<P> Blizzard Entertainment began planning StarCraft in 1995, with a development team led by Metzen and Phinney . The game debuted at E3 1996, and used a modified Warcraft II game engine . StarCraft also marked the creation of Blizzard Entertainment's film department; the game introduced high quality cinematics integral to the storyline of the series . Most of the original development team for StarCraft returned to work on the game's expansion pack, Brood War; the game's development began shortly after StarCraft was released . In 2001, StarCraft: Ghost began development under Nihilistic Software . Unlike the previous real - time strategy games in the series, Ghost was to be a stealth - action game . After three years of development, work on the game was postponed in 2004 . Development of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty began in 2003; the game was announced in May 2007 and was released in July 2010 . The StarCraft II franchise continued with the StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm expansion, which was released in March 2013 . The third StarCraft II installment, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, released in November 2015 . </P> <P> The original game and its expansion have been praised as one of the benchmark real - time strategy games of its time . The series has gathered a solid following around the world, particularly in South Korea, where professional players and teams participate in matches, earn sponsorships, and compete in televised matches . By June 2007, StarCraft and Brood War had sold nearly 10 million copies combined . In addition, the series was awarded a star on the Walk of Game in 2006, and holds four Guinness World Records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition of 2008 . </P> <P> On March 27, 2017, Blizzard announced StarCraft: Remastered, a remastered version of the original StarCraft, with the core updates being up - to - date graphics, and revised dialogue and audio . As of April 19, 2017, StarCraft and its Brood War expansion are free to download and play from Blizzard's website . </P> <P> The story focuses on the activities of the three species in a part of the Milky Way known as the Koprulu Sector . Millennia before any of the events of the games, a species known as the Xel'Naga genetically engineer the Protoss and later the Zerg in attempts to create pure beings . These experiments backfire and the Xel'Naga are largely destroyed by the Zerg . Centuries before the beginning of StarCraft in 2499, the hardline international government of Earth, the United Earth Directorate (UED), commissions a colonization program as part of a solution to overpopulation, however the computers automating the colony ships malfunction, propelling the Terran colonists far off course to the edge of Protoss space . Out of contact with Earth, they form various factions to maintain their interests . Intrigued by the behavior and mentality of the Terrans, the Protoss remain hidden to examine the humans, while protecting them from other threats without their knowledge . The Zerg, however, target the Terrans for assimilation to harness their psionic potential, forcing the Protoss to destroy tainted Terran colonies to contain the Zerg infestation . </P>

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