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A translation of the interview with David Kim via phone, on a recent episode of Star Haeng Show.
The weekly airing of "Star Haeng Show" has been broadcasting about all things related to StarCraft on OGN in Korea. Earlier this week they aired their over-the-phone interview with David Kim. Below is the English translation of the interview:
Q: Please say hello to the SHS viewers.
A: Hello, my name is David Kim and I work as a Senior Game Designer at the StarCraft development team. Nice to meet you.
Q: What are some of the things that you consider important when releasing a balance patch, and whose opinion do you listen to most?
A: The balance issue to StarCraft II cannot be determined or judged with just one aspect, so we receive feedback from many people. For example, from the pro-players, shoutcasters, forums, communities, ladder statistics, top-tier ladder results, tournament results and etc. We check various aspects and make a decision after taking everything into mind.
Q: What are your thoughts on the recent opinions that Protoss is too strong?
A: We feel that Protoss has been very strong for quite a while now, and Terran have been weak, so we are preparing a patch update. As you know, we are getting ready for a balance test map, and so when the testing is complete, we plan to quickly go ahead with the patch update.
Read the full interview here
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A: We feel that Protoss has been very strong for quite a while now, and Terran have been weak, so we are preparing a patch update. As you know, we are getting ready for a balance test map, and so when the testing is complete, we plan to quickly go ahead with the patch update.
Didn't Blizzard say that there was no plan for patches, and then the TheDwf article came out and changes suddenly happened?
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who cares why,
as long as the game strategies diversify at different stages in the game its good
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I don't know if I read this correctly, but they might one day consider nerfing WG, wow ...
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Q: What are your thoughts on the opinion that there needs to be more of a micro-controlling aspect and the controls now are too automated and easy?
A: We feel that some of this problem has been shown among the Protoss players where there was less of a difference in terms of control between the very top and mid to top tier players. This is something that isn’t easy to fix within Heart of the Swarm, but something the development team is working very hard on before the beta of our next expansion. We feel that ultimately it is important to make the very top tier players in each race differentiate themselves through such changes (to micro).
Please. SC2 needs more differentiation. Everything and everyone is the same. =\
+1 to changes to warpgate
+1 to BW units and units that feel important and unique
+1 comebacks
+1 economy revamp
+1 "balance" should be a far second to good design/fun
But since it is good to have a (friendly) Brood War unit come into StarCraft II by changing the design and upgrading it, we are in talks about this and are testing some things.
I hope they do not mean automating/making it easier to use by 'upgrading it'. T_T
LotV needs to drastically change SC2. Look at Starbow for ideas.
Last chance, Blizzard.
Please surprise me.
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On July 17 2014 03:12 Pino wrote:
I don't know if I read this correctly, but they might one day consider nerfing WG, wow ...
He said they would be willing to nerf it if it became a problem but not make major design change. Since it's unlikely WG will ever be considered a major issue balance wise, I doubt there will be any changes in this expansion or the next.
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Tbh whilst saying he was wiling to nerf it he also said several times that he didnt want to.
Personally i think thats a terrible idea. Half the character of protoss now is the warp gate. Their production is already kind of slow. The real problem is lack of early game options against them and the robustness the nexus speed boost gives them.
Sure you can get into other details, but terran (i dont know z well enough) cant attack them early and damaging their mineral lines effects them least of all races. But at the same tiem you dont want protoss to be back to 'oh crap i missed the ramp ff and now im dead'
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On July 17 2014 03:15 purakushi wrote:Show nested quote +Q: What are your thoughts on the opinion that there needs to be more of a micro-controlling aspect and the controls now are too automated and easy?
A: We feel that some of this problem has been shown among the Protoss players where there was less of a difference in terms of control between the very top and mid to top tier players. This is something that isn’t easy to fix within Heart of the Swarm, but something the development team is working very hard on before the beta of our next expansion. We feel that ultimately it is important to make the very top tier players in each race differentiate themselves through such changes (to micro). Please. SC2 needs more differentiation. Everything and everyone is the same. =\ +1 to changes to warpgate +1 to BW units Show nested quote +But since it is good to have a (friendly) Brood War unit come into StarCraft II by changing the design and upgrading it, we are in talks about this and are testing some things. I hope they do not mean automating/making it easier to use by 'upgrading it'. T_T
Right when it got removed just before the WoL beta, the SC2 Lurker was basically a Hive-tech, long-range, anti-armor unit very much like the Siege Tank, unlike the BW Lurker. Design changes could be like that.
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I feel rather good now about LotV since they seem to work hard on it and test a lot. Considering iNcontrol once said, Blizzard didn't plan any major changes or new units in LotV, they definitely changed their plans for the better. New (or old  ) units and a more micro intensive Protoss race! If they somehow change warpgate and forcefield, it might become great.
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On July 17 2014 03:22 eviltomahawk wrote:Show nested quote +On July 17 2014 03:15 purakushi wrote:Q: What are your thoughts on the opinion that there needs to be more of a micro-controlling aspect and the controls now are too automated and easy?
A: We feel that some of this problem has been shown among the Protoss players where there was less of a difference in terms of control between the very top and mid to top tier players. This is something that isn’t easy to fix within Heart of the Swarm, but something the development team is working very hard on before the beta of our next expansion. We feel that ultimately it is important to make the very top tier players in each race differentiate themselves through such changes (to micro). Please. SC2 needs more differentiation. Everything and everyone is the same. =\ +1 to changes to warpgate +1 to BW units But since it is good to have a (friendly) Brood War unit come into StarCraft II by changing the design and upgrading it, we are in talks about this and are testing some things. I hope they do not mean automating/making it easier to use by 'upgrading it'. T_T Right when it got removed just before the WoL beta, the sc2 Lurker was basically a Hive-tech, long-range, anti-armor unit very much like the Siege Tank, unlike the BW Lurker. Design changes could be loke that.
I feel like BW lurker would be a great fix to ZvZ, as it would be a small thing allowing a player being behind to catch up, rather than the actual roach war which sometimes seems pointless
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On July 17 2014 03:22 Musicus wrote:I feel rather good now about LotV since they seem to work hard on it and test a lot. Considering iNcontrol once said, Blizzard didn't plan any major changes or new units in LotV, they definitely changed their plans for the better. New (or old ) units and a more micro intensive Protoss race! If they somehow change warpgate and forcefield, it might become great.
I'm rather worries that since a lot of the RTS team is working on Heroes of the Storm right now, the changes in LotV might not be extensive enough yet and development might be slowed. I guess we'll see what they have planned during Blizzcon.
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On July 17 2014 03:16 LockeTazeline wrote:Show nested quote +On July 17 2014 03:12 Pino wrote:
I don't know if I read this correctly, but they might one day consider nerfing WG, wow ... He said they would be willing to nerf it if it became a problem but not make major design change. Since it's unlikely WG will ever be considered a major issue balance wise, I doubt there will be any changes in this expansion or the next.
I hope they realise it's more of a design than a balance issue. Warpgate is a cool idea, but I'd love it, if they made it a late game tech and instead reduce the standard build time for gateway units. We'd see warpgate harass in the lategame and stuff, but no warpgate all-ins early on.
Also Forcefields should have 100 hp/shield or something and should be attackable by units, so they can be broken. Stalkers could've their damage vs armored units as default damage vs everything to balance the early game, together with the shortended build time on normal gateways.
So many options, I really hope Blizzard isn't afraid to try things.
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On July 17 2014 03:12 Pino wrote:
I don't know if I read this correctly, but they might one day consider nerfing WG, wow ...
Don't think so. From the way he phrased his response, it seems that he does not want to make it sound like there are any units/abilities that are untouchable if a serious problem arises. But he's not hinting that he wants to nerf warp gates.
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On July 17 2014 03:12 Pino wrote:
I don't know if I read this correctly, but they might one day consider nerfing WG, wow ...
WG should not exist in early game, put WG to Twilight Council. ZvP asymmetrical early stage is just pretty terrible since WoL.
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On July 17 2014 03:15 purakushi wrote:Show nested quote +Q: What are your thoughts on the opinion that there needs to be more of a micro-controlling aspect and the controls now are too automated and easy?
A: We feel that some of this problem has been shown among the Protoss players where there was less of a difference in terms of control between the very top and mid to top tier players. This is something that isn’t easy to fix within Heart of the Swarm, but something the development team is working very hard on before the beta of our next expansion. We feel that ultimately it is important to make the very top tier players in each race differentiate themselves through such changes (to micro). Please. SC2 needs more differentiation. Everything and everyone is the same. =\ +1 to changes to warpgate +1 to BW units and units that feel important and unique +1 comebacks +1 economy revamp +1 "balance" should be a far second to good design/fun Show nested quote +But since it is good to have a (friendly) Brood War unit come into StarCraft II by changing the design and upgrading it, we are in talks about this and are testing some things. I hope they do not mean automating/making it easier to use by 'upgrading it'. T_T LotV needs to drastically change SC2. Look at Starbow for ideas. Last chance, Blizzard. Please surprise me.
It seems like David Kim gets it.
He insinuated that he's aware of the design problem right now within HotS and that they're carefully "debating" the changes.
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Yeah it seems like he is more open to drastic changes, albeit non-committal, purely hypothetical statements.
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Well they have one shot left and they know it.
At this point it's a bigger risk to not be aggressive in their approach with new units/abilities in LotV. It's lot easier to nerf new mechanics if they become too OP than it is to inject new elements into a stale game after the last expansion is out. In fact, the only time I can think of where Blizzard successfully introduced significant design changes through a patch was in D2.
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On July 17 2014 03:22 Musicus wrote:I feel rather good now about LotV since they seem to work hard on it and test a lot. Considering iNcontrol once said, Blizzard didn't plan any major changes or new units in LotV, they definitely changed their plans for the better. New (or old ) units and a more micro intensive Protoss race! If they somehow change warpgate and forcefield, it might become great.
I would hold back on the excitement until we actually see what they are working on. HOTS was meant to make mech viable vs Z/P. give Protoss a harass and skill showing unit, give Zerg a cool siege unit, and look how all of that turned out...
One of the better interviews from him.
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*sigh*
So they aren't even really considering the idea of redesigning warp gate, and I got the feeling that it was a "never gonna happen" rather than just a "wait for expansion" sort of deal.
Honestly, redesigning Warp Gate to be more of a real choice, or give it some sort of drawback would open up a whole host of other possibilities balance wise.
I did see a *small* glimmer of hope when he talked about the fact that the team is working on ways to allow players to distinguish themselves.
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So many Protoss tears incoming, I'm going to swim in a pool with Protoss tears. NA Protoss players will now drop out of masters and diamond league, watch it happen.
User was warned for this post
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EPT
