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Starcraft
From EncyClanPedia
| Starcraft | |
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| Developer | Blizzard Entertainment (PC) Mass Media Interactive Entertainment (N64) |
| Publisher | PC NA Blizzard Entertainment PALSierra Entertainment N64 INTNintendo |
| Series | Starcraft Series |
| Engine | Warcraft II engine |
| Version | v1.15.2 |
| Released | Windows INT March 31, 1998 Macintosh NA March 1999 N64 NA June 13, 2000 EU June 16, 2000 |
| Genre | Real-Time Strategy |
| Ratings | ESRB: Teen PEGI: 16+ OFLC: M15+ |
| Game Platforms | Windows, Macintosh, N64 |
| Media Forms | CD-ROM, Digital Download, N64 cartridge |
| Required Devices | Keyboard, Mouse, N64 Controller |
| Reviews | Gamespot
[1] IGN [2] |
Starcraft is a science-fiction real-time strategy developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the first game in the Starcraft series and was released for Windows on March 31st, 1998; subsequent versions were released for Macintosh and Nintendo 64 on March 1999 and June 13th, 2000, respectively. After its release Starcraft proved to be extremely popular, with more than nine million units sold by mid May 2007. Since then it has spawned three expansion packs and an upcoming sequel is in development.
In the past years Starcraft has earned itself a legendary status as one of the best RTS games released with thousands of players online at any one time and is a real competitor with newly released RTS games. Starcraft is most popular in South Korea, where it can be considered as a national sport as there are talented players can earn sponsorships and join a professional team, where they compete in televised tournaments, watched by millions.
Contents |
Gameplay
The gameplay in Starcraft is split into multi-player and single-player, like most RTS games.
Single-player
The single-player features 30 story missions, with 10 missions on each faction. The story starts off with the Terran's campaign as Episode One, followed by Episode Two from the Zerg, and finally Episode Three from the Protoss's side. In each episode the player takes the role of an unknown figure in the residing factions. In Episode One you take the role of a Confederate governor of a colony threatened by the Protoss and Zerg who later becomes a revolutionary commander. In Episode Two you take the role of a Zerg Cerebrate (a being that controls part of the Swarm) under the command of the Overmind (the Zerg's supreme leader). In Episode Three you take the role of a new commander (known as an Executor) in the Protoss military. Before each mission you start off in a briefing room where you are told you objectives and hear converations between other characters associated with the mission.Like many RTS, the game becomes increasingly difficult as the story progresses with harder AI and more variety of units available.
Multi-player
Online multiplayer is supported by Battle.net, which is an Internet Service provided by Blizzard Entertainment. Up to 8 players can play on one map with different modes available, such as melee, free for all, and "use map settings". Melee mode allows one to change diplomatic settings so players can form allies and share visions at will, whereas "use map settings" is only available if the map itself has special settings in order to be playable in that particular mode (e.g. King of the Hill, singleplayer campaigns). The AI for computer players in normal skirmishes only has one setting, but different AI settings are met in singleplayer as well as some maps with "use map settings" option.
Resources
In order to construct buildings, units and complete upgrades, the player must collect resources; minerals and Vespene gas. Minerals are required for all units, buildings and upgrades, it is harvested directly from mineral deposits, situated around a map; eight (8) units can be harvested per run. Gas is needed for all upgrades and the production of certain vehicles, units and buildings. To acquire gas the player must build a refinery/extractor/assimilator (depending on which faction is being played) on top of a Vespene Geyser (a green volcano-like structure) and workers (SCV/Drone/Probe) must go inside the building and collect it; only one worker is allowed in at once and a maximum of eight (8) units of gas is harvested per run. Gas usually comes in set amounts of around five thousand (5000) units per geyser and once depleted, it will only supply the player with two (2) units per run. Each faction has a specific unit that can collect these resources; Terran SCV, Zerg Drone or a Protoss Probe.
Factions
In Starcraft there a three (3) playable factions; Terran, Zerg and Protoss.
Terran
The Terrans are the humans of tomorrow. They are much like the humans of the twenty-first century but are far more technologically advanced and some posses psychic powers. Their basic infantry unit is the Marine who posses a machine gun, but they also have flamethrower wielding Firebats and Ghosts for reconnaissance. Their vehicles are mainly mechanical, and include siege tanks, goliaths, battlecruisers and dropships. They have at their disposal nuclear weaponry, which can cripple enemy buildings and units.
Protoss
The Protoss are a humanoid race whose homeworld is in planet Aiur. They are technologically advanced and have possessed psionic abilities. Most of the Protoss follow the teachings of Khala, but those who rejected it severed their psionic links with their brethrens and were exiled. These Protoss are known as Dark Templar. After the first contact in Terran planet Chau Sara, the Protoss has been in constant war with the Zerg. Protoss units are usually slow and expensive to produce, where their strength shines on quality rather than quantity. In addition to their technologically advanced arsenals, all of their units have regenerative plasma shields that can absorb certain amount of damage. Only when the plasma shield is completely drained the Protoss unit can then be directly damaged.
Zerg
The Zerg are a race of fictional insectoids and the overriding antagonists of the StarCraft series. Operating as a hive mind, the Zerg strive for genetic superiority by incorporating worthy races into their own, creating numerous different types of Zerg. Unlike the Terrans and the Protoss, the Zerg do not use technology, instead using incorporations of other species and directed mutation to develop traits to match such technology. As with the other two primary races, the Zerg are the subject of a full campaign in each of the series' RTS video games. The Zerg units are designed to be fast and cheap to produce, encouraging players to overwhelm their opponents with sheer numbers. The phrase "zerging" has entered video gaming jargon to describe using many low-cost and weak units to overwhelm an enemy.
Plot
Setting
Characters
In each Episode the player takes the role of an anonymous character. In Episode One, the player and his law enforcement officer, Jim Raynor, is forced to join the Sons of Korhal and it's leader Arcturus Mengsk, along with Sarah Kerrigan, an espionage agent (ghost) after an unfortunate turn of events. In Episode Two, the player is a high ranking commander in the Zerg Swarm but it ruled over by a Zerg Overmind. In Episode Three, the player reports to Aldaris, a representative of the Protoss governing board. Aldaris is working against Tassadar, who had the former position of the player's, over his association with Zeratul, a member of the dark templar, a group that is considered as heretical, by the Protoss governing board.
Missions
Expansions
Platform Ports
Starcraft has been ported to Mac OS in March 1999 then to Nintendo 64 as "Starcraft 64" in June 2000. The N64 version has all of the missions from the original PC game and its expansion, as well as exclusive ones such as two different tutorials and one extra mission known as "Ressurection IV". It also features a two-player split-screen mode in place of online multiplayer. However the lack of audio voices (during briefings and in-game tranmissions) and slightly inferior graphics were a minor downside compared to the PC and Mac version.[3]
Cultural Impact
Zerg Rush
Also known as Zerging, Swarming, and Rushing, the term Zerg rush is coined after the notorious tactic of having a fast attack against an unprepared opponent with Zerglings, a cheap and fast close-combat unit. However the term is also used for attacking the enemy with overwhelming number of units with disregard to casualties or tactics. The term gained notoriety that it is used outside of Starcraft, including other RTS games, FPS, and even MMORPGs.
Korea
Due to the immense popularity of the game in Korea, professional gamers and teams compete in televised tournaments, earn sponsorships, and gain fame from other gamers and audience. Starcraft has become a very popular e-Sport in Korea to an extent that there are people claiming it (or jokingly) as the national sport of Korea. Many popular professional gamers are spawned, with examples such as Lim Yo-Hwan (aka SlayerS_`BoxeR`), Park Sung-Joon (JulyZerg), and Park Jung-Suk ([Oops] Reach).
References
Links
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