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Blizzard hasn't looked at the iPad for StarCraft

by Mike Schramm Apr 29th 2010 at 11:00AM

Last week, the folks from Ars Technica got a chance to stop by Blizzard headquarters in Irvine, CA. They kindly asked a question that many of us RTS gamers have been wondering about ever since the iPad was released: Is there any chance that we'll be getting StarCraft to play on the iPad? Sure, there are lots of games we'd like to play on Apple's revolutionary device. Real-time strategy seems a perfect fit for a touch interface, though, and when you talk about RTS, you're talking about StarCraft. Either a port of the old game, or maybe even a few teaser levels for the new version would be awesome to see in the App Store.

Unfortunately, it's not in the cards quite yet. StarCraft II's lead designer, Dustin Browder says it's not beyond the realm of possibility at some point, but the team is "certainly not working on it now." Like all of us, they're intrigued by the idea of the iPad, but they aren't quite convinced that it's ideal for their gameplay. "It's possible that's a control scheme that would work for us," Browder says. "It's possible that it isn't... we're not going to put it out there just to make a couple bucks." That's a shame, because I'd definitely pay a couple of bucks for it.

Still, the iPad is new, and Blizzard hasn't sworn off the device. Browder says that they, polishers and perfectionists that they are, would rather focus on matching experiences to devices rather than the other way around. That's fine, then. Command & Conquer isn't really what we expected from a marquis title. Hopefully someone else will come along and provide a premiere RTS experience on Apple's tablet.

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Last week, the folks from Ars Technica got a chance to stop by Blizzard headquarters in Irvine, CA. They kindly asked a question that many...
 

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JedixJarf

RTS FTW!

April 29 2010 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Twist

I am not sure if SC would be a good fit for the iPad or not but I would love to see Blizzard do more with their IPs both on the iPhone/iPad and on consoles. They could make a really sweet tower defense game using either the Warcraft or Starcraft IPs and I would love to see modern versions of The Lost Vikings and Rock 'n' Roll Racing on the console download services.

April 29 2010 at 5:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Raj

You know what'd rock?

A battle-net companion app that allowed you to chat with friends, and see battle-reports (ie, game replays) that you create or are shared with you.

They could probably even do this with a iPad/iPhone friendly web page.

I know some folks who want to maintain a battle-net or WoW presence 24/7.

April 29 2010 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

"basically, Blizzard isn't interested in diluting their reputation with mediocre games."

*COUGHstarcraft64COUGH*

April 29 2010 at 1:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mark's comment
handy

haha, nice

April 29 2010 at 3:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
willyu34

basically, Blizzard isn't interested in diluting their reputation with mediocre games. Just for "a few bucks", they'll now be known to put out "just okay" games.

Notice how Activision usually drives a franchise into the ground? Well, they usually carpet bomb a successful franchise by outputing as much games as possible, regardless of quality. So the game go from Amazing! to Great! then to okay, then to total crap. That's not something Blizzard willing to do just so they can make a few quick bucks.

Blizzard has canned games in late development stage before just because the game is not going to be amazing. For that, I respect them.

If people have the mentality of just "paying a few bucks" for mediocre games, the quality of games will go downhill. There are already tonnes of crap games for "just a few bucks" on app store, do we really wish Blizzard to join their rank?

April 29 2010 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frank

"Blizzard hasn't looked at the iPad for StarCraft"

cagey answer! it doesn't say they *haven't* been looking at it for warcraft. : )

April 29 2010 at 12:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Silver

"Blizzard hasn't looked at the iPad for StarCraft"

Shortsighted at best.

April 29 2010 at 11:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Will

While we're talking about Starcraft, the Mac beta client was released today. Perhaps worth a mention?

April 29 2010 at 11:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Will's comment
Alan Carr

Wow, I didn't realize... and I have a beta key! What am I still doing typing this comment?

April 29 2010 at 12:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
A

This would be awesome!! Red Alert is one of my favorite iPad games, I don't see how the game play of Starcraft could be any worse, seeing as they are both the same style of game. Do it Blizzard!!!

April 29 2010 at 11:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wosuh

NO it should not be on iPad - it will drain the battery.

April 29 2010 at 11:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to wosuh's comment
Aaron

Yeah, I would imagine ten hours of Starcraft would do pretty good damage to the battery. That is what, only half the amount of time you need for a good gaming session, right?

I really need to go out and pick up Starcraft again and play it.

April 29 2010 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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