<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
is	O
a	O
science	O
fiction	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
in	O
July	O
2010	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
1998	O
video	O
game	O
StarCraft	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
best	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
installment	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
which	O
was	O
later	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
expansion	O
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
Terrans	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
expansions	O
,	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
and	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
would	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
Zerg	O
and	O
Protoss	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
four	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
1998	O
's	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
and	O
follows	O
the	O
exploits	O
of	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
as	O
he	O
leads	O
an	O
insurgent	O
group	O
against	O
the	O
autocratic	O
Terran	O
Dominion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
engaging	O
gameplay	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
its	O
introduction	O
of	O
new	O
features	O
and	O
improved	O
storytelling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
lacking	O
features	O
that	O
existed	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
game	O
including	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
switch	O
between	O
multiplayer	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
became	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
three	O
million	O
copies	O
sold	O
worldwide	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
features	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
species	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
:	O
Protoss	O
,	O
Terran	O
,	O
and	O
Zerg	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
Terran	O
campaign	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
briefing	O
room	O
is	O
replaced	O
with	O
an	O
interactive	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
battlecruiser	O
Hyperion	O
,	O
with	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
,	O
a	O
bitter	O
and	O
hard-drinking	O
mercenary	B-Application
captain	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
central	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Terran	O
campaign	O
,	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
,	O
places	O
players	O
in	O
a	O
mercenary-style	O
campaign	O
,	O
as	O
Terran	O
rebel	O
group	O
Raynor	O
's	O
Raiders	O
raise	O
funds	O
by	O
taking	O
assignments	O
from	O
outside	O
groups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
release	O
,	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
is	O
Zerg-focused	O
and	O
has	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Protoss-themed	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
is	O
the	O
third	O
expansion	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Protoss	O
Artanis	O
attempting	O
to	O
reunite	O
the	O
Protoss	O
tribes	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
stop	O
Amon	O
,	O
a	O
fallen	O
Xel'Naga	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
features	O
approximately	O
the	O
same	O
number	O
of	O
units	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
changes	O
to	O
unit	O
design	O
have	O
been	O
inspired	O
by	O
story	O
events	O
in	O
StarCraft	B-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
StarCraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Brood	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
replacing	O
old	O
units	O
with	O
new	O
or	O
renamed	O
versions	O
which	O
sport	O
different	O
attributes	O
and	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Units	O
in	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
have	O
new	O
abilities	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
that	O
encourage	O
more	O
complex	O
interaction	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
IIs	I-Application
campaign	O
has	O
units	O
that	O
are	O
only	O
playable	O
in	O
the	O
campaign	O
and	O
not	O
in	O
the	O
regular	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
though	O
they	O
are	O
available	O
for	O
custom	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
mostly	O
consist	O
of	O
units	O
that	O
have	O
been	O
scrapped	O
from	O
development	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Terran	O
Diamondback	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
various	O
returning	O
units	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
such	O
as	O
the	O
Terran	O
Wraith	O
and	O
Goliath	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign	O
features	O
hirable	O
mercenaries	B-Application
,	O
modified	O
versions	O
of	O
certain	O
units	O
with	O
enhanced	O
attributes	O
such	O
as	O
health	O
or	O
damage	O
that	O
become	O
available	O
for	O
hire	O
once	O
the	O
standard	O
unit	O
is	O
unlocked	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
Editor	O
is	O
a	O
campaign	O
,	O
map	O
,	O
and	O
mod	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Updated	O
art	O
and	O
data	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
that	O
were	O
not	O
used	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
models	O
and	O
data	O
that	O
were	O
scrapped	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
process	O
(	O
including	O
those	O
made	O
as	O
April	O
Fools	O
jokes	O
)	O
will	O
be	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
BlizzCon	O
2009	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
demonstrated	O
a	O
build	O
of	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
Editor	O
showcasing	O
its	O
capabilities	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
customize	O
the	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editor	O
was	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
during	O
the	O
phase	O
1	O
beta	O
testing	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
when	O
it	O
came	O
with	O
a	O
patch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
is	O
a	O
map-making	O
community	O
using	O
the	O
editor	O
,	O
creating	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
games	O
,	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
,	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena-type	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editor	O
changes	O
the	O
way	O
maps	O
are	O
distributed	O
:	O
rather	O
than	O
hosting	O
games	O
using	O
local	O
map	O
files	O
,	O
users	O
create	O
and	O
join	O
games	O
using	O
maps	O
that	O
have	O
been	O
published	O
to	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
Editor	O
offers	O
more	O
features	O
than	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
Editor	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
game	O
customization	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
concerns	O
that	O
the	O
publishing	O
limitations	O
of	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
will	O
not	O
allow	O
for	O
large-scale	O
custom	O
maps	O
or	O
extensive	O
map	O
availability	O
unless	O
there	O
is	O
an	O
external	O
map	O
publishing	O
tool	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
Arcade	O
is	O
a	O
major	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
map-making	O
community	O
,	O
where	O
high	O
quality	O
maps	O
may	O
be	O
sold	O
for	O
a	O
small	O
fee	O
as	O
"	O
premium	O
maps	O
"	O
over	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
arcade	O
feature	O
,	O
a	O
custom	O
map	O
called	O
"	O
Blizzard	B-Application
DOTA	I-Application
"	O
,	O
which	O
eventually	O
became	O
a	O
standalone	O
game	O
named	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
,	O
was	O
announced	O
alongside	O
several	O
other	O
mods	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
that	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
map	O
was	O
developed	O
to	O
showcase	O
the	O
modding	O
abilities	O
that	O
were	O
to	O
be	O
added	O
to	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
does	O
not	O
offer	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
play	O
directly	O
over	O
a	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
(	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
)	O
,	O
as	O
is	O
possible	O
with	O
StarCraft	B-Application
;	O
all	O
network	O
games	O
are	O
routed	O
through	O
the	O
Internet	O
via	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
gaming	O
servers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
latency	O
delay	O
between	O
commands	O
issued	O
and	O
game	O
response	O
when	O
played	O
online	O
is	O
greatly	O
reduced	O
when	O
playing	O
over	O
a	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
and	O
this	O
allows	O
for	O
much	O
finer	O
control	O
over	O
in-game	O
units	O
;	O
there	O
were	O
concerns	O
that	O
a	O
professional	O
scene	O
would	O
not	O
develop	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Over	O
250,000	O
fans	O
signed	O
a	O
petition	O
asking	O
Blizzard	O
to	O
add	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
to	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Currently	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
has	O
no	O
plans	O
to	O
support	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
change	O
the	O
routing	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
through	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
servers	O
,	O
a	O
'	O
Players	O
Near	O
You	O
 '	O
feature	O
was	O
added	O
in	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
patch	O
2.0.4	O
,	O
to	O
help	O
with	O
organizing	O
games	O
with	O
other	O
players	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
local	B-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign	O
storyline	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
four	O
years	O
after	O
StarCraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Brood	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
and	O
features	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
Zeratul	O
,	O
Arcturus	O
Mengsk	O
,	O
Artanis	O
,	O
Sarah	O
Kerrigan	O
,	O
and	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
players	O
revisit	O
familiar	O
worlds	O
,	O
like	O
Char	O
,	O
Mar	O
Sara	O
,	O
and	O
Tarsonis	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
new	O
locations	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
jungle	O
planet	O
Bel'Shir	O
and	O
New	O
Folsom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
conclusion	O
of	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Kerrigan	O
and	O
her	O
Zerg	O
forces	O
became	O
the	O
dominant	O
faction	O
in	O
the	O
Koprulu	O
Sector	O
,	O
having	O
annihilated	O
the	O
United	O
Earth	O
Directorate	O
's	O
Expeditionary	O
Force	O
,	O
defeated	O
the	O
Terran	O
Dominion	O
,	O
and	O
invaded	O
the	O
Protoss	O
homeworld	O
of	O
Aiur	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
conclusion	O
of	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Kerrigan	O
retreats	O
to	O
Char	O
,	O
despite	O
having	O
more	O
than	O
enough	O
power	O
to	O
crush	O
all	O
remaining	O
resistance	O
in	O
the	O
Koprulu	O
Sector	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
four	O
years	O
leading	O
up	O
to	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
she	O
has	O
not	O
been	O
seen	O
or	O
heard	O
from	O
by	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
,	O
whose	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
and	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
has	O
been	O
marginalized	O
by	O
the	O
media	O
under	O
the	O
Dominion	O
's	O
control	O
,	O
has	O
become	O
a	O
mercenary	B-Application
who	O
spends	O
his	O
free	O
time	O
drinking	O
in	O
Joeyray	O
's	O
Bar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chris	O
Metzen	O
,	O
Vice	O
President	O
of	O
Creative	O
Development	O
at	O
Blizzard	O
,	O
has	O
emphasized	O
that	O
by	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Raynor	O
has	O
become	O
jaded	O
and	O
embittered	O
by	O
the	O
way	O
he	O
was	O
used	O
and	O
betrayed	O
by	O
Arcturus	O
Mengsk	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
new	O
characters	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
include	O
Tychus	O
Findlay	O
,	O
an	O
ex-convict	O
and	O
marine	B-Application
who	O
becomes	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
Raynor	O
's	O
crew	O
,	O
and	O
Matt	O
Horner	O
,	O
Raynor	O
's	O
second	O
in	O
command	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
originally	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
novel	O
Queen	O
of	O
Blades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zeratul	O
,	O
tormented	O
over	O
the	O
murder	O
of	O
his	O
matriarch	O
,	O
has	O
disappeared	O
to	O
search	O
for	O
clues	O
to	O
the	O
meaning	O
of	O
Samir	O
Duran	O
's	O
cryptic	O
statements	O
regarding	O
the	O
Protoss/Zerg	O
hybrids	O
in	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
's	O
secret	O
mission	O
"	O
Dark	O
Origin	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Dominion	O
is	O
once	O
again	O
the	O
dominant	O
Terran	O
power	O
in	O
the	O
Koprulu	O
sector	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
News	O
reports	O
reveal	O
that	O
in	O
the	O
four	O
years	O
since	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Brood	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
the	O
standing	O
Dominion	O
military	O
forces	O
have	O
been	O
reduced	O
and	O
defense	O
budget	O
has	O
instead	O
been	O
diverted	O
to	O
hunting	O
down	O
rebel	O
forces	O
that	O
operate	O
against	O
the	O
Dominion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
the	O
way	O
,	O
they	O
meet	O
with	O
Gabriel	O
Tosh	O
,	O
a	O
rogue	B-Protocol
Dominion	O
psychic	O
assassin	O
known	O
as	O
a	O
Spectre	O
,	O
and	O
Ariel	O
Hanson	O
,	O
a	O
researcher	O
on	O
the	O
Zerg	O
and	O
leader	O
of	O
a	O
small	O
farming	O
colony	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
English	O
language	O
version	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
has	O
Robert	O
Clotworthy	O
and	O
James	O
Harper	O
reprising	O
their	O
roles	O
from	O
StarCraft	B-Application
as	O
the	O
voices	O
of	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
and	O
Arcturus	O
Mengsk	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
May	O
19	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
Blizzard	O
Worldwide	O
Invitational	O
in	O
Seoul	O
,	O
South	O
Korea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Rob	O
Pardo	O
and	O
Chris	O
Sigaty	O
,	O
development	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
though	O
initially	O
delayed	O
for	O
a	O
year	O
by	O
the	O
temporary	O
reassignment	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
resources	O
to	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
,	O
began	O
in	O
2003	O
,	O
shortly	O
after	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
supports	O
the	O
DirectX	B-Application
9	I-Application
(	O
Pixel	O
shader	O
2.0	O
)	O
software	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
is	O
also	O
fully	O
compatible	O
with	O
DirectX	B-Application
10	I-Application
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
had	O
decided	O
not	O
to	O
add	O
exclusive	O
DirectX	B-Application
10	I-Application
graphic	O
effects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mac	O
version	O
uses	O
OpenGL	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
previously	O
featured	O
the	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
for	O
more	O
realistic	O
environmental	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
debris	O
rolling	O
down	O
a	O
ramp	O
"	O
which	O
has	O
since	O
been	O
replaced	O
with	O
a	O
custom	O
physics	O
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
June	O
2008	O
Blizzard	O
Worldwide	O
Invitational	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
Executive	O
Vice	O
President	O
Rob	O
Pardo	O
announced	O
that	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
was	O
approximately	O
one-third	O
complete	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
that	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
would	O
be	O
followed	O
up	O
by	O
two	O
expansion	O
packs	O
–	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heart	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
which	O
would	O
focus	O
around	O
the	O
Zerg	O
and	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
which	O
would	O
focus	O
around	O
the	O
Protoss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
25	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
the	O
Blizzard	O
Theme	O
Park	O
Contest	O
,	O
where	O
prizes	O
would	O
include	O
two	O
beta	O
keys	O
for	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
updated	O
news	O
and	O
updates	O
page	O
of	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
for	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
stated	O
that	O
the	O
top	O
20	O
players	O
from	O
each	O
realm	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
given	O
a	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
beta	O
key	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
began	O
closed	O
beta	O
testing	O
,	O
as	O
promised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beta	O
keys	O
for	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
were	O
sold	O
on	O
eBay	B-Application
for	O
prices	O
as	O
high	O
as	O
$400	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
12	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
released	O
the	O
beta	O
client	O
for	O
computers	O
running	O
Mac	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
,	O
for	O
the	O
users	O
who	O
had	O
signed	O
up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
held	O
in	O
June	O
2009	O
,	O
Rob	O
Pardo	O
indicated	O
that	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
support	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
included	O
in	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Removing	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
requires	O
players	O
to	O
connect	O
through	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
servers	O
before	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
,	O
causing	O
gamers	O
to	O
voice	O
their	O
dissatisfaction	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mike	O
Morhaime	O
,	O
president	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
,	O
announced	O
during	O
the	O
opening	O
ceremony	O
of	O
Blizzcon	O
2009	O
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
the	O
new	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
platform	O
would	O
both	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
approximately	O
one-month	O
gap	O
between	O
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
March	O
2010	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
had	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
new	O
platform	O
was	O
being	O
tested	O
outside	O
the	O
beta	O
and	O
was	O
planned	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
early	O
July	O
2010	O
,	O
for	O
both	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Cataclysm	I-Protocol
,	O
with	O
a	O
later	O
upgrade	O
for	O
Diablo	B-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
5	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
revealed	O
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
2.0	O
would	O
be	O
integrated	O
with	O
social	O
networking	O
site	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
"	O
linking	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
premier	O
online	O
gaming	O
platform	O
with	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
most	O
popular	O
social	O
platform	O
"	O
—	O
a	O
move	O
that	O
allowed	O
gamers	O
to	O
search	O
among	O
their	O
Facebook	B-Application
friends	O
for	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
opponents	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wired	O
magazine	O
,	O
in	O
its	O
annual	O
Vaporware	B-Application
Award	O
,	O
ranked	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
first	O
among	O
the	O
delayed	O
technology	O
products	O
of	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
finally	O
released	O
on	O
July	O
27	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
launch	O
parties	O
in	O
selected	O
cities	O
of	O
countries	O
around	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Compared	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
focus	O
more	O
heavily	O
on	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
aspect	O
,	O
with	O
changes	O
that	O
included	O
major	O
improvements	O
to	O
Battle.net,	O
a	O
new	O
competitive	O
"	O
ladder	O
"	O
system	O
for	O
ranked	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
new	O
matchmaking	O
mechanics	O
that	O
were	O
designed	O
to	O
"	O
match-up	O
"	O
players	O
of	O
equal	O
skill	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
continues	O
its	O
predecessor	O
's	O
use	O
of	O
pre-rendered	O
cinematic	O
cut	O
scenes	O
to	O
advance	O
the	O
plot	O
while	O
also	O
improving	O
the	O
quality	O
of	O
in-game	O
cut	O
scenes	O
within	O
the	O
levels	O
themselves	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
rendered	O
on-the-fly	O
using	O
the	O
same	O
game	O
engine	O
as	O
the	O
graphics	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
proper	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
stated	O
that	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
graphics	B-Device
engine	I-Device
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
uses	O
to	O
render	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
they	O
"	O
can	O
actually	O
create	O
in-game	O
cut-scenes	O
of	O
near-cinematic	O
quality	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
BlizzCon	O
2017	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
would	O
be	O
re-branded	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
free-to-play	O
"	O
game	O
going	O
forward	O
,	O
at	O
least	O
in	O
part	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
its	O
expansions	O
would	O
form	O
a	O
trilogy	O
;	O
each	O
chapter	O
would	O
feature	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
playable	O
races	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
expansion	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
Zerg	O
race	O
;	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
12	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
expansion	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
which	O
centers	O
on	O
the	O
Protoss	O
race	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
10	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
additional	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
called	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Nova	I-Application
Covert	I-Application
Ops	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
in	O
three	O
episodes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
focuses	O
on	O
a	O
Terran	O
special	O
ops	O
character	O
called	O
Nova	O
Terra	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
soundtracks	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
comes	O
with	O
an	O
artbook	O
,	O
2	O
GB	O
flash	O
drive	O
modeled	O
after	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
's	O
dog	O
tag	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
and	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
expansion	O
preloaded	O
,	O
behind-the-scenes	O
DVD	O
,	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
comic	O
book	O
,	O
unique	O
avatar	O
portraits	O
,	O
a	O
unique	O
model	O
for	O
the	O
in-game	O
Thor	O
unit	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
pet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
24	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
press-only	O
Korean	O
event	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
that	O
Korean	O
players	O
would	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
for	O
free	O
with	O
an	O
active	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
subscription	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
end-user	O
license	O
agreement	O
(	O
EULA	O
)	O
for	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
differs	O
significantly	O
from	O
those	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
earlier	O
titles	O
in	O
that	O
buying	O
the	O
game	O
only	O
grants	O
the	O
buyer	O
a	O
license	O
to	O
play	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
remains	O
the	O
property	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
3	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
replaced	O
the	O
previously	O
available	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
demo	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Starter	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Starter	O
Edition	O
is	O
available	O
for	O
Mac	O
and	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
requires	O
a	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
account	O
and	O
an	O
Internet	O
connection	O
to	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
gaming	O
and	O
technology	O
sites	O
reported	O
an	O
"	O
overheating	O
bug	O
"	O
with	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
that	O
in	O
some	O
cases	O
resulted	O
in	O
permanent	O
damage	O
to	O
video	B-Device
cards	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
causes	O
the	O
graphics	B-Device
card	I-Device
to	O
continuously	O
render	O
the	O
image	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
excessive	O
heat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
recommended	O
ensuring	O
computer	O
systems	O
are	O
well	O
ventilated	O
and	O
contacting	O
the	O
videocard	B-Device
manufacturer	O
for	O
hardware-related	O
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
reports	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
Public	O
Relations	O
Manager	O
,	O
Bob	O
Colayco	O
said	O
:	O
"	O
There	O
is	O
no	O
code	O
in	O
our	O
software	O
that	O
will	O
cause	O
video	B-Device
cards	I-Device
to	O
overheat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CrunchGear	O
has	O
also	O
suggested	O
that	O
the	O
problem	O
is	O
not	O
with	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
but	O
rather	O
due	O
to	O
poorly	O
maintained	O
hardware	O
and	O
inadequate	O
cooling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
was	O
played	O
professionally	O
throughout	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
though	O
much	O
like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
StarCraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Brood	I-Application
War	I-Application
's	O
professional	O
competition	O
,	O
the	O
highest	O
level	O
of	O
play	O
has	O
historically	O
been	O
centered	O
in	O
South	O
Korea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
World	O
Championship	O
Series	O
(	O
WCS	O
)	O
was	O
created	O
as	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
primary	O
sanctioned	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
tournament	O
circuit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
has	O
been	O
met	O
with	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
since	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
particularly	O
praised	O
for	O
retaining	O
the	O
popular	O
RTS	O
gameplay	O
from	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
while	O
introducing	O
new	O
features	O
and	O
improved	O
storytelling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar	O
felt	O
that	O
"	O
in	O
many	O
ways	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
feels	O
like	O
StarCraft	O
2.0	O
–	O
and	O
that	O
’s	O
a	O
good	O
thing	O
"	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
delivers	O
on	O
all	O
fronts	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Joystiq	O
was	O
very	O
positive	O
towards	O
the	O
improved	O
multiplayer	O
matchmaking	O
service	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
similar	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
,	O
which	O
is	O
a	O
welcome	O
change	O
from	O
the	O
archaic	O
matchmaking	O
of	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
in	O
previous	O
Blizzard	O
games	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
GameSpot	O
called	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
online	O
content	O
"	O
remarkable	O
"	O
,	O
noting	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
maps	O
and	O
up	O
to	O
12	O
player	O
online	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Meyer	O
of	O
Wired	O
praised	O
the	O
improved	O
graphics	B-Device
engine	I-Device
,	O
saying	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
shows	O
decades	O
of	O
polish	O
"	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
slick	O
new	O
presentation	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Matt	O
Peckham	O
of	O
PC	O
World	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
some	O
buyers	O
expressed	O
dissatisfaction	O
with	O
the	O
absence	O
of	O
LAN-based	O
multiplayer	O
gameplay	O
,	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
cross-realm	O
play	O
and	O
the	O
campaign	O
being	O
limited	O
to	O
the	O
Terran	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Revolution	O
,	O
in	O
relation	O
to	O
only	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
Terran	O
campaign	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
pointed	O
out	O
that	O
"	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
has	O
29	O
missions	O
;	O
the	O
original	O
StarCraft	B-Application
had	O
just	O
over	O
30	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fair	O
odds	O
say	O
the	O
next	O
one	O
will	O
have	O
roughly	O
the	O
same	O
amount	O
;	O
Broodwar	B-Application
brought	O
about	O
30	O
too	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
"	O
ugly	O
"	O
issues	O
they	O
identified	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
lack	O
of	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
and	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
split	O
up	O
the	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
separate	O
article	O
,	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
vigorously	O
supported	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
against	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
1-star	O
ratings	O
given	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
Amazon.com	O
in	O
protest	O
against	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
argued	O
in	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
defense	O
against	O
complaints	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
not	O
a	O
full	O
game	O
because	O
only	O
the	O
Terran	O
campaign	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
but	O
did	O
suggest	O
that	O
the	O
customers	O
 '	O
complaints	O
about	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
and	O
cross-region	O
play	O
were	O
legitimate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2016	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Wings	O
of	O
Liberty	O
placed	O
26th	O
on	O
Time	O
's	O
The	O
50	O
Best	O
Video	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
entered	O
into	O
a	O
co-marketing	O
agreement	O
with	O
Korean	O
Air	O
that	O
lasted	O
for	O
six	O
months	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
two	O
of	O
the	O
airline	O
's	O
airplanes	O
on	O
both	O
domestic	O
and	O
international	O
routes	O
prominently	O
displayed	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
advertising	O
featuring	O
Jim	O
Raynor	O
on	O
the	O
fuselage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
3	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
sold	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
within	O
one	O
day	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
its	O
first	O
month	O
on	O
sale	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
sold	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
three	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
