Imagine a riot scene. Hundreds of people out on the streets, smashing car windows, holding flaming two-by-fours over their heads, delivering Stone Cold Stunners to the elderly. It’s a terrible sight, is it not? I can almost see it happening now. It’s not that everyone is tired of waiting, because we all know some people have a higher tolerance for release dates than others, but there are those select few who nervously twiddle their thumbs, bite their nails, sit on the edge of their seats, and shake uncontrollably due to their most anticipated game not even having a release date on its info list.
As stated in ‘Information Underload and Grassroots Gaming,’ the fans need a beta. There’s really no other way around it. As time goes on, more people will grow impatient, and blood will be shed. OK, so things may not get that bad, but a lot of fans have already spoken out regarding StarCraft II’s ambiguous release date. When the fans get a beta, they’ll sink their teeth into it and play the heck out of it until Blizzard finally unleashes StarCraft II onto the world. But until a beta makes its way to the general public, what can Blizzard do to distract us?
Release a new trailer, Blizzard. It’s that simple. Release a new trailer on the game’s official website, Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and every other social networking site known to man. Hype it up maybe two weeks in advance so that the people can have something to look forward to. A week after the initial announcement, release some screenshots from the upcoming trailer. Then, announce the new trailer’s midnight launch. It will be a trailer launch of epic proportions, and the StarCraft faithful will have something that they can eagerly await, something to get excited about.
It doesn’t need to be a long trailer. Make it two minutes. Two complete minutes of new footage, cinematics, specs, and end it with a special message. Once the screen goes black, let the following words appear: “StarCraft II Beta Coming *insert month and day here*, 2010.” Now, tell me that wouldn’t be awesome. Not only would the fans have a new trailer to look forward to after its announcement—a trailer that will keep them satisfied for at least a short amount of time—but the reveal of a StarCraft II beta would be something that every fan would appreciate.
So yes, the fans need a beta. But if Blizzard can’t bring it to the public just yet, then create a time buffer by hyping it up for a while. Give the fans a new trailer. That would appease the people for at least a short amount of time. Bring the fans a new trailer, Blizzard. At least until the beta’s ready.
