If you've noticed anything in the past week about the site, it's incredibly obvious we've been to visit Blizzard in the states - after all we did get to visit their Campus.
That wasn't the only thing we got to do however; with Starcraft 2 burning it's way through development we knew we just had to get some gametime in.
We've written our experiences up in a huge six-page feature in Issue 103 of Atomic (comes out next Wednesday, the 08/07/09!), but we've nabbed something a little different for the site in the form of the tech trees for each faction.
Keeping in mind that these can still possibly change before the game goes gold, the trees show off all the structures for Terran, Zerg and Protoss sides.
Terran Tech Tree
The Terrans gain quite a few changes from the original Starcraft, picking up useful buildings such as:
Sensor Tower: Provides unit detection over a large radius at the cost of a circle appearing on all player minimaps - giving away position.
Orbital Command/Planetary Fortress: These upgrades apply to the Command Center, giving communication scanning for the former and defensive capabilities for the latter.
Ghost Academy: Allows the production of Ghosts from a Barracks (with Tech Lab addon), as well as production of a single nuke per building. Also upgrades and researches Ghost abilities.
Merc Compound: Allows the production of Reapers, and provides researchable abilities.
Fusion Core: Alows production of Battlecruisers from the Starport (with Tech Lab addon), and ability researching.
Tech Lab Addon: Can be built for Barracks, Factory or Starport buildings to allow access to high-level units. Stationary and cannot be moved, but can be used by any compatible building.
Supply Depot: The supply depot has been tweaked, and can be sunken underground to let units pass overhead.
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| Terran Tech Tree (click for fullsize). |
Click on for Zerg and Protoss trees.
Zerg Tech Tree
The Zerg are subject to some pretty substantial changes in Starcraft 2, and while not all of them might stick around for the final release there's a lot that has been altered:
Spawning Pool: Now allows the production of a special Queen unit from the Hatchery, as well as the usual Zerglings. Also provides Zergling upgrades.
Spine Crawler: The replacement for the Sunken Colony is not a stationary building, but rather a movable defence structure. Can only attack while mounted in Creep, otherwise defenceless. Attacks ground units.
Spore Crawler: Similar to the Spore Colony, this is also a mobile defence structure that mounts onto the Creep much like the Spine Crawler. Only attacks air units.
Baneling Nest: Allows the production of Banelings from already built Zerglings.
Roach Warren: Allows the production of Roaches from the Hatchery, and provides class-specific upgrades.
Infestation Pit: Allows production of Infestors, and upgrades.
Spire: Allows production of both Mutalisks and Corruptors.
Nydus Network: Any unit can travel through the network to any exit, including allies of the Zerg player.
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| Zerg Tech Tree (click for fullsize). |
Click on for the Protoss tree, or back for Terran.
Protoss Tech Tree
Protoss don't seem to change too much on the surface compared to the other factions, but their units and structures are very much altered:
Pylon: Provides power for most Protoss structures, as well as warp area for Gateway.
Gateway: Produces all Protoss infantry, can sacrifice build queue for a warping ability to move units anywhere on the map within Pylon field.
Obelisk: Support structure placed near Crystal fields, provides time limited resource-enhancing upgrades for the active probes in a small radius.
Twilight Council: Allows production of the Immortal unit, and unit-specific upgrades.
Robotics Facility: Now comes with built-in support for Observers, but Reavers are curiously absent.
Templar Archives: Allows Templar production from the Gateway, and fusion of two Templars or two Dark Templars to create an Archon. No longer has Dark Archon upgrades; this unit appears to be removed.
Dark Shrine: Allows production of Dark Templars from the Gateway.
Fleet Beacon: Allows production of Carriers and the new Mothership from the Stargate. Also provides upgrades for both units.
Robotics Bay: Allows production of the Colossus, and upgrades.
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| Protoss Tech Tree (click for fullsize). |
Click back for Zerg or Terran trees.