Starcraft
Launched: 1998
Starcraft is a real-time strategy video game, produced by Blizzard Entertainment in 1998.
It is similar to Blizzard's previous game, Warcraft II, but set in space and with a completely redesigned game engine.
Set in the 26th century, the game revolves around three species fighting for dominance in a distant part of the Milky Way galaxy known as the Koprulu Sector: the Terrans, humans exiled from Earth and adept at adapting to any situation; the Zerg, a race of alien insectoids in search of genetic perfection, obsessed with assimilating other races; and the Protoss, a humanoid species with advanced technology and psionic abilities, seeking to preserve their civilization and also strictly adhere to the Zerg's philosophy of life.
The gameplay is characterized by its great dynamism, the balance between the three races that make up the game (Terran, Zerg, and Protoss), and its perfect adaptation to online play (only 8 players at a time).
In single-player mode, you must complete three campaigns, one for each race.
It was played by countless players worldwide via the internet, to the point that some users claim that no other strategy game has surpassed it in terms of concepts and gameplay style, and that it has only been surpassed in graphics thanks to technological developments.
Development
Blizzard Entertainment began development of StarCraft in 1995, shortly after the release of the highly successful Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. It used the Tides of Darkness engine as a base, but after a lukewarm critical reception, it was completely redesigned by Bob Fitch.
Game improvements included pre-rendered sprites and backgrounds, built with 3D Studio Max. The game also adopted an isometric view, in contrast to the Warcraft II perspective. Additionally, the game uses high-quality music composed by Blizzard's resident composers, and professional voice actors were hired.
Derek Duke and Glenn Stafford composed the menu themes and in-game music, while Jason Hayes composed the music used in the cinematic cutscenes. Tracy Bush provided additional composition support.
