DarkBlizz

Downloading the 20% version now!

This is actually on of the first things i noticed when i tried out sc2 for the first time, the lack of zoomdistance and rotaion. Glad someone did something about it. I hope Blizzard will implement this option aswell, but then the uber sc1 fans (Koreans) might go berserk.

Thx alot.

I know that there are alot of guides here but I decided to add my own aswell.
The difference between my guide and the others are:

1. I dont mess with the original Base.SC2Data file. AI-scripts are in separate folders.
2. You can watch your own replays vs AI aswell as downloaded replays right of the bat.
3. I only use Blizzards own maps, no hacked AI-versions.
4. All files are hosted at my own site (except for the Beta-Installer).

The files in this guide contain the latest StarCrack AI (6.1.1 atm) and Valkirie SC2Beta Launcher.
I prefer this launcher since you dont replace the original Base.SC2Data, its easy to just add new AI-scripts, it supports the regular maps and it allows you to choose race for both yourself and the AI (and the prefered AI-Script) before starting a game.


Anyways, lets get started!

1. First of you have to download the StarCraft 2 Beta installer.

This is the only file i won't host on my site. Here is a link to the torrentfile hosted on PirateBay: StarCraft 2 Installer US Build 13891
(You need a Bittorrentclient (i.e. uTorrent) to download the Beta installer)

2. Install the Beta and start it to update it to the latest version.

3. Download Starcraft2-Cache+Maps.rar and unpack it to:

Windows 7/Vista:
"C:\Users\<Your Name>\Appdata\Local\Blizzard Entertainment\Battle.net\"

Windows XP:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Blizzard Entertainment\Battle.net\"

(The folder AppData/Application Data are hidden by default so be sure to enable viewing of hidden files before locating it!)

Note: You need a program that can extract .rar-files to unpack the files I post here. I prefer the free program: 7-zip

4. Download my edited version of Valkirie's Starcraft2-Betalauncher+AI.rar and unpack it to the folder where you installed the StarCraft 2 Beta.

Default folder is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Blizzard Entertainment\StarCraft II Beta\" but if you are like me you probably installed it somewhere else.

5. Go to the folder you installed the StarCraft II Beta and start "Starcraft II - Beta Launcher.exe"

(If the launcher wants you to specify a folder at the startup just choose your StarCraft II Beta installation folder)

Start by UNCHECKING the "Use Internet" box (It causes the launcher to give all sorts of error messages for most people.)

Now click the "Change maps folder"-button and browse to:

Windows 7/Vista:
"C:\Users\<Your Name>\Appdata\Local\Blizzard Entertainment\Battle.net\Cache\00\11\"

Windows XP:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Blizzard Entertainment\Battle.net\Cache\00\11\"

Voila! The maps should appear!

If no AI-scripts are listed: Click the the button "Change difficulty folder" and browse to the folder where you installed the StarCraft II Beta and then choose the folder "AI". (Not any of the subfolders, JUST THE "AI" FOLDER)

Dont forget to set "GAME VERSION" to the latest one (Base 14259 at the moment) since the game has gone through some major balance fixes since it's launch.

Now it's just to choose a map and then choose the preferd version of the AI you wish to play against (Latest version at the moment I'm writing this is 6.1.1 and its included in the file). Choose which race you want to play as, how many AI:s you want to play against, set their race and click the big "Play" button.

6. Enjoy the game!



Bypassing the "Login-screen" and Replays.
If you want to bypass the Login-screen and have a look-around in the StarCraft II Beta menus (You can't play multiplayer but you can however view your own/downloaded replays) all you have to do is download battlenetgfx.zip and unpack it into the "Battle.net" folder located in your StarCraft II Beta installation folder.

Here are some mixed replays (I think it is Artosis replaypack): Replays.rar

Just unpack the file to "My documents\StarCraft II Beta\Replays\Multiplayer\"
(If the Replays or Multiplayer folders doesn't exist, create them)

Now you should be able to view the replays from either the Launcher you use to start AI-games or the regular StarCraft II Beta launcher (with the battle.net.gfx file applied enabling you to bypass the login-screen).

Note:
The games you play vs AI are also recorded and are located in the "Recent" folder under "Replays". (This only works if you load the maps from the cache folder as described in nr.5)

Note2:
You are only able to watch the replays of your games vs the AI if you have loaded the correct AI-Script. Meaning if you want to watch a replay from a match between you and a 6.1 AI you have to select the 6.1 AI script, start a game, exit the game and then select the replay you wish to watch. So if you update to a newer version of the A.I-script and want to watch an old replay you HAVE to load the old A.I-script first. 

Additional information:

The Starcraft2-Cache+Maps.rar is the latest cache file plus blizzards unedited version of the maps (located in Cache\00\11). This is due to the fact that you dont need AI-versions of the maps with valkiries launcher. They do however miss the added loadingscreen. The reason why I have choose to run the maps directly from the cache directory is to enable viewing of your own replays vs the AI. I do update this file whenever a new map or cache is added.

The Starcraft2-Betalauncher+AI.rar is the latest version of Valkirie's SC2Beta Launcher, all I have done is to add the Latest StarCrack AI:s to it (version 6.1.1 at the moment). I prefer this launcher since it doesn't mess with the original Base.SC2Data file, doesn't need AI-versions of the maps and has the option to easily add the latest StarCrack AI when it's released.

I would also like to thank all the hard working people who bring us these files and the ability to play the StarCraft II Beta without a beta-key, I love you all.

Support Blizzard and buy the game when it's released! I know I will.

Thanks for this awesome loader valkirie! It works wonderfully (once I unchecked the "Use Internet" box).
I really like the fact that you have made it possible to add AI-scripts in separate folders. No problems adding the new 6.1.1 AI at all.

Once I figured out that I could place all my maps in the cache\00\11\ folder and add 0011 to their names instead of putting them in the maps folder I'm also available to watch my own AI replays. I just set the map directory directly to the cache\00\11\ folder and play them from there thanks to the select map folder function.

Keep up the good work man! GUI is fine the way it is. Its clean and user-friendly.

Thx a million!