Tonight: Microsoft vs. Zynga in the StarCraft 2 After Hours Gaming League finals
Can Bing’s Banelings best Farmville’s Ghosts? Tonight, Microsoft and Zynga are going to settle their differences in StarCraft 2. The tech competitors face each other in the final of the After Hours Gaming League, a for-charity tournament between top tech companies in Silicon Valley. Starting at 6 PM PST, tonight’s final is the culmination of a month-some of round robin action between Yelp, Amazon, and others.
StarCraft 2′s self-professed “funsmith” Day[9] will be doing the commentary, streamed here and embedded after the jump. To the winner: $5000 for the charity of their choice and immeasurable bragging rights.
I’m running out the door now to attend the tournament. For on-site updates, follow me at @elahti as I make the trip from PC Gamer to Facebook HQ, where the finals are being hosted.
StarCraft 2 Starter Edition offers free maps and missions to new players
The StarCraft 2 demo is dead! It has been reborn as the bigger and better StarCraft 2 Starter Edition, which includes four single player missions, two challenge maps and four skirmish maps that will let you play as Terrans against AI opponents. That’s a great big slobbering shank of free StarCraft 2 for new players.
The starter edition has no time limit, the missions and maps can be replayed as often as you like. All you need to get your chunk of free StarCraft 2 is an internet connection and a Battle.net login. You can set up an account and download the starter edition from Battle.net now.
In a Q&A on the StarCraft 2 blog Blizzard say they plan to rotate the available skirmish maps, and will make a limited selection of custom maps available to Starter Edition players, including the Blizzard-made StarJeweled mod. You’ll even be able to play the custom maps with friends. Read on for the full list of features currently included.
Watch it live: MLG Anaheim StarCraft 2 tournament kicks off tonight
In about eight hours time, MLG Anaheim will bring the world’s best StarCraft 2 players together to compete in front of a global audience. The first match, Naniwa vs. Huk, is set to kick off at 5:30 PM PDT / 1:30 AM GMT. You can find the full schedule on the MLG site, and watch matches live, for free, on MLG TV. Gold and Silver subscribers will be able to watch HD streams of every match.
If you’re new to e-sports and want an introductory taste of the StarCraft 2 competitive scene, we rounded up videos of ten of our favourite matches. For more on pro-gaming, Rich recently wrote about why he loves watching StarCraft 2.
Starcraft Universe trailer shows boss battles and Ultralisk mobs
Starcraft Universe, formerly known as World of Starcraft, impressed us with its pre-alpha footage before. Now it’s back with an even more impressive video, spotted by ChaosSmurf on twitter. The last we heard of the mod, the creators were involved in a minor legal scuffle with Activision and Blizzard over the mod’s name. That’s all resolved now, so the team has been able to get back to creating some impressive new levels, including what looks like a set piece in which players defend a flying platform from Zerg attack. The mod is created entirely using the free editing tools bundled with StarCraft 2. Find out more on the StarCraft Universe ModDB homepage.
Blizzcon 2011 to host GSL finals in October
The final of one of the biggest StarCraft 2 tournaments in the world will be held outside of Korea for the first time this year. The GSL final will take place in front of a live audience at Blizzcon 2011 in Anaheim. Anyone with a Battle.net account will be able to log in to Blizzcon.com for free and watch the best StarCraft 2 players in the world do battle live this October.
Starcraft 2 region linking incoming. Quicker matchmaking, wider audiences, more friends
As reported on Blues News, Blizzard are planning on combining some of Starcraft 2′s region-specific servers. It’ll result in an improved player experience no matter where you’re playing from.
PC Gamer UK Podcast 57 – Sean “Day[9]” Plott interview
Day[9] is one of the most charismatic, knowledgeable, and downright likable shoutcasters on the Starcraft II scene. Rich MCC loves him a little bit more than most. That’s why we sent our staff writer to meet Day[9] earlier in the week, armed with a recording studio and pair of microphones.
He returned with bumper, Starcraft II-themed edition of the PC Gamer UK podcast where the pair talk about future expansions, what it’s like to live a life laced with Starcraft II, and the current state of e-sports.
Download the MP3, subscribe, or find our other podcasts here. For more Day[9] check out his YouTube channel. For more Rich, click here.
MLG Columbus StarCraft 2 – championship day livestream
The final rounds of Major League Gaming’s StarCraft 2 Columbus tournament are underway and streaming live. The high-quality video stream is also free. Pop some corn and tune in to watch the surviving players duel for the championship.
Curious about esports? Watch the StarCraft 2 TSL tournament for free
If you’ve ever been tempted to check out StarCraft 2 as a spectator sport, you should definitely watch the recent Team Liquid Starleague tournament. The whole competition is available to watch now for free on the TSL site. It’s got it all, incredibly talented players, tense match-ups, and expert narration from some of the best shoutcasters in the world.
The TSL has become another regular fixture in our StarCraft 2 calendar, alongside the GSL and Day[9]‘s regular casts. It’s fair to say many of us have become completely hooked on watching StarCraft 2 (find out how Tom got hooked here). We think you might like it, too, so we gathered together ten of the best StarCraft 2 matches to help get you started.
Diablo 3 beta in Q3; Blizzard hoping to launch full game in 2011 but “will not compromise on quality”
Mike Morheime has clarified what’s going on with the launch date.Blizzard games are like buses: you wait for ages, and then two turn up at once. In their ongoing investor call, Activision-Blizzard hinted that Diablo 3 might be ready for 2011, but that they wouldn’t rush the game out to hit a deadline.”
Mike said that ‘the game does not have a launch date. We’re working very hard to try and release it this year, but we will not compromise on quality.’ He also confirmed that the Diablo 3 beta will hit in the third quarter of 2011. Squee!
During Activision’s financial predictions, they carefully noted that the predictions were based around ‘not expecting a Blizzard game in 2011′. But the company pointed out that if their prediction were to come true, ‘we’d expect two Blizzard titles in 2012.
If we had our betting hats on, that would put the Diablo 3 release date as early 2012, with a new World of Warcraft expansion hitting late 2012, and Heart of the Swarm landing in 2013.
The weekend playlist
The weekend is here. Which means it’s time to throw off the shackles of tedium and devote our time and energy to our pixelated passions. Here’s what we’re going to be playing over the weekend. Do let us know what you’ll be up-to in the comments.
Blizzcon ticket sale dates and pricing announced
Blizzcon is happening on October 21 and 22 at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California. The two day event will celebrate all things Blizzard, with plenty of costume competitions, game announcements and tournaments taking place across the weekend. Blizzard have announced ticket sale dates and the pricing scheme. Read on for details.
Watch this Starcraft 2 game NOW
Fans of e-Sports rejoice! We’ve got lots of exclusive coverage coming up in the next few months. Keep your eyes on the site for updates. But, just to get you prepared, here’s a teaser: one of the best Starcraft 2 matches we’ve ever seen.
Great sporting moments are also great human moments. Tears, incredible fightbacks, and skin-of-the-teeth survival in the face of overwhelming odds – this Starcraft 2 match, from the semi-finals of the GSL’s World Championship, has it all and then some.
Best of all, it’s free to watch. But fair warning: the World Championship has now finished, and if you haven’t watched past the quarter-final stage and want to avoid spoilers, don’t click through. If you’re up for some incredible action, though, join us through the link.
The Sunday Video Pwn
Two new Duke Nukem trailers hit the web this week. One covers the history of one of PC gaming’s most recognisable characters, but it’s the above video that had me scratching my chin the most. Duke Nukem Forever is actually going to get released, which is great, but I cant help but feel that Gearbox are pushing just a little too hard. The above trailer is amusing, but I can’t shake the awkward feeling of misogyny that seems to ooze from it. Is pixelated pornography a step too far, or is it just harmless fun? Debate in the comments.
The rise of a StarCraft 2 pro: Team Dignitas Gamersearch
Eight nervous young men peer through the windows of HMV Gamerbase in London, waiting for the shutters to open. They are the best StarCraft 2 players in the country, and they’re about to compete in a tournament that could change their lives. By the end of the day, one of them will become a pro gamer.
The first prize is a top of the range Alienware laptop and the top three contestents will take away a share of a £1950 prize pot. When asked why they entered the competition, none of the players mention the prizes. They’re here for the opportunity to gain a contract with Team Dignitas, the biggest e-sports team in Britain. Joining them will mean a chance to compete with with the best StarCraft 2 players in the world.
