Ideas to help Starcraft grow? - Page 3

On August 10 2013 01:38 Like a Boss wrote:
Free 2 play, more player = more viewer = bigger esports presence.
Replace bronze, silver and gold league with a leveling system. Let the noobs get rewarded while they learn the game. Let people enjoy it as a game instead of a none stop competition.

On August 10 2013 01:35 The WingNut wrote:
CASUAL GAMERS

That's what this game needs more of. Just like so many people on this thread have stated, SC2 is not very casual friendly. With the inclusion of Unranked Play, and XP system, and Skins/Dance/Etc rewards, it has gotten a lot better. But, there is more that can, and should be done.

The problem is that you don't want to change the game for the people who enjoy competitive SC2, and for eSports competition.

So what should Blizzard do?

My Suggestion: Add in a "Casual Mode" option to ladder games.

When enabled, a ladder game in casual mode might change in the following ways (just ideas off the top of my head):

1. The tool-tips and information messages that are currently in the 'training mode' are now in multiplayer. (e.g., your supply count gets highlighted when you get close to being supply blocked; a message appears on screen when you have high energy on your queens/nexus/OC).

WHY: This helps casual players more easily deal with basic macro mechanics. It doesn't drop mules for you, just reminds you that you have high energy. Again, this is already built into the training mode.

2. In team games, Team Unit control is turned on by default. It can still be disabled by the player if he/she wishes.

WHY: Casual players, especially in team games, can get frustrated when they get attacked by multiple players. Combined with low APM, this creates a frustrating experience. Allowing your team-mates to help you out by microing your units for you would help. This is already in the game; it would just need to be turned on by default.

3. In team games, Allow automatic resource sharing. I'm not sure how this would work exactly, but for example, you could have all minerals and gas over 1000 to be automatically available to all team members.

WHY: Now team games can be played as a team, more easily than the resource sharing system currently in place. If you get attacked and lose your workers, at least you can try to get back into the game if your team-mates are floating money. It also allows you to help out your team if one of your team-mates are floating tons of resources without knowing how to spend them. Now you can easily spend the resources for them.

4. New watch-towers are added to the maps. Each team has one watch tower that belongs to them. As long as the watch tower exists, it gives that team full map vision. It can be destroyed in the same manner as destructible rocks.

WHY: I know this would be a big change. However, this would stop early, cheesy strategies that make the game not very fun for casual players. Casual players also have a difficult time scouting. This would make scouting easy. The location and HP of these towers could be adjusted for balance.


Those are just SOME ideas. Here's why I think they are good ideas.

A. It doesn't change the units or abilities of any units. This means you are still fundamentally playing the same game, just with extra help. This also makes it easier for Blizzard to manage.

B. Being able to see the entire map makes the game much much easier and less frustrating.

C. It doesn't affect the current ladder/competitive SC2 at all. It's a new mode. Casual mode can be turned off if you want to play a more challenging game.


Just some ideas! More casual players means more money for Blizzard means more eSports, etc etc.

On August 10 2013 01:43 Foxxan wrote:


If the game was tons of fun to play, people would play it for sure
No need to do things like these

On August 10 2013 01:38 Like a Boss wrote:
Free 2 play, more player = more viewer = bigger esports presence.
Replace bronze, silver and gold league with a leveling system. Let the noobs get rewarded while they learn the game. Let people enjoy it as a game instead of a none stop competition.

On August 10 2013 02:00 uh-oh wrote:


Actually there are a lot other reasons why people are unwilling to pay for a game. Here in Hong Kong for instance, many student gamers are unwilling to pay for games because it cuts into their other expenses. I tried to convince my friends to play sc2 but when they heard that you have to pay for it(some even confused the payment as a monthly thing) they just back off and play free games with their friends. So I do think F2P helps a ton in getting new players and consequently viewers.

Another thing is I believe the aspect of team games. Yes I've heard things like 'sc2 is designed to be a 1v1 game, team games arent balanced'. Are Dota and LoL's 100 ish heros all balanced? No way! The bigger reason why I believe that team games are important is its much more accessible to the casual players. If you have free time and want to have fun with another friend, you will obviously pick 2v2 because for casual gamers that arent aggressively looking to get better, 2v2 is a way to relax and have fun which is what most F2P gamers wanted in the first place. I think team games are something that new comers can relate to better and they have to be put in the spotlight if one wants more casual gamers to come into watching sc2. Eventually when they are into sc2 long enough to realize the beauty in 1v1s they will switch over. It obviously requires a ton of investment(tournys, more macro oriented team play maps, better team play meta) but I think its a step in he right direction.

So in short, F2P and bigger emphasis on team games

On August 10 2013 02:07 MstrJinbo wrote:
Anyone remember Starjeweled? Sc2 master, Aiur Chef? Blizzard promoted those custom games and gave rewards and achievements for them. What if they worked with the map makers to do the same for the best custom games? With spawning, who wouldn't want to bring their friend in to get the portrait for killing 10,000 units in marine arena? Or the soccerball decal for winning 25 games of star strikers or an infested day[9] portrait for playing every unit in a monobattle? If there is some cool reward every once in a while it will keep casual players interested and attract new ones.

On August 10 2013 01:32 Daimai wrote:
I think that the problem is that this game is too hard, and thats something that fundamentally built into this game. There is no casual following because this game is just too hard for people who want to chill out. With the casual following comes the huge viewer numbers, and that is the fundamental problem SC2 has and that's why it will never become the largest e-sport.

On August 10 2013 01:43 Foxxan wrote:



If the game was tons of fun to play, people would play it for sure
No need to do things like these

A casual player builds up his bases for 10minutes, and now banelings role in and he gets demolishes and the game ends

This is how sc2 works
there is no sustaining fighting going on, its just one big ball vs ball, fight ends in 10sec,now game is over!
This is not fun in the long run for a casual gamer and a professional gamer.

On August 10 2013 02:13 Panozen wrote:


That's a great idea man, I like it a lot. A lot of micro-rewards, not focused on pure skill on the ladder. The only thing I'm a bit sceptic about is it's ability to bring in new players.

On August 10 2013 02:20 brobrah wrote:

Maybe the game isn't fun for you. That's fine, go play something else.

On August 10 2013 02:20 brobrah wrote:

Or a casual player builds his base, defends attacks, pushes back and wins the game. See how appealing I can make it when I cherry pick a scenario that justifies my position?

I'll ignore the oversimplification. Maybe the game isn't fun for you. That's fine, go play something else.

On August 10 2013 02:22 Panozen wrote:


Great idea, that attitude will make the game grow.