The top players from each country is competing on the Europe Nationals, part of the World Championship Series (more info here). » Live Stream

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(17-Jun-2012, old)



Hope you haven't missed NaNiWa versus Keen, it was pretty entertaining ;P


I think there are other eSports going on, I'll do some research.

(View the newest batch!)


Greetings, people!
In this May News Batch, we bring the latest news of our hosted projects, the top maps to check out, updates on the contests and lots of Blizzard news!

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The data was gathered on the 8th of June.

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• Contest Results:
  
  Arena Christmas Event - PROXY + Revilo + Tobyfat50
  
  
• Contest Ideas:
  
  
  
  Techtree Contest #7
  Icon Contest #10
  Terraining Contest #15
  Hero Contest #6
  Hive Workshop Interface Contest
  Short Story Contest #9

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Global News


First off, the Patch 1.5 Arcade beta has been released, however you need to download the game's client again and it will install separately called "Starcraft 2012 Beta". (Download here)
Check out the patch notes here, the biggest features are the new Battle.net UI, the new custom maps section and of course new Editor enhancements!

Blizzard has also published 2 new videos through the official starcraft channel:

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The newest patch to be released is 1.0.2b, check out the patch notes below:

General

• When logging into Diablo III, the "Cancel" button which appears in the login checkbox will now be grayed out for 30 seconds after a Battle.net account name and password are entered. This is to reduce server load during the login process.

Auction House

• Damaged items can now be sold on the auction house:
  Once sold, damaged items will be repaired automatically when moved from the purchasing player's Completed tab to their stash
  Please note that unsold damage items will not be automatically repaired when returned to the seller's stash
• Description messages for several auction house-related errors have been added

Mac

• Several Mac performance improvements have been made

Bug Fixes

General

• It is no longer possible to skip entire Acts in a multiplayer game

Classes

• Barbarian:
  Fixed a bug that was allowing certain barbarian skills to continuously trigger each other's critical strikes, to the point of causing the player to crash. To address this crash, the following skill and skill rune combinations can no longer be triggered by each other's critical strikes.
  • Battle Rage (Skill Rune - Bloodshed)
  • Cleave (Skill Rune - Rupture and Skill Rune - Scattering Blast)
  • Hammer of the Ancients (Skill Rune - Thunder Strike)
  • Wrath of the Berserker (Skill Rune - Slaughter)

Followers

• Monsters who are charmed by the Enchantress's skill "Mass Confusion" can no longer kill event NPCs

And be sure to check out this neat article explaining the main changes in patch 1.0.3!

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This new section is rather experimental, but it should be kind of fun! The objective is to answer as many questions as possible and get the most answers right to earn reputation points! Each user will be rewarded 1 rep for each correct answer.
Moderators may not participate in this.
Editing your post with new answers is not allowed and should your post be edited then you will not receive any rep. (SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT TYPOS)

Questions:

• Name the 4 maps that have recently received a 5/5 rating!
• Name&Link the 2 Off-Topic threads with the most replies!
• There was a thread trend in Something Else when it was still up! What was it always about? Hint: Something about rating.
• Are username changes free or not? And how can you get a name change?

*Answered

Due to the low number of questions this time, every question will grant you 2 points each!

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• Be sure to read through the updated rules!

UPDATE:
It is now confirmed by Blizzard that the Arcade Beta has begun: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/6176111/The_Patch_150_Arcade_Beta_Has_Begun-6_1_2012

I have no idea what their source is, but this appeared on SC2Mapster around this time yesterday. I believe there is an ongoing Beta test of what they are calling the Arcade, which, if I'm not mistaken, is the Marketplace that Blizzard have been wanting to implement since Wings of Liberty. Someone somehow managed to get what you see below.

Personally I'm highly interested in the StarTools, for all the discussion that's been going on lately promoted by BlinkBoy. They say advanced users can use Discreet's 3dsMax plugin, but then they say it allows people to easily get models into SC2. I'm not sure if it's a language trick here, but it sounds a bit contradictory.

NOTE: The information contained in here is not official and is subject to change.

Click to expand...

Summary

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• Sc2 has been split into "melee" and "arcade", and maps must be in either the melee maps or custom maps list, NOT both
• Major improvements made to custom games system- games now have reviews, patch logs, tutorial support, ratings, and much more (read the full list below for details)
• Major improvements made to the editor, including a re-worked UI for the data editor, a cinematic editor, an AI editor, a 3DS max plugin, a far improved trigger debugger, a new physics engine, and more.

Global Changes

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• Sc2 Battlenet menus improved
• Instead of "single player and multiplayer" we have "starcraft 2 and arcade"
• Custom maps must be either "starcraft" or "arcade". They cannot be both. This means that melee-oriented games (like 1v1 Obs, or straight-up melee maps) will be separate from non-melee custom games

The Arcade

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• Players can search for games based on genre, overall popularity, star rating, newness, and recent spikes in popularity.
• Players create an icon for their games, which will be what players see in the arcade list (sort of like the apple app store)
• Clicking on a game icon brings players into the Game Info page, a section devoted entirely to showing off what a game is all about, providing play instructions, and revealing other important information about the game.
• All the content in Game Info is under control of the game creator, except for reviews of course.
• Joining public matches and creating private games is done from the Game Info page. This will be the portal players return to again and again to play the game.
• The game info page will contain the following sections, all of which you will set up
  • Overview: This will contain the game description, as well as screenshots that show off the action.
  • How to Play: This is where players will find the Basic Instructions, How to Win, and Advanced Instructions sections. You can also include images.
  • Patch Notes: You’re able to update patch notes as often as you like, so players can see how the game is growing and improving.
  • Reviews: After playing, players can give your game a star rating and enter a text review. Once enough ratings are provided, your game gets an average score to let players get a general idea of quality.
  • Star Rating. Players can also mark each other’s reviews as “Helpful” which will ensure that the best reviews rise to the top.
• Tutorials are supported! Players can attach a separate map file that will be a tutorial for players. This will allow you to set up a tutorial mission specifically for new players.
• Games have their own chat-channels automatically, allowing your players to jump into a chat easily

The Sc2 Platform

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• Sc2 is now a streaming game
• This means it will only be necessary to download a fraction of game data to get into the action

The Editor

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• Added UI XML Editor for adding and modifying SC2Layout files
• Editor updated to use Visual Styles in Editor
• Added high resolution minimap support
• Font Style editing added to Text Editor
• Added Data Editor horizontal auto-layout to better utilize available screen space
• User-defined data system, accessed through the new User type in the Data module as well as the corresponding functions in the trigger library.
• Cinematic Editor
  • New editor module with powerful tools for creating in-game cinematic sequences (not many changes from what we saw of it during blizzcon)
• AI Editor
  • New editor module for user friendly management of AI wave timing and composition
  • Much easier to set up AI, instead of just using clunky trigger commands
  • Error Debugger
  • Trigger Debug Window support for breakpoints, stepping through functions, and variable inspection
  • Galaxy script code memory limit increased; 4x -10x more memory can be utilized depending on how scripts are being used
  • Added support for passing structure, array, and function references as function parameters
  • Improved Galaxy error message output
• Actors
  • Camera Actor added for controlling camera through actor events
  • Scene Actor added for controlling global actor settings (Halo settings, Power visual hiding)
  • Light Actor added for creating lights in the world
  • Terrain Actor added for physics impact FX support
  • Creep Actor added for higher performance creep effects including creep engulfment
  • Ragdoll deaths and support for combat driven physics impulses
  • Added support for water ripples and physics collision based water splashes
  • Terrain squib support for tileset specific dust or snow clouds FX
  • Line and Arc targeting cursor support
  • Added ActorInfoDisplay cheat for live actor debugging

Game Engine Improvements

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• Game Engine
  • Max unit selection size increased from 255 to 500
  • New trigger event for Behavior apply/remove
  • New Stunned flag for Behaviors that allows queuing commands
• Graphics Engine
  • Added support to define lighting regions in the game world
  • Lighting can now be set per player
  • Added unit specific Halo support for pre-targeting
  • Anti-aliasing support
• UI Improvements
  • Custom unit status bar support added
  • Added new in-game pathing display that shows the path a unit will take on the minimap
  • Added self-cast hotkey support
  • Added Font Glow support
  • Added powerful control over frames, portraits, status bars, text, trigger dialogs and more. Full details, tips, and tutorials are being created to help creators take full advantage of these tools.
• StarTools
  • Blizzard is releasing their company art tools to the community
  • StarTools is a set of plugins for Discreet®'s 3ds max®, these tools allow advanced users to create, modify, and quickly preview models and animations, including particle and ribbon effects, that can be used in StarCraft II custom maps.
  • This means you can quickly and easily get models created and added to sc2

Updating your map for 1.5

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• You do not need to do this for your maps yet, since this is only a closed beta
• All game types

• Set up your Type and Genre
  • Games published prior to Patch 1.5 will still be available on the service when the patch goes live. All user created games will default to appearing in Arcade, under the “Other” genre.
  • Creators will need to re-save their game in the 1.5.0 client version and select the Type and Genre where they want to their game to appear.
• Arcade game types
  • Add a Game Icon Image
  • The icon image is the first thing players see. It’s a great opportunity to make a first impression on potential players - check out existing app-stores for inspiration.
  • Game Icon Images are added through the StarCraft II Editor.
• Add Game Info
  • Game Info is where players learn about your game and see what cool experiences it has to offer. At a minimum, you’ll want to provide a complete Description, easy to understand How to Play Instructions, and some screenshots that make your game look awesome.
  • Going a step further and creating customized images (e.g. a diagram of game controls, or a simple guide map of the play area) for Game Info will really help you stand out. The old saying about “show not tell” should be your motto here!
  • Game Info is added through the StarCraft II Editor
• Set up a default mode
  • From the Game Info page, there’s a big “PLAY” button that most players will use to get into your game. This creates or joins a public lobby, of the default mode you define for your game.
  • Alternatively, some games have players set up gameplay parameters after they load into the match. This is fine, but it’s recommended to make the setup process as streamlined and user friendly as possible so new players aren’t scared off right when they start the game.
  • This means you likely want to set the default to what you consider your “core” game experience.
  • Build a Tutorial
    • Tutorials can also be built and used as a practice mode for players to experiment in a sandbox type environment.
    • To use the Tutorial feature, first publish the tutorial map to Battle.net. Then you can configure your main game to point to the tutorial.

(Be sure to check out the new batch!)


Greetings, people!
In this April News Batch, we bring the latest news of our hosted projects, the top maps to check out and updates on the contests!
A new segment has also been introduced, Starcraft News, including Hypertexts and SCII Global News.
That's not everything, we've also introduced a new segment, Diablo III News, bringing you the latest news related to Diablo III and its launch.
Also as a reminder:

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Every news batch will from now on include a Modeling Spotlight, showing off multiple users' latest amazing works! The data was gathered on the 1st of May.

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Global News


Global Play will allow players to change their region (NA/EU/ASIA) quickly without having to download a new client.

Multilanguage support will allow you to change your game's language without having to download a new client.

A Clan/Group System similar to the one present in Warcraft III will finally be introduced to the game!

Unranked Matchmaking will automatically make you play against players of the same level as you, but the matches will not affect your ladder rating.

Multiplayer Replay Viewing will allow multiple friends to watch a replay together and comment on it or share awesome gameplay moments.

Multiplayer Resume From Replay will remove problems like disconnections during a game, allowing the player to rejoin at the time where he disconnected. (Extremely useful for tournaments!)


The Starcraft II Marketplace (Arcade) will also be coming out soon before the release of Heart of the Swarm and a lot of players will gain access to the BETA through the Arcade.

The features listed above are to be released at or around HotS' release.
View Official Article on Battle.net.

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3 new TV spots have been released, preparing for the launch of the game on 15th May 2012, check them out below!




Also a behind the scenes video on the animated Diablo III short to be published soon, made by Blizzard Entertainment.


And finally, the animated short Wrath has been released!

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Hypertexts by Rui

Fanaticism on community preservation

The only map left whose development I'm keeping up to date with is "The Kingdom of Kaliron" (TKoK), by the Crimson Creations Team, being that I'm inclusively involved in the Garena group and the development forums. As such, it is by playing this map that I undergo experiences with a part of the community that's left in Warcraft III. My vision is therefore limited, but amidst these experiences there are a few lessons to be learned and generalized.There has always been fanaticism here or there when it comes to playing games on a computer and video game addiction is a known phenomenon, but is usually accompanied by an urge to play the newest games (?). Perhaps the financial and economical crisis puts on hold the fulfillment of such paradigms?Playing an Open Role-playing Game (RPG) can be fun, depending on tastes: to each his own, of course. More impressive is that the Crimson Creations team was able to put together a map of the type, with several classes, rare and epic items, three modes which change how strong enemies are and how much reward you get from them, a full and nice threat system, talent trees... With the exception that the storyline goes by unnoticed, if there is even one in those poor excuses for quests, "The Kingdom of Kaliron" is nearly a game in itself. Is there anything to hate about it besides the (nonexistence of) lore? Yes, there is: the fanaticism of a few of the members of that community.That games such as StarCraft II, for whose e-sports players get paid in real currency, attract the “pros”, that we sometimes advertise at our website, comes as no surprise. That a custom map of a game that is, by large consensus, «dying», harbors a community of which a few are such individuals is a mystery. Nevertheless, and most surprisingly, it is a fact.This reflection is justified by another bad experience: in resume, two players conspiring to kick out two others in a public hosting bot with an agenda composed of the objective of exploiting TKoK relying on a bug, meanwhile disrespecting the public service provided by the bot, as well as the hard work of the creators. A delicious and degrading philosophy whose critiques, when brought to the forum, were, at least I'd like to believe so, miscomprehended by the remaining community. Consequences? None.Personally, this sort of situations make me wonder if there's any reason left to play the game anymore: the situation of the consuming society is that of the previous edition of these Hypertexts, while the actually good maps attract the most egoistical and egocentric sort of individuals. It is important that we, moreover the protagonists of such actions, introspectively ponder on what impact such actions have on the remnants of WarCraft. If there's any good sense yet left, that is.

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This new section is rather experimental, but it should be kind of fun! The objective is to answer as many questions as possible and get the most answers right to earn reputation points! Each user will be rewarded 1 rep for each correct answer.
Moderators may not participate in this.
Editing your post with new answers is not allowed and should your post be edited then you will not receive any rep. (SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT TYPOS)

Questions:

• Who is the user with the most rep/posts count?
• Name the current model moderators. (Bonus: The previous model moderators, who have now resigned)
• What was Hakeem's first Staff position?
• In what year did the Hive have 800 users? (Bonus: Specify the month)
• What was the Hive's first URL?
• When exactly was The Arena created? (Year+Month)
• Name 2007's Hosted Project of the Year!
• Name 5 Super Donors. (Bonus: More than 5)

*Answered

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• Be sure to read through the updated rules!

Hello guys
I just wanted to let you know that I just found out that the "Contact Us" form has been down from April 16 to April 30, so if you are waiting for a response on something, please try sending again.

EDIT: May 6, apparently I had not fixed it, but it is fixed now. So please resend any emails.

Thanks