 pm

    What a bunch of fanboys!!! You actually believe what Rob Pardo said? It would take 4 months (at max) to make a complete single player campaign. This is just another way for Blizzard to make money.

    They said each campaign would be released about 1 year apart… I’m disgusted beyond words. I no longer look up to Blizzard. I am no longer your fan.

  24. BlueFireFox — October 12, 2008 @ 7:12 pm

    I can’t believe we are getting Blizzard’s Pokémon RTS. Everybody knows that split games are just money-grabbing tactics. The final games won’t be cheaper than standards, and I bet that it isn’t just the campaign but additional features; if it wasn’t so, they wouldn’t waste their money launching products of which just 1/3 would sell. If it ends up that way, expect 3 expansions too.

  25. Dariath — October 12, 2008 @ 7:40 pm

    Ya know. It’s funny. I’ve never once felt jipped or screwed by lack of content when I’ve bought an Expansion Pack made by Blizzard. Funny, that. I always felt like.. it was worth the money. I must be insane to think that. And I’m totally insane thinking 40 bucks isn’t that much money to most people. Go out for a nice meal? 50 bucks. And in 8 hours it really is just a memory. But, SC? Why, I’ve played it and the expansion for 10 years. 80 dollars for 10 years of enjoyment.

    THOSE JERKS! I must certainly have been taken advantage of!

  26. Nattaboy — October 12, 2008 @ 8:44 pm

    @ 4poolfastexpandwtf? -

    Don’t forget that Australia has a cruel, cruel ratings system.
    Max R16?? WTF???
    Thank God i live in New Zealand.

    I think this is a perfectly reasonable idea, this new-fangled ‘trilogy’ of which you speak. Have you ever complained about expansion packs?? I don’t think so.
    If you aren’t into playing single player, then go ahead and just by one version of the game. I’m happy to have a more in-depth SINGLE PLAYER experience (mostly becos i hav crap internet probly), for more $$$.

  27. 눈 공 — October 12, 2008 @ 10:30 pm

    아주 좋은 생각
    SC단독 플레이어는 중대할 것이다

  28. DL — October 13, 2008 @ 12:38 am

    I’ll withhold any sort of judgement until we get a definite pricing scheme. If they’re trying to charge full price for each one, that’s pretty shameful in my books, it’s reeks of just trying to cash in on the popularity.

    It also bothers me that it seems to be a step away from the traditional Blizzard philosophy of “it’s done when it’s done”. Seems to me like they’re trying to push the first part out of the door before the rest of it is properly done.

    But maybe I’m being unnecessarily pessimistic…

  29. dx108 — October 13, 2008 @ 10:22 am

    @DL – Well I assume the multiplayer aspect of the game IS done, hence the decision. Awesome move I reckon.

    I totally agree with Dariath. I know everyone’s going to complain about “having to pay for the game 3 times”, and that all Blizzard want to do is squeeze more money out of us, but honestly I don’t care anymore. Considering the apparent scope of the campaigns, I’m happy to pay for the two expansions. Oh yeah, AS LONG AS THERE’S NO DRM. We’ve all been waiting for this game for years, and I’m sure plenty of people will happily pay. Hell, I can’t even remember the last game I paid for, and I’ll pay.

    And 4poolfastexpandwtf?, as a fellow Aussie, I hear ya mate.

  30. JMM — October 13, 2008 @ 2:37 pm

    Please don’t auto-assume its $50 per game. You make yourselves look like idiots like in all the comments sections found in video game sites.

  31. jeremy — October 14, 2008 @ 8:09 pm

    Yeah, if each campaign is ~30 missions, then that’s the same size as the whole SC1 anyway. I don’t feel so bad if each campaign is the size of an entire game in itself.

    Indeed, it would mean that the ‘three games’ combine for 90 missions total! That would be pretty cool.

  32. JBC — October 16, 2008 @ 8:22 pm

    From what I heard at Blizzcon it seemed to me that the decision was arrived at from a quality perspective.

    I think they were worried about having a finished product before 2012, especially after the hype that naturally surrounds a release of that magnitude. So they decieded that what they had done will be released when it is done.

    After all, they still have 10 million WoW players if profit is their chief concern.

  33. AznRice — November 4, 2008 @ 1:32 pm

    What the Hell. I cant Afford to buy the game three times! I have child support to pay =( please make a package deal so i can play this game to forget about my baby mama drama.

  34. Cronos — November 19, 2008 @ 7:40 pm

    Yeah, that was an utterly horrible decision to split the game into 3 parts, can’t they figure out how to make one game with all three race campaigns in it like SC1?

  35. headsh0t — November 30, 2008 @ 10:26 am

    They must just be doing this to get the game out earlier which is fine with me. The 2nd and 3rd installments better have a bunch of more updates other than campaign mode though. But even if it does end up costing like $150, who cares it will be the best game for the NEXT 10 years!! and imagine SC2 Editor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  36. youWannaPieceOfMeBoy — December 17, 2008 @ 5:33 pm

    this is ridiculous,not to mention that it’ll take 4ever yo be released.

  37. throughmyshadow — January 7, 2009 @ 6:42 pm

    Thirty missions per race and all of the extra mechanics built into these campaigns, beyond going from map to map, makes enough content for each race to have its own game.

    Since when is $50 bucks a ton of money? Its not like the games are being realeased all at the same time… You are tellimg me you can’t save $50 over the course of 6 months (or longer)?

    How long have we all been playing Starcraft 1? When you think about how many years you will be playing this game the extra $100 (more like $80) is completely worth it.

  38. lurchdiddy — January 25, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

    I would completly agree, I have been playing starcraft since the late 90’s. I played it on my 486 thinkpad. $50.00 is definetly worth paying. Even if the trillogy would be 150.00 dollars i would pay for it!!!

  39. Questmaster — January 27, 2009 @ 8:32 am

    SORRY FOR THE CAPS LOCK BUT I DON’T WANT MY WORDS TO BE DROWNED.

    At least make a package that includes all three, wherein I can pay once. Easy accounting, right?

    Lessen the cost if one buys this package, (it’s up to you to consider what amount) and if it sounds fair, you’d see a buyer of one taking the packaged three instead.

  40. phred — February 5, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

    OK, enough whinnig about the pricing! You know you’re all (myself included) going to buy it at whatever price Blizzard sets. Just tell me when SC2 will be released and I’ll be in line with my piggy bank like the rest of you geeks. Does anyone know of a firm (or semi-firm) release date??

  41. ∞ternit∞ — February 10, 2009 @ 10:49 pm

    Unless they release the extra packages as expansions like Brood War it’s goin to blow I mean they already have over 11 million WoW players paying 15$ a month they can afford to cut some slack.

  42. Bob — February 11, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

    ya come on every one of you love this game including me and no mater what the price i will own them all i have been playing Sc1 from when it first cam out and now iam geting realy ansy about the 2nd so please can any one tell me when its going to come out?

  43. Rog — March 14, 2009 @ 8:39 pm

    who has any clue, of when the beta is release.

  44. Mike — March 19, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

    OK so i don’t think they should charge they same for all 3 games. What if the first was &70 and others were $40 it is still &150 and you wouldn’t feel ripped off…. remember 30 missions each expansion one year apart the money difference is nothing. And for those who want a package it’s a good idea but I don’t know about you but I don’t want to wait 3 years!!!!!!

  45. MeeMeesiko — April 25, 2009 @ 12:55 pm

    I’ve read rumors that say that all 3 will cost 50 dollars each. :/ I would be happy just with battle.net, really. But the story in the first games were so damn good (those that actually played through the campaigns know that) that I may buy all 3. Of course, people always post the full story of the games on sites like Wikipedia and Gamefaqs anyways. So maybe I’ll just buy the first one and if I like it enough then I’ll buy the other 2. But I hope that they don’t completely milk it and make 3 exapnsions. :/

  46. Cru — September 17, 2009 @ 9:17 am

    Kay.. so I’ll be playing Starcraft II sometime in 2013 when it’s selling in a battle chest.
    Bah, I never liked getting zerged anyway.

  47. lolgetalife — December 25, 2009 @ 7:54 am

    To everone here who says that Blizzard is being ridiculos with the game prices and trilogy stuff. YOU ARE WRONG. First yes the games will probably be around 50 dollars each but there from Blizzard so the quality of the games makes it well worth it. Blizzard made three parts to better telll the story. it also means that you get the game sooner and no one is makeing you buy the expansions. Also for the people who just want multiyplayer: Blizzard provided multiplay with NO charge which also makes up for the cost scince theres mantnence and patches to be done as well. Stop complaining and enjoy the fact that Blizzard is making a Starcraft 2.

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