StarCraft 2 Codename Trivia

I had a chance to sit down and speak with some of the Blizzard guys earlier this week. Rob Pardo, Bob Colayco, Lee Sparks and Chris Sigaty chatted with me about the impact WoW has had on Blizzard, the future (or not) of Ghost, World of Starcraft rumors, Diablo 3 stuff and, of course Starcraft 2. I'll be writing up the story later on this week when things settle down, but I wanted to drop this funny little tidbit. Sigaty, Starcraft 2's lead producer, told me that the original codename for Starcraft 2 was "alpha", but when the game was nearing alpha they decided to change it.

"We couldn't say that alpha was hitting alpha, so we needed another name," he said. They settled on Medusa. And that's your Starcraft 2 trivia of the day.

8:40 AM on Thu Jul 12 2007
By Brian Crecente
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18 comments

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DefenderShip at 08:49 AM on 07/12/07
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I hereby start the annual "What would have been a better codename for Starcraft 2?" Tournament. I start the bidding with "Not World of Starcraft"
MajoShinpan at 08:55 AM on 07/12/07
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So there will be a Diablo 3? Hope it won't be like WoW...
MrSocks at 08:59 AM on 07/12/07
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They also use Hydra and Titan for code names.
Ketsuban at 09:14 AM on 07/12/07
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@DefenderShip: I see your "Not World of Starcraft" and raise you a "Warcraft 3, But In Space".
TheWoj at 09:16 AM on 07/12/07
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Crecente, you can't just make passing mention of Diablo 3 like that. It gets me all hot under the collar for no good reason if there's no details.
zenpoet at 09:25 AM on 07/12/07
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With a codename like alpha, I would see a very Laurel and Hardy "who's on first" type joke. Alpha is in beta...what about alpha?... its now Beta...Alpha is now beta? Its not Beta, its IN beta.
zenpoet at 09:26 AM on 07/12/07
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@TheWoj: I agree, Crecente, you can't name drop Diablo 3 and then just let it hang. That is irresponsible!
ausroller at 09:38 AM on 07/12/07
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Diablo 3 buhwah?
Tell us more!
Viva el Diablo!
MantisDragon at 10:32 AM on 07/12/07
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StarCraft 2, meh. Had SC2 been released a few years back I may have been interested. But I've moved on. Now Diablo 3... Please tell us more!
ched at 10:36 AM on 07/12/07
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To echo what everyone else is saying..

Diablo 3! Tell us more! :)
Krytha at 10:59 AM on 07/12/07
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I've always entertained a little idea for D2. Basically that you could allow your character to become corrupted into the service of the 3 prime evils and instead of playing Acts forwards, you played them backwards (with Andariel's throne room as your starting point or something ridiculous) and you could overthrow the Rogue camp as your boss battle. In the way of course would be other players who would be playing normally. Anyway, I have no idea how this would work in game, but I always thought it would be neat.
$Image of Digitalguardian VII: Revival! A Commenter\'s Comeback!$ Digitalguardian VII:... at 11:30 AM on 07/12/07
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@zenpoet: Don't you mean Abbot and Costello?
yashichi8bit at 11:37 AM on 07/12/07
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Hmm, Medusa. Seems appropriate considering when the game launches I will be frozen in front of my computer for years to come
Mmfok at 11:38 AM on 07/12/07
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Did you just mention Diablo 3 in passing? ....

And not even Diablo 3 rumours. You actually said you guys talked about Diablo 3.

Great, i'm going to need new pants... brb guys...
zenpoet at 12:56 PM on 07/12/07
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@Digitalguardian: maybe I meant Bang & Olufsen, I am not really sure at this point. Ebert and Roper? Who knows, you may be right.
full.metal.angel at 07:35 PM on 07/12/07
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It would make a lot of sense for a D3 to come out, ESPECIALLY since the last game ended saying basically "Who knows what will happen now that the World Stone's destroyed"
Seems like a pretty good springboard for D3 to me, or am I just insane @_@?
On a more related topic, (key word more and not on) if there's going to be a World of Starcraft (which would be wierd but I'd be willing to try it out for one) it should be "Universe" of Starcraft, it would seem more fitting. It also makes it sound bigger than warcraft mehehehe :P (which it is xD (plz dont flame me for that T-T))
Sabre_Justice: Okay,... at 12:07 AM on 07/13/07
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I think I'll beat Diablo 2 before I go nuts about 3. Besides, I'm still waiting for Hellgate.

Medusa... any connection to Medusa V? Doubt it...
Max Freak at 04:30 AM on 07/13/07
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Frankly, I would've preferred Medusa to be the code name for Diablo 3.