Common Paradox Tech Blog

Starcraft 2 is in beta and the impressions are rolling in. Aliens Vs. Predator has been reviewed. And the next Civilization game has a new, hexagonal combat system. Prepare for an information injection of painful (OK, slightly discomforting) proportions.

Starcraft II: Some Thoughts On The Beta
The most important news? It runs well without a top of the line machine.

New Starcraft II Screens, With That Beta-Fresh Smell
OK, so I’m kind of craving Starcraft all of the sudden.

Aliens Vs. Predator Review: Too Human
We know it’s not going to be a great game, but everyone loves a throwback.

What’s The Father of the PlayStation Doing These Days?
Playing Xbox?

All The Super Street Fighter IV Dudley, Makoto, And Ibuki You Can Stand
Blasphemy, I know. But I loathe one-off Street Fighter characters.

Activision Chief Regrets Not Making Guitar Hero With Harmonix
A rare moment of honesty.

Civilization V Hexes PCs This Fall
Somehow, Civ just got even geekier.

Alan Wake Preview: The First Full Episode
I confess: I didn’t even read it. I don’t want the slightest spoiler.

First Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Screens, Gameplay Videos Leak

2010: A Video Gamer’s Guide
Every big trade show of the year, charted.
I’m surprised anyone under 20 even knows who Sonic is.

Wait. You read that headline and still chose – of your own volition – to read this article? Either you really love us or your fun radar needs a good tune-up, but either way, we like you more than we like all of our other readers.
 
With that said, the StarCraft II Beta is live. That is, playable. Right now. Here’s your complimentary link to the Battle.net site where you can download the full 1.64 GB beta client and jump right into the action. Well, ok, the file’s pretty big, so you might not be jumping right into the action so much as you’ll be queuing up the action so you can maybe dive into it tomorrow after work.

Aw, who are we kidding? You’re skipping work tomorrow. In fact, something tells us a large portion of the world is about to come down with "a headache… er, a cough… and I think I might have a fever too."

With StarCraft II Betawatch levels recently being upped to code red, Blizzard’s emerged from its cone of silence. But this is Blizzard we’re talking about, so obviously, baby steps. No actual release date just yet, but here are some gameplay details to hold you over.

“StarCraft II beta testers will be able to play a number of ranked multiplayer modes, include multiplayer ladder quick match, which has 1v1, 2v2, and free-for-all (FFA) modes. In addition, testers will be able to play unranked custom matches. We are not testing the single-player campaign of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty during the beta period,” reads the FAQ.

Note, however, that – for those of you who aren’t so confident in your ability to not be torn to shreds by people who’ve been playing StarCraft since before you were born – CPU opponents are an option.

Also of note: Blizzard plans to bring more testers aboard the SS StarCraft II based on its “testing needs,” so just because you don’t nab a golden ticket right away doesn’t mean you won’t get in eventually.

Click through the link for the rest of the FAQ. It is, in fact, handy. And really, that’s all you can ask for. Aside from a release date (*hint, hint*).

You’ve watched. You’ve waited. More than once, you’ve probably lost all hope, given in to despair, and cursed Blizzard’s name while holding your beta key inches away from an open flame. Well, watch, wait, and get all melodramatic no more, because the StarCraft II beta’s been cleared for take-off, and it’s launching “this month,” according to Blizzard.

The news came during a conference call today, straight from Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, meanwhile, is still on track to release in “mid 2010.”

Is there anything more to say? You will be playing StarCraft II in less than 30 days. If you’re not leaping up-and-down while squealing like a big man imitating a little girl, you might want to check yourself into a morgue, because you’re dead.

The elevator up from hell sure is taking its time. We imagine that Mass Effect’s Shepard — even with his eternal patience for cramped spaces, boring music, and upward mobility — would be cursing up a storm by now if he were aboard that infernal machine. So just imagine how poor old Diablo must feel – especially now that the not-so-loveable lug may have a “few years” left before he finally surfaces.

A recent Blizzard presentation listed Diablo III as arriving in the “next few years,” along with StarCraft II’s expansions and Blizzard’s next massively multiplayer cash cow. In store for “next year,” meanwhile, are StarCraft II and WoW: Cataclysm. The bottom line? No loot-grabbing and Satan-stabbing until – at the earliest – 2011. Unless, of course, Diablo III goes into full-on beta mode next year, but we’re not getting our hopes up.

Honestly Diablo, at this point, we’re thinking you should’ve taken the stairs.

Initially said to be making a nuclear strike on our free time in 2009, StarCraft II’s beta test has officially shoved off into the murky, fog-of-war shrouded depths of 2010.

StarCraft II producer Chris Sigaty made the announcement during a presentation at Russian games expo IgroMir, much to the chagrin of the year 2009, which – after providing chronological sanctuary for a global economic crisis and the tragic deaths of multiple beloved celebrities – needed some sort of positive highlight to keep it from going down in history as the worst year ever. When reached for comment, 2010 had only this to say: “Neener-neener-neener.”

For the time being, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is still set to launch in the Spring of 2010. Could another delay be just around the corner, though? We sure hope not – but even if Blizzard decides to take its sweet time putting the finishing touches on its space-faring sequel, it’s not like early 2010 is hurting for major game releases.

An anonymous reader tips news that Blizzard will be requiring all World of Warcraft players to use Battle.net accounts to log into the game starting on November 11th. After that time, players who don’t switch will be unable to play the game. Some time after the transition is complete, players will be able to “participate in cross-realm chat in World of Warcraft, create real-life friends lists, and communicate across different games.” More details on the new Battle.net and what it will do are available in our Blizzcon wrap-up and interviews from August. Naturally, the idea that the new Battle.net is getting closer to deployment has sparked speculation that the StarCraft II beta might come along soon.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.