StarCraft (PC)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for StarCraft (PC).

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WarCraft II E3 1996 Prototype#

Early versions revealed at E3 1996 shows that StarCraft was originally based off the WarCraft engine. The game shows graphics similar to WarCraft II: Tides Of Darkness, such as the dashboard on the side, rather than on the bottom like in the final version. According to media, it felt too much like WarCraft II, with fans often calling the game "Orcs in Space" or "Purple WarCraft", among other variations. Due to criticism, Blizzard started reworking the game with a new engine.

The game lacked vespene gas at this point, and only minerals were available. The Zerg race was originally known as the "Nightmarish Invaders". The name was changed to "Zurg" shortly. However, a Disney Copyright claim made it finally change to "Zerg".

Original Plot#

A late July 1996 teaser of StarCraft came with a WarCraft II re-release. The slide show explained the game's features and the story. It is often wrongly dated to 1995 (such as in the upload below).

Watch on YouTube

The time is the 28th century. For over six hundred years, humans have controlled the stars. Scattered across more than a dozen worlds these disunited Terran powers control the rim of what was once a great, galactic civilization.
The powerful and enigmatic Protoss have long ignored the Terrans, considering them quarrelsome, petty, and short-sighted. Now, the Protoss have fallen into time of crisis with emergence of the Zurg- a vicious race of biomechanical creatures - which threaten their very survival.
Choose your Alliances carefully each species possesses its own strengths and weaknesses as well as special strategies for you to discover. Manage all aspects of the war, from mining resources and researching new weapons to deploying and controlling a diverse array of futuristic weaponry. The desperate galactic struggle for dominance and survival is in your hands.
Beyond land, sea, and air, await the stars...

(Source: CiniCraft)

Screenshots#

This screenshot closely resembles WarCraft II. Notice how the UI and art style are much different from the final game or even WarCraft II.

A battle between Protoss and Zerg air units, such as what seems to be early Carriers and Guardians.

Same as above, but with more units. Notice how minerals are in a floating rock.

Every Zerg unit in the game, and their corresponding portraits. It's highly possible that every unit could fly. Note that the Protoss Carrier and Interceptors are also here.

This seems to be a Terran building. It's also seen in screenshots from 1997 and 1998.

(Source: StarCraft Wiki)

E3 1997#

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Later on at E3 1997, Blizzard released a new version of StarCraft and was showcased to the public. This new version now looks much more similar to the final. The UI bears more resemblance to StarCraft II, rather than the final game. It shows which model the unit is, and what kind of weapon the unit selected can use (if it is available). Vespene gas is seen for the first time, along with very, very early icons. New, menu and diplomacy buttons are also on the bottom middle of the UI. It's also worth noting that the unit selected has a shiny glow around it, whether red, yellow or green.

Screenshots#

The Scouts are a bit bigger than in the final game, but the Siege Tank and Goliath have a completely different design. Goliath's model seems to be "Mark 2C".

Jem/Jim, the character featured in the final game's intro, is used as the portrait for the Goliath and many other units as well.

(Source: StarCraft Wiki, Unseen 64, SClegacy)

This image shows how was looking space battles in this version of StarCraft.

As you can see in this version of StarCraft, scout units was having different portrait than in the final version. And the Space map is was other in this version of StarCraft.

(Source: internet archives)

Zurg Name Change#

Blizzard Entertainment had to change name of the race "Zurg" to "Zerg" to avoid any reference to the Toy Story character of the same name.

file:zurg.jpg

(Source: reddit, r/starcraft, internet archives)