StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Infests Stores March 12, 2013

[Cristian_25H]

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, the first expansion to Blizzard's award-winning real-time strategy game StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, will be available in stores and online beginning March 12, 2013. Heart of the Swarm features a new campaign continuing the epic story of Sarah Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, as she gathers the remnants of the zerg Swarm and plots her revenge against the treacherous dictator of the Koprulu sector, Arcturus Mengsk. It also introduces several new multiplayer units and features that enhance the acclaimed StarCraft II online experience.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be available on DVD-ROM for Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 and Macintosh at a suggested retail price of $39.99 USD. The expansion will also be available digitally directly from Blizzard's StarCraft II website (www.StarCraft2.com) at an expected price of $39.99 USD.





Blizzard is offering a Collector's Edition of Heart of the Swarm loaded with digital and physical bonus items, available exclusively at select retail stores for a suggested retail price of $79.99 USD. Players will also have the option of purchasing a Digital Deluxe version of the expansion, which will include all of the digital items from the Collector's Edition. The Digital Deluxe version will be available directly from Blizzard via www.StarCraft2.com at an expected price of $59.99 USD. Players who purchase the standard edition digitally or at retail will have the option to upgrade to the Digital Deluxe version at any time (for as long as the standalone Digital Deluxe version remains available) for an additional $20 USD.

Presales for the standard digital and Digital Deluxe versions of Heart of the Swarm are now available. Players who would like to purchase either version and be ready to play the moment the expansion launches can do so now by visiting www.StarCraft2.com. For players who prepurchase, the expansion content will automatically be digitally delivered via StarCraft II's streaming launcher prior to the release of Heart of the Swarm. Players who would like to preorder the standard box or the retail-exclusive Collector's Edition can do so by visiting their local retailer.

"With Heart of the Swarm, our goal has been to expand on the multiplayer action and cinematic storytelling of Wings of Liberty," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "Combined with features like unranked matchmaking and our new leveling system, this expansion elevates the StarCraft II experience for players of all skill levels."

The Digital Deluxe version of Heart of the Swarm includes a full digital copy of the expansion along with the following in-game bonus items:

● StarCraft II Torrasque: Crush the enemies of the Swarm with the indomitable Torrasque, a fearsome new look for your zerg Ultralisks.
● StarCraft II Battle.net Portraits and Decals: New Swarm-infested Battle.net portraits and decals help you customize the look of your online profile and in-game army.
● World of Warcraft In-Game Pet: The Baneling companion pet is bursting with enthusiasm and ready to explode onto the Pet Battles scene.
● Diablo III Blade Wings and Banner Sigil: Grow zerg-like wings in honor of the Queen of Blades, and unfurl an exclusive banner sigil to mark your allegiance to the Swarm in Sanctuary.

The Collector's Edition of Heart of the Swarm includes the full version of the game on DVD-ROM and contains the following exclusive bonus items, in addition to the content from the Digital Deluxe version:

● Behind-the-Scenes DVD and Blu-ray: Immerse yourself in the StarCraft universe with developer commentary, interviews with voice actors, and an in-depth historical retrospective on StarCraft's eSports legacy narrated by key members of the community.
● Collector's Edition Soundtrack CD: Enhance your Heart of the Swarm musical experience with this collection of more than a dozen tracks from the game.
● Heart of the Swarm Hardcover Art Book: This 144-page tome features never-before-seen art from the expansion, including early concept sketches and meticulous 3D renderings.
● Zerg Rush Mousepad: This Collector's Edition mousepad depicts the Terran Dominion holding out desperately under the onslaught of the Swarm.

Heart of the Swarm picks up the story of StarCraft II where Wings of Liberty left off, focusing on Kerrigan's quest to reunite the Swarm and exact revenge on Arcturus Mengsk. Over the course of 20 campaign missions, players will follow Kerrigan as she sweeps across the galaxy, incorporating a variety of distinctive zerg species into her brood. Kerrigan will grow in strength from mission to mission, and players will be able to customize her with powerful new abilities, as well as evolve various zerg strains into fearsome new subspecies to suit their play style.

New weapons of war also debut in Heart of the Swarm's multiplayer, including new units such as Terran Hellbats, Zerg Swarm Hosts, and Protoss Tempests, while certain existing units from Wings of Liberty will be updated with new capabilities. New features will enhance the game experience, including group and clan systems; unranked matchmaking; Global Play, enabling players to battle others in different regions around the world; additional stat tracking; user interface improvements; an enhanced physics system, for more visceral looking battles; multiplayer replays, to watch replays with friends; a leveling system that gives Heart of the Swarm players a new way to earn customization options for their online profiles; and much more.

Heart of the Swarm has received a Teen rating from the ESRB. In addition to the English version, Heart of the Swarm will be fully localized into Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, European Spanish, Russian, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Italian, and Polish. Availability of Heart of the Swarm in mainland China will be announced at a later date.

[Frick]

$79.99 for Collector almost seems worth it. And I have time to upgrade my computer so I can play it!

[lZKoce]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaa

[Cheeseball]

There goes my life for the next 2 years

[Crap Daddy]

To be honest I was expecting something like 30 $/Euro and to be launched in December.

[AlienIsGOD]

well since my Annual Pass ran out, maybe I can afford to buy a non subscription based Blizzard game

[TheMailMan78]

After Diablo 3, I think Ill pass.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

After Diablo 3, I think Ill pass.

Why?

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Frick

Why?

I LOVED the first Star Craft years ago.....the original. I haven't played the new one yet, however after the fail that Diablo 3 was I don't want to give Blizzard anymore of my money. I put about 60 hours into Diablo but only because I had friends that were playing. Even after a while they stopped also. IMO they really created a very shallow game. Things are tight and I don't steal games so I have to make sure the money I do spend is well worth it.

[brandonwh64]

I still have starcraft installed and play about every week but I have yet to play SC2. The price is alittle more than I want to pay for something that has been out for a while.

[mlee49]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

I LOVED the first Star Craft years ago.....the original. I haven't played the new one yet, however after the fail that Diablo 3 was I don't want to give Blizzard anymore of my money. I put about 60 hours into Diablo but only because I had friends that were playing. Even after a while they stopped also. IMO they really created a very shallow game. Things are tight and I don't steal games so I have to make sure the money I do spend is well worth it.

You realize SC2 came out in 2010, it's not new anymore.

Also, you're in the same boat as many others right now. A lot of people were disappointed in D3 and are not interested in giving money to Blizzard. Personally, I paid $60 for SC2 Wings of Liberty and I feel I should get HoTS at a DLC price. Even $30 is a bit much for the same gameplay with a handful of new units.

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

I LOVED the first Star Craft years ago.....the original. I haven't played the new one yet, however after the fail that Diablo 3 was I don't want to give Blizzard anymore of my money. I put about 60 hours into Diablo but only because I had friends that were playing. Even after a while they stopped also. IMO they really created a very shallow game. Things are tight and I don't steal games so I have to make sure the money I do spend is well worth it.

I fully agree with you on D3, the game seemed very one-dimensional. However I can't believe you've never bought Starcraft II.

If I were buying Starcraft II for the single player only, I would gladly pay $60. The single player is almost like a playground of things you can do.

I cannot stress enough for you to pick up SC2, especially since it is only $40. Buy it. If you find that you are not interested, I will buy your copy for $30, as I could always use additional accounts (I have 2 already).

Just to let you know, I am dead serious about the offer. I care about your gaming experience, MM.

EDIT: Hell, if you buy the european version, ill give you $40.

[Prima.Vera]

I swore not to buy any game from Bli$$ard anymore, after the UBBER CRAP Diablo III. That was (IS) the worst game I have ever played. Thanks for ruining Starcraft and Diablo also...

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by Prima.Vera

I swore not to buy any game from Bli$$ard anymore, after the UBBER CRAP Diablo III. That was (IS) the worst game I have ever played. Thanks for ruining Starcraft and Diablo also...

Starcraft is doing ok, but battle.net is moving backwards.

Warcraft III had absolutely beautiful battle.net capabilities, all they had to do was use that.

I don't mind that we had to wait, but it is the amount of time we had to wait for the changes. I could have been using clans and other features for 3 years if they just weren't in denial about BNET 2.0.

It doesn't help that we had some dumbass who designed the Xbox Live interface to design BNET 2.0.

Xbox live wasn't successful because it was any good, it was successful because of mass ignorance.

[iO]

Addons got pricey...

[urza26]

The price of the Collector's Edition is a bit off imo, it is a factor 2 price difference with the regular version. Where it was like a factor 1.5 between regular and collector's edition for WoL, while that included more goodies than HotS collector's edition (if I remember correctly)...

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Pass this should have been included in the original game, so it should be free DLC, fuck you blizzard you money grubbing bastards!

[3870x2]

You should note that $40 is not pricey for an expansion. Most of you are too used to micro transactions and such. $40 essentially doubles the content in single player.

Maybe people forgot what expansions actually are these days.

[Prima.Vera]

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Maybe people forgot what expansions actually are these days.

Stupid DLCs??

[mlee49]

Originally Posted by [H]@RD5TUFF

Pass this should have been included in the original game, so it should be free DLC, fuck you blizzard you money grubbing bastards!

Just so were're all on the same page, Starcraft 2 is a 3 part series. The first part, Wings of Liberty was focused on the Terran single person play through. The second part will feature the Zerg(ie Swarm), and the last will focus on the Protoss perspective.

Each series has more specific single player campaign and will add on to the multiplayer with new units, new capabilities, and new dynamics.

Lastly, Starcraft is HUGE in Korea and more comparable to Football. Top players can earn $200,000 a year in tournaments, sponsors, and salaries. They have dedicated television channels and a complete world built around this game.

[SaltyFish]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Lastly, Starcraft is HUGE in Korea and more comparable to Football. Top players can earn $200,000 a year in tournaments, sponsors, and salaries. They have dedicated television channels and a complete world built around this game.

Starcraft 1 is practically the national sport/religion of South Korea. Starcraft 2, on the other hand, hasn't been gaining as much ground due to it being a victim on the first game's popularity as well as there being more competitive-type games out now.

Still, no LAN means meh.

[Harlequin_uk]

people complain about this game - and still they buy COD:BO2 by the truck load....

[Frick]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Just so were're all on the same page, Starcraft 2 is a 3 part series. The first part, Wings of Liberty was focused on the Terran single person play through. The second part will feature the Zerg(ie Swarm), and the last will focus on the Protoss perspective.

Each series has more specific single player campaign and will add on to the multiplayer with new units, new capabilities, and new dynamics.

The second paragraph is why I'm ok with this. WoL was a pretty long game, and HoS will be quite different (edit: in how the campaign and gameplay is).

[Fourstaff]

They rolled out everything in HotS beta, only to retract almost everything. Zerg is still OP, and going to be even more so when HotS gets rolled out. Non-Zerg multiplayer in Sc2 is suffering

[mlee49]

Originally Posted by Fourstaff

They rolled out everything in HotS beta, only to retract almost everything. Zerg is still OP, and going to be even more so when HotS gets rolled out. Non-Zerg multiplayer in Sc2 is suffering

Surely the Meta-game will rise.... .... or people will get sick of playing ZvZ every match.