Do you need all 3 games to get the full MP?

Call me an idiot, but I can't seem to find anything from a bona fide official source confirming (or officially denying) that the other campaigns will have unique units or something available in multiplayer that means you will have to purchase all 3 campaigns to get the 'complete' multiplayer component. But I am pretty sure I have heard an official source confirming it (but not giving details), can someone help me find some proof so I can give a source when I tell others about this?

Is it at all possible they might release a special DLC option so those of us who focus on MP could buy just the extra multiplayer stuff without having to pay a full game price for two more single player campaigns they don't even want?

 

No. All the multiplayer features will be included in every version.

So if you don't care about SP you can just buy Wings of Liberty and all the multiplayer content is there.

here's an article from IGN from blizzcon 08: http://pc.ign.com/articles/918/918895p1.html

"Pardo explained that the multiplayer remains relatively unchanged; each StarCraft II game will have a fully functioning multiplayer suite with all three races playable. "[In] the shipping product, all three races will be fully featured and balanced in gameplay and also in content," he said."

 

Well you could say that quote still leaves room for "minor" additions to multiplayer like new units.

 

I'd be very surprised if there wasn't more multiplayer units in the expansions. To justify the typical cost of the expansion, it would need more than campaigns to get good sales.

But ironically, it won't be the promise of one or two new multiplayer units that will motivate these people buy it, but the fact that these people would otherwise be left behind in the multiplayer scene as some of their friends have "moved on" to the expansion scene, forcing friends to migrate, and so must there friends, and so on.

 

To the best of my knowledge the two expansions are just that two expansions, so in other words if you to play against someone who owns Wings of Libery and the first expansion you will need both as well. The same is also true playing against someone with both expansions, you need both expansions as well.

Think of it like this Blizzard has promised two expansions for SC2 and they should treated like any other expansion for any other game.

Jon may have a better answer though.

 

I have a feeling that the "Multiplayer additions" present in the expansions will also be established as a patch for the earlier expansions, allowing everyone to keep up with the multiplayer aspect of the game. I dont believe they are using the new unit factor as a selling point, though i could be wrong.

 

The reason you can't find any definitive statement from Blizzard (I think): Blizzard itself hasn't made that decision yet.

They've mentioned that they've not done any work along the lines of actually working on Heart of the Swarm yet, beyond having the story sketched out. Blizzard has segmented their games with expansions, in the past (can anyone think of a time when they haven't?) so I would personally guess that they're going to do this with SC2, too.

Not that I want them to, of course. If they can just patch the new units in, I'm sure we'd all be very happy about it. At the moment, though, it's still up in the air.

 

Blizzard HAS confirmed many, many times that each expansion is, quite literally, an expansion with added units and other things in the multiplayer. There's too many sources to list but here's one:

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/11/key-starcraft-ii-trilogy-details/

@Seradin: They already said they weren't going to do that. You can call them liars and it still be likely but there's not much hope for it.

 

answer: look to the past.

they have separate multiplayer for SC and SC:BW. most likely, there will be 3 separate multiplayer options, each with new units, map terrains, doodads, etc. there will also probably be a battlechest after all 3 are out that include all 3 parts and bradygames strategy guides.

 

In your link they talked about people that juste wanted to have one campaign but did they thinked to people that just want the multiplayer part? I mean Ok if I just want the zerg campaign, I juste buy the second game. But now if I just want the multiplayer, am I forced to take the protoss box?

 

Yes. It works the same way that every other RTS expansion has worked since the dawn of time.

 

But most expansions don't cost a full $50, and blizzard is marketing these as 3 "full" standalone games, but deliberately planning ahead of time that you will have to buy all 3 anyways.

*Of course this is under the assumption that there will be no alternatives like a cheaper expansion pack that just has the MP stuff or that they could make it so you don't feel gimped/segregated in MP if you only have one campaign.

 

it is called greed.

 

I agree completely. I mean, there's no other explanation. They must have a monstrous amount of greed if they're going to take their time developing a product to perfection over nearly a decade and giving it to us for a steal. They're much worse than EA which spams a Madden game once a year. If Blizzard is greedy enough to release a game once a decade that entertains us for over a decade and then have the audacity to offer us more of that flawless perfection that we love for 50$ more, then I'll have NOTHING to do with those greedy bastards.

I hate this. Over the past several years, I've gotten used to spending only 100$ on a product and it's expansions. 50$ more is wildly unacceptable especially if it just gives me more of that content I love. I would much rather spend 60$ on a console game that'll last me a few hours than to spend 150$ over three long years for something that'll last dozens of thousands of hours.

It disgusts me and I for one will not allow such quality in something that I spend my hard earned money on.

Who's with me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

--

The reason they're marketing them as full products is because of the amount of content and the possibility that you won't have to have the first product to install the second and third. This is just like what Dawn Of War did and what every other expansion has done. Why is that just because there's one more product that people have to start breaking down and turning into *******. It's been like this since gaming started. Get used to it. There's far worse things going on in gaming right now like consoles, DRM, and DLC. But, noooooooooooooooooooooo, you all chose to ***** and moan about the company that has served you well for years offering you more of that same thing that's had you addicted for so many years and is the reason you're even on this forum at all anticipating the sequel's release.

Logical fallacy FTW!!!!!!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAH BABBBYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

@niceshadesnick: They clearly say that the multiplayer is unchanged in that it features all three races playable instead of just the Terrans. That question was answered way back when some ****** thought that you would only be able to play the Terran on Battle.net.

 

where did you hear that? they've always been saying that the first game is the full game, and the other two are expansions. i've never heard of every one being a standalone.

this is the closest quote i could find:

he only says "feels like standalone." as far as i'm aware, they are planned as expansion packs. and by "feels like standalone" i'm sure they are referring to the single-player story, and how it will have a proper conclusion, not a cliffhanger and "buy the next expansion pack to find out what happens next!"

 

Indeed, nothing will be standalone but the first Campaign only. The other 2 will be the classic expansions we all know..

 

That may not be the case. The second and third expansions might be standalone (install without the original). Blizzard has said they haven't made up their mind yet.

Also, Rob Pardo said that the expansions would be priced based on content. He then specifically said that the fact that the expansions recycle content and the engine makes it worth less than the original, therefore, the expansions will probably be less than 50$. I was just throwing you guys a boine because it's possible they'll want to add tons of content to make the expansions worth 50$.

 

I'm sorry to dissapoint u but I've heard Dustin in one of his recent interviews stating that only the first will be standalone.

It's all about money my friend.

 

Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void will be priced as expansions.

Link: http://www.starcraft-source.com/article/news/view/?id=261

Straight from Blizzard's mouth people.

Honestly, I think some people are "deliberately not understanding" what is going on. Not every StarCraft II fan actually likes the direction StarCraft II is going in, and some will denigrate and even lie (taking advantage of the confusion) about it to get others to dislike it, too.

If you want corsairs just for multiplayer, you have to buy Brood War.

And yet, no one complains about that. Odd.

 

Seriously, ronin, try to be a poster of some worth and tell us what Blizzard is doing that's different than every other expansion pack.