Poppin’ bottles in the ice, like a “Blizzard”… Entertainment.. Inc.

If there’s one thing you need to know about me, is that I’m a pretty big fan of Blizzard Entertainment – mainly due to the recent Starcraft II pandemic that has taken over during the last couple of months. For those who don’t know, Blizzard Inc. is an American video game developer that is best known for its widespread success in developing multi-player gaming series like Diablo (I and II), Starcraft (I and II), World of Warcraft etc.

Now for those who haven’t tried playing (or even heard of) Starcraft II yet, I suggest you try it out. It is not the typical slice-and-dice graphically-pleasing video game that most kids are playing nowadays, but like other real-time-strategy (RTS) games, it focuses on critical thinking, constant multi-tasking, and mass decision-making skills to satisfy the gaming objectives. Intense concentration is needed to suit the ever fast-paced gaming environment and adaptations to the opponents’ every move.

Now, don’t confuse yourself, I’m not a pro by any means (only placed in the lowly Silver/Bronze leagues). Some may even refer to me as a “Nub”, but no less am I addicted to the game than the next guy sitting beside me at the internet cafe on a typical Friday night. But what amazes me more than the flawless game-play itself, is their impressive marketing schemes and relentless branding of the product that Blizzard puts into it. What makes Starcraft II such a successful hit in the market is a combination of rock solid product quality and careful planning and packaging of the product.

Pricing: $59.99 CAD (I got mine as a birthday present some time in the summer.)

Game-play: No one can doubt the fact that Blizzard puts a lot of work and time into perfecting each one of their products, as they took over 12 years(!!!!) to release Starcraft II after the first installation, Starcraft I came out in 1998. The intricate designs of the three races (Terran, Protoss, and Zerg), each having its advantages and disadvantages to one another, is a perfect example of Blizzard’s superior product excellence to other game developers in the industry.

Long-Term Dedication: Another thing Blizzard does best is it continues to relentlessly seek improvements in its game-play through regular patches that fix in-game bugs and glitches, and seeks feedback from gamers from their online forums. It is no wonder that Blizzard has nurtured a reputation so respectable among the gaming industry and has gained the trust of so many gamers, including myself.

Advertising Campaign: It is interesting to note that Blizzard typically announces the release of their games 2-3 years prior to their actual release dates. This practice attributes to the “launch hype” that Blizzard wants to create which will in turn maximize product sales right on the release date. Line-ups were very long on the day Starcraft II was released.. many even desperately camped outside their local Best Buy stores to get a hands on the sacred item. (I was not one of them, just FYI). After announcing its release, they would then pile up the hype by releasing mass amounts of previews, screenshots, videos, developer interviews to add to the momentum.

Viral Marketing: It also doesn’t hurt to have popular Youtube artists (like HDStarcraft and HuskyStarcraft) promote the game by regularly uploading videos of themselves commentating over game replays, featuring the top-notch players around the world. Yes, people commentate Starcraft games… believe it or not, it is more exciting to watch than a live football game.

Here is one of my personal favorites… Enjoy..

If that didn’t get you hyped up, I don’t know what will…

And… to end this week’s post, here is a picture of a very bad-ass-looking Thor… (Terran ftw!)

So the message is clear… Get this game now, or you’re missing out!! (no, I did not get paid by Blizzard…)

Update: yes I just noticed I have too many words… = =