Hi all. Haven't been around here in ages but got nostalgic for SC after playing Road to Victory. I was a beta tester for SC2 but couldn't play it after release because of technical conflicts with my p.c. that were probably related to a driver update. Finally got frustrated and just gave up. So I'm considering purchasing the pack now and diving in.
I'd hoped Road to Victory would give me the feeling once given by SC1. But it's clunky and feels incomplete. I mean, they forgot to put Malta on the map (fixed with a quickly-released patch). That being said, it is ambitious and seems to be well-supported by the developers.
The problem I had with SC2 was that it felt a bit schizophrenic, trying to attract new players--nothing wrong with that--with its use of the isometric CIV3 view while keeping the original hardcore fanbase. I felt like I could never "see" everything strategically. Or maybe I just love the hex format too much.
For any SC3, I would go back to the basics. SC1 seemingly came out of nowhere and was a criminally addictive combination of bare-bones design and strategic complexity. It synthesized Axis & Allies with classic Avalon Hill and was created by someone who craved that as much as we did. The graphics were archaic and dated as hell, but you couldn't stop playing long enough to worry about it.
I see that SC2's AI has become topnotch through patches and expansions; can't wait to try that out. My dream product for SC3 would be a European map 4x larger than SC1 with expanded research options and a wider range of more specific units, with SC2's AI and plenty of "chrome". I always thought the instant tech upgrades for all units was too easy, so you'd have to pay points to upgrade each. Bump up the number of variables and theater-specific events/options as well. Nothing as huge as HOI2, mind you. But a bit more than simple "declare war" options. I'd avoid the Pacific and factor it in through events, as I think the AI gets worse with the whole WW2 enchilada going at once.