1998.  Real-time strategy games were no new commodity.  Dune, Command and Conquer, Total Annihilation, Age of Empires and Warcraft were all well known, well regarded and loved titles.  But Blizzard wasn't content to sit on the success of Warcraft and Diablo.  After exploring the world of fantasy, they were ready to tap the wells of sci-fi.

Enter Starcraft.

Other RTS games have come and gone.  I have loved many, but none quite so dearly as Starcraft.  You see, Blizzard managed, with Starcraft, to do something that, for me, has yet to be accomplished in another game: They created an interesting narrative with characters I cared for.  The story was fascinating (as far as sci-fi schtick goes), well written, with great dialog and fabulous cut-scenes.  Nobody does cut scenes like Blizzard. 

Add to that the fact the you had three well balanced, but completely unique races to play, and you had a really special game.  But that was almost 10 years ago.

But now we have the sequel.  Yep, Blizzard announced this week (in Korea, of course) that they were working on and will be releasing Starcraft 2.  The gameplay doesn't look groundbreaking, but it looks familiar.  And for those of us who loved the original, that is quite all right.  Check out the trailer.  Another killer Blizzard CG cut scene.

To echo the marine, "Hell, it's about time."