More Reviews
REVIEWS Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Review
Gamers have gone bananas for Nintendo's 3DS, but can this port of Retro Studios' 2010 Wii game make the jump to your portable?

Pandora's Tower Review
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but swords and chains excite me. Should you climb the towers in Xseed's JRPG/adventure hybrid to save your cursed (and tragically whiny) girlfriend?
More Previews
PREVIEWS The Last of Us Preview
With Naughty Dog releasing a new IP in just a few short weeks, we got hands-on one more time. But don't worry: This is a spoiler-free preview.
The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot Preview
Watch Dogs (PS4) Preview
Release Dates
NEW RELEASES GRiD 2
Release date: 05/28/13

Fuse
Release date: 05/28/13

Remember Me
Release date: 06/04/13

The Last of Us
Release date: 06/14/13



LATEST FEATURES Xbox Infinity: Everything (We Think) We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Console [Updated... Again]
Microsoft is pulling back the curtain on their next-gen gaming box tomorrow. Here's an updated look at what we're expecting to see.

GR Showdown: Are There Way Too Many Remakes And Reboots?
Gamers continually complain about the lack of innovation from publishers and developers, but in this tough economy, it would seem that sequels and remakes are their bread and butter. Are there not enough new IPs?
MOST POPULAR FEATURES 7 Best Video Game Franchises Of All Time
Gaming is home to some incredible IPs. Here you'll find a slightly objective, yet heavily biased, list of the absolute best of the best.
Xbox Infinity: Everything (We Think) We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Console [Updated... Again]
5 Ways Microsoft Could Screw Up The Xbox Reveal
Top 10 Games EA Should Develop With Star Wars License
 
Coming Soon

More Cheats
LATEST CHEATS
iStunt 2
Sports
05/21/13
More Cheats
MOST POPULAR CHEATS
Temple Run
Action / Adventure
04/08/13

LEADERBOARD
Read More Member Blogs
FEATURED VOXPOP nick_olsen
Welcome home, Mario; we’ve missed you!
By nick_olsen
Posted on 05/13/13
[ Editor's Note: As Nick Olsen is a writer for Theory of Gaming, this won't be counted in the monthly Vox Pop prize. However, it is very much a worthy read. ] By Nick Olsen Co-founder, Theory of Gaming In 1985 Nintendo started a revolution when it...

Home News StarCraft 2 Multiplayer Looking At Going Free-To-Play

GAMING NEWS

StarCraft 2 Multiplayer Looking At Going Free-To-Play

Posted on Monday, September 24 @ 12:02:17 Eastern by Keri_Honea


World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic have all taken the plunge; now StarCraft 2 is the latest MMO to consider going the free-to-play route.

Lead designer Dustin Browder revealed at a Valencia eSports Congress panel that Blizzard is "looking at free-to-play as an option for multiplayer." However, at this point, Blizzard isn't sure how to go about doing so, since asking players to "pay-for-units" goes against the unit balance that the series has created.

Obviously, adopting some form of a free-to-play model would only benefit StarCraft 2 and Blizzard, especially in the world of eSports. It will definitely happen sooner than later, but of course, they want to make sure they can do so without losing an important part of the game.

How would you recommend they make StarCraft 2 free-to-play?
Related Games:   StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Tags:   Starcraft 2, Free-To-Play


More from the Game Revolution Network




Comments
  • Sourdeez
    Sourdeez
    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
    Make premium servers for players who bought the game and want to compete in closed ladders. Make free to play servers for everyone else?

    I mean Im sure they could just sell new hero units. It would be hard to balance. The new ones will either rock or be so meh that most people wouldn't want to buy them.
    0 1
  • Lien
    Lien
    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
    HOOOOOOOLD YOUR HORSES!

    You needed monthly payment for Starcraft 2? i mean... i payed for the game and finished the solo campaign. Also playing with my brother on skirmishes once in a while so huh... what?
    0 1
  • LawnGnome
    LawnGnome
    Joined: Apr 2007
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
    There aren't any payments. I think they just want to get more people to try the game.
    0 1
  • 213EDD
    213EDD
    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
    Afterall they're going to release 2 more "expansions" for the Zerg and Protoss Campaigns...
    0 1
  • LawnGnome
    LawnGnome
    Joined: Apr 2007
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
    Wasn't SC1 multiplayer f2p back in the day? I think I remember being able to install a multiplayer-only client off of the CD on to friends' computers. I think the best way for them to do this now is to offer a free downloadable multiplayer-only client that has access to only a handful of maps. If you want more, then you can buy the whole game. Besides, the campaign was the best part of SC2 anyways.
    0 1
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff
    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
    Haha, no, but everyone shared CD keys so it was nearly f2p.
    0 1
  • drathbone
    drathbone
    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Sep 25th, 2012 at 4:18 am
    Yes it was, it was the "spawn" installation. You could still play on b.net but I think you couldn't host matches, only join them.
    0 1
  • Jonathan_Leack
    Jonathan_Leack
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
    StarCraft II is an incredible game. If it weren't for Dota 2 I'd still be playing the heck out of it.
    0 3
  • Lien
    Lien
    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
    What jon said. It raised the bar higher compare to the first starcraft and it's still incridible to this day. That game will age well I'll tell you.
    0 0
  • Sourdeez
    Sourdeez
    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
    Just to take a crap on everyone I personally dont like playing Starcraft 2 compared to starcraft 1.

    Do they have a mod to just put star craft 1 in the star craft 2 engine?
    0 1
  • intoTheRain
    intoTheRain
    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
    This article confuses the **** out of me.

    Starcraft 2 is free to play.

    World of Warcraft you still have to pay monthly.

    I honestly felt like I was losing my mind reading it.

    It also calls Starcraft 2 an MMO. WTF is happening?
    0 7
  • metalimi
    metalimi
    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
    I agree. Very confusing article.
    0 3
  • Lien
    Lien
    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
    Well to the article's defense, you do have to buy the game first...
    0 1
  • whytenoiz
    whytenoiz
    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
    There never was a montly charge. "Free to play" as in players who do NOT own SC2 can pick up a version where they can play multiplayer ONLY for free. If you want the campaign and all the other goodies I am sure you'd still have to pay. Its just a ploy to bring more gamers to the table, and I am sure its not in the back of Blizzard's minds that they are trying to bolster how many people will purchase the expansion.
    0 2
  • drathbone
    drathbone
    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Sep 25th, 2012 at 4:23 am
    Maybe Keri meant F2P as in up to lvl 20 on WoW and 15 on SWTOR. SWTOR has announced it's F2P intentions but isn't there yet *this fall* they say. I would say neither have taken the plunge. Maybe MMO meaning lots of people online at once? But it doesn't fit the traditional understanding of a persistent world (vs matches like starcraft).

    You just gotta improvise a little bit sometimes.
    0 0
  • moretokes
    moretokes
    Joined: Apr 2011
    Posted: Sep 25th, 2012 at 6:09 am
    I feel a brain fart coming on
    0 0

Post a Comment
LOGIN or REGISTER to post a comment or rate this article.
More On GameRevolution
STAFF | CONTACT GR | ADVERTISING | GRADING SYSTEM | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE | AdChoices
GameRevolution.com is a property of CraveOnline Media, LLC, an Evolve Media, LLC company. ©2013 All Rights Reserved.
monitoring_string = "9825918b2b361fb0e003f4935ce18ae6"