[PC] StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm out!

[JayDee]

My rig is 5 years old and I have no interest in upgrading just for SC2 but I hoping one of you could help me determine if my video card meets min. specs?

This is what's required:
128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better

This is what I have:
nVidia GeForce 7800 GS AGP

I Google'd around and it looks like the 7800 is 2 generations better than the 9800 Pro, but I'm wondering if the AGP holds it back since the requirements state PCIe GeForce 6600.

Otherwise I have 3.0Ghz (2.6 required) and 1GB RAM (1 GB required). So if the video card meets specs I'm gold.

[Knightshade Dragon]

My rig is 5 years old and I have no interest in upgrading just for SC2 but I hoping one of you could help me determine if my video card meets min. specs?

This is what's required:
128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better

This is what I have:
nVidia GeForce 7800 GS AGP

I Google'd around and it looks like the 7800 is 2 generations better than the 9800 Pro, but I'm wondering if the AGP holds it back since the requirements state PCIe GeForce 6600.

Otherwise I have 3.0Ghz (2.6 required) and 1GB RAM (1 GB required). So if the video card meets specs I'm gold.

The game looks great even at low settings and runs on my Dell XPS laptop which has the mobility version of the 6600 GT.  You should be fine. 

[JayDee]

My rig is 5 years old and I have no interest in upgrading just for SC2 but I hoping one of you could help me determine if my video card meets min. specs?

This is what's required:
128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better

This is what I have:
nVidia GeForce 7800 GS AGP

I Google'd around and it looks like the 7800 is 2 generations better than the 9800 Pro, but I'm wondering if the AGP holds it back since the requirements state PCIe GeForce 6600.

Otherwise I have 3.0Ghz (2.6 required) and 1GB RAM (1 GB required). So if the video card meets specs I'm gold.

The game looks great even at low settings and runs on my Dell XPS laptop which has the mobility version of the 6600 GT.  You should be fine. 

Awesome, thanks. I just pre-ordered! 

[Dunamis]

Well, I'm in for the collectors edition.  Amazon had them back in stock and they have been good to me about getting games delivered on release day. 

I does look like the WoW thingy is tied to the battle.net account.  Oh, well...

[CeeKay]

I does look like the WoW thingy is tied to the battle.net account.  Oh, well...

I just felt a disturbance in the Force, as if millions of eBayers cried out in anguish    kinda silly for them to do that, what if the buyer doesn't play WoW at all?

[Destructor]

I does look like the WoW thingy is tied to the battle.net account.  Oh, well...

I just felt a disturbance in the Force, as if millions of eBayers cried out in anguish    kinda silly for them to do that, what if the buyer doesn't play WoW at all?

Why would Blizzard care? They have your money.

And from a different perspective - maybe it'll get people to try WoW. Yeah, I know, there's practically nobody left on the planet who hasn't tried it yet, but that's not my point.

[stessier]

Very stupid question.

I haven't bought a New Release game in a very long time - like 8 years.  I really want this one.  I also want Civ V.  I only have $50.  Is there any chance the price will drop on either game before Christmas?  Or should I just go ahead and put my money in a 10 year T-bill? (that last part is a joke)

Edit: I saw a commercial this morning while working out and was blown away. Those cinematics were awesome.

Edit 2: I've never played WoW either.  There's plenty of room under my rock if anyone wants to visit...

[JayDee]

I really doubt SC2 will be dropping in price anytime this year. Heck, I think WoW is still $40 to buy it brand new and that came out years ago.

[Destructor]

No chance at all as far as SC2 goes (unless for some unfathomable reason it sells like 0 copies). The Warcraft Battlechest is still how much after all these years (decade?) it has been out?

Civ V, maybe, but unlikely. More likely than SC2, but it's still an absurdly low percentage.

[CeeKay]

Out of the 2 I think Civ 5 would be the most likely candidate for a price drop or a sale. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me to see it discounted during their holiday sale.

[marcusjm]

Considering that Civ3 is still available I doubt it.

[stessier]

No chance at all as far as SC2 goes (unless for some unfathomable reason it sells like 0 copies).

Yeah, I thought that would be the case.   

Considering that Civ3 is still available I doubt it.

I got Civ 4 on sale about a year ago, so it is eventually possible!

[baelthazar]

I really doubt SC2 will be dropping in price anytime this year. Heck, I think WoW is still $40 to buy it brand new and that came out years ago.

Not at all, the WoW Battlechest (containing stock game and Burning Pee Crusade, and some guides) is $37. How else would they hook you into spending $14 a month for the foreseeable future?

But it will be at least a full year before any drop in SC2 price. I would bet they won't drop the price until the expansion/next installment hits and is a year old itself, so they can do a Battlechest (their normal MO).

Bael

[marcusjm]

What I meant was that I don't see them discontinuing Civ5 anytime soon unless it is a total fiasco. That would be tragic.

All games end up in some sale sooner or later, even Blizzard games, you just have to keep your eyes open for them.

[EddieA]

Here's an awesome "Ghosts of The Past" trailer.

[leo8877]

Here's an awesome "Ghosts of The Past" trailer.

/dies

[msduncan]

Well, I'm in for the collectors edition.  Amazon had them back in stock and they have been good to me about getting games delivered on release day. 

I does look like the WoW thingy is tied to the battle.net account.  Oh, well...

Oh crap.    Does this mean I can't buy the collector's edition and then sell the WoW pet on ebay separately?

That's the only damn reason I bought the freakin collector's edition.

[vizionblind]

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/events/starcraft2-midnight-openings.html

[jersoc]

that trailer has me so damn pumped. i can't wait.

first non wow game from blizzard since warcraft 3 lol.

[baelthazar]

that trailer has me so damn pumped. i can't wait.

first non wow game from blizzard since warcraft 3 lol.

Interesting... I had not thought the change in Kerrigan's voice acting would be so noticeable, since it has been years since I played the original. But Tricia Helfer has a pretty distinct tone. Great video, and makes me very excited for next Tuesday at 12:00am.

Bael

[jersoc]

HA, I thought that was her in that voice. Doesn't she have a range of voices at all?

[Daehawk]

I think this is a new trailer

[leo8877]

I think this is a new trailer

Hehe, Eddie posted that just up above.

[Rowdy]

I need to refresh myself on the story line from SC1 but don't want to play through it all again... (looks like crap these days, imo).  Any links to story summaries and / or cut scenes in order that anyone has stumbled on?

[PR_GMR]

Starcraft: The story, so far.

[CeeKay]

Starcraft: The story, so far.

You know, I don't remember half of that stuff. Thanks!

[Vinda-Lou]

Trying to find my Starcraft manual to read up on the back story.  Debating whether or not to buy the collector's edition.  I'm such a sucker for them. 

[Chaz]

I've decided I will only buy this if I can get it at the 7-11 near my office.  They've got a WoW banner in the window, so there's hope!

[Daehawk]

I've already paid for the CE. Also my local gamestop is holding me the big huge promotional box for SC2

[CeeKay]

I've decided I will only buy this if I can get it at the 7-11 near my office.  They've got a WoW banner in the window, so there's hope!

maybe you get a free Slurpee with each purchase!

[Chaz]

I've decided I will only buy this if I can get it at the 7-11 near my office.  They've got a WoW banner in the window, so there's hope!

maybe you get a free Slurpee with each purchase!

Hell, I'm hoping for a Big Gulp if I get the CE! There's three 7-11s within three blocks of the office.  I like my chances. 

[baelthazar]

I've already paid for the CE. Also my local gamestop is holding me the big huge promotional box for SC2

That's probably not all they are holding. If this release is like Warcraft 2, then the actual Starcraft 2 boxes are probably in the back of every Gamestop even as we speak - just waiting for the street date. I happened to work at a Ebgames when Warcraft 2 releases... and I got my copy about a week early... 

[Blackjack]

I'm taking a pass at launch, though I fully realize my Alien Swarm playmates will disappear July 27.  

The feedback I'm most interested in is from players who suck at RTS's (like me) or lean on the "Pause and Orders" crutch in most RTSs (Relic's, Sins of a Solar Empire, etc.), like me. I know SC doesn't have it, that's fine. But I'm not dropping $60 on something unless people of my ilk can still enjoy the game, at least in single player (which we won't know until it's out, which is why I'm eager to see the feedback on SP).

I know the South Korean competitive crowd, the caffieinated chipmunk crowd, and the hostile "you're a wuss if you pause and order in RTSs" crowd will eat it up. But can a mediocre-lousy RTS player who still likes RTSs (I liked SC quite a bit) enjoy it, or would I be wasting my time?

[Turtle]

If you avoid the online multiplayer, it's fine. However, the modding scene will be big for SC2, so I suspect that even if you play it non-competitively there will still be fun stuff to play online.

The single player game should be paced quite a bit differently than the multiplayer, there's more unit types, upgrades that last across missions, and story.

For one, I say play the single player however you want, none of this machismo. Not sure about this whole not having pause to issue orders, maybe that's a blizzard thing but I think it's stupid.

Oh and, even though the WoW stuff in box might be tied to your account, the collector's editions are going for anywhere from $125-$175 on ebay right now, it's likely to go up higher after release. I may just purchase the collector's edition anyway and resell.

[PR_GMR]

But can a mediocre-lousy RTS player who still likes RTSs (I liked SC quite a bit) enjoy it, or would I be wasting my time?

You might want to wait until you can get it at a discount. As you've admitted, you won't get much out of the fast-paced RTS aspect, but Blizzard creates the most polished,crafted PC games in the industry and the single player campaign is sure to be compelling. Those two reasons right there are the ones for you to get it.. but wait until you can pick it up on a sale or later this year if you get a giftcard or trade.

[Chaz]

Figures.  I finally decided to bite the bullet on the CE, and Amazon (who had them in stock for two days, including this morning) is now out.   

[baelthazar]

But can a mediocre-lousy RTS player who still likes RTSs (I liked SC quite a bit) enjoy it, or would I be wasting my time?

You have a picture of Hicks up there and you seriously want to pass on SC2? 

I'm bad at RTS and I'm getting SC2. Plenty of people will suck equally as you, and you won't get matched to the South Korean wizards who want to play. Besides, I think the single player campaign will be worth the time, particularly if you want to get the other two pieces and finish the story.

BTW, did they say that the second and third installments will come quicker than this one? I would think they would HAVE to, as they have all the tools needed to make the game, they just need to create the campaign, make some maps, and balance test. I'm not expecting anything less than a year between games, but if we get 3 years of Starcraft, then that just might be awesome!

[Knightshade Dragon]

There will be plenty of us folks who like to play co-op vs. the AI and like to take our times with the game.  We type out things like "Good luck, have fun" instead of "gl;hf".  Don't worry - you'll have plenty of folks to play with.

[jersoc]

yeah i'd rather play against the CPU cause I suck at these games.

Also i'm hoping to see lots of neat custom games. the editor looks pretty deep.

[PR_GMR]

Baelthazar, is your new Avatar the Zerg Overmind? That looks awfully familiar. hehehe.