Blizzard is trying to step it up with Heart of the Swarm by implementing new features to make the game more accessible to new players. An RTS’s lifespan is dictated by its competitive scene, and StarCraft II: HotS is going to implement some new features to help new players to take the step from the campaign to matchmaking.
Speaking with PC GamesN, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime spoke about the future of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm and how the expansion is going to handle acclimating new players to competitive play.
The biggest new feature to help new players will be the game’s new “training area“, which allows players to play against AI that imitates popular builds. The new mode will also help new players learn builds and give tips based on their performance.
Players who complete the training mode will then be put against AI in unranked matches to test their skills and what they’ve learned, without the pressure of actually competing.
Morhaime wants people who were scared to migrate from the campaign to ranked play to get comfortable with the game and be willing to test their mettle against other players.
“We want to make the game more accessible to players that aren’t necessarily ready to jump into a highly competitive scene,” said Morhaime, “A lot of people do feel intimidated, at least at first, in playing in ranked play. Unranked matches are a big step in that direction.“
Will this new training area be the ranked play population injection that StarCraft II needs? StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be released on March 12, 2013, so we have a lot of time to speculate. Competing against the other big names in e-sports today is going to continue to be an uphill battle for Blizzard, I feel, even after HotS is released.
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Source: PC GamesN
