Warcraft returns in 2001 with a new 3D look  Screenshot Gallery

Warcraft 3
Developer: Blizzard
Publisher: Havas

Long lives the locked-down camera!  At E3 Blizzard unveiled the new and retooled Warcraft 3 that now features an isometric camera angle (as opposed to the free-form camera originally planned) but also maintains the distinct 3D look that was debuted at ECTS.   While there's been somewhat of a negative reaction to Blizzard changing the specs on Warcraft 3, we're glad to see that the company is willing to take the time to tinker with a game when it's clearly not what they want it to be.  3D is an exciting toy from a technological perspective, but there's yet to be a good 3D real time strategy game with a fully moveable camera.  By using a full 3D engine but still locking down the camera, developers get the best of both worlds: a non-confusing game mechanic but also the ability to better represent the game world using 3D.

There will be five different races to command in Warcraft 3 including Orcs, Humans, Demons and Undead, and while the game won't be out until sometime in 2001, it's nice to see that Blizzard is thinking long and hard about how they want to evolve the RTS genre.  While Warcraft 3 might not be the gigantic leap forward it was once promised to be (that "role-playing-strategy" genre-busting label seems to have been de-emphasized) Warcraft 3 should be a solid step forward for the RTS genre.