Starcraft 2 Armory - Unofficial Starcraft 2 Fansite

Another year, another "almost done" video game taking top prize.

This time, it goes to StarCraft II, Blizzard`s long-anticipated sequel to the real-time strategy blockbuster StarCraft: Brood War. The game picks up the story where the first game left off, continuing the battle between the Protoss, Terran and Zerg. But the alien super-races must have signed some sort of armistice, because 12 years have lapsed since StarCraft`s release, and there`s still no StarCraft II.

We were supposed to see a StarCraft II beta during 2009, but it`s been pushed back to first half of 2010. And the latest official announcements from Blizzard have pegged the game for a final-code release later in 2010. The company says the upcoming launch of its Battle.net online gaming service is to blame.

So, we realize we`re bending our own rules a little to include StarCraft II on this year`s list. But we reserve every right to do so based on several factors.

First, a playable version of StarCraft II debuted over two years ago at BlizzCon 2007. There`s been no action since then, just an agonizingly long wait. Furthermore, we`ve seen first-hand reports, videos, demos and written reviews of the game all along, and the whole experience has been built up into an epic tease.

Finally, the public is downright irate. We received more votes for StarCraft II from Wired.com readers than every other item on this list combined. Here`s a sample of some of your comments:

"I don`t care what Blizzard says. It will never, ever be released." -FireyFate

"The waiting sucks. It has been what, 12 years, since Brood War came out? Come on, Blizzard." -Aaron James Tangoan

"I`ve gone from "I need this" to "I could not care less."" -Luis Frost

"Perhaps it`s taking them extra time to figure out how to take the LAN networking code out." -Andrew Lett

"StarCraft: Brood War = Best RTS ever. StarCraft II = Best RTS never." -Bill Cameron

"I remembering pre-ordering it for my brother`s birthday back in August of 2008 when Circuit City was still in business." -whoisdarr

"So without Duke Nukem Forever, how am I supposed to get my name in the Vaporware survey? Guess I bet on the wrong horse. Should`ve picked StarCraft II." -Dennis Murphy

If the previewed gameplay videos and cut scenes are any indication, Blizzard Entertainment's sequel the 1998 sci-fi strategy game StarCraft looks like an epic multi-player frag-fest.

Much like the company's wildly successful Warcraft III, StarCraft II will let users edit campaigns, create their own maps and modify the game play to their hearts' content.

Sounds like a doozy, but so far, it's a snoozy. StarCraft II has been in development since 2003, was teased and demoed throughout 2007, promised in 2008, and now it's been pushed back until at least 2009.

Reader Ray Keller is fed up with the wait. "I'm stuck watching the videogame elite play on YouTube," he writes.

Says reader John Epperson: "I'm not the only one who has been waiting for this installment for more than five years!! And I'm not even a Starcraft fanboy!"

Bad enough that Blizzard has a slow, methodical "It's ready when it's ready" attitude, the company has now announced the game will be carved up into several pieces that will be sold separately.

So, we wait forever for the game to come out, and then when it finally does, it'll just be a first installment?! Grrr...

Quote by Adept

And yet, most likely all those people who made those comments will buy Starcraft 2 right after it comes out.

an epic tease.

The Zerg Tactical Guide: BETA by MEDAVAS

"Exactly, they are all crying now but I bet most of them are gonna be in the midnight line with the rest of us lol."