I took the liberty of translating this interview that was originally in french and i have found another interview of samwises that is a video, enjoy. Original Topic: http://www.starcraft2forum.org/forums/index.php?topic=2188.0 Interview of Samwise Didier, artistic director Was Starcraft first of the name an indisputable success and very quickly became a title worship, why to have awaited so a long time (almost ten years) for concocter a continuation? Samwise Didier: The team with work on StarCraft II is the same one which worked already at the time on Starcraft: Brood War, which partly worked on Warcraft III and even gave a blow of hand when it was necessary on this small play perhaps that you know: World of Warcraft (laughter). One cannot thus say that one remained completely inactive during all this time, more especially as one has worked already on StarCraft II for more than two years, therefore, technically, we awaited only seven years and half before making a continuation (laughter). If one undoubtedly did not expect to discover as much of it when you revealed StarCraft II, a great part of the players bet on a fourth race in more of traditional Terrans, Protoss and Zerg. Why to have chosen to preserve only the three basic races of first Starcraft ? We could very well have conceived a fourth playable race for StarCraft II but our principal objective was to offer innovations for the three races which the players know, while preserving their particular style, which makes their identity with each one and especially a balance as thorough as possible. With final it was only one question of concentration of the team, to build a new species in on the basis of nothing does not ask an enormous workload which could have moved away us from the level of attention that one wished to bring to the traditional races. If one has for the moment have right to a new race, Terrans and Protoss already received a good quantity of new units which one in particular could discover on the Web site of the title. Which is your favorite unit among these new come? At the terrans, Reavers are indisputably my favourites with their jet pack and their very fast and boosted animations. Protoss side, I appreciate much Stalker, which is a species of version bad servant boy of Dragoon de Starcraft, with its pallet of specific colors which slices a little with the remainder of the Protoss units and recalls immediately that it acts of a unit resulting from Dark Templar. Heavy Immortals Protoss and their shields are also among my favorite units. Since Starcraft always is very played around the world, in particular by pro-gamers, y-a it not a risk while leaving StarCraft II to divide the community into two, between those which will yield to the new version and those which, fault of rather powerful machine or by fear of having to relearn to play, will prefer to continue on Starcraft ? It is something which we always take into account at Blizzard, while trying to keep the heart of the intact play between the continuations and especially by proposing an engine which posts beautiful things without requiring a very powerful machine. It will be possible besides to personalize in-depth the level of details in StarCraft II and one very modest machine will be all the same able to make turn the play with the majority of the at least regulated graphic options. Obviously, it will be less beautiful, but we think that a player who will discover StarCraft II, even on a level of weak detail, will be encouraged by the quality of the gameplay with possibly upgrader his machine to benefit from the experiment to his maximum. Since one speaks to maintain the style and the heart of the play in his continuation, will it be always possible to carry out some rushes of Zerglings? We did not yet really reveal Zergs for the moment, but considering Zerglings are always present, they even learned some new turns, there are good chances that Zerg rush is always possible. From here the exit of the play, all can change, but a priori that should always be feasible. Of course, of new methods to counter such a rush will be also with the program. To make Zerg rush will not be then perhaps the best idea vis-a-vis with a senior player. Does moment of nostalgia oblige, Fenix will be back in StarCraft II ? It did not die? (laughter) Twice. Not I believe that this Fenix time indeed died. I know that I always hated this mission in Brood War so much the character was charismatic but sometimes, even at Blizzard, a death remains quite dead. From was a point of view gameplay, Starcraft rather directed towards fast parts as a multijouor, which is the approximate duration of a standard part in StarCraft II ? Typically, I would say between fifteen and twenty-five minutes. Of course if one starts to be interested in two against both or four against four, it becomes more difficult to make an estimate. Accustomed of Starcraft should find an about equivalent rate/rhythm in its continuation, however. We could see at the time of the demonstration of the play, that Terrans will have to collect and spend of the money during the program solo to acquire units and technologies; what will it be for Zergs and Protoss? I believe that it is obvious for everyone that Zergs will not collect money to buy new units (laughter) and that one will not direct the Protoss army since Battle Cruiser. Our objective is to assign to each race a mechanism of play of an equivalent interest without being satisfied with an animal copy-to stick. Always during the presentation, we a retrospective of the new types of missions introduced into Starcraft and/or Warcraft III , whichkind of new missions can one could see wait in StarCraft II ? They are so new that I cannot even speak to you about it (laughter)! Technically, there will be obviously some missions with the new objectives but also of the secondary objectives which will make it possible Terrans to collect more money, for example. Now, the good old women missions "shave the unfavourable base" will be also present from time to time to air the brain. Good, I know that you will not answer this one but when can one expect to save the galaxy this time? I believe that we have ready-made phrase for this question: "When it' S ready". Our priority number one is especially not to precipitate the development to stick to a possible date. But which knows? Tomorrow, perhaps? (laughter) Website: http://www.gamekult.com/articles/A0000060457/ Video interview with Samwise http://www.gamona.de/video/detail/id-gamona_on_tour_interview_mit_samwise_did_204478.htm Enjoy, Seradin Bonus 200 minerals for translation.
sorry if it is really hard to read, i noticed the reaper and reaver thing, translating from french to english is wierd.
Great interview but please make the questions bold so its easier what the questions and the answers is.
I rewrote the interveiw to make a bit more sense, alot of the stuff got lost in translation. If the Mods find this is too much, or unneccesary, feel free to delete, but please don't fine minerals. I just thought it could help some out. Interview of Samwise Didier, artistic director The first StarCraft was an indisputable success and very quickly became an instant classic, why have you waited such a long time, (almost 10 years), to make a sequal? Samwise Didier: The team working on StarCraft II is the same one that has already worked on Starcraft: Brood War, they have also helped work on Warcraft III and even gave a bit of help working on another small title you may know: World of Warcraft. (laughter). People cant' say that we haven't been working all this time, after all, we have already been working on StarCraft II for more than two years, so, technically, we've waited only 7 and a half years before making the sequal. (laughter). Many players had thought there would be a forth race, yet you chose to remain with the more tradtional Terrans, Protoss and Zerg. Why to have you chosen to stay with only the three basic races of Starcraft 1? We could very well have created a fourth playable race for StarCraft II, but our principal objective was to offer innovations for the three races that the players know, while preserving the particular style that makes them unique to one another. With the final decision, it was a question of concentration for the team. To build a new race would require a tremendous workload, that could have moved away us from the level of attention that we wanted to bring to the traditional races. What is your favorite new unit for the Terrans and Protoss? For the Terrans, Reavers are unarguably my favourites, with their jet pack and their speed. On the Protoss side, I really like the Stalker, which is the Dark Templar version of the Dragoon. It colors truly show the influence of the Dark Templar on this classic type of unit. The Protoss Immortals and their heavy shields are also among my favorite units. StarCraft is very popular around the world, especially in the e-sport scene. Is it a risk to divide the community in two, those who will embrace the new version, and those who will stay with the older one for fear of having to relearn the game, or not being able to run it? It is something that we always take into account at Blizzard, while trying to keep the heart of the play intact as well putting out a technically sound game, without the need of a powerful computer. It will, of couse, be possible to adjust the graphics in StarCraft II and even machines without high-end hardware will be able to run it smoothly because of this. Obviously, it will be less detailed, but we think that players will be encouraged by the great gameplay to upgrade their computers, in order to play Starcraft II to the fullest. Since you wish to keep the heart of the gameplay in tact, will it be possible to execute a Zergling Rush? We haven't yet shown any Zerg units, but seeing as how Zerglings will be in the game, and even learned some new tricks, it wouldn't surprise me to see a few Zergling Rushes.Of course there will be new ways to counter a rush, and it likely wont be the best way to deal with an expierenced player. Will Fenix be back in StarCraft II, for Nostalgias sake? ? Did he not die? (laughter) Twice? This time, Fenix has indeed died. I always hated seeing him die, he was such a great character. But sometimes, even at Blizzard, the Dead stay dead. From a gameplay point of view, how long can we expect Starcraft II missions to be? Typically, I would say between fifteen and twenty-five minutes. People accustiomed to Starcraft should find the pacing to be about the same. We could see during the demo that inbetween missions, Terrans had to collect money to purchase new units and upgrades. What kind of things like this can we expect for the Protoss and Zerg? I think that it is obvious for everyone that the Zerg will not collect money to buy new units (laughter) And that the player wont be directing the Protoss army from a BattleCruiser. Our objective is to assign to each race an equally interesting gameplay mechanic without being satisfied by a cut-and-paste remake of each. I know I shouldn't expect an answer for this one, but when can we expect to see StarCraft II released? I believe we have a standard answer for this type of question; When it's ready. (laughter). We feel sticking a date to it could comprimise the work we are doing. But who knows when it will come out, it could be tommorow. (laughter) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So yeah, that was alot of work. Hopefully it made it a bit easier to read for you all. Thanks to Seradin for the original text, very interesting interview. Enjoy
^^ now it was much easier to read, interesting to know that the zerglings have got more trixes then just the baneling.
;D "Now, the good old women missions "shave the unfavourable base" will be also present from time to time to air the brain." This is the greatest bit of english I have ever read.
Funny how much a translation can do I got +2 out of mine, but you did all the real work. I got a 54 in my french class, I know what a difficult langauge it can be
