Buy StarCraft II

[Taylor-MadeAK]

The only way to get good yourself is to learn from somebody who is already good.  Like Eternimus.

And now for something...completely different:

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Completed the single player Campaign mode last night.  I am now in complete agreement with Eternimus: the next part of the story (to be told in the "Heart of the Swarm" expansion) is gonna be a doozy!  So many unanswered questions, can't wait to see what Blizzard is going to do with them.

[Eternimus]

The only way to get good yourself is to learn from somebody who is already good.  Like Eternimus.

Well while I appreciate that man, I can admit I'm not that good on SCII. I've only managed to beat the computer 1v1 on Very Hard at the most. Now SCI was another story entirely. But it's just a matter of time.

[Eternimus]

The Wings of Liberty Campaign was awesome, I liked the customization and everything. My biggest complaint at the moment is the really sad Actizard custom map setup. Once they fix that I'm sure I'll be playing way more. For now: Hard mode campaign and TMAK 2v2 comp stomps. Fox, if you pick up the game we can 3v3 comp stomp.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Gave my bro-in-law one of my trial codes, hoping to sucker him into playing with us.  He hasn't finished downloading it yet, which is a shame because this was my way of trying to reach out to him and give him some more contact with home.  Turns out he'd rather just bitch to Millie about how bad Michigan sucks and how much he misses his family in Alaska.

Eh, whatever.

We need to hook up online for some more 2v2 stomps, bro.  I've been doing a lot of reading and working on my 'toss build order, and I think I'm starting to get something generally workable put together.

Oh, and I thought this was some pretty funny stuff from Blizzard's SC2 boards:

Day 1

I just got spawned!  There was another guy in my egg, though.  Not too sure what to think about that.  The creep looks pretty cool, I guess.  My job is mostly running around the base.  Nothing too awesome going on.


Day 2

A whole mess of Zerglings just got spawned recently.  Met up with a whole platoon of them.  There were so many I couldn't even remember all their names.  Most of them are pretty cool, but some are suspicious as to what our purpose is going to be.


Day 3

The queen sent Zergling #21 to a 'watchtower'.  Not entirely sure what his job is.  According to other people, he just has to stand there all day.  Sounds like he got the easy job!


Day 3.5

Zergling #21's corpse was found about 3 minutes after being deployed.  He had 5 Gauss Rifle bullets in his chest.

The queen sent Zerglings #22-24 to go to the watchtower.


Day 4

There was much lament for Zergling #21.  Some of my friends are saying that we're all in a suicide mission.  I think they're wrong.  We're soldiers, not expendable beasts.


Day 6

Day 5 was too hectic...there were six more funerals today.  The queen declared she wanted some 'scouting information' and that they served their purpose.  More skeptics are arising amongst us.  Some zerglings are speaking of a revolt.


Day 7

We all got our wings today!  Everyone's suspicions of a tyranny are being quelled by the minute.  All the zerglings are much more pleased to be moving so much faster.


Day 8

Our entire army has recently received orders to rush into the enemies' base.  Our primary objective is to attack SCVs and run around in circles behind other zerglings attacking SCVs.


Day 11

There was a wall.

There was a god damn wall. 

We couldn't break through.  No matter how many chewed at the supply depot, we couldn't get through the damned thing.  We were forced to retreat, losing 7 more soldiers to a small marine force piled behind the depots.  The queen had no comment on this matter.  The standard funeral is now being postponed by the swarm for 'important measures'.


Day 15

Mutalisks have begun to be trained at the hatchery.  Our queen says they will solve the problem that the wall is causing.  I can only hope at this point.  I've seen too much.


Day 16

We've gotten recent orders to back up the mutalisk force in our impending attack.  Our main goal is still hazy to me, as the mutalisks should be doing most of the work...


Day 21

I've lost all faith in the swarm.

Have you ever seen the bits of your comrades fly past you by a single shot of a Crucio Shock Cannon?  Have you ever been so close to the heat of an Hellion that it takes you a minute to realize that your best friend is burning alive?  I was hearing every tendon snapping and sinew ripping of my fellow Zerglings.  The distorted looks on their faces as they realize they've been hit directly in the skull by a sniper round.

I barely escaped.  I should be dead; just like the rest of my platoon.  It was only me and 6 others that got away.  Over 38 died.

We weren't an army.  We were a distraction.  The mutalisks were in on it, too.  They took out probably 10, maybe 20 SCVs.  But how many soldiers was it worth?  How much do we have to sacrifice to win this war?!


Day 23

We can see the Terran forces coming over the horizon.  They are armed with 2 of those infernal tanks and 4 gigantic mechanical monstrosities I've never seen before.  I can taste my death.


Day 34

The Terran are toying with us.  The tanks lie just outside of our homeland supported by rotating missile turrets in every which way.  We are being contained.  Our supplies are running low, we will be out of minerals soon.


Day 47

We have lost all of our resources.  An army of Hydralisks and Mutalisks stand before me and my 6 Zergling companions.  Our final attack is near.


Day 48

The queen has ordered me to 'test the front'.  Alone.









Diary of a Siege Tank


Day 48

Spilled some coffee on myself during an attack.  My life sucks.

                               

[Eternimus]

That's awesome man. Some of the things people come up with...

Reason I haven't been logging in to do some comp-stomps is I've been beta'ing. Next up: FFXIV.

[Goman Fox]

Wonder if this is enough to get C@ to play the game.


http://whatsupwithit.com/optimus-prime-pays-a-visit-to-starcraft-2/

[Keph]

Debating using my $60 in gamestop credit for this, unless there's something better out there warranting a preorder or immediate purchase..been mulling it over for weeks now.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Wonder if this is enough to get C@ to play the game.


http://whatsupwithit.com/optimus-prime-pays-a-visit-to-starcraft-2/

LMAO Fox, that little easter egg cracked me up every time I played that level!  Why would I replay such an easy first mission?  For the achievements of course!

Debating using my $60 in gamestop credit for this, unless there's something better out there warranting a preorder or immediate purchase..been mulling it over for weeks now.

Get it, Keph!  GetitgetitGETIT!!  Then post your character name and number so we can all hook up for MP games on BNET!

[Keph]

Get it, Keph!  GetitgetitGETIT!!  Then post your character name and number so we can all hook up for MP games on BNET!

For argument's sake, let's say that I really enjoyed Warcraft II, but that Starcraft (+Brood Wars) and Warcraft III completely overwhelmed me with how much you were required to micromanage all at the same time. I'm not the greatest multitasker when it comes to games, and Total Annihilation kicked my arse more than once due to that fact.

That being said, is Starcraft II easier to "approach" in that sense? I've read the reviews and some commentary about it, but I'm curious as to anyone's perspective from here. It's either get Starcraft II for $60 (which really kind of pisses me off, that's reserved for PS3 and 360 games..) or pick up a couple of old PS3 / Wii gems [like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories or Arc Rise Fantasia or Uncharted 2]..

Feel free to twist my arm.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

*shrug*  I'm not all that great at multitasking, either.  Hell, I quit playing SC1 back in the day because I was sick of losing all the damn time.  I'm doing okay with SC2, though.  I can at least play vs Eternimus without getting completely steamrolled by him in the first 10 minutes. =)

He still kicks my ass, mind you, but I'm getting better.  I have a 50% win record in the few online MP games I've played so far in the practice league.  I reckon that's not bad.

Besides, SC2 is worth getting just for the iPistol ads in the single player campaign.

[Keph]

Hmm. My only concern is the length of the single player campaign - is it epic, or kind of 'bleh'?

Last question, I swear.

[Eternimus]

For argument's sake, let's say that I really enjoyed Warcraft II, but that Starcraft (+Brood Wars) and Warcraft III completely overwhelmed me with how much you were required to micromanage all at the same time. I'm not the greatest multitasker when it comes to games, and Total Annihilation kicked my arse more than once due to that fact.

That being said, is Starcraft II easier to "approach" in that sense? I've read the reviews and some commentary about it, but I'm curious as to anyone's perspective from here. It's either get Starcraft II for $60 (which really kind of pisses me off, that's reserved for PS3 and 360 games..) or pick up a couple of old PS3 / Wii gems [like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories or Arc Rise Fantasia or Uncharted 2]..

Feel free to twist my arm.

Yes it's a bit pricey but that's because Vivactizzard knows they can get away with it. The first StarCraft became basically the national sport in Korea, to the point Vivactizzard said "If you have an active World of WarCraft subscription, you can play StarCraft II cause you guys are awesome." And that was cool and all, but it was because they removed LAN support, which basically negated the possibility of Koreans buying/playing it, mainly because they have massive LAN tournaments, and even after SCII was released, they still mainly play the first one.

If you run through the campaign mode on StarCraft, WarCraft III or StarCraft II start to finish without cheats, you won't get overwhelmed, because it guides you through what works against what. Once you know what you have and what you know works, then you won't get overwhelmed. If you just go wading in, any game can and usually will overwhelm you.

StarCraft II takes the hold your hand and guide you through aspect a bit further with difficulty levels. I played it through on normal and only had one or two difficult missions. I can only assume the lower difficulty enables you to win with only marines.

If the price tag is what turns you off to the game, you aren't thinking about what the game is or has, you are thinki9ng on how much it costs. And the graphics destroy most of the games these days, so you are actually paying for quality. Yes, the campaign is on the Terran, but the multi player is all three races, and you don't have as many units to play with. Most of your combats can be won with two different units, one for ground and one for air, it's just a matter of getting them up quick enough.

Personally, I like Silent Hill, but Shattered Memories over StarCraft two is like deciding which you want, a overcooked pork chop or a New York T-Bone steak.

I was like you once upon a time. The sheer amount of stuff to do in StarCraft and WarCraft III overwhelmed me and I was obliterated regularly, even after finishing the campaigns. All I did was practice. And I was one of the best SC players in North America, and I can hold my own against most ladder players in WarCraft III. Any of those takes practice. And since you can vs the CPU, practicing should be cake.

Any game will get tough and frustrating. The question isn't whether or not WE think you should get the game, the question is do YOU have the intestinal fortitude to become a good player? Will you weather the ups and downs and make the effort to understand the game and get good at it?

I've had people ask me this question numerous times, due to the fact most every one I know has played with/against me, and know I CRUSH at the first one. My response is always the same.

Personally I think it's better than the first in every respect. It does get frustrating as you learn how to build, even I have lost a few matches against the CPU. The first one I can solo-kill 7 CPU myself. This one I can barely down 3. It's much more difficult in terms of skill, but at the same time easier cause it has difficulty levels. You can start at a lower difficulty and give them a handicap, so you can play against REALLY easy computers, and work up to ladder players. However, if you can't handle bitter, crushing defeat and learn from your mistakes, I suggest something that doesn't take as much skill.

Like Farmville.

As for the campaign, it destroyed the first one. The set up, the story telling, even the missions were so much cooler than the first. It leaves a cliff hanger for the next one, and I'm looking forward to it.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Single player has 29 total missions, most of which are not of the "build a big army and wipe out the other guy" variety that was so common in the first game.  On top of that, there are several missions that you will not see the first time through because they result from binary choices you make during the game.

Epic?  I really only have two responses to that, and both are spoilers: "In Utter Darkness" and "All In."  Both videos are big spoilers, so view at your own risk.

[Keph]

However, if you can't handle bitter, crushing defeat and learn from your mistakes, I suggest something that doesn't take as much skill.

While I enjoy frustratingly difficult video games (Demon's Souls, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, etc.), I don't enjoy playing frustratingly difficult games that give you no sense of satisfaction upon clearing them. Also, while I like the idea of ladder play online, I usually work out-of-town without an internet connection for long periods of time, so I don't get a lot of the online interactivity until (sometimes) months after the initial purchase.

That being said, my initial turn-off was that I was more interested in the non-terran aspect of the game, and learning that the base game is only terran made me kind of sad. I was afraid of getting a game that wasn't "complete", if you catch my drift.

P.S. - And I do enjoy FarmVille, thank you very much.