No, still playable. Starcraft can be played in either a single-player mode or against up to seven other opponents over a local area network or via Blizzard's free Internet service, Battle.net. Each campaign follows a linear plot that unfolds as players complete the various missions, and the three campaigns also share a common plot thread. The campaigns can be played in any order, although they present increasingly difficult challenges if they're tackled in the recommended sequence of Terran, Zerg, then Protoss. The missions within each campaign also become progressively more difficult as they are completed.
Players can also design their own campaigns by using the game's built-in editor.
The gameplay of Starcraft is similar to most real-time strategy games and nearly identical to that of Warcraft . For instance, the Terrans operate mobile buildings that allow them to flit about the game map as needed. The Zerg, on the other hand, can only expand on an organic foundation known as Creep. The Protoss rely on a network of pylons to channel their mental energy. Anyone who has played Warcraft will be able to jump right into Starcraft , which is a close cousin to its fantasy forebear.