Starcraft 2 looks like it’s finally here after a few years in the oven. As everyone knows Starcraft can be seen as a national sport in Korea and Starcraft fans have been waiting patiently with baited breath for the release of the sequel. Some gamers don’t really care about the ton of money that’s gone into the development and as was expected there’s a ton of torrents all over the net jst waiting to capture the unwary.

It could be that a lot of gamers are mad at Blizzard for even mentioning the fact that it liked the idea of implementing the Real ID scheme. This would, as I’m sure you are all aware, would force gamers to use their real name instead of the usual WizarD_oF_Oz type names that we are used to. A lot of these guys would head over to the torrent sites and download a copy of the game before they bought it. Blizzard may be laughing and taking some form of comfort as a number of pirates are getting their pc’s riddled with malware as a result.

Unsrupulous Starcraft 2 fans who ignore copyright laws are having to fight against the Zbot keylogger Trojan which is just one of the less pleasant surprises that’s shipping with the hundreds of torrents that are flooding the internet as we speak.

At the moment Webroot hasn’t found any particular bits of nasty code but the immense demand for Starcraft 2 means that those looking for freebies ought to be a little more careful with what they download. The security firm has posted on its blog that the tech savvy pirate may not be that safe, if you’re using a public torrent network. There is one way round this problem, though: Why not go out and actually buy the game ?

London — October 17, 2007 It’s finally time to experience the magic of Okami™ as it was always meant to be played. Capcom’s award winning game — hailed as “Game of the Year”for 2006 by multiple magazines and websites including Associated Press, PSM, Village Voice, IGN.com, Game Revolution and more — is set for release on the Wii™ home video game system in Spring 2008. Featuring a re-imagined control scheme built around the intuitive Wii Remote™, Okami offers players an unparalleled level of control and an opportunity to rediscover a critically-acclaimed and beautifully crafted adventure.

Okami tells the story of a mythical sun god who sets out to restore a dismal world, decimating the forces of evil who stand in the way by commanding the elements and mythical abilities the deity possesses. Mixing Japanese folklore and a stunning traditional Japanese art style, players must utilize an inventive control scheme to overcome the challenges and evil that await. By enhancing the unique gameplay, visual style and story line of Okami with the control of the Wii Remote, it is sure to be the ultimate version of the game.

Originally designed for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and released in 2006, Okami now comes alive in an entirely new way on the Wii with its visually stunning art style and beautiful scenic 3D levels that have the appearance and texture of paper scrolls brushed with watercolor-like calligraphy art. Throughout the vibrant and distinctive surroundings, players must use the Wii remote to interact with a dynamic world and cast of characters. The blend of stylized graphics, movements and unique gameplay will result in a rich and dynamic experience never seen before.

Okami includes the following features:
• Innovative gameplay and control scheme optimized for the Wii – Defeating monsters requires both motion-controlled physical attacks, but also use of the Wii Remote as Amaterasu’s ‘Celestial Brush’ to paint the desired powers for decimating enemies and solving puzzles.
• Create and destroy at will – Play as a god to re-establish order and beauty to a world laid barren by evil.
• Intense action-packed battles – Rooted in Japanese folklore, fight against a diverse line-up of demons and monsters.
• Utilize various gameplay styles – In addition to the Celestial Brush, Amaterasu can wield three types of offensive weaponry, each with their own unique abilities and effects.

Depending on how a weapon is equipped, it can be used as the main or sub weapon:

o Reflectors – These well-balanced weapons are suited for close range combat
o Rosaries– Sacred magatama beads are great for quick long range attacks
o Glaives – These can be charged up to unleash powerful close range attacks

• Intriguing main character – Assume the role of the sun god, Amaterasu, who descends upon the earth in the form of a wolf. The Japanese translation of the word wolf is “Okami”.
• Original visuals and revolutionary design– Vibrant and inspiring graphics, reminiscent of traditional Japanese art created on paper scrolls, produce a large variety of stages with a watercolour-esque appearance.
• Interact with a unique and dynamic cast of characters.

Check out the video of OKAMI™ here below:

Here’s a low-res version to keep you occupied while you wait:

Three powerful alien races battle for control of the galaxy. Whether you choose to lead the versatile Terran, mysterious Protoss, or voracious Zerg, in StarCraft: The Board Game you’ll command an army like no other in the universe!

Once again, Fantasy Flight Games brings one of the world’s best-loved computer games to your tabletop. Players take control of the Protoss, Terran, or Zerg and battle across multiple worlds. True to the StarCraft legacy, each of the three races features a unique and distinctive play style, and the inclusion of two distinct factions for each race allows up to six players to compete for galactic dominance at a time.

Including a total of over 180 plastic figures and dozens of unit types, StarCraft: The Board Game features an innovative modular board consisting of planets of varying sizes which guarantees a new experience each and every game. An exciting card-driven combat system allows players to modify and upgrade their faction with a wealth of powerful technologies. Players can unleash a Zergling rush, use powerful Protoss shields to halt an enemy invasion, or even send cloaked
Ghosts out to guide nuclear missiles to their target.

Of course, basic units like the marine and the medic are back, though you’ll immediately notice the firebat is missing. Other units haven’t been completely removed so much as replaced by new, improved versions. The old goliath mech has given way to the new viking, which acts just like a goliath–until you research and enable its transformation ability, which turns it into a jet that can get it across otherwise impassable barriers.

Another unit which has no respect for variable elevation is the reaper, which you hire from a bar with a female night elf dancing on top of it. These mercenaries build almost instantly, since you’re just hiring them instead of training them, and in addition to being able to jump up and down to higher and lower terrain, it can now throw a timed bomb and escape the area before it explodes. We saw a large group of these reapers all throw out bombs at the same time to do massive damage to an enemy base before beating a hasty retreat.

The terrans have quite a bit of air support in Starcraft II, at least as it stands right now. The predator is a new flyer that can only attack other aerial units, but it can also take on an intercept mode where it will attempt to shoot down incoming enemy fire (presumably things like missiles).

Everyone’s favorite the battlecruiser is here again, but this time it won’t simply default to the incredibly powerful, single-shot Yamato cannon like it did in the first game. Sure, the Yamato is still here, but this time you’ll get to choose how to specialize each individual cruiser, between the Yamato and the new plasma turrets. The latter will produce a flurried cluster of beams that can decimate ground units, from what we saw of them.

Moving back up to the bridge, Raynor checks out the Star Map. This is where you’ll be choosing your missions. They’re much more open ended than in the previous StarCraft campaigns. You’ll be able to pick the planet or system you want to tackle next, progressing the story in your own way. Mission briefings provide the summary, objectives, bonus objectives, mission bounty, and recommended technology, so you’ll have to choose which best suits your current needs and matches your current level of tech.

If there was one criticism of Blizzard’s treatment of the single player portions of their RTS games, it was the linear plot. You go from one mission to the next with NO decisions being taken by you. This is about to change and the guys at Kotaku finish the article on a hopeful note:

The free form, open ended progressive storyline planned for StarCraft II looks like it could be a refreshing change of pace for fans of the Blizzard RTS formula.

New structures included the null circuit, dark obelisk, phase prism, and twilight council buildings which all tied into the new units. We tried our hand with as many of them as we could build and were intrigued by what we played. Null circuit buildings are one part of the equation to let you summon the observers to be constructed.

The dark obelisk allows you to make dark templars, and phase prisms let you do create the mighty colossus, a killer land unit shown previously. The twilight council lets you create immortals. In addition the stargates let you summon the new phoenix and warp ray craft as well as the old standby, the carrier.