StarCraft II is Blizzard's "best work ever"

By Oli Welsh Published 29 February, 2008

Plus new battleground and WOW story plans.

In the second of Blizzard's podcasts, or BlizzCasts, vice president of creative development Chris Metzen says that the company's forthcoming RTS sequel StarCraft II "feels like the best work we've ever done".

Metzen - Blizzard's story supremo, creator of the original Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo storylines - says of StarCraft II that it will be "much more cinematic" than the first game and that "I think we're all doing the best work of our careers".

"It's been very, very rewarding to see this thing take shape," he adds. "Just getting back to that Blizzard of yesteryear where it's not all about WoW - don't get me wrong, I love WOW! But we're so much more than that."

The podcast also features some revealing comments on where the company plans to take World of Warcraft in future - in terms of its story and battlegrounds in particular.

Metzen talks about some of the themes in the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion, mentioning that it will scale things back from the outer-space extravagance of The Burning Crusade, but delve deeper into the world's history.

"The Burning Crusade: it was huge on a conceptual level, right?" he says. "Some would argue maybe too huge. Whatever happened to Gnolls and Kobolds? Suddenly, you're in outer space fighting angels. With Wrath of the Lich King, you almost get both. We come back to terrestrial Azeroth... it's a little more palatable to classic fantasy. But at the same time, we're also pushing forward hugely on the setting. We're going to get into themes like the Titans and the creation of the world, the function of Azeroth at the dawn of creation."

Central themes will be the dwarves' research of their origins and the creation of the world, and the warring dragonflights, as well as a refocusing on the current state of the Alliance and Horde factions.

Elsewhere, WOW lead designer Tom Chilton mentions that Blizzard is looking into creating more battleground maps around existing themes, so you have a choice of maps for the capture the flag game type, for example, rather than just the one available at present (Warsong Gulch).

There's also a detailed discussion of the Magtheridon boss fight for all you raiders out there, answers to some fans' questions, and (contain yourselves now) even a brief mention of Diablo.

You can download the podcast, listen to it, or read a transcript. Do; it's worth checking out the Metzen interview, because he's a very smart man and he sheds some light on how Blizzard got to be one of the best storytellers in gaming.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • McGeeza #1 4 years ago

    Games Workshop - Blizzard's story supremo, creator of the original Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo storylines

    Fixed ;)
    Edited by 1 at 29/02/08 @ 11:28

  • Rirekon #2 4 years ago

    I would think very carefully before claiming GW as a source of original content ;-)

  • thomastantrum #3 4 years ago

    Tolkien?

  • GordonCaladan #4 4 years ago

    Tolkien, WWII, Aliens, Mad Max, ....

  • Slamhound #5 4 years ago

    Remember: It was Blizzard who approached TGW with a prototype for a Warhammer RTS back in the day, and it was TGW who snubbed them.

    Things would be a lot different had someone in TGW been in possession of a crystal ball or something.

  • Gurgeh #6 4 years ago

    And Warhammer was created to flog Citadel miniatures.

  • Drogul #7 4 years ago

    Blizzard & Games Workshop would have been the perfect combination. I think both are amongst the best of the best in their business. But I bet that the guy at TGW that was responsible for this decision is still having nightmares...really a bad choice.

  • TheDudesRug #8 4 years ago

    Hopefully EA will buy them both.

  • Lemming81 #9 4 years ago

    It goes like this:

    Tolkien-->D&D-->Games Workshop-->Blizzard.

    So yeah it is a little rich calling Blizzard amazing storytellers when it's fourth-hand material.

    I should say it was GW that established Orcs as the green things we know and love, and that Blizzard used Wholesale.

    I like WoW along with 9 million others, but I wouldn't call it particularly original. The Warhammer universe pwns it every time.

  • shamblemonkee #10 4 years ago

    uh, i think you all kinda missed the point.....fromreading the article i got the impression that BLizzards talent came from ensuring ideas were broad to start with and targetted to resonate with the biggest audiance and that unlike print or film the story was fleshed out as you went distilling what did and didn't work and then stiching this into the game as development progressed, which seemed to be in contrast to what other developers could do due to time constraints which Blizz don't suffer from....

  • smoison #11 4 years ago

    StarCraft 2 WOO HOO!!!

    Call me when its the open BETA!,
    Best stragetgy game, only beaten by Suppreme commander.


    Edit: Spelling grammer (for a 12 word comment... oh boy)
    Edited by 1 at 29/02/08 @ 14:29

  • 7creature #12 4 years ago

    "Best stragetgy game, only beaten by Suppreme commander."

    ORLY? Already played SC2? .-)

  • Gaol #13 4 years ago

    All 'storytelling' is derivative to some degree, even more so in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Doesn't make it any less praiseworthy unless it's blatant plagiarism. Which it isn't.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #14 4 years ago

    Sure players will flock to SC2 like sheep much as they have done with WoW, but like WoW it by no means means that SC2 is the be all and end all of the RTS genere and not to bother devoloping anymore. Blizzard's designing for 'the masses', yes it works but by no means does it mean the quality is 'the best ever'. TBH they're truly 'best ever work' was Diablo 2 and that isn't going to happen again.
    Edited by 1 at 29/02/08 @ 16:44

  • malloc #15 4 years ago

    Can't help that thinking when ppl say it's their best work ever it turns out to be self indulgent nonsense.

    Loved SC though, but hmmm...

  • Wyrm #16 4 years ago

    Beowolf-->Tolkien-->D&D-->Games Workshop-->Blizzard

    And Fighting Fantasy should get a nod too if we're going all RPG geeky :)

  • Wyrm #17 4 years ago

    Beowolf-->Tolkien-->D&D-->Games Workshop-->Blizzard

    Blizzards stories are also highly influenced by Norse myth, something they have been quite open about.

    And Fighting Fantasy should get a nod too if we're going all RPG geeky :)
    Edited by 1 at 29/02/08 @ 19:15

  • QotSAfan #18 4 years ago

    The Aeneid > Tolkien > D n D > GW > Blizzard

    Although each and every one has created its own universe with its own unique charm. Apart from Blizzard. All they did was add dancing videos to youtube..

  • Xerx3s #19 4 years ago

    Diablo 2 still holds that record.

  • Danjw #20 4 years ago

    Good to hear that Metzen realises what was wrong with the new lore (aside from accidentally retconning himself). I hate all that Faaaantasy iiiin Spaaaaaace bollocks. Oi! Metzen! you got aliens in my fantasy! You goit!

    A return to a more down-to-Azeroth approach will be very welcome.
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/08 @ 14:51