Heart of the Swarm Swinging into Hardcore Development

@Soleron Looking at the past of Blizzard games (WC3/TFT, SC/BW), expect it to be a split userbase.
If you could get the new gameplay without upgrading, a lot of people wouldn't buy the game (maybe just try a hacked copy).

@ Baalzamon

You misread Nybbus. Yes, the single player game is lengthy, especially with achievements. But the length is partly a result of long, drawn out, fluff missions that only drag the story along. If that's your cup of tea then by all means enjoy. Most of us would like a lengthy campaign in which every mission seems meaningful to the plot. I'd even rather have a short campaign if it meant a tighter plot.

@Nybbus: I hear the opposite, that the story actually has the potential of lasting much longer. Without worrying about achievements, and taking my time, it will take me ~12 hours the first time through. After that, I want to get all the normal and hard achievements, likely taking several more hours, then beat the game on brutal. Total time = ~25-30 hours, don't say it is short, it is just as long as every other game like this, and just as long as SC (the 12 hour part).

Well, I got time. I really enjoyed WoL, so bring it on, Blizzard! :D

Yet more evidence why you shouldn't take anyone who thinks these expansions will come out anytime soon seriously. Someone suggested to me just a few weeks ago that a SC2 battle chest will be out by early 2013.

Will the expansions to multiplayer be restrictive to those who don't buy them? Will you still be able to play matches with those people, or will it be a split userbase?

Maybe I just missed something or didn't set my expectations high enough, because i loved the WoL single player. It of course can always be better, but compared to all the other RTS storylines, WoL is easily one of the better ones. Cant wait for the second one, hoping its a little longer though.

I hope this turns out better than the extremely mediocre WoL.

I am loving the SC2 multiplayer, and I loved the gameplay in Wings of Liberty, however I was still let down by the singleplayer. The singleplayer storyline was weak as shit, with over half the missions (fun as they were) being nothing but fluff for the storyline. Remove these stupid branching missions, they hurt the storyline. You compare story progression from SC1 (even only taking into account 1 of 3 races) to SC2's and the differences are glaring. WOL story was insanely short and weak.

they better not make it a long dev cycle... I don't care about giving bliz $$$ they deserve them, but reading that they have ideas.... makes me thing the thing is not gonna be tied up together as well as it should... I expect a full flow in the story and relevant changes to the MP.
No new race? well that could actually have been the one worthy point of the expansions.... though a balancing nightmare (let me throw 10 hybrids at you HAHAHA)....

@Carl
It won't be as long as starting SC2 WoL. The engine is there atleast. As well as the game is more of an expansion than a full on game. I assume multiplayer a few new features, but this is more concentrated on single player.

What the fuck? They've only just started making it!?

I thought they were making all 3 at the same time! This could take forever!! :-(

I'll admit that they did a good job with WoL. At first I was headstrong with the whole milking thing, but now I'm pretty sure they'll deliver a lot of content on all episodes.