Tuesday, November 13th 2012

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

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Nov 13th, 2012 09:29 Discuss (74 Comments)

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.

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

#26

Ravenas

TheMailMan78I 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.

Firstly, story wise Diablo 3 is no different as Diablo 2. They are both not focused on story and more focused on repetitive dungeon runs. Diablo 3 as a game right now is completely fine and all flaws have been updated and fixed. However, the lack of PVP arenas is sad.

Lastly, for someone to skip StarCraft 2 is a complete tragedy on every form of a gamer. StarCraft 2 is literally the best single player and multiplayer RTS ever made to date. If you pass on StarCraft 2, you're the one who is shallow, not Blizzard.

#27

3870x2

FourstaffThey 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 :(

For even a longer time, Zerg was suffering at release, it just takes them too long to roll out fixes.

RavenasFirstly, story wise Diablo 3 is no different as Diablo 2. They are both not focused on story and more focused on repetitive dungeon runs. Diablo 3 as a game right now is completely fine and all flaws have been updated and fixed. However, the lack of PVP arenas is sad.

Lastly, for someone to skip StarCraft 2 is a complete tragedy on every form of a gamer. StarCraft 2 is literally the best single player and multiplayer RTS ever made to date. If you pass on StarCraft 2, you're the one who is shallow, not Blizzard.

Well, that is a bit of a rude way to put it, but your point comes across solidly.

#28

Fourstaff

3870x2For even a longer time, Zerg was suffering at release, it just takes them too long to roll out fixes.

Doesn't mean they can leave Zerg dominance completely unchecked for the past half year, but I think we are going out of topic here. When the game was released I told my friends that Zerg is powerful, but the map and gameplay is not suitable to bring out the best of them. Now that we have non-retarded maps and smart(er) Zerg innovators the game has been almost one sided Swarmfest, with excellent Terrans and Protosses showing brief periods of brilliance before getting overunned.

#29

Syborfical

After starcraft 2 and what blizzard activision did to wow I think ill pass.

I paid $80 for 1/3 of the star craft game now they want another $80 for the next 3rd.
And since there is no lan support its not worth buying.

Its not like blizzard have come up with a new idea in 15 years

#30

3870x2

SyborficalAfter starcraft 2 and what blizzard activision did to wow I think ill pass.

I paid $80 for 1/3 of the star craft game now they want another $80 for the next 3rd.
And since there is no lan support its not worth buying.

Its not like blizzard have come up with a new idea in 15 years

Not sure which currency you are using, but the original was $60, expansions are $40 USD.

#31

Fourstaff

SyborficalAfter starcraft 2 and what blizzard activision did to wow I think ill pass.

I paid $80 for 1/3 of the star craft game now they want another $80 for the next 3rd.
And since there is no lan support its not worth buying.

Its not like blizzard have come up with a new idea in 15 years

I am not quite sure what you are talking about, the lack of LAN is a massive pain (especially in tournaments) but so far out of the 2000+ games it has not gotten more than a minor annoyance to me. Also, whenever I play the game, it doesn't feel like "1/3 a game" either, so can you please enlighten me on why lack of LAN is such a big issue, and also why it is only 1/3 a game. I have gotten more than 500 hours on this game, which is more than almost all the games I played combined over the last 2 years (except for Dota 2)

#32

Prima.Vera

RavenasFirstly, story wise Diablo 3 is no different as Diablo 2.

You serious, or just ironic!??:twitch::eek:

#33

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

Prima.VeraYou serious, or just ironic!??:twitch::eek:

I think he meant that the stories in both games are not that important. They're just backdrops to the endless grind.

#34

TheMailMan78

Big Member

RavenasFirstly, story wise Diablo 3 is no different as Diablo 2. They are both not focused on story and more focused on repetitive dungeon runs. Diablo 3 as a game right now is completely fine and all flaws have been updated and fixed. However, the lack of PVP arenas is sad.

Lastly, for someone to skip StarCraft 2 is a complete tragedy on every form of a gamer. StarCraft 2 is literally the best single player and multiplayer RTS ever made to date. If you pass on StarCraft 2, you're the one who is shallow, not Blizzard.

Diablo 3 was killed by the real money auction house. As for Star Craft 2 plot and me being shallow......well If I cared what you thought of me I might be hurt. :laugh:

#35

3870x2

TheMailMan78Diablo 3 was killed by the real money auction house. As for Star Craft 2 plot and me being shallow......well If I cared what you thought of me I might be hurt. :laugh:

I figured the RMAH would be a great addition. Turns out you have to grind hours a day for 3 months to find something worthwhile.

Not to mention grinding was OK in diablo 2 because you are always gaining experience. I hear they fixed this issue, kind of.

#36

[H]@RD5TUFF

mlee49Just 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.

So it's now okay to sell an incomplete game in thirds . . . to hell with that, it should have been released all at one time this game add 0 multiplayer content so your paying $40 for some cheap shit single player campaings that blizzard cheated you out of in the first place! FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK THATTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu

#37

3870x2

[H]@RD5TUFFSo it's now okay to sell an incomplete game in thirds . . . to hell with that, it should have been released all at one time this game add 0 multiplayer content so your paying $40 for some cheap shit single player campaings that blizzard cheated you out of in the first place! FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK THATTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu

I have over 40 hours put into the single player.
I have over 2000 hours put into the multiplayer.
This game is more complete than your top 3 favorite games combined.

BTW have you received the 5750?

#38

Ravenas

3870x2I figured the RMAH would be a great addition. Turns out you have to grind hours a day for 3 months to find something worthwhile.

Not to mention grinding was OK in diablo 2 because you are always gaining experience. I hear they fixed this issue, kind of.

It's beyond fixed. The drop rates are very high now. Paragon levels make it even better. Real money auction house changes nothing. It provides an outlet for noob players who want to buy gear so they can get gear they would never otherwise have because they don't invest the time. It also provides an outlet for people who grind constantly to actually profit from it.

So it's now okay to sell an incomplete game in thirds . . . to hell with that, it should have been released all at one time this game add 0 multiplayer content so your paying $40 for some cheap shit single player campaings that blizzard cheated you out of in the first place! FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK THATTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:shad edshu

Lol... you must have never played the single player campaign. It is as long as company of heroes, if not longer. Please, the game is longer than most single player RTSs released. The only people who complain are those who have not played. Which is easier to do than actually invest money and play the game.

#39

NC37

brandonwh64I 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.

Is my argument. I even had a friend offer to get it for me but I told him not to cause for a game as old as it is, it shouldn't be that high. Blizz is being stupid, they're being...well...Activision. But even Activision finally had to drop CoD prices.

Used to love Blizz but the last few years have been terrible. From WoW, to SC, and then their messes with D3. They went from a quality studio to just mediocre.

#40

3870x2

If you play Battlefield 3, but don't play Starcraft II because you think Blizzard is a bad company, you need to be dragged out onto the street and shot for such blasphemy.

Also the teams that makes D3 and SC2 are different.

#41

Ravenas

NC37Is my argument. I even had a friend offer to get it for me but I told him not to cause for a game as old as it is, it shouldn't be that high. Blizz is being stupid, they're being...well...Activision. But even Activision finally had to drop CoD prices.

Used to love Blizz but the last few years have been terrible. From WoW, to SC, and then their messes with D3. They went from a quality studio to just mediocre.

Lol... You say that... But find a better PC game in their respective genres... You can't... Mists of Panderia is the best expansion in WoW. The talent tree changes have been brought down to a level where they got rid of many things that made no since to have because you either needed them, or didn't need them so why should you have to make a choice like that? They added scenarios, challenges, raid content and a raid finder. The player base is extremely high. Additionally, World of Warcraft has created all of the innovation in the MMORPG market... Other games MMOs copy what WoW dsoes.

The best RTS out right now is SC2. The professional gamer community is enthralled in, and besides that it has the best single player RTS campaign I have ever played. The multiplayer is so addicting and fun and challenging. THe ladder system is great. The player finder is awesome too.

Diablo 3 is hands down the best action RPG available. Where is the competition? Torchlight? HA!.. Seriously, you are talking about a game still stuck in Diablo 2 system with horrible graphics and a kiddy story. The Diablo 3 player base and auction house is extremely boalstered. It's the best action RPG period.

Blizzard is only lacking right now in one department... That department is the new and coming DotA and LoL genre. They are about to address that with "Blizzard AllStars".

#42

TheMailMan78

Big Member

RavenasLol... You say that... But find a better PC game in their respective genres... You can't... Mists of Panderia is the best expansion in WoW. The talent tree changes have been brought down to a level where they got rid of many things that made no since to have because you either needed them, or didn't need them so why should you have to make a choice like that? They added scenarios, challenges, raid content and a raid finder. The player base is extremely high. Additionally, World of Warcraft has created all of the innovation in the MMORPG market... Other games MMOs copy what WoW dsoes.

The best RTS out right now is SC2. The professional gamer community is enthralled in, and besides that it has the best single player RTS campaign I have ever played. The multiplayer is so addicting and fun and challenging. THe ladder system is great. The player finder is awesome too.

Diablo 3 is hands down the best action RPG available. Where is the competition? Torchlight? HA!.. Seriously, you are talking about a game still stuck in Diablo 2 system with horrible graphics and a kiddy story. The Diablo 3 player base and auction house is extremely boalstered. It's the best action RPG period.

Blizzard is only lacking right now in one department... That department is the new and coming DotA and LoL genre. They are about to address that with "Blizzard AllStars".

Titans Quest blows Diablo 3 away and MMO's are for children, virgins and socially inept dorks.

#43

xBruce88x

mlee49You realize SC2 came out in 2010, it's not new anymore. :laugh:

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.

In that case I should get it free since I bought the collector's ed. Still have everything in pretty good condition including the box... though the decorative stuff they put on the usb stick, that grayish stuff on the metal, has mostly rubbed off by now.

honestly though the price doesn't seem all that bad to me. The collectors ed comes with some pretty neat stuff. about to go pre-order the collector's ed at gamestop.

#44

Ravenas

xBruce88xIn that case I should get it free since I bought the collector's ed. Still have everything in pretty good condition including the box... though the decorative stuff they put on the usb stick, that grayish stuff on the metal, has mostly rubbed off by now.

honestly though the price doesn't seem all that bad to me. The collectors ed comes with some pretty neat stuff. about to go pre-order the collector's ed at gamestop.

I bought the collector's edition too... Wasn't really that bad of a price for everything you recieved. Ya my flash drive is looking pretty worn too haha. :laugh:

#45

xBruce88x

hmm.. couldn't find the collector's ed on gamestop's site... I guess I'll have to call them about it.

yea... i wish it would have been a little more rugged, but then again I think it was meant to just sit there in the box lol. It still looks pretty cool when you plug it in. I thought about cracking it open to see if I could put a larger drive in it but I think I'll leave it be.

#46

[H]@RD5TUFF

RavenasFirstly, story wise Diablo 3 is no different as Diablo 2. They are both not focused on story and more focused on repetitive dungeon runs. Diablo 3 as a game right now is completely fine and all flaws have been updated and fixed. However, the lack of PVP arenas is sad.

Lastly, for someone to skip StarCraft 2 is a complete tragedy on every form of a gamer. StarCraft 2 is literally the best single player and multiplayer RTS ever made to date. If you pass on StarCraft 2, you're the one who is shallow, not Blizzard.

3870x2I have over 40 hours put into the single player.
I have over 2000 hours put into the multiplayer.
This game is more complete than your top 3 favorite games combined.

BTW have you received the 5750?

No it is not complete if you only get 1/3 of the story and then they want more money for the rest of it.

Yes I did get the 5750 last week, aparently the postal service lost it, then managed to find it again (PM me if you want the full story)

RavenasIt's beyond fixed. The drop rates are very high now. Paragon levels make it even better. Real money auction house changes nothing. It provides an outlet for noob players who want to buy gear so they can get gear they would never otherwise have because they don't invest the time. It also provides an outlet for people who grind constantly to actually profit from it.

Lol... you must have never played the single player campaign. It is as long as company of heroes, if not longer. Please, the game is longer than most single player RTSs released. The only people who complain are those who have not played. Which is easier to do than actually invest money and play the game.

You should stop riding blizzards nuts long enough to open your eyes, that your being ripped off. And how dare you assume I haven't played it, this just furthers your ignorance :shadedshu. Stop your pathetic attempts to defend that which can't be defended under anything more than greed.:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu

#47

Ravenas

xBruce88xhmm.. couldn't find the collector's ed on gamestop's site... I guess I'll have to call them about it.

yea... i wish it would have been a little more rugged, but then again I think it was meant to just sit there in the box lol. It still looks pretty cool when you plug it in. I thought about cracking it open to see if I could put a larger drive in it but I think I'll leave it be.

Yeah it probably was lol... I get asked all the time at work: "Who is Jim Raynor?" :laugh:

#48

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

TheMailMan78Titans Quest blows Diablo 3 away and MMO's are for children, virgins and socially inept dorks.

"ok" about the MMO part. They're not for all but they can be pretty fun.

[H]@RD5TUFFNo it is not complete if you only get 1/3 of the story and then they want more money for the rest of it.

WTH are you talking about? Should all Crysis games be considered one game as well? Heroes of Might and Magic? Warcraft II and III? Dragon Age? Strange and bad argument.

And I have to assume you didn't play it as you're saying it's incomplete. Because it totally is not. I was sceptic too at first, but when I played it it was a-ok, because it is a full lenght game. It is a full lenght game, and it adds tons and tons and more tons multiplayer content. It is actually a bit like Battlefield there (but with a better SP campaign/story): It's an MP game with a campaign.

#49

3870x2

[H]@RD5TUFFNo it is not complete if you only get 1/3 of the story and then they want more money for the rest of it.

Yes I did get the 5750 last week, aparently the postal service lost it, then managed to find it again (PM me if you want the full story)

You should stop riding blizzards nuts long enough to open your eyes, that your being ripped off. And how dare you assume I haven't played it, this just furthers your ignorance :shadedshu. Stop your pathetic attempts to defend that which can't be defended under anything more than greed.:shadedshu:shadedshu:shadedshu

If you think of it that way, then multi-series novels are a waste also.

#50

Fourstaff

[H]@RD5TUFFNo it is not complete if you only get 1/3 of the story and then they want more money for the rest of it.

Oh I didn't realise there are people who plays Starcraft II for singleplayer not multiplayer. My bad, I thought its a bit like solo'ing an MMO (ie quite unexpected) :o

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

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