StarCraft2 Specs

[rbarris]

Blizzard has not released final specs for the game yet.

That said we are actively developing and testing on all the Intel Mac systems using AMD/ATI X1600,X1900,HD2400/HD2600, and also NVIDIA 7300/7600/8600/8800. So we're confident that it will be playable on any dual core Intel Mac with an AMD or NVIDIA GPU when it ships.

 

[QCassidy352]

We're confident that it will be playable on any dual core Intel Mac with an AMD or NVIDIA GPU when it ships.

sweet. That's great news.

How about intel with integrated graphics and/or dual G5s with dedicated graphics?

 

[MBHockey]

Blizzard has not released final specs for the game yet.

That said we are actively developing and testing on all the Intel Mac systems using AMD/ATI X1600,X1900,HD2400/HD2600, and also NVIDIA 7300/7600/8600/8800. So we're confident that it will be playable on any dual core Intel Mac with an AMD or NVIDIA GPU when it ships.

Awesome.

I still play the original Starcraft -- can't wait for SC2 ^_^

 

[Sijmen]

sweet. That's great news.

How about intel with integrated graphics and/or dual G5s with dedicated graphics?

There have been many posts about this already (questions mainly) – the answer seems to be 'we don't know yet'.

 

[rbarris]

I'd like to post more specifics but it would be premature. We're confident about Intel Mac with NV or ATI GPU. As the game gets closer to beta and release we can share some more details on the topic.

 

[Jack Flash]

Blizzard understands the economics of producing a computer game. To turn the massive profits they do they must both create a superb game, and make it playable on as many computers as possible.

Luckily they are great at doing both. Their engines are extremely scalable and I highly doubt, given the market penetration of laptops with Integrated Graphics, that the game wouldn't play on a MacBook.

However, I strongly doubt it will be universal binary.

 

[soberbrain]

Awesome.

I still play the original Starcraft -- can't wait for SC2 ^_^

Same here. I started playing again in anticipation of SC2. I'll have to wait until the official specs are announced before I get a new Mac.

Protoss Carriers = FTW!

 

[Sdashiki]

SC2 = WC3 engine with a little more visual tweaks and im sure alot more code tweaking.

So, I doubt that its going to tax todays hardware at all. WC3s engine is super clean and awesome. SC2 is just pushing it to the limits.

With that said, this game (which has been in the works since 64/128MB VRAM was top of the line) is going to play on your machine you have today...or im just hopeful.

::i may be completely off::

 

[Tom B.]

I just thought I should warn any original StarCraft players that it no longer works for me in 10.5.3.

 

[rbarris]

SC2 = WC3 engine with a little more visual tweaks and im sure alot more code tweaking.

So, I doubt that its going to tax todays hardware at all. WC3s engine is super clean and awesome. SC2 is just pushing it to the limits.

With that said, this game (which has been in the works since 64/128MB VRAM was top of the line) is going to play on your machine you have today...or im just hopeful.

::i may be completely off::

You're completely off, as it turns out.

The SC2 engine is brand new, completely shader based, and requires Shader Model 2.0 GPU hardware. On that basis alone it is not comparable to the WC3 engine.

While the systems I listed at top of page are not an official minimum spec for SC2 on Mac, they are an excellent starting point to consider if you are considering buying a new machine and want it to be able to run SC2 well. When we have a frozen minimum spec to publish we will do that, and I am 100% confident it will include the systems listed (Intel Mac with NVIDIA or ATI graphics).

 

[Ja Di ksw]

Complaint

rbarris -
Let me start off by saying I love Blizzards game, and I'm sure this one is going to be no exception. SC1 is one of my all time favorite games. That being said . . . .

The announcement of SC2 happened over a year ago, and we still don't have the minimum system requirements? I'm all for making sure the game is as polished as can be and not rushing it out early, but when I look at how many units are listed on the official page and that we don't even know what will be able to run it after over a year of the announcement, I get pretty disappointed. Either things are being held back longer than I thought they would (units not being "released" even though they're long done, for example), things can only be released closer to the launch date (can you not give out system requirements until right before the launch or something?), or I think the announcement was just very premature.

Again, I love Blizzard, I just feel that if it was announced in '07 and doesn't come out until '10, it was a little premature to announce it.

 

[rbarris]

That isn't really correct - you now know that the machines listed above will be able to run it. What type of machine do you have, maybe I can offer some more info.

So while the hard minimum isn't yet available, as I said the machines above are in the set that we build and test on every day.

 

[eXan]

rbarris -
Let me start off by saying I love Blizzards game, and I'm sure this one is going to be no exception. SC1 is one of my all time favorite games. That being said . . . .

The announcement of SC2 happened over a year ago, and we still don't have the minimum system requirements? I'm all for making sure the game is as polished as can be and not rushing it out early, but when I look at how many units are listed on the official page and that we don't even know what will be able to run it after over a year of the announcement, I get pretty disappointed. Either things are being held back longer than I thought they would (units not being "released" even though they're long done, for example), things can only be released closer to the launch date (can you not give out system requirements until right before the launch or something?), or I think the announcement was just very premature.

Again, I love Blizzard, I just feel that if it was announced in '07 and doesn't come out until '10, it was a little premature to announce it.

Developers usually dont announce system requirements early to make them as accurate as possible.

As for taking so long to release SC2...

Look at SC1. Its a professional e-sport in Korea. Blzz are making SC2 to become an e-sport too - and THAT requires the game not only to be fun, but challenging and balanced. Thats is A LOT of work. I'm not sure if SC2 will be as balanced as SC1, but they are trying very hard!

 

[eXan]

I just thought I should warn any original StarCraft players that it does not work in 10.5.3.

I'm sorry that it's probably too late for most of you though.

I've just played it on iMac G5 .5.3 with no issues

 

[0098386]

I've just played it on iMac G5 .5.3 with no issues

From what I've heard it's a problem with a certain breed of Intel chips.

Either way I'm buying a new iMac later this year so that'll likely run SC2 well. Can't wait for this one.

 

[Sijmen]

The game still starts fine on my late 2007 model Intel iMac (C2D 2.4). Didn't play though, maybe that would crash, no idea.

 

[nagromme]

I have never played an RTS game before*, but StarCraft 2 looks like the one to win me over! I'll be delighted if it turns out my Air can run it (which means no key disc protection of course) but if I can't game on the go, I'll just play at home on my iMac.

* Unless you count Lemmings or Hordes of Orcs... which are sort of related concepts. Sort of.

 

[Barham]

You're completely off, as it turns out.

The SC2 engine is brand new, completely shader based, and requires Shader Model 2.0 GPU hardware. On that basis alone it is not comparable to the WC3 engine.

While the systems I listed at top of page are not an official minimum spec for SC2 on Mac, they are an excellent starting point to consider if you are considering buying a new machine and want it to be able to run SC2 well. When we have a frozen minimum spec to publish we will do that, and I am 100% confident it will include the systems listed (Intel Mac with NVIDIA or ATI graphics).

Always great to hear from you on this forum. It reminds me of the early days of WoW. Now, in that vein, my question is not whether I'll be able to run SC2 (MBP 2.4 8600), but whether I'll have to boot into XP to get maximum performance (As I currently do with WoW). Will there be more performance parity now that the client will be based only on Intel? It's probably too early for you to say, but I figure it's worth a shot.

 

[redsteven]

I have never played an RTS game before*, but StarCraft 2 looks like the one to win me over! I'll be delighted if it turns out my Air can run it (which means no key disc protection of course) but if I can't game on the go, I'll just play at home on my iMac.

* Unless you count Lemmings or Hordes of Orcs... which are sort of related concepts. Sort of.

One of the best things about the original starcraft, Nagromme, was that it was so much MORE than just an RTS.

most RTS games are just that... real-time strategy games, and while you might be able to find plenty of different maps, you're still playing an RTS.

Because blizzard shipped the original starcraft with a map editor (and community members then expanded upon that) people were able to make all sorts of maps that DIDN'T require super RTS skills.

While I loved playing the campaign, my favorite part of starcraft were the user-made multiplayer maps.

UMS stands for "use map settings." When you use map settings on a map, then the game uses whatever parameters and AI triggers were set by the map creator, and that means you can make all sorts of games from RPGs to my favorite - defense games.

Defense games can be played competitively or in teams. If I was playing turret defense, then I'd start with one builder unit and it would be my responsibility to prevent the enemies who start at the top of the screen from reaching the bottom. I'd have control of a thin "lane" and I'd be able to build missile turrets on it. The more enemies I kill the more money I get, and the more turrets I can build. Then if I get enough money, on most maps you can purchase upgrades or super-units, such as an air vehicle with good anti-air capabilities to help you out.

I recommend that you find the original starcraft and give it a shot, even if you only play multiplayer.

 

[eXan]

One of the best things about the original starcraft, Nagromme, was that it was so much MORE than just an RTS.

most RTS games are just that... real-time strategy games, and while you might be able to find plenty of different maps, you're still playing an RTS.

Because blizzard shipped the original starcraft with a map editor (and community members then expanded upon that) people were able to make all sorts of maps that DIDN'T require super RTS skills.

While I loved playing the campaign, my favorite part of starcraft were the user-made multiplayer maps.

UMS stands for "use map settings." When you use map settings on a map, then the game uses whatever parameters and AI triggers were set by the map creator, and that means you can make all sorts of games from RPGs to my favorite - defense games.

Defense games can be played competitively or in teams. If I was playing turret defense, then I'd start with one builder unit and it would be my responsibility to prevent the enemies who start at the top of the screen from reaching the bottom. I'd have control of a thin "lane" and I'd be able to build missile turrets on it. The more enemies I kill the more money I get, and the more turrets I can build. Then if I get enough money, on most maps you can purchase upgrades or super-units, such as an air vehicle with good anti-air capabilities to help you out.

I recommend that you find the original starcraft and give it a shot, even if you only play multiplayer.

hah while UMS can occasionally be fun, playing BW competitively (like I've been doing for a year now) is much MUCH more fun and doesn't get boring, like UMS. Koreans are insane! O_O

 

[nagromme]

Defense games can be played competitively or in teams. If I was playing turret defense, then I'd start with one builder unit and it would be my responsibility to prevent the enemies who start at the top of the screen from reaching the bottom. I'd have control of a thin "lane" and I'd be able to build missile turrets on it. The more enemies I kill the more money I get, and the more turrets I can build. Then if I get enough money, on most maps you can purchase upgrades or super-units, such as an air vehicle with good anti-air capabilities to help you out.

Yeah, I've come to realize that Hordes of Orcs (and the whole tower defense genre) got its start with Starcraft. So now I can simply imagine if both sides had mobile AND fixed units, and both sides could attack, then it would be a full RTS. Maybe throw in more ways to gather resources (other than just killing enemies for hold). The RTS concept is less intimidating to me now, and even the management of stats and abilities (which I hate about RPGs) is fun once I got into it. Hordes of Orcs made a good gateway drug

Question: is it a given that SC2 will have modding tools on the Mac platform?

 

[chickenninja]

the biggest system requirment will be internet connection speed of your service provider, solo play is boring and comps(ai players) consume system specs. the game will be "scalable" so well all have a fighting chance to play on some level, but when you talk about zerglings in quadruple digits then processor starts becoming really important, get the higher end graphics card if not for the v-ram then for the pixel shaders and what not. it would be wise to postpone your computer purchase untill SC2 is released rather than buy now hoping you get something powerfull enough.

if you guys havent played shattered galaxy you might like it.

 

[redsteven]

Question: is it a given that SC2 will have modding tools on the Mac platform?

Yes. Warcraft II did, and that was back in the olden days... like when I was in 4th grade... so I guess 1996 or so.

Starcraft did as well, and although they released an OS X version of starcraft, the map editor was never updated and therefore requires classic : \

The thing with starcraft was that although the included map editor offered far more customizability that almost any other game on the market, it still had its limits. The third party map editors (made by community members) were typically PC only.

But on the starcraft 2 site Blizzard has repeatedly said that the Starcraft 2 map editor will be able to do virtually ANYTHING you want it to.
That's one hell of a claim to make, but I believe them.


Click it, you know you want to. Blizzard launched their own digital download service and of course, it's mac compatible.
I'm assuming though that you'll still to download the OS X installer from their website separately, but you'll still probably need to purchase the paid download so that you can get a registration key.

If you do buy it though, just check to make sure it's working with 10.5.3, or that purchase will give u access to both the windows and mac versions.

 

[nagromme]

Thanks. I'll probably wait for SC2 just because I only have so much time, and other games (QW) are taking my time now.

But I do look forward to SC2--the game and the tools!

 

[darklyt]

I hope SC2 comes out before I'm off to grad school, or maybe during a vacation, so I can enjoy the game while also enjoying what will hopefully be good grades...