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This is what makes a game like Starcraft 2 so great. Every player, regardless of time spent in the game, starts out with a level playing field. There is no ince

This is what makes a game like Starcraft 2 so great. Every player, regardless of time spent in the game, starts out with a level playing field. There is no incentive to play the next game except to get better. So how does Blizzard extract more money from you? They balance the game, update it frequently, and then don't charge you. And they hope your experience was so great that next time a Blizzard game is released you will know that it's a high quality game that will be supported for years. No gimmicks, no shortcuts, just gameplay.

recursive 15y ago
> So how does Blizzard extract more money from you? Because World of Warcraft.
- notJim 15y ago
  Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft are different games. This poster is referring to Starcraft 2, which does not charge a monthly fee.
marshray 15y ago
Starcraft II, wow. Is there something wrong with me that I found that game too difficult and stressful? I gave it an honest try, and it's certainly exciting, but once I found myself having made a huge stack of flash cards to study the relationships between unit types it started to feel a bit too much like work. Sort of the opposite of the "hook you slowly" dynamic. Anyone else have this experience? So how does Blizzard extract more money from you? Expansion packs. Wings of Liberty is just the first campaign of Starcraft II.
- re_chief 15y ago
  I have a hard time with most "competitive" games (RTSs, fighters, FPSs, etc.) because people have a tendency to get a little too into them and sort of ruin them for more... I guess casual players? Like, I'm fine with playing a round or two of Generic Fighter X with my friends. What I'm not fine with is in-depth explanations of how to juggle and control vertical space while playing as Character Y. And I'm not saying this as a button-masher either -- I'm quite capable of learning combos and special moves and using them effectively. I'm just not willing to put the time into becoming crazy good at multiplayer games, which means I'll always be left in the dust by people who are willing to do so.
anonymoushn 15y ago
Starcraft 2 costs between $120 and $180. People who are currently playing Starcraft 2 have only paid for the first 1/3 of the game.
- ericdykstra 15y ago
  A 20 hour+ single player campaign, and a multiplayer experience so good that it's played at stakes of tens of thousands of dollars is "1/3 of a game"? Any time a sequel is released on the same engine, it's just "part of the other game"? Every expansion pack is a complete money-grabbing rip-off? Or do you only say this because with SC2, it's pre-planned? Even if it is $180 or whatever, I think 60 hours of one of the best RTS campaigns ever, as well as the best multiplayer RTS (and even if you disagree with the quality of the game, the community still trounces any other ones) is well worth it.
  - anonymoushn 15y ago
    To me, most of the game is the online multiplayer. Most of that will move out of the reach of people who don't buy Heart of the Swarm the moment Heart of the Swarm releases. I think it's appropriate to say that a player who only buys Wings of Liberty received 1/3 of the game, since he will no longer be able to play online multiplayer with a large pool of worthwhile opponents. I also think the game is worth the $120-$180, and I definitely plan on buying the remaining two pieces.
sireat 15y ago
You probably missed reading memos between Activision executives who bemoaned the lack of monetization and "social"(of course, there is some social aspect) in Starcraft 2. In fact, Starcraft 2 is considered a bit of a failure monetarily because most players do not pay monthly(not counting some markets like Russia). Sure, there are two expansions incoming (which Activision will have to figure out a way to make multiplayer players to pay for). So, while one can argue that at mid-level Blizzard is still the old commitment to quality gameplay, the high level management could care less about quality of the game. Unfortunately, when the two clash, lower level has to make compromises to live with the demands of the higher-ups.

recursive 15y ago

> So how does Blizzard extract more money from you? Because World of Warcraft.

notJim 15y ago
Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft are different games. This poster is referring to Starcraft 2, which does not charge a monthly fee.

marshray 15y ago

Starcraft II, wow. Is there something wrong with me that I found that game too difficult and stressful? I gave it an honest try, and it's certainly exciting, but once I found myself having made a huge stack of flash cards to study the relationships between unit types it started to feel a bit too much like work. Sort of the opposite of the "hook you slowly" dynamic. Anyone else have this experience? So how does Blizzard extract more money from you? Expansion packs. Wings of Liberty is just the first campaign of Starcraft II.

re_chief 15y ago
I have a hard time with most "competitive" games (RTSs, fighters, FPSs, etc.) because people have a tendency to get a little too into them and sort of ruin them for more... I guess casual players? Like, I'm fine with playing a round or two of Generic Fighter X with my friends. What I'm not fine with is in-depth explanations of how to juggle and control vertical space while playing as Character Y. And I'm not saying this as a button-masher either -- I'm quite capable of learning combos and special moves and using them effectively. I'm just not willing to put the time into becoming crazy good at multiplayer games, which means I'll always be left in the dust by people who are willing to do so.

anonymoushn 15y ago

Starcraft 2 costs between $120 and $180. People who are currently playing Starcraft 2 have only paid for the first 1/3 of the game.

ericdykstra 15y ago
A 20 hour+ single player campaign, and a multiplayer experience so good that it's played at stakes of tens of thousands of dollars is "1/3 of a game"? Any time a sequel is released on the same engine, it's just "part of the other game"? Every expansion pack is a complete money-grabbing rip-off? Or do you only say this because with SC2, it's pre-planned? Even if it is $180 or whatever, I think 60 hours of one of the best RTS campaigns ever, as well as the best multiplayer RTS (and even if you disagree with the quality of the game, the community still trounces any other ones) is well worth it.
- anonymoushn 15y ago
  To me, most of the game is the online multiplayer. Most of that will move out of the reach of people who don't buy Heart of the Swarm the moment Heart of the Swarm releases. I think it's appropriate to say that a player who only buys Wings of Liberty received 1/3 of the game, since he will no longer be able to play online multiplayer with a large pool of worthwhile opponents. I also think the game is worth the $120-$180, and I definitely plan on buying the remaining two pieces.

sireat 15y ago

You probably missed reading memos between Activision executives who bemoaned the lack of monetization and "social"(of course, there is some social aspect) in Starcraft 2. In fact, Starcraft 2 is considered a bit of a failure monetarily because most players do not pay monthly(not counting some markets like Russia). Sure, there are two expansions incoming (which Activision will have to figure out a way to make multiplayer players to pay for). So, while one can argue that at mid-level Blizzard is still the old commitment to quality gameplay, the high level management could care less about quality of the game. Unfortunately, when the two clash, lower level has to make compromises to live with the demands of the higher-ups.