| The time has arrived for the long-awaited StarCraft II. | | | | This forces the gamer to use the units efficiently. The |
| StarCraft II had gained popularity back in March 1998 | | | | focus is on the quality of the units and placements, not |
| (3/31/98). StarCraft is a military science fiction strategy | | | | the number of units. The Zerg and Protoss are at |
| game. It was originally released for Microsoft Windows | | | | opposing ends of each other, serving the terrans as a |
| PC. Later in 1999, Blizzard released the MAC version. | | | | middle ground between the two races. The game is |
| StarCraft quickly became one of the most widely | | | | very well balanced in that no race has a dominant |
| loved games. As of February 2009, the original | | | | edge over the others. The AI modes in the game play |
| StarCraft had sold over 11million copies. | | | | all start out easy and naturally progress to the hardest |
| The game's storyline was derived from a series of | | | | as the game continues on. |
| novels. The game has had an expansion, "StarCraft: | | | | Each race needs two resources in order to maintain |
| Brood War" and now the newly anticipated "StarCraft | | | | their forces and sustain in the economy. Minerals and |
| II: Wings of Liberty". The game takes place in the | | | | vespene gas are the two resources. Minerals are |
| future, in the 26th century. The game centers on the | | | | required by all races in order to build units and |
| fight for domination over the "Milky Way" galaxy. The | | | | structures. Minerals are gathered by worker units to |
| three races are the Terrans, a human race from Earth, | | | | harvest these resources from mineral deposits. They |
| the Zerg, an insect type race, and finally the Protoss, a | | | | can be seen dotted throughout the fields. Vespene |
| humanoid race. The Terrans, or human race, are skilled | | | | gas is required by all players in order to construct |
| at adapting to any situation. The Zerg are an | | | | advanced units and buildings. You will also need gas to |
| insect-race that is searching for genetic perfection by | | | | build refineries on top of geysers (gas deposits). As |
| combining other races. The Protoss have advance | | | | with minerals, you will need worker units to extract the |
| technologies. They also possess psionic abilities. The | | | | gas from the deposits. Also, gamers will need to |
| Protoss main objective is to preserve their traditions | | | | monitor their supplies for their forces to ensure that |
| and keep their way of live and civilization far away | | | | they can construct the units needed in game play. |
| from the Zerg. | | | | All races need these supplies, but the type differs |
| The game runs in real-time coupled with its compelling | | | | between the races. For example, Terrans usually have |
| story line has made StarCraft such a beloved game. | | | | physical supplies, Protoss have psionic power nexus, |
| The game is a multiplayer game. Critics have praised | | | | and the Zerg are limited by the number of controlled |
| StarCraft for being one of the best all time games and | | | | overlord units that are currently available. The supply |
| raised the bar for all other real-time games. In South | | | | mechanics are the exact same between the races. |
| Korea, the game has been so well received that it has | | | | This allows all of the races to build new units when the |
| been considered a professional sport. The game has | | | | necessary resources are available. The Protoss and |
| televised events and top players are treated as | | | | Zerg have limitations on where they can build their |
| professional athletes. Players join together for teams | | | | structures. Terrans are less limited, but require a |
| and compete in national competitions. Players even | | | | worker to continue working on the unit until it has |
| earn sponsorships for the televised spots they receive. | | | | finished constructing. |
| The game play is also very unique. Each race has its | | | | The next rendition of the game will maintain most of |
| own race-specific units. They even have different | | | | these characteristics. The first race to be the focal |
| technology trees. Players must use the strengths and | | | | point is the Terrans, with the Protoss and Zerg getting |
| weaknesses carefully in order to win in this game. The | | | | their own expansion each over the next 3 years. |
| time and cost to create new units can be quite costly. | | | | |