1 Like I'd pay $10, maybe $15 for this. Blizzard products are simply not worth the royal price tag anymore.
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm beta expanded
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Trial period for Blizzard Entertainment's RTS now open for those who preordered game through Battle.net prior to December 18.
Blizzard Entertainment has expanded the beta for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Those who preordered a digital copy of the real-time strategy game on or before December 18 are now able to try out the game ahead of its scheduled release next year.
Gamers who digitally preordered StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm after December 18 will be added into the beta on a weekly basis. All can download the game's beta client, but only those whose accounts have been flagged for access will be able to log in.
Blizzard also noted that certain retailers, including Amazon, are offering preorder beta key codes for Heart of the Swarm. The company suggested players should check with these retailers for more information.
Heart of the Swarm is due March 12, 2013 at $40. A Collector's Edition that will include a behind-the-scenes DVD and Blu-ray disc, a soundtrack CD, a 144-page art book, and a Zerg Rush mousepad will also be available.
Heart of the Swarm is the second installment in the Starcraft II three-part series. It will follow 2010's Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty and precede the final entry, Legacy of the Void.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
102 comments
1 Like 
lets hope hots can bring some fresh air to sc2, i dont think it will however :(, blizz have done alot of damage to their flagship game, http://datfrag.com/where-those-casual-gamers-at-sc2/
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@Venatorcruiser Except Starcraft is basically dead in Korea, League of Legends has completely swallowed up the esports scene.
im not the only one that remembers they were going to originaly release all 3 campains at once am i? but i suppose anyone would get work done faster if they didnt have their thumbs up their but hole, its very hard to type that way.
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1 Like I love Starcraft more than life itself. Unfortunately, Activision has turned it into Greedcraft. After the Diablo 3 disaster, I will never give another dime to Blizzard. It's sad and anger-inducing to watch one of the greatest game companies on this planet get dismantled by greed.
Activision had turned Blizzard into it's b1tch.
1 Like @enoslives7 1) activision does not own blizzard. vivendi owns activision and blizzard
2) sc2 does not have a RMAH so what the hell are you talking about?
2 Like @enoslives7 What ... ? Diablo lll was affected by bad management decisions not outright greed. It's a bad game but I don't know why the hell you're relating it to SC2. So many pessimists.
Just because Diablo lll sucks doesn't mean Starcraft 2 is 'greedcraft.'
Why is it taking so long for an expansion? And why is it going to be the same price as a full game :X
1 Like @SythisTaru It's taking so long for an expansion because no one wants a shit expansion.
@SythisTaru 1: The "Expansion" was originally a stand alone game, because it features a campaign the same length as the original "Wings of Liberty" Thus the lengthy release period. Also the SC Team has been working on other side projects as well.
2: The price of Wings of Liberty was 60$ for the Standard game.
I'll be waiting until they actually have the whole game, with all three races, in one package to get Starcraft 2.
@starduke As in a trilogy pack? You get "All 3 races" in multiplayer and vs AI. It's simply the campaign that differs.
@x-TwilighT-x I don't play Starcraft for the multiplayer! Also, the Protoss are my favorite race, so it sucks that they have the last campaign.
1 Like @x-TwilighT-x Ah, but it isn't the Protoss! Also, I'm betting they'll have a Starcraft 2 battle chest or something, like they did for Starcraft 1.
@starduke As far as I know they have no plans to release a single game, containing all 3. However, the campaign in each release is as long as the first game was alone. (About 32 missions)
@starduke Well you gonna wait a long time! It took them 3 years to get this first expo XD
if Starcraft were to turn into a live action movie who would be the best actress to play Kerrigan?
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1 Like Whats up guys, this iiissss H to the Usky Husky bringing you some more Heart of the Swarm gameplay here featuring the Protoss favorite, WhiteRa!!
Husky ROCKS!!!!
Anyway on topic, I am really liking this game, the only thing that is keeping me away from it is the limited selection of races. 3 seems like not enough in my opinion. This game should have at least 5 races in my opinion. I've never played Starcraft but from what I've seen on it (battles and tournament videos), it looks like soooo much fun.
@nini200 Don't get me wrong though... more of a good thing is always better! Just don't let the lack of races ruin this unbelievably excellent and addictive game for you. Just try it, it's really good.
@nini200 If you tried SC2, I don't think you would feel that way about there being "only three races". You'll most likely end up really liking one race over the others (like me) and not really use the other races anyway. I like the Protoss. I almost never use the other races. If there was five races, I would just have four unused races hanging about, LOL.
@akdiuuuryttt I'm definitely a noob in this game seeing as how I don't even own the game lol but 3 just seems limited. I understand balancing but 5 shouldn't be difficult to balance.
As I stated, I really like the game from what I've seen of it, the 3 races only is keeping me from purchasing it though.
@y3ivan True, it did. However, as I said there are a lot of reasons right now, maybe later, but right now There should only be 3.
@SythisTaru @nini200 @akdiuuuryttt There are a ton of reasons as or right now that 3 races should be the only option for Starcraft. I haven't the time to list them, however, a comment like that comes from someone who doesnt play the game ;/
@SOKOLEK Supreme Commander was pretty sweet, the ranges of attacks were amazing. It did feel limiting when playing the Terran Thor in Starcraft.
Anyone actually would like the idea of them bringing back the Heroes Altar from Warcraft III? Now thats LEVELING UP!
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1 Like @SOKOLEK try SOASE: Rebellion. It takes the good use of your tactical skills and less micromanagement
1 Like @SOKOLEK Too much micro? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, next to supreme commander being a good game. Seriously. GTFO.
1 Like Added new harrasing units to protoss like the oracle.. Pppppfffff, and removed warping units on highground.
3 Like hAHAHAHHA.. Leveling up,... are you fucking stupid? Starcraft doesnt need gimiks like that. You "level up" your skills by playing and developing strategies
1 Like @Fowsed I like the EXP system in HoTS. It adds a lot of new content, and allows you to track stats. Vs Which race, and On Which map. It's kind of genius...
2 Like The leveling up system is for unlocking portraits and etc, essentially replacing the win x many games for y reward. This way if you're ever on a losing streak for whatever reason you''ll still have an overall sense of progression as opposed to thinking "i probably shouldn't have played today".
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Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm
- Publisher(s): Blizzard Entertainment
- Genre: Strategy
- Release:
- ESRB: T
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