Two researchers from the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh are calling the end of the "Starcraft" series' seemingly infinite war between the Terrans, Zerg and Protoss.
Using scientific algorthyms and the data from 500 profeessional "Starcraft II" matches, the scientists generated a strategic profile for both the micro and macro-management styles of each race.
The duo then used "percolation modeling," which simulates how adjacent elements react and evolve in relationship to each other in a closed area. It's a technique used to predict how bacteria will react in petri dish, among other things. In this case, the elements were the Terrans, Protoss and Zerg, and the enclosed space was the series' setting, the Milky Way's Koprulu sector. The researchers simulated each of their aggregated strategies, playing out all the different ways that the three sides would likely square off.
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In the end, the study suggests that the Terrans will defeat the Zerg and the Protoss to become the ultimate winners in the struggle for the galaxy:
"It was found that the Terran inhabitants of the fictitious Koprulu sector pursuing a strategy of early pressure against their opponents, would eventually conquer their Zerg and Protoss adversaries," the pair announced in a blog post detailing their findings.
According to the data, the Terrans' tendency towards disruptive attacks to throw the other races off their game would give them a tiny advantage over the other two. They did note that, while the Terrans were technically the winners, the three armies were basically in a dead heat.
Of course, this scientific assessment doesn't take into account unit balance shifts or, more signifigantly, the new units introduced in "Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm." In other words, just when we thought we had this whole "Starcraft" thing figured out, Blizzard throws a monkey wrench in there and we're back to square one.
Also, it should go without saying, but the model is based off of multiplayer tactics and means absolutely nothing vis a vis the narrative of the "Starcraft II" saga. Nobody knows how that story's going to end.
"Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm" re-ignites the conflict on Tuesday, March 12. Blizzard is holding world-wide launch parties to celebrate and you can follow along using #swarmlaunch.