Control Starcraft 2 through upcoming iPhone and iPad app

Don’t get too excited by that headline – Blizzard hasn’t suddenly sprung an iOS version of Starcraft 2 on us without warning.

Instead, developer Daniel Hellerman has been working on a way of alleviating the pain of learning all the hotkeys and shortcuts through a new ‘Gameboard’ app due to hit the App Store next month.

If you’ve played an RTS online before, or seen one of those freaky videos of a South Korean pro gamer seemingly having a fit on the keyboard, you’ll understand the need for getting these shortcuts memorised – they can be the difference between success and miserable failure.

The Starcraft 2 Gameboard syncs up to the game over USB or wi-fi and transforms either an iPhone or iPad into a second keyboard for the game: a keyboard that can be altered and changed, rather than just another emotionless QWERTY display.

It also acts as a mini-strategy guide, showing unit weaknesses and allowing for mini-map control of the battlefield.

The developer is keen to point out on his website that there are no hacks or modifications to ‘essential Starcraft 2 functions’ made by the program, so it shouldn’t suddenly kick you off Battle.net should you use it.

Best wait a week after release before checking it, though, as it does require another program to be installed on the PC to work, which always hoists the suspicion flag in my mind.

The Starcraft 2 Gameboard is expected to arrive on the App Store some time in September for £1.79/$2.99, and is compatible with all iOS devices.