http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=11226742562&sid=3000/url
What is the StarCraft II Trilogy?
The StarCraft II Trilogy consists of the base StarCraft II game and two
subsequent expansion sets. StarCraft II is subtitled Wings of Liberty
(working title) and will include a lengthy single-player campaign that
focuses on the terrans and puts players in the role of Jim Raynor, one
of the series’ main heroes. The first expansion set, Heart of the Swarm
(working title), will follow later and include a single-player campaign
focusing on the zerg and Kerrigan, Queen of Blades. The second expansion
set, Legacy of the Void (working title), will continue the story
experience with a single-player campaign centered on the protoss.
Will we still be able to play multiplayer matches of StarCraft II with
all three races?
Yes! From the beginning, StarCraft II will be a fully featured
multiplayer game, and all three races will be available for competitive
play.
How will the expansion sets impact multiplayer gameplay?
The expansion sets will add new content to each race for use in
multiplayer matches. This could include additions such as new units,
abilities, and structures, along with new maps and Battle.net updates.
If I buy StarCraft II but don’t buy any of the expansion sets, will I
still be able to play online?
Yes. This will work similarly to Warcraft III and the original
StarCraft, which maintained separate online gaming lobbies and ladders
for expansion set players and players with the base Warcraft III or
StarCraft.
How long is each of the campaigns?
StarCraft II’s terran campaign will consist of approximately 26 to 30
missions, and each expansion set will include a similar number of
missions. This means that the complete StarCraft II Trilogy will include
as many as 90 single-player missions. This allows us to create a truly
epic story experience with a great variety of unique missions and
gameplay types.
Why did you decide to release each race’s campaign separately?
We’re aiming to push the boundaries of storytelling and character
development in RTS games through the unique single-player campaign
design of StarCraft II. Players will be able to choose their mission
path and technology upgrades for their army as they advance through the
campaign. In order to make these choices meaningful while creating an
epic story and well-developed characters for each faction, we needed to
focus on a single race for a large number of missions.
The Trilogy also allows us to create more in-game and prerendered
cinematics to tell the story in between missions. There will be more
interactive sets and elements for players to explore during each
campaign, along with other interesting design elements to differentiate
the single-player game from multiplayer matches. For example, the
technology choices within the terran single-player campaign will include
special upgrades and unit types that are unique to the single-player
game. These could include the ability to purchase classic units such as
the wraith or firebat to add to Jim Raynor’s army.
Are these three separate games? How much will all of these games cost?
The StarCraft II Trilogy will consist of the base StarCraft II game and
two expansion sets. Pricing on these games hasn’t been determined at
this early stage; however, we’ve always charged an appropriate price for
the content the player receives, and we will continue to release
high-quality games that offer great value.
How long will it take to ship each expansion set in the Trilogy?
We’re still focused on developing the base StarCraft II game, and all
the content associated with the terran campaign, including the missions,
cinematic cutscenes, and interactive sets. It’s too early to provide an
estimate on how long it will take to develop each of the expansion sets
in the trilogy, but as always, we will take as much time as is needed to
create the best possible gaming experience with each expansion set.