ScottC - We'll be getting started in a minute or two...
BillRoper - Thanks for coming everybody. Go ahead and ask your questions to ScottC and we will get to the answering.
BillRoper - We will be answering questions concerning Brood War and Starcraft tonight, so please make sure taht you forward those to Scott.
ScottC - Just type your messages out and I will see them
ScottC - No need to whisper ;-)
BillRoper - Also, please do not whisper me, I won't be responding to the :).
ScottC - Bill, can you give us a general update on Brood War's development?
BillRoper - Brood War is progressing very well, with testing continuing on the campaigns and the final touches being put on the cinematics.
ScottC - Can you give us an update on the beta?
BillRoper - The beta has just started, and we are getting some fantastic feedback. The new units are getting great reactions and we are seeing whole new strateies being formulated.
BillRoper - We will be doing some very hard core balancing in the next few weeks and expect a lot of great work to be done on the game during the beta.
ScottC - How many cinematics will there be in Brood War?
BillRoper - There will be four new cinematic sequences in Brood War -- an intro and three victory cinematics. They are longer than those in Starcraft and very impressive.
ScottC - How many single-player missions will there be for each race?
BillRoper - There are 26 missions, 8 Protoss, 8 Terran and 10 Zerg.
ScottC - How is Mac Starcraft coming along?
BillRoper - Mac Starcraft is curently in beta testing over Battle.net and we are still looking to have it out before the end of the year. We are starting to play MAC/PC games and are having some great games!
ScottC - How is the Nintendo 64 version of Starcraft coming along?
BillRoper - Starcraft 64 is still pretty early in development, but it is up and running on the N64 and is ready for us to start really giving it a good, hard look to make sure it is especially suited to the Nintendo.
ScottC - Will there be new music in Brood War?
BillRoper - Yes, we will be having new music for each of the campaigns, and a few surprises as well...
ScottC - To whom should we give Brood War beta feedback?
BillRoper - Beta feedback should be sent to www.blizzard.com/scripts/betabug.dll
ScottC - How long will the beta test last?
BillRoper - The beta test may last until the product ships, but certainly 2-4 weeks.
ScottC - Will there be .SCMs-of-the-week for Brood War?
BillRoper - We are not sure about our future .scm of the week plans, but we will -- of course -- support Brood War.
ScottC - Will there be separate ladder maps for Brood War?
BillRoper - Any ladder maps that are useable for Starcraft will be available for Brood War, but there will also be specific maps in the new tile sets exclusively for the Brood War ladder.
ScottC - How do you add a unit to an already balanced game?
BillRoper - We look at what players want and what the different species need. An example would be the Corsair, which was designed around giving the Protoss a better way to siege socked in units by using disprution web.
ScottC - Are there any plans to create Starcraft for Dreamcast?
BillRoper - We have announced that Starcraft will be on the N64 exclusively, so we will not be developing it for the Dreamcast system.
ScottC - Have you received any complaints of imbalance in the Brood War beta?
BillRoper - It is still VERY early in the beta, and imbalance is what we are troubleshooting, so while we do have imbalances now, we will quash them by the time the product releases.
BillRoper - It's tough to get all the bugs out in one day ;).
ScottC - Will there be any other Starcraft action figures?
BillRoper - We will need to see how interested people are in the first ones we do before we can decide to make more, but I for one would love to put my Duke action figure in my Battlecruiser action play set and bomb the Auir battlemat play world (TM).
ScottC - Has the Dark Archon's mind-control ability been a point of difficulty?
BillRoper - No.
ScottC - ;-)
ScottC - Will we be able to use out Starcraft Battle.net account names for Brood War?
BillRoper - Yes, all player names will be useable in both games.
ScottC - Will Brood War be out for Christmas? How much will it cost?
BillRoper - Yes, and it should retail for approximately $40.00 US.
ScottC - Will Brood War require a separate CD-KEY?
BillRoper - No, Brood War will utilize the same CD-Key that Starcraft uses.
ScottC - How do you come up with the names and ideas for units?
BillRoper - We lock ourselves into room and annoy each other with silly names and half-baked ideas until we just can;t stand it any more. Then, in a state of caffine induced nirvana, they just pop out.
ScottC - Clarification: The suggested retail price is $40; the street price will undoubtedly be lower.
ScottC - Will there be any new heroes in Brood War? If so, how many?
BillRoper - Yes, there will be new heroes in Brood War, and there will be more than enough to fill a Drop Ship.
ScottC - Will there be any additions to the Brood War campaign editor?
BillRoper - Yes, there will be new custom AI scripts, all the new tilesets and units, more locations and switches and much more.
ScottC - Do you have any plans for a sequel to Starcraft or any more expansion sets?
BillRoper - As usual, we are not very good at looking past the current project, and really won't make that determination until we get Brood War out the door.
ScottC - Who's the best Starcraft player at Blizzard?
BillRoper - There is no way that I am going to make enemies by answering that one. My vote goes to EnoYls...
ScottC - Will Brood War have single-player cheats?
BillRoper - Yes.
ScottC - Will Brood War players be able to play against people who only have Starcraft?
BillRoper - Yes, but they will need to select Starcraft (not Brood War) as the game with which they are connecting to Battle.net.
ScottC - Are the system requirements different for Brood War?
BillRoper - No.
ScottC - Does anyone at Blizzard play Deer Hunter or Deer Hunter 2?
BillRoper - Actually, we play this great game called Hunter Hunter™ where we are Deers chasing after beer guzzling truck drivers. It rUleZ!
ScottC - Besides game imbalance, what other issues are you checking in the beta?
BillRoper - Bugs.
BillRoper - Icky bugs...
BillRoper - Kill them all...
ScottC - How much information can beta testers give out to the public about Brood War?
BillRoper - They can pretty much do it all -- talk about the games, post screen shots, and so on. Just don't hack it :).
ScottC - Can you explain in more detail how mind control works?
BillRoper - Basically, the Dark Archon can take over any unit in the game. It maintains all of its abilities and is yours to do with as you please. Workers can build any units that they normally could, and guys in transports are also yours.
ScottC - What software is used in programming at Blizzard?
ScottC - We use BASIC ;-)
BillRoper - C++, C and assembly language. We also write many custom tools and languages for our own use.
ScottC - Does Kerrigan have any new sounds in Brood War?
BillRoper - She has no new unit sounds, but has a LOT of new lines in the game. Don't worry Kerrigan fans, you will get plenty of that infested beauty...
ScottC - Do Kerrigan or Raynor get any new abilities?
BillRoper - No.
ScottC - How will the end-of-the-year Battle.net tournament work?
BillRoper - We are working on the details right now, but we expect to have the big plan laid out on the website (www.blizzard.com) very soon.
ScottC - Mind control: permanant or temporary?
BillRoper - Mind control = permanant. Hmmm... maybe we need to have a chat dedicated to just Mind Control...
ScottC - How many seasons are planned for the Starcraft ladder? Will there be separate prizes for a Brood War ladder?
BillRoper - We will have new seasons until people stop playing. As for a Brood War ladder with separate prizes, we shall see...
ScottC - Will the United Earth Directorate have a big part in the game?
BillRoper - that information is on a need to know basis, and the UED has decided that you do not need to know :).
ScottC - Does the Medic give the Terrans an early advantage?
BillRoper - While it certainly helps them, it depends on what your definition of early is. She will not imbalance the first part of the game.
ScottC - Do the people at Blizzard and Blizzard North work on the same games or different ones?
BillRoper - Blizzard North is currently working on Diablo II, and we offer suggestions -- as they do with Brood War. We all help each other when needed, but the teams are separate.
ScottC - Is a medic-rush feasible?
BillRoper - Feasible, but highly ineffective since they have no weapon. I prefer the Overlord rush, myself.
ScottC - Why did you think the Goliath needed another upgrade?
BillRoper - The Goliath nedded to be able to better reach out and touch those pesky high-end air units (like Guardians).
ScottC - When is Warcraft II Platinum coming out?
BillRoper - Early 1999.
BillRoper - Standard Blizzard ship formula applies, of course... :)/
ScottC - Any plans for a Warcraft/Starcraft crossover product?
BillRoper - Orcs in Space? Hmm... uh... not.
ScottC - What has been your favorite .SCM so far?
BillRoper - Steal The Beacon (great voice over). On the Starcraft CD, I thought Defenders of the Galaxy was simply brilliant.
ScottC - Any plans to expand the Starcraft compendium to cover new Brood War information?
BillRoper - Yes, but it will obviously take some time since Ted and Geoff basically cruise the internet all day :).
ScottC - Bill, do you do the voices for any of the units?
BillRoper - Yes.
BillRoper - Like Steal The Beacon...
ScottC - Will Brood War be as sleep-killing as Starcraft was?
BillRoper - No -- you will never sleep again after Brood War comes out. Sell your beds now and just buy a big, comfortable chair for your computer desk.
ScottC - We're coming up on the last few questions...
ScottC - Who creates the Blizzard trivia questions?
BillRoper - The Blizzard Trivia Team™. Depraved, aren't they? Actually, Chris Metzen and I wrote most of them.
ScottC - Is it really true that employees *sleep* at the Blizzard offices?!?!?!?!?!!!?!
BillRoper - Yes!!!!!!!!!! Its just so comfortable here, we never want to go home. Seriously though, we do have to pull quite a few all-nighters when we get to the last weeks of a product. That just shows how dedicated we are to getting you the best game possible.
ScottC - Last question: Bill, can you give us a quick update on Diablo II?
BillRoper - Diablo II is looking fantastic, with a large portion of Act II being in the game and work being done on Act III. It is probably at the 54.615438621% completion stage.
ScottC - BTW, we have made a log of this chat and will be making it available shortly
ScottC - The next chat will cover Diablo II in 6-8 weeks
ScottC - Thanks, everyone, for coming this evening. ;-)
BillRoper - Thanks for coming, everyone! See you next time -- same Battle.net time, different Battle.net channel...
