We Weren’t Really Surprised
by admin on Apr.01, 2009, under Blog Posts
Written by: Michael Enger
Blizzard has made their grand announcement and it was just as the internet predicted: a new StarCraft game. I can imagine that a lot of fan boys (*cough*Koreans*cough*) are pissing in their pants right now, staring at screenshots and concept art with a strange, unfamiliar, bump growing between their legs. We were all ready for a new StarCraft; it’s popularity hadn’t really decreased over the years and an update to the beloved system had been speculated for a long time. Hell, it’s about time.
But what makes this announcement so world-shattering? Is it the fact that StarCraft is such a great game and a new version will just mean another decade of “OMG! ZERG RUSH! KEKEKEKEKEKEKEKE”? Well, yes, but there is a little more to Blizzard’s announcement than just revealing a new game. The difference lies in their ability to manipulate people and generate hype even before they have let people know what the game is.
Click to enlargeThat looks like a Zerg rush, alright.Take for example the release of Command and Conquer 3. It was most likely announced like all other games:
“We’re making a new command and Conquer game!”
“Sweet! Will it be in the Generals or Red Alert series?”
“No, we’re going back to the original. We’re bringing back Kane!”
“That’s cool! I’m looking forward to this game!”
C&C3 was released to great anticipation, along with a flurry of commercials and other promotional material. Blizzard did it a little differently.
“We’re announcing a new game in a month.”
“So what game is it going to be?”
[silence]
The internet went crazy with rumors and, coupled with Blizzard’s recent hirings of RTS programmers, most of these rumors were around a new StarCraft because, as we all know, it’s about damn time!
Click to enlargeI must admit, it looks pretty.Blizzard really knows how to pump the hype into the gaming community like no other company can. Their combination of saying nothing, but not hiding actions that can hint towards what it is, drives people crazy. I have to admit that even I checked their website now and then to watch their splash page count down to the new announcement. I wasn’t surprised when I saw the StarCraft logo, but I am amazed at how they could possibly keep everyone silent about it.
But let’s be honest for a second. I won’t buy the game on release day, I might not even buy it the first year, I will download a pirated version and grow tired of it after a week only to be guilted into buying it when the price drops to something manageable. I am not an RTS fan, I never finished StarCraft and I won’t finish this one. Perhaps I’ll play it online with my friends for a while, but this is not a grand event in my life. I’d be more excited if a new Quake game was announced…
