SC2SEA.com - Starcraft 2 SEA eSports Community Site

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:39 PM

With digital purchase options appearing in Battle.net Account Management earlier today, we finally have a confirmed launch - less than 4 months from today. After the Blizzard World Championship wraps up this weekend, expect to see a gradual transition as professional players around the world begin focusing their efforts on the beta in preparation for the surge of competitive players and events on the precipice of Q2, 2013.

So take a moment of silence to reminisce over countless hours and epic moments Wings of Liberty has delivered over the past two years, and prepare yourselves for a new and mysterious saga with StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm.

**TheGentleman** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:40 PM

Like!!

**Maynarde** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:41 PM

So freakin' excited! gg WoL, 4 more months of fun until it's HOTS TIME!

x5_Potter · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:42 PM

Put a preorder down in August or so with a note to upgrade to Collectors when it's announced, WOOT WOOT

TADivinity · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:45 PM

Is the balance really ready / will it be ready in 4 months? I haven't been playing beta much at all

Or is the best way to just get it out there for the masses to play and balance it with the advantage of more stats and feedback consensus?

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:47 PM

There is a few answers to that question.

1) It's gone in a really good direction with the most recent patch. The balance is tight.
2) WoL wasn't perfectly balanced on launch, but it was good enough.
3) The game will continue to be re-balanced over the next two years, I mean look at WoL.

4) WoL was in beta for 4 months total and it was a brand new title. By the time HotS launches, it will have been in beta for 5 months and it's only an expansion.

JaYbOc · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:48 PM

I'm not paying 5 dollars more for a digital download just because I'm Australian. Get with it bliz.

FS.Kezz · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaYbOc

I'm not paying 5 dollars more for a digital download just because I'm Australian. Get with it bliz.

Yes you will, because $5 is not a big enough thing to boycott an entire expansion over :P.

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:48 PM

Every product you purchase in Australia costs more by comparison lol.

ToRSpookToR · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 8:54 PM

hmm since it will be global play wouldnt we just be able to but the expansion pack for the NA side of our accounts and play on SEA like that it would save money , or am i missing something here....

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ministrySpook

hmm since it will be global play wouldnt we just be able to but the expansion pack for the NA side of our accounts and play on SEA like that it would save money , or am i missing something here....

You only need to buy 1 copy and the Battle.net account will have access to all regions, I don't understand your question.

ToRSpookToR · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dox

You only need to buy 1 copy and the Battle.net account will have access to all regions, I don't understand your question.

well its an expansion pack so i assume you need WoL to run it if you buy a SEA account you get a free NA account, so couldnt you just buy the NA expansion pack to save money? or is there only 1 client that is compatible with all the WoL clients?

Quick Comments

	Dox:	I'm sorry I really don't understand what you're trying to say. :(
	mGGDaedalus:	all regions will essentially be same client now i think. just find it wherever its cheapest :P

breadfan · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dox

You only need to buy 1 copy and the Battle.net account will have access to all regions, I don't understand your question.

Hes questioninng why it would cost $5 more when you can buy in us dollars and get the same product.

Quick Comments

ToRSpookToR:

this^

**ToR.Arnor** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breadfan

Hes questioninng why it would cost $5 more when you can buy in us dollars and get the same product.

I think it has to do with the higher prices retailers charge for goods/services in this country(As in Bricks and Motar businesses), alot of businesses who sell their product/service directly to the consumer have to make sure they dont undercut the retailers by too much.

Xenomorph · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 10:23 PM

Noob question: is there a difference between the deluxe digital edition in comparison to the physical collectors edition? Or are they the same thing but you get like a fancy box/other non-ingame stuff with the collectors?

mGGDaedalus · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:04 PM

Does this mean HotS collector's editions will be available for preorder at game stores now? I haven't pre-ordered yet cause I wanna make sure I get a CE

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaDeDaedalus

Does this mean HotS collector's editions will be available for preorder at game stores now? I haven't pre-ordered yet cause I wanna make sure I get a CE

They're always available for pre-order as soon as the game has been announced, even if it doesn't have a release date.

**inFeZa** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:14 PM

I wonder how much the game will be changed by then.

**Dox** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:15 PM

I doubt it will change dramatically, it's in a really good place right now.

**ToR.Arnor** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 9:16 PM

Need I say more

To Blizzard

**nirvAnA** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 10:30 PM

Whoa 4 months is a long time away!

Anyway guys please support us by purchasing it from the SC2SEA store! It will be the same price as Blizzard, perhaps even cheaper since we won't be getting it at AU vendor prices but rather Asian vendor prices.

Quick Comments

mGGDaedalus:

are you gonna sell physical copies?

**TheGentleman** · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirvAnA

Whoa 4 months is a long time away!

Anyway guys please support us by purchasing it from the SC2SEA store! It will be the same price as Blizzard, perhaps even cheaper since we won't be getting it at AU vendor prices but rather Asian vendor prices.

Release day is 4 days before my birthday... so I don't think price will be an issue. I think I'll be celebrating an early birthday present lol!

UHF · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 11:25 PM

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company...tml?id=7849184

Firstly, there is a huge block of small text at the bottom - big disclaimer saying nothing is set in stone.

Quote:

StarCraft II Torrasque: Crush the enemies of the Swarm with the indomitable Torrasque, a fearsome new look for your zerg Ultralisks.

Opens up skinned units? Has the possibility of either rewards from the leveling system, or even micro-transactions?

Quote:

New weapons of war also debut in Heart of the Swarm's multiplayer, including new units such as Terran Hellbats, Zerg Swarm Hosts, and Protoss Tempests, while certain existing units from Wings of Liberty will be updated with new capabilities. New features will enhance the game experience, including group and clan systems; unranked matchmaking; Global Play, enabling players to battle others in different regions around the world; additional stat tracking; user interface improvements; an enhanced physics system, for more visceral looking battles; multiplayer replays, to watch replays with friends; a leveling system that gives Heart of the Swarm players a new way to earn customization options for their online profiles; and much more.

We might be seeing the extent of what HotS will bring already. Knowing Blizzard they'll keep a few aces up their sleave.

ManFolk · Tue, 13th-Nov-2012, 11:28 PM

when da faq dis comen out?

Quick Comments

	Feddonator:	Yeah Dox, when da faq dis comen out?
	Dox:	best first post ever
	breadfan:	welcome to sc2sea, faq you gooby

**Dox** · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 7:23 AM

One thing worth noting for those of you who don't have beta access - numerous retailers are offering immediate beta access if you pre-order with them now. So choose wisely!

(In WoL almost every pre-order came with a key, so I expect that to happen soon enough)

**Dingobloo** · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 9:23 AM

Excited but with a few caveats, there's just so many different things to consider, a beta key? preload? buying from SC2SEA? I can really only choose one.

Also not surprising but a little bummed that it's not stand alone, not for myself, of course, but for my friends. Blizzard seem to be the only developer still using the harshest possible expansion pack business model, and I can't help but feel like going back to $80 for a new player to jump into the latest multiplayer really hurts the community.

breadfan · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 9:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingobloo

Excited but with a few caveats, there's just so many different things to consider, a beta key? preload? buying from SC2SEA? I can really only choose one.

Also not surprising but a little bummed that it's not stand alone, not for myself, of course, but for my friends. Blizzard seem to be the only developer still using the harshest possible expansion pack business model, and I can't help but feel like going back to $80 for a new player to jump into the latest multiplayer really hurts the community.

That's a valid concern, but it's a little soon for that kind of concern IMO. New players won't be the ones ordering HotS 4+ months in advance. Wait and see what happens closer to release (I would stake my left nut that the most you'll pay for WoL a week out from HotS release is $20). Come Legacy of the Void, they'll do the usual Battle Chest with WoL and HotS for probably the same $20.

I agree that selling a standalone product that doesn't have standalone gameplay is annoying, but it's not the worst thing ever

**Dox** · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 9:50 AM

From chatbox:

[10:39 AM] Dox: fun fact, blizzard has weekend sales for WoL every other month for $29.95

**Dingobloo** · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 9:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dox

From chatbox:

[10:39 AM] Dox: fun fact, blizzard has weekend sales for WoL every other month for $29.95

Are you sure? I have never seen them drop the price outside of the WCS Regional events, in the case of an Australian SEA version that was a drop to $50 AUD but at least that was a permanent drop.

Quick Comments

	Dox:	NA/EU clients only
	TCPKerO:	Its 29 dollars at jbhifi atm

**Dox** · Wed, 21st-Nov-2012, 2:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dox

From chatbox:

[10:39 AM] Dox: fun fact, blizzard has weekend sales for WoL every other month for $29.95

http://us.blizzard.com/store/browse....6,p:1100001122

**TheGentleman** · Wed, 21st-Nov-2012, 2:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dox

http://us.blizzard.com/store/browse....6,p:1100001122

// large image

Before you get too excited I just thought I'd mention that this is part of their black Friday sale: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/7916590/.

Alas this is only available for physically shipped boxes of SC2 (which has a postage cost of ~$20). From what I've seen the digital copy is still $29.99.

Thrasher · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 9:50 AM

Will sc2sea be doing physical copies?

Quick Comments

TheGentleman:

No.

Meatex · Wed, 14th-Nov-2012, 12:06 PM

I really hope that they don't gimp the global play by making clients not work outside of region they were purchased in then I can import yummy yummy
40,000 won for WoL in Korea which is about $35 Au
And if HotS is cheaper... win!

**Dingobloo** · Wed, 21st-Nov-2012, 2:49 PM

No gift options though had to sign in with a different account to even get the option

Meatex · Wed, 21st-Nov-2012, 2:52 PM

I suggest everyone upgrade their NA version of WoL for the extra $5 discount if its possible

I'm still waiting for Blizzard store to offer beta access with pre-order before I put my money down

ChaynesOre · Tue, 27th-Nov-2012, 6:13 PM

When's SC2SEA going to have this available?