This is a very well made game. The graphics seem archaic by current standards, and some of the normal elements of the RTS genre hadn't fully developed yet, especially as regards the player interface. Nonetheless, this game lived up to all the hype. I found all three factions fun and challenging to play, and each required an almost entirely different strategy, and wholly different tactics to win. Compelling story and fascinating universe, without any bugs or major game design failures that I noticed. Blizzard entertainment should strive to maintain their standard of excellence for all future releases.
StarCraft Expansion Pack: Brood War Overview
StarCraft: Brood War continues the award winning saga of galactic warfare as the Zerg, Protoss and Terrans struggle for their continued survival. With the shattered Zerg hive torn apart by fierce in-fighting, the Protoss seek to reunite with their Dark Templar brethren and begin the rebuilding of their homeworld, Aiur. The battle for galactic domination rages on with new units, new campaigns, and more explosive strategic combat.
StarCraft Expansion Pack: Brood War Specifications
Fans who mastered the original StarCraft's three races and survived its well-crafted story were quickly clamoring for more. A worthy sequel, Brood War delivers further plot twists and bigger battles.
In keeping with StarCraft's groundbreaking design, this expansion pack--which requires the original game--presents you with three sides of a galactic conflict. Scheming Humans, insidious Zerg, and proud Protoss collide again, with stunning new cinematics setting the stage. Old friends and foes and ominous new arrivals give the story a breakneck pace, while a handful of additions to each race's arsenal makes for tense battles.
Some missions require a bit of finesse, breaking the resource-gathering routine while making good use of the new units. Humans now have Valkyrie missile frigates, as well as Medics that automatically try to heal your grunts. New for the Zerg air force is the acid-spewing Devourer; the new Lurker unit provides heavy-duty (under)ground support. Along with the Corsair fighter, the Protoss re-enter the fray with Dark Templar, which can merge to form the devastating Dark Archon. Unfortunately, units old and new still suffer from some weak pathfinding.
Brood War also features stellar new environments and ambient art, as well as more than 100 additional multiplayer maps. Real-time strategy games don't get any more epic or any more satisfying. --Jack Gardiner
Pros:
New units open up more strategic possibilities
More of StarCraft's great storytelling
Missions are challenging and varied
Cons:
Unit pathfinding is still a little clumsy and requires careful micromanagement
Diablo 1 is one of my favorite game of all time. I played it when it launched and loved it. I end up playing the game every couple of years and love it every time. I've bought this game 5 times now and haven't regretted the decision to buy, maybe i should take better care of the discs.
Diablo 2 is a really fun game, while it isn't quite what diablo 1 is you can certainly lose yourself in the game and have a ton of fun playing it.
Diablo 1 is a timeless game that screams to be played from time to time, it's fun every single time. Diablo 2 can be fun but is really just the bridge from Diablo 1 and World of Warcraft, I would opt for Diablo 1 or WoW.
Diablo Battle Chest [old version] Overview
You get: Diablo II, the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Expansion Set, classic Diablo, and an expanded strategy guide that covers both Diablo II and the Lord of Destruction Expansion Set.
Diablo Battle Chest [old version] Specifications
The Diablo Battle Chest is the complete Diablo saga in one box. It includes Diablo, Diablo II (the fastest-selling PC game of all time), the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion pack, and the official Diablo II strategy guide from BradyGames. The combined retail value of everything in the Diablo Battle Chest is more than .
The Diablo Battle Chest makes the perfect gift for someone new to the action-RPG phenomenon, or for the hard-core Diablo fan that wants the complete series in one big collectible box.
Over the last 10 years that I first installed STARCRAFT I have replayed it countless of times. Every time a new overhyped game disappoints me, this is one of the games I pull out of my library to be reminded what a GREAT PC GAME LOOKS & PLAYS LIKE! (others include UNREAL, BALDUR's GATE, GRIM FANTANGO and SHOGUN:TOTAL WAR)
Everyone has his/her favorite RTS and no one can claim that STARCRAFT introduced the futuristic RTS genre (that would be DUNE). Nevertheless, the great, crisp and clear graphics, the balanced units and the strategic terrain all contributed into turning STARCRAFT into a true classic. This is a game that passed the test of time, not only because its aging graphics are still acceptable but also because it is one of those games that stays with you. Forever.
So, the next time some gaming industry MBA (who probably could not tell an RTS from an cRPG) tables the idea of LIMITED INSTALLATIONS, what he will have primarily accomplished is to have his game forgotten within a year.
Best Seller Series: Starcraft Feature
As the military leader for your species, you must gather the resources you need to train and expand your forces and lead them to victory. 30 unique missions will challenge you across three different campaigns as you control the fate of the galaxy
Control any of three different species, each with unique units, technologies, attributes, and abilities
Multiplayer games for up to 8 players over IPX Networks and Battle.net, 4 players with Direct Cable Connection, and 2 players with Modem Connection
Included Campaign Editor allows players to edit units and create their own campaigns
Advanced weapons, graphics and more features
Best Seller Series: Starcraft Overview
In the distant future a small group of human exiles have been doomed to fight for survival on the edge of the galaxy. Through military strength, espionage and deceit, a unified Terran government has maintained an uneasy peace. As resources run short, however, these Confederate nations find themselves looking towards the rich worlds of their alien neighbors, the enigmatic Protoss. To further complicate matters, it seems that a previously unknown and deadly species known only as the Zerg has entered Protoss space and is destroying everything in its path. The time for war has come... Rating - ESRB = T Teen
We have all seen Athene's videos. He can level at an amazing speed. But the speed means nothing if you are power leveling to 80 and end up banned.
What you want is a power leveling guide that will get you to 80 fast, so you can start gearing him up and dominating PvP or join a new raiding guild.
There is a way to power level to 80 without having your account banned. Pick up a leveling guide.
Zygors Guides comes in two flavors, one for alliance and horde characters. It is proven to get you to 80 in the fastest time possible, under 7 days of /played time in many cases. There is nothing that will get you banned here.
The guide relies purely on questing for XP. It is the fastest way to level, so it makes sense that any guide would focus on it. He has saved your valuable time in creating these amazing quest circuits that will have you leveling quickly. You will find yourself gathering a bunch of quests in an area and knocking them out in the most efficient way possible.
It is very simple to use too.
You will be able to download an add-on for the game that will show you where to go, step by step. After each objective your focus will move to the next one, automatically. This is the key to leveling to 80 in 7 days. You will not be wasting time turning in quests one at a time. You will be going from spot to spot in a zone to finish as many quests as you can.
2 completely different campaigns depending on the side you choose, supported by a screenplay that is worthy of the best technological thrillers.
More than 20 reconnaissance, infiltration and combat missions.
More than 50 military vehicles, equipped with an anti-radar coating and complete with an ultra-realistic movement physique.
manual included on the disc.
Stealth Combat: Ultimate War Overview
The year is 2038 and war is raging between the EMA (Economic and Military Alliance) and the Great Empire. Choose your side and take the control of each of your units or give orders from you vehicle at any time. But once you have deployed on the battlefield, you may find that your enemies are not who you thought they were.
Aggression - Reign over Europe spans 4 decades, from 1910 until 1950, and offers players the chance to rewrite the darkest age in recent history where humankind suffered horribly. Players can change the outcome of both World Wars, start the Cold War and decide which country will come out on top to dominate Europe.
Choose your side - Germany, France, Russia or England - and become the most powerful force on the continent, using historical figures and equipment. Send your diplomats across Europe on the real time tactical map and pick your battles well. Then zoom in on the action and command your armies in detailed landscapes to conquer major cities and landmarks.
Aggression is a military-history real-time strategy with elements of role, in which the player can act as a leader of Russia, Britain, France or Germany and take part in the events of a crucial moment of European history - the era of total war 1914 - 1945 years.
An important element of the gameplay is the possibility of an alternative development of historical events - the only Aggression player will be able to create a fascist or communist government in the UK, or, speaking of Russia, together with the fascist bloc, and to attack Western countries.
Aggression (PC DVD) Reign over Europe Overview
Features: - Military-historical strategy games limited the time frame 1910-1950 biennium. - Fully three-dimensional graphics of tactical and global modes, detailed map of Europe. - Greater flexibility in the choice of the player's strategy of his state, to create an alternative history of Europe. - Four States, available for the management of: Russia, England, Germany, France. - Historic Campaign for all of the key state in which the player can perform hundreds of tasks and take the whole era of total war, to take part in both World Wars. - Three-dimensional strategic map of Europe, which has dozens of historical figures. - More than 120 types of combat units (infantry, cavalry, artillery, tanks and armored vehicles, aviation), modeled in accordance with the historical realities. - Political, economic and military systems, realistically reflecting a particular point of European policy and the war in the XX century. - More than 200 real-existing historical figures: politicians, generals, public figures who lived during this period of time. - Large-scale battles on 92 fully three-dimensional tactical map. - Bloody battles, the planning of combat operations, the development of new weapons and technologies (from a machine gun to the atomic bomb), the conclusion of political alliances and espionage. - Today's level of game graphics, realistic physics, a large set of special effects, providing cinematic happening on-screen action.
The time has arrived for the long-awaited StarCraft II. StarCraft II had gained popularity back in March 1998 (3/31/98). StarCraft is a military science fiction strategy game. It was originally released for Microsoft Windows PC. Later in 1999, Blizzard released the MAC version. StarCraft quickly became one of the most widely loved games. As of February 2009, the original StarCraft had sold over 11million copies.
The game's storyline was derived from a series of novels. The game has had an expansion, "StarCraft: Brood War" and now the newly anticipated "StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty". The game takes place in the future, in the 26th century. The game centers on the fight for domination over the "Milky Way" galaxy. The three races are the Terrans, a human race from Earth, the Zerg, an insect type race, and finally the Protoss, a humanoid race. The Terrans, or human race, are skilled at adapting to any situation. The Zerg are an insect-race that is searching for genetic perfection by combining other races. The Protoss have advance technologies. They also possess psionic abilities. The Protoss main objective is to preserve their traditions and keep their way of live and civilization far away from the Zerg.
The game runs in real-time coupled with its compelling story line has made StarCraft such a beloved game. The game is a multiplayer game. Critics have praised StarCraft for being one of the best all time games and raised the bar for all other real-time games. In South Korea, the game has been so well received that it has been considered a professional sport. The game has televised events and top players are treated as professional athletes. Players join together for teams and compete in national competitions. Players even earn sponsorships for the televised spots they receive.
The game play is also very unique. Each race has its own race-specific units. They even have different technology trees. Players must use the strengths and weaknesses carefully in order to win in this game. The time and cost to create new units can be quite costly. This forces the gamer to use the units efficiently. The focus is on the quality of the units and placements, not the number of units. The Zerg and Protoss are at opposing ends of each other, serving the terrans as a middle ground between the two races. The game is very well balanced in that no race has a dominant edge over the others. The AI modes in the game play all start out easy and naturally progress to the hardest as the game continues on.
Each race needs two resources in order to maintain their forces and sustain in the economy. Minerals and vespene gas are the two resources. Minerals are required by all races in order to build units and structures. Minerals are gathered by worker units to harvest these resources from mineral deposits. They can be seen dotted throughout the fields. Vespene gas is required by all players in order to construct advanced units and buildings. You will also need gas to build refineries on top of geysers (gas deposits). As with minerals, you will need worker units to extract the gas from the deposits. Also, gamers will need to monitor their supplies for their forces to ensure that they can construct the units needed in game play.
All races need these supplies, but the type differs between the races. For example, Terrans usually have physical supplies, Protoss have psionic power nexus, and the Zerg are limited by the number of controlled overlord units that are currently available. The supply mechanics are the exact same between the races. This allows all of the races to build new units when the necessary resources are available. The Protoss and Zerg have limitations on where they can build their structures. Terrans are less limited, but require a worker to continue working on the unit until it has finished constructing.
The next rendition of the game will maintain most of these characteristics. The first race to be the focal point is the Terrans, with the Protoss and Zerg getting their own expansion each over the next 3 years.
Take a few minutes of your time and imagine this: A world with everyone having all the money they wish to own. Everyone can literally make dollar bills out of the average paper. Everybody's rich and no one has to work their butt off to earn a living. Heaven right? You couldn't be more wrong.
That scenario would be closer to being in hell actually. If everyone can make their own money, no one would work. Anyone thinking he or she could buy anything he/she wants is in for a big surprise - there's nothing to buy because everyone's abandoned the job they used to need. Nothing can be more chaotic than that.
Fact of the matter is, our society's perched on a precarious beam balancing need and production. The demand for one thing is fueling the industry that addresses this demand. So we're all part of one big loop of work-own-work and money's the big wheel that's keeping this in full motion. Without it (or even with all of it), society will just cease to function.
This is exactly the same with World of Warcraft. Blizzard has created the concept of WoW gold to infuse the cycle of producing and needing. You want an epic item? Go work for it by raising profession levels, farming WoW gold, and earning Gs on the Auction House.
With the rise of WoW gold buying, the scenario mentioned above is a looming possibility. If everyone starts to depend on WoW gold buying, here's what will happen:
o Everyone will be able to buy epic items. This negates the idea of reputation-based possessions. With everyone having epic gear, it loses its luster as a special part of the game.
o Every single character in WoW is max leveled. If you think that's cool, you're crazy. Would you live in a world full of identical blondes and hunks?
o Everyone will be toting epic mounts. Imagine if everyone's driving a Ferrari. Yep, it's that hard to stomach.
o Quests will be abandoned, defeating the purpose of "playing" the game.
o Auction House will have zero visitors.
o And this all leads to...
A total collapse of what could be the most polarizing title in the history of gaming. Just like Earth, Azeroth is highly dependent on the balance created by the concept of money and trading.
What should we all Azerothians do then? Totally diss the idea of buying WoW gold. Rather than buy them, learn core skills and techniques in the game. WoW guides for these are all over the web anyway, with most of them created by the best and richest players in the game. It's much more worthwhile and self-fulfilling to enhance your gamer skillz than just settle for buying gold.
The Mage class is one of the most popular classes in WoW. Extremely powerful with magic, a mage can really cause a lot of damage to more than one enemy at a time. Mages are especially known for their crowd control abilities, whether it be to freeze all enemies in place or polymorphing an irritating enemy into a sheep.
Mages do have weaknesses, of course, and can be killed easily in close range combat. They tend to not do very well in confined dungeons or caves, and therefore take a lot of physical damage in no time at all. Their best bet is to stick to open spaces where they have room to run away if they need to. Also, they've more time to cast polymorph in wide open spaces.
When it comes down to it, the mage is one of the most versatile classes in World of Warcraft. If you're new to being a mage, then here are a few tips that will help you level up easily:
o Always start out with your most powerful spell when attacking a mob. Try to get as far away from him as possible. As soon as the first spell hits him, hurry up and cast it again. Just as long as you're far enough away, you should be able to have hit him twice before he gets to you.
o Once a mob is right up on you, freeze him and back up some. If another mob attacks with him, freeze them both and turn the 2nd enemy into a sheep. After killing the first enemy, hurry up and heal yourself or drink a potion before the 2nd one comes out of his sheep form.
o Always pack up on potions. You need as many healing potions as you can get. You should also get some elixir that will increase your spell power and intellect. Buy them at the World of Warcraft auction house whenever you find a good deal. Or, if you want to combine herbalism with alchemy, you can make your own!
o Get yourself a wand. A wand is handier than a staff, since you can attack from a distance. They're also great to have when you're running low on mana. You can freeze your enemies, back up, and shoot away at them with your wand!
o Never, ever forget your arcane intellect. You need to have that power up at all times, along with another of your choosing. Don't forget to make use of your elixirs, either. They can be very helpful.
o Herbalism is a good profession for a mage in World of Warcraft. As you level up, you can learn a skill called "lifeblood". You can use it to heal and restore your HP in mid-battle! This, along with potions, will decrease your chances of dying.
o Whenever you find yourself ambushed, try to run away if you can. Blink, freeze, blink, freeze, etc. If more enemies join in the attack and give chase while you're running, you're probably doomed. Still, blinking and freezing will give you somewhat of an advantage.
Follow these tips and you'll find mage leveling to be a bit easier. Whether you want to become a fire, frost, or arcane mage in WoW, you will be able to level up more quickly if you follow these tips.
This is as high level as bad play will get. Two players pushed to their limit, their fingers turned into little bloody stumps as they hammer away randomly on their keyboard. Behind this madness is an even more twisted mind, trying to control the little pixels unfortunate enough to be entrusted in their care. This is failure on a divine scale.
