StarCraft 2 Launch Updates, Digital Download Available

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There's quite a mess of updates on the net at the moment, so it's good you've stopped here to let us help you sort out everything that's going on. Things are about to get a little confusing around here.

If you haven't yet pre-ordered StarCraft 2 or are looking for the ways to do so, here's what you need to know:

GameStop locations will open at Midnight on the 27th for release if they have received 10 or more pre-order requests. Check your local locations to determine if your local store will be open.

You can also pre-order from Amazon.com (click the link on the left side of the page) which will ship the game so that it arrives at your location on the 27th by 1 PM your time for $5 extra.

If you don't really care about getting a physical copy of the game, Blizzard announced today that you can now pre-download a copy of StarCraft 2 and pay for it once digital purchases are activated at 10 AM PDT July 27th (1 PM EST). Digital copies are also $59.99, you won't save any money here.

Walmart will also apparently be opening a number of locations for the StarCraft 2 release at midnight. Click the link for more info.

Also, as far as StarCraft2Forum.org is concerned, we will be having a site-wide launch party online. We'll be making arrangements and announcements regarding that as the launch date nears. What we do know is that it will be awesome and will include some awesome prizes for a tournament we'll be holding.

In other news, Blizzard has launched a new StarCraft 2 prototype site which is currently being populated with information. Should be pretty awesome! It has some great features like a community voting feature and customized article priority. Very cool. But you need a valid Battle.net account to log in!

Another fun little tidbit is the digital copy of the StarCraft 2 Game Manual that Blizzard also posted on the site. Boring, but cool!


Be sure to pay attention to our coverage during the next couple of weeks as it's likely that important updates will come through! Enjoy and good hunting!

Sources: Blizzard Twitter, Battle.net

 

Hmm, yes... You can get the physical copy at midnight and presumably, be able to play it right away while you have you wait until 10AM Pacific for your digital copy to activate... That really doesn't make sense.

Anyway, thanks for all the info. Got work that day so I think I'll be fine just waiting for my Amazon pre-order to arrive. I love Prime.

 

meh, it could still be more convenient for people who don't like camping out at stores starting at noon the previous day, lol.

save 12 hours the day before, wait 10 hours after launch.

 

Camping out? Seriously? Is there even a need to do that for games? It's not exactly an Apple product or a new gaming console release. Somehow, I think even if you arrive right at midnight, there'll be plenty of copies available.

Although, I guess the going to brick and mortar store is easy for me to say. I live just a couple of blocks from GameStop.

 

people camped out for Halo 3, WotLK and other big-name games.

now, i'm of the opinion there's no need to buy a retail copy at all, but if you're that desperate to get an extra 9-10 hours of game time before anyone else can log in to b.net, you might have to..

 

Just letting everyone know there is an Australian midnight launch too. Complete with a Blizzard rep and prizes.
http://starcraft2.ebgames.com.au/

It's already posted on the forum. But it's absent from your midnight launch roundup article. So I'd thought I'd say it here again so people who jump to this page can read it.

That is the big Australian launch. But a number of the other EB stores around Australia will be open at midnight too. Nothing fancy there, just open so you can get your game.

 

I got 7 errors from the starcraft 2 manual. Nova sure got herself a big page though(1 of 4 i could actually see).

Damn shame my pc is too crappy for this game.

 

I got a question guys, I will go and pre-order the game on a video game shop called 'EBGames', if I pre-order the game from a shop will I get a beta key and will it be less pricy than if I would buy it normally? Because someone who pre-ordered the game got a free beta key and he said the game costed less than if he went and buy it normally.

DC

 

This late in the game, no you won't be getting a beta key. As for the price, most stores require a $5 deposit for pre-orders. You'll still be paying full price for the game (less $5 deposit) if you decide to actually buy it.

 

Boring but cool! Thats a contradiction in terms. LOL

 

I am so excited for this game, gonna call my local eb to see what to do, as i dont want to be camping if i know i can easily get my copy.

 

I realize there will be some crazies who will camp out but for the above games, was there even a shortage of stock or were there still tons of copies available for people who didn't camp out?

 

I just called my local Eb in Canada, Markham, Markville Location,

the guy said on the 26th when it hits midnight, they will open and distribute, all pre-order copies will be available. There will be no shortage, so it doesnt matter whether you pick it up early or the next day. They will also give you a choice of your bonus, poster or mousepad with your preordered purchase.

Without receipt, no problem, they can search your order on the system.

 

i don't think there ever was a shortage for those games. people mostly camped out because they wanted the game a few hours earlier.

 

Like their past games, will be able to have a digital copy on our online account after we register the material product?

 

It's fun to pretend there is a shortage and you have to show your die-hardness.

 

A free poster or mouse pad? You lucky little devils. We don't get that from EB Australia.

 

I just finalised my preorder and I seem to have read that the mouse pad is guaranteed for me and the first 200 customers get a poster - and I think I'll be picking my copy up at midnight so I think I'll have a good chance of getting a poster as well. Plus I'm getting a free issue of a gaming magazine... damn I'll look silly on the night service bus lol.