DailyTech - StarCraft II Beta Hits Macs With New Level Editor, Valve's Steam Coming May 12 for Macs

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Software StarCraft II Beta Hits Macs With New Level Editor, Valve's Steam Coming May 12 for Macs
Jason Mick (Blog) - April 30, 2010 8:50 AM

54 comment(s) - last by UNHchabo.. on May 3 at 5:27 PM

(Source: vg247)

StarCraft II is shown here running on a '08 MacBook. The beta for Mac just aired for lucky beta testers. (Source: Giant Bomb)

Apple owners finally get a bit more gaming love

Apple's Macs have traditionally packed powerful Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs. One would think that they would prove an ideal home for PC games; but in reality they have only received a limited selection of high-profile ports. That's mainly because most PC games rely on Direct X, a proprietary Microsoft API. Macs use OpenGL instead, necessitating a port. This is just one of multiple API-level differences between Windows gaming and Mac gaming.

Fortunately for Mac gamers, the big powers are finally showing them some love. Valve is beta testing Mac versions of its Steam content delivery system and Source game engine and will soon be releasing a variety of games to the platform, including Half Life 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and Team Fortress 2.

Valve just announced this week that it would be releasing the betas to the public on May 12.

Blizzard – makers of StarCraft, Diablo, and Warcraft – has a long relationship with Apple, but hasn't been tossing as many titles their way of late. However, Blizzard is stepping up its Mac efforts as well. Blizzard just released a beta version of the upcoming StarCraft II for Mac.

Mac players can snag the test release for free at Battle.net, but they must already be in the beta test program to get it.

In non-Mac StarCraft II news, the upcoming title has received a new map editor patch, that allows users greater flexibility in crafting custom levels and mods. A couple of users are already showing off their handiwork, crafting a Diablo clone and a Kart racing game with it.

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SCII ßeta is awesome

By TerranMagistrate on 4/30/2010 12:06:45 PM , Rating: 2

Starcraft 2 looks to do the near impossible and exceed the greatest RTS game in history (SC:BW).

RE: SCII ßeta is awesome

By Kurz on 4/30/2010 2:47:06 PM , Rating: 2

Starcraft 2 is pretty good.
The main problem I have is the Damn zerg race.
The unit combination is a bit bland.

Ultralisks dont have a role anymore.
Zerglings are no longer part of an army in the late game.

You never go hive unless for Upgrade lvl 3 or Broodlords.

Other than the Zerg I love playing with the other races.

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RE: SCII ßeta is awesome

By Anoxanmore on 4/30/2010 3:40:02 PM , Rating: 2

You are just mad that:

"Zerg rush KEkEKEKEKEKKEKEKEKEKE"

No longer works. :P

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RE: SCII ßeta is awesome

By Kurz on 4/30/2010 4:02:20 PM , Rating: 2

The zerg rush is still somewhat effective.

I am kind of upset that zerglings don't have the same presence as zealots or marines still do in the late game.

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RE: SCII ßeta is awesome

By Anoxanmore on 5/1/2010 4:07:30 AM , Rating: 2

Hydralisks are suppose to replace zerglings in later game, the same was originally true with original SC, unless you are Korean, in which case all you use is zerglings.

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RE: SCII ßeta is awesome

By Kurz on 5/1/2010 10:57:39 AM , Rating: 2

Zerglings were still viable thats why the koreans used them.
With micro, speed upgrade, the Koreans loved the unit since it was fast.

To me the most fastinating race is the toss since all the tier 1's and 1.5 have use later in the game.

Zerglings have little to no use unless you are doing a two timing attack.

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