Starcraft

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3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Starcraft? Wrong! If the Starcraft is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Starcraft then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

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6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Starcraft wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Starcraft then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Starcraft site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Starcraft, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Starcraft, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox CVG|title = StarCraft|image = |developer = Blizzard Entertainment [Blizzard Entertainment
PAL region Sierra Entertainment
Nintendo 64
Nintendo (lead designer)
[Samwise Didier (senior art director)
Robert Djordjevich (technical artist)
Peter Underwood (technical artist)
Jeffrey Vaughn (technical artist)])|released = Windows (PC)
North America / PAL region
Korea April 9, 1998
Mac OS
North America March 1999
Nintendo 64
North America June 13, 2000
PAL region May 25, 2001|modes = [Single player, Multiplayer game|ratings = Entertainment Software Rating Board: T (Teen)
Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle: 12+
Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia): M15+
Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association: 15+
PEGI: 16+
OFLC/NZ: R16+], Mac OS, Mac OS X, Nintendo 64 or better, 90 [Hertz Pentium, 16 Megabyte Random access memory, DirectX-compatible, 2x CD-ROM drive, 640x480 8-bit display. Mac: System 7.6 or better, PowerPC 601 or better, 16 MB RAM.], Nintendo 64 Cartridge (electronics)-->

StarCraft is a real-time strategy game by Blizzard Entertainment. It was initially released for Microsoft Windows in 1998. A Mac OS version of the game was released in 1999, and a porting to the Nintendo 64 was released in 2000. The main storyline follows a war among three galaxy species: the adaptable and mobile Terran (StarCraft), who are descendants of Human outcasts from Earth; the Group mind (science fiction) arthropodal Zerg; and the Psionic technology (StarCraft) humanoid Protoss warriors.

StarCraft was the best-selling computer game in 1998 and won the Origins Award for Best Strategy Computer Game of that year. StarCraft was listed on IGN's "Top 100 Games of All Time" feature as #7, and in 2006, received a Star on the Walk of Game at Metreon, San Francisco. Nine million copies of StarCraft and its expansion pack, StarCraft: Brood War, have been sold since its release, making it the List of best-selling video games#PC (behind The Sims and The Sims 2). It is especially popular in South Korea, where professional players and teams participate in matches, earn sponsorships, and compete in televised matches. Blizzard initially intended to continue the story with the tactical shooter StarCraft: Ghost, which was later put on hold indefinitely. The sequel, StarCraft II, was announced on May 19, 2007, in Seoul, South Korea.

The title can be spelled either StarCraft or Starcraft. Both spellings appear in official sources, including the game itself. However, since the announcement of StarCraft II, Blizzard has used the StarCraft spelling exclusively.

Gameplay In cooperative play, several people can play on the same team, controlling the same units, or on different teams that are "allied" so they do not harm each other. Clans gather groups of people for competitive team play.{{cite web|author =Cavin Smith| title = Gaming in Korea (Part 1)| work = Gaming Age|date = [2001-08-13 to gain an unfair advantage. People also use programs ([Cheating in online games) to gain other unfair advantages such as commanding more than 12 units at once, no [fog of war, infinite resources, and other unfair ways of winning. Blizzard attempts to detect and ban those who modify their client software, and several third-party "anti-hack" programs are under constant development to prevent these hacks. In 2003, Battle.net closed over 400,000 accounts for cheating and hacking.{{cite web | url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/452/452445p1.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> ] fleets in a multiplayer match. Most competitive, high-level gaming outside of the Korean professional scene takes place on "private" ladders such as Pro Gamers Tour or World Gamers Tour. These ladders use specific sets of maps (mostly taken from Korean pro leagues like MSL and OSL), hack-preventing third-party programs, teams of administrators, and sometimes even a private server (such as the PGTour's Bnet-X) to enforce fair play. Since the end of July 2006, with the release of patch 1.14, Blizzard has removed the Ladder option on all gateways, save the European gateway, whose Ladder is now held in cooperation with "WGTour".{{cite web | author = | title = Changes in ''StarCraft'' version 1.14| work = Blizzard Entertainment |date = [2006-01-01| url = http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=asc02028p| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> Beginning with version 1.08, ''StarCraft'' enables the player to record a game and save it as a ''replay'', which can then be viewed with any other copy of ''StarCraft'', displaying the entire course of gameplay. Replays allow for the studying of game players tactics, and thus pro-level replays are rarely released to protect team secrecy and to comply with the policies of pro leagues. Fans have developed applications such as BWChart and Lasgo's Observer Pack{{cite web | author = | title = VOD Maker Program Release| work = Team Liquid |date = [2003-12-30| url = http://www.bwchart.com/us/rwa.php| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> to analyze replays in detail and compute statistics such as the number of actions per minute ([Actions per minute). Some replays are accompanied by an audio commentary recorded by the player or an experienced observer in real time or during later viewing. When the audio files are produced using third-party recording and playback tools, the viewer must manually synchronize the audio with the replay. Alternatively, auxiliary applications such as RWA can ensure synchronization.{{cite web | author =|title = Replay with Audio (RWA)| work = Team Liquid |date = [2003-01-01 video file format for [Windows Media Player or in the [Windows Media Video format. Because they are compressed with an [MPEG-4 codec into a small file, their video quality is poorer than replays. === StarCraft Campaign Editor === {{main|StarEdit--> The game is packaged with the ''StarCraft Campaign Editor'' (also known as StarEdit). The editor's trigger system allows users to change maps radically and create custom map scenarios. The ''StarCraft'' community has constructed new editors and functionalities that grant users even more power to modify the game. The company Microstar sold a CD with new levels created with the StarEdit feature, but was forced to stop when Blizzard won their court case against its distribution.{{cite web | author =IGN Staff | title = Blizzard Wins in ''StarCraft'' Case| work = IGN |date = [1998-11-10| url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/065/065655p1.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> An exemplar campaign developed by Blizzard Entertainment, ''Enslavers'', was included with the release of ''StarCraft''. This campaign, following the Terran Dominion and the Protoss during Episode II, showcased the means of creating a full custom campaign for ''StarCraft''. ==Story== ] ''StarCraft'' takes place in the distant future. Human exiles fight for survival on the edge of the galaxy, and a unified [Terran (StarCraft) government has formed through espionage, deceit and military might. In the midst of these events, the [Zerg have begun an invasion of the Terran worlds, along with the war against the Protoss. ===Plot=== The plot of the original ''StarCraft'' game revolves around the Terran civilization in the [StarCraft universe#Koprulu Sector, which was founded by former prisoners exiled from Earth. The most powerful Terran faction is the [Terran Confederacy. It is opposed by other factions, such as the "[Sons of Korhal," a [paramilitary organization. The arrival of the Zerg, led by the [Zerg Overmind and its [Cerebrates, greatly complicates matters for the Terrans. The Zerg Swarm is itself closely followed by a Protoss fleet who burn any world the Zerg infest. The Protoss fleet is led by the high templar Executor [Tassadar. === Episode I === In Episode I, the player assumes the role of a colonial magistrate of the Confederate colony of [Mar Sara. He soon meets local marshal [Jim Raynor. After being arrested by the Confederacy for destroying Confederate property (even though it was infested by the Zerg), the player joins the Sons of Korhal, who free Raynor from prison. Raynor also joins the Sons of Korhal and frequently accompanies the player on missions. After the Protoss destroy the Zerg-infested Confederate colony on [Mar Sara, the leader of the Sons of Korhal, [Arcturus Mengsk, uses [Psionic technology (StarCraft) to lure the Zerg to Confederate installations and further his own goals. Mengsk acquires the services of General [Edmund Duke, a Confederate general, and sacrifices his second in command, the psychic [Sarah Kerrigan, to the Zerg to ensure the destruction of the Confederacy. Raynor is outraged and flees with a small number of soldiers, accompanied by the player. Mengsk then uses psi-emitters to destroy the Confederate capital world of [Tarsonis by means of Zerg infestation. Mengsk reorganizes what remains of the Terran population under his control into the [Sons of Korhal#Terran Dominion, crowning himself Emperor. === Episode II === In the second episode, the player assumes the role of a newly created Zerg [cerebrate and is entrusted to the care of the [Pupa#Chrysalis. It soon opens to reveal Kerrigan, who has been infested by the Overmind. Meanwhile, Tassadar has discovered that the Zerg cerebrates can be near-immediately reincarnated by the Overmind unless they are killed by the dark templar, whose energies match those used by the Overmind. Tassadar allies with the dark templar, and while he distracts Kerrigan, the dark templar Zeratul assassinates the cerebrate Zasz. This disrupts the Overmind's control over the Garm brood (causing chaos as the brood runs rampant), but also allows the minds of Zeratul and the Overmind to come into contact for a brief second, enabling the Overmind to learn the location of the Protoss homeworld of [Aiur, for which it has been searching for a considerable amount of time. The Zerg soon invade, despite heavy Protoss resistance, allowing the Overmind to embed itself into the crust of the planet. === Episode III === In the third episode, the player takes the role of the newly appointed Protoss fleet executor, replacing Tassadar, who has been branded as heretic by the Conclave (the Protoss ruling council) for working with the dark templar. The player at first serves the Conclave in their fight against the Zerg on Aiur. However, while on a mission to arrest Tassadar, the player ends up joining him. This results in a Protoss civil war with Tassadar, his unlikely templar allies, and the dark templar pitted against the Conclave and the Khala. Tassadar and the dark templar prove themselves by having Zeratul slay two Zerg cerebrates. The Conclave then reconciles with Tassadar and the dark templar in time for their assault on the Overmind. The Protoss are aided by Raynor and his raiders. When the shell of the overmind is destroyed, Tassadar channels dark templar energies into the hull of his ship, the [Gantrithor, and crashes it into the Overmind, sacrificing himself in order to slay it. ===Characters=== {{main|Characters of StarCraft--> The ''StarCraft'' storyline is carried by multiple [Characters of StarCraft#Critical reception characters. As the series comprises a number of games, authorised add-ons and novels, the ''StarCraft'' universe has an extensive list of characters, but only a limited number of these characters have a major influence of the overall story arc. The characters that do exert influence generally first appear in one of the Blizzard-developed games, although characters have emerged into the games from the novels. Most of the main characters in the ''StarCraft'' series are playable at some point within the game to some degree. [Jim Raynor and [Characters of StarCraft#Fenix are consistently controllable throughout the games, whilst others such as [Characters of StarCraft#Edmund Duke appear multiple times but are only usable by the players once or twice. Some characters, such as [Characters of StarCraft#Arcturus Mengsk and [Characters of StarCraft#Aldaris are never controllable during the course of the games, but feature prominently in the lore of the series. The universe also contains [List of minor characters in the StarCraft universe. ==Development== ''[Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness'', an earlier Blizzard production, had been criticized for the similarity between its two races with the only exception being minor differences in spells and upgrade costs. Similarly to the [Strategic Simulations, Inc. game ''[War Wind'', ''StarCraft'' implemented decisive asymmetries among its races. Further improvements included pre-rendered sprites and backgrounds using [3D Studio Max. An [Isometric projection was used, unlike Warcraft II's top down perspective. CD quality music and professional voice acting were also utilized.{{cite web | author =Al Giovetti | title = Interview by Al Giovetti| work = The Computer Show.com |date = [1997-01-01| url = http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/interviews/starcraftbillroper.htm| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> Operation CWAL (Can't Wait Any Longer) was formed in 1997 as a writers' group in the ''StarCraft'' Suggestions Forum to try to "liberate" an early, unauthorized final copy of ''StarCraft'', which appeared obviously completed despite numerous delays on the part of Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard Entertainment went so far as to give special thanks to this group in the ''StarCraft'' manual and use their name as a cheat code.{{cite web | author = | title = The Official CWAL FAQ| work = Operation CWAL |date = [2004-02-20| url = http://www.cwal.net/docs/faq.shtml| accessdate = 2006-08-21--> The ''Brood War'' expansion released by Blizzard in 1998 provided several new units and a new campaign for each race, continuing the original ''StarCraft'' [StarCraft#Storyline and changing the gameplay. ''Brood War'' allowed the production of units, such as "Dark Templar," which ''StarCraft'' had only made available at the beginning of certain single-player missions, and created exclusive unit upgrades for all three species.{{cite book| last= Underwood| first=Peter| coauthors=Roper, Bill; Metzen, Chris| title=StarCraft: Brood War (manual)| location=Irvine, Calif. | publisher=Blizzard Entertainment| year=1998| language=English|pages=pages 10–16--> Though the three races in ''StarCraft'' were considered slightly unequal in power when the game was first released, the expansion pack and four balance [Patch (computing) are thought by most players to have created a very stable, balanced game.{{cite web | author = | title = ''StarCraft'' Patch Information| work = Blizzard Entertainment |date = [2006-01-01| url = http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=msc0411p#patch_information| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> ==Versions and sequels== ===Expansion of the PC version=== {{Further|[StarCraft: Brood War, [StarCraft: Insurrection and [StarCraft: Retribution--> Around the same time that the PC version of ''StarCraft'' was released, Blizzard Entertainment also released a shareware demo.{{cite web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/starcraft/scdemo.shtml|title=''StarCraft'' PC demo|publisher=[Blizzard Entertainment--> This shareware demo offered a short single-player campaign that acts as a prequel to the game, and are not included in the full version. Blizzard later made the campaign, with an extra two missions, available for download as a custom add-on from [Battle.net.{{cite web|publisher=[Blizzard Entertainment--> Soon after the release of ''StarCraft'', two authorised add-ons became available. Both released in , ''[StarCraft: Insurrection'' was developed and published by [Aztech New Media and ''[StarCraft: Retribution'' was developed by [Stardock and published by [WizardWorks Software. Both add-ons featured three full length campaigns and numerous new multiplayer maps but were not made widely available. They were followed in November 1998 by a full expansion pack, ''[StarCraft: Brood War'', developed in co-operation by [Saffire (video game developer) and Blizzard Entertainment. Unlike the authorized add-ons which focused on isolated and contained areas of the ''StarCraft'' story, ''Brood War'' was a direct continuation of the ''StarCraft'' storyline and with several new features. ''Brood War'' itself was later augmented with ''Enslavers: Dark Vengeance'', a sequel to the ''Enslavers'' campaign released with ''StarCraft'' to demonstrate the methods of creating a custom campaign. ===Nintendo 64 version=== In , ''StarCraft 64'' was released for the [Nintendo 64. The game featured all of the maps from the original game and the ''Brood War'' expansion, as well as some exclusive missions, such as two different tutorials and the secret mission ''Resurrection IV''.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/n64/strategy/starcraft64/review.html?q=starcraft%2064| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> For Brood War missions the game also required the use of an [Expansion Pak.{{cite web | url = http://ign64.ign.com/articles/072/072204p1.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> The game was not as popular as the PC version, perhaps because of the clumsiness of the n64 controller compared to a mouse and the lack of online multiplayer capabilities (split-screen multiplayer option was included, however). Also, speech during mission briefings was omitted and the [cut scene were shortened. Blizzard previously considered a [PlayStation port of the game, but it was decided that the game would be released instead on the Nintendo 64.{{cite web | url = http://psx.ign.com/articles/064/064554p1.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> ===Move into other genres=== {{main|StarCraft: Ghost--> Blizzard had been working on a [third-person shooter, ''[StarCraft: Ghost'', originally slated for a 2003 release, but this was repeatedly postponed through 2006 in a classic example of [development hell. Although some players welcomed the game's new concepts, others felt that a change in genre from [real-time strategy to [stealth game{{cite web | author =| title = ''StarCraft: Ghost'' FAQ| work = Blizzard Entertainment|date = [2005-01-01| url = http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/starcraft-ghost/698419p1.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19 --> ===Sequel=== {{main|StarCraft II--> A number of [Easter egg (virtual) can be unlocked during and after completion of ''[Warcraft III'' which relate to ''StarCraft'', leading many to sequel speculation.{{cite web | url = http://www.sclegacy.com/features/sc_warcraft3.php| accessdate = 2006-08-21 --> There was also a leak about a 2007 release from [HanbitSoft, the Korean publisher of ''StarCraft''.{{cite web |url = http://pc.qj.net/tags/HanbitSoft/11172| accessdate = 2007-05-18--> Job advertisements on Blizzard.com looking for a "Game Balance Designer" with experience in ''StarCraft'' and ''Warcraft III'',{{cite web | author =|title = Game Balance Designer| work = Blizzard Entertainment |date = [2006-01-01| url = http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/designer-game-balance.shtml| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> and the fact that there are several unannounced titles also being developed, suggested that Blizzard was working on another real-time strategy game, possibly ''StarCraft II''. Prior to the sequel's announcement, nearly 17,000 players had signed an online petition in support of a sequel's creation.{{cite web | author =Kenny Marshall | title =''StarCraft II''| work =Petition Online |date = 2003-01-01, [, Blizzard hinted at ''StarCraft II'' at the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade launch night for ''[World of Warcraft''.{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=71828 | accessdate = 2007-01-17--> On [May 13, [, a timeline was added at www.blizzard.com, documenting the three flagship series. The timeline ended on May 19, [, when Blizzard Entertainment announced at the Worldwide Invitational in [Seoul, [South Korea, that ''[StarCraft II'' is in development.{{cite news | publisher=[IGN | publisher=[Blizzard | publisher=[IGN | url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/788/788627p1.html | accessdate = 2007-05-19--> ==Cultural impact== ===Reception=== ''StarCraft'' was the number-one selling PC Game of 1998, selling over 9.5 million copies worldwide.{{cite web | author =IGN Staff | title = ''StarCraft'' Named #1 Seller in 1998| work = IGN |date = [2000-01-20, over a third of total sales, or 3.5 million copies, have been sold in [South Korea, population of 45 million.{{cite web | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_us&refer=asia&sid=a2JvzciDnpB4| accessdate = 2006-08-18 --> Blizzard's [Battle.net online gameplaying service grew over 800% after ''StarCraft'''s release.{{cite web | url = http://www.diabloii.net/pressdesk/blizpr4feb99.htm| accessdate = 2006-08-20--> ''StarCraft'' remains one of the most popular online games in the world.{{cite web | author = Mark Donald| title = Sex, Fame and PC Baangs: How the Orient plays host to PC gaming’s strangest culture| work = PC Gamer UK|date = [2005-04-01| url = http://rossignol.cream.org/?p=284| accessdate = 2006-08-20--> ''StarCraft'' received a star on the floor of the [Metreon as part of the [Walk of Game in San Francisco in early 2006.{{cite web | url = http://www.blizzard.com/inblizz/awards.shtml | accessdate = 2006-08-19 --> IGN rated the game as the 7th best on its Top Games of All Time in both the 2003 and 2005 editions, calling it the "best real time strategy game ever made". It also placed #2 among PC games, behind Sid Meier's ''[Civilization II''.{{cite web | url = http://top100.ign.com/2005/001-010.html | accessdate = 2006-08-18 -->{{cite web | author = | title = IGN's Top 100 Games | work = IGN.com | date = [2003-01-01| url = http://www.blizzard.com/inblizz/awards.shtml | accessdate = 2006-08-19 --> Not without criticism, the game's graphics suffers from low resolution compared to more modern games.{{cite web | author = IGN Staff| title = ''StarCraft''| work = IGN| date = [2000-06-02" during multiplayer mode (allowing players to swiftly conquer one another by attacking first instead of allowing time to build up forces). However, over time, rushing has developed into a standard gameplay strategy. {{cite web | author = Ron Dulin| title = ''StarCraft'' review | publisher = [GameSpot | url = http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/starcraft/review.html | accessdate = 2006-08-19--> ===Legacy=== {{main|StarCraft professional competition--> After its release, ''StarCraft'' rapidly grew in popularity in South Korea, establishing a successful pro-gaming scene.{{cite web | author = Kim Ki-tae| title = Will ''StarCraft'' Survive Next 10 Years?| work = The Korea Times |date = [2005-03-20| url = http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,399476,00.html| accessdate = 2006-08-19--> Pro-gamers in South Korea have gained television contracts, sponsorships, and tournament prizes, allowing the most famous player, [Lim Yo-Hwan (known in-game as SlayerS `BoxeR`),{{cite web | author = Stephen Totilo | title = Playa Rater: The 10 Most Influential Video Gamers Of All Time | work = MTVNews.com | date = 2006-06-21| url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_us&refer=asia&sid=a2JvzciDnpB4| accessdate = 2006-08-18 --> Professional gamers dedicate a lot of time playing ''StarCraft'' to prepare for the highly competitive leagues. [Lee Yun-Yeol, a Terran player known as [RedNaDa," target="_blank"> reported earnings in 2005 of United States dollar200,000.

Merchandise In addition to numerous fan fiction works taking place in the StarCraft universe, it has spawned several official novels and ebook, including StarCraft: Uprising (ebook only), StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade, StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga, StarCraft: Speed of Darkness, StarCraft: Queen of Blades and StarCraft Ghost: Nova. Simon & Schuster has also announced the publication of StarCraft: the Dark Templar Saga #1: Firstborn for late May 2007 (ISBN 0-743-47125-3) and the publication of StarCraft: the Dark Templar Saga#2: Shadow Hunters in the series (ISBN 0-7434-7126-1) for November 2007. The storyline of the Dark Templar Saga series is in tie with the storyline of StarCraft II. Firstborn in particular involves a lot of Protoss history

Blizzard Entertainment authorized two short stories in Amazing Stories magazine, entitled StarCraft: Hybrid and StarCraft: Revelations. Blizzard also licensed Wizards of the Coast to publish StarCraft Adventures, a supplement for the role-playing game Alternity set in the StarCraft universe. Even manga comics and action figures have been done in the StarCraft universe. A CD was also released of 2 game tracks and 11 original works by South Korea musicians. A StarCraft board game entitled StarCraft the Board Game is in development.

References

External links

The official StarCraft site at Blizzard Entertainment.
The StarCraft Compendium on Battle.net

The official StarCraft site at Blizzard Entertainment.
The StarCraft Compendium on Battle.net