Six activities to entertain you after the Heart of the Swarm beta ends

Whether you are attending one of Blizzard's HotS launch events in person or watching the festivities online, you need to prepare for the 24 hours of awesome - not to mention the countless hours you will spend afterward actually playing the game.If you are one of the lucky souls attending an event, you can pass the time between the close of the HotS beta and the start of the celebrations by packing for the event (if you are traveling) and by solving the pivotal decision of which epic t-shirt to wear.If you plan to watch the festivities online, prepare for the launch by making sure you have an abundance of snacks. You should also stock up on some form of energy-providing drink to keep you awake during the 24-hour event and the subsequent countless hours of playing once the expansion is released.SC2 Challenge: Prepare some of these game-inspired recipes to really get into the spirit of the celebration!Need an eSports fix? Check out Team Liquid's website to find dates of upcoming tournaments. You can also view VODs of previous games on the SC2Casts website.SC2 Challenge: Do you have info about an upcoming tournament? Help other readers get through their HotS withdrawals - let them know about the tournament in the comments below!If you are snowed in or cannot fathom the idea of actually going outside, then keep playing video games! The period between the end of the HotS beta and the expansion's official release is the perfect time for you to check out games you have wanted to play. You can play any game, as long as that game is not the enemy (League of Legends).SC2 Challenge: All jokes aside, check out another popular eSports game. Chances are, you will find a new game to play in your free time. Even if you truly dislike the game, it will make you appreciate the HotS release ever so much more.View the list »
If you've been inside 24/7 preparing for the HotS release, you may have forgotten something: the outside world. Go outside and get some fresh air before the release. After all, this will probably be the last time you will go outside for a while, as you know you will play HotS nonstop after its release.P.S. In case you have been in a serious HotS beta bubble, it is winter right now. Wear a coat.SC2 Challenge: Build a Queen of Blades snow-woman instead of a traditional snowman. Stray animals will be too afraid to turn that snow yellow.

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On March 1, Blizzard will close the Heart of the Swarm (HotS) beta test period, leaving millions in turmoil over what to do until the expansion is officially released on March 12. Never fear, Protoss, Terran and Zerg players! Here are some activities to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay during those agonizing "12 Days of No-HotS-mas."

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  • If you've been inside 24/7 preparing for the HotS release, you may have forgotten something: the outside world. Go outside and get some fresh air before the release. After all, this will probably be the last time you will go outside for a while, as you know you will play HotS nonstop after its release.P.S. In case you have been in a serious HotS beta bubble, it is winter right now. Wear a coat.SC2 Challenge: Build a Queen of Blades snow-woman instead of a traditional snowman. Stray animals will be too afraid to turn that snow yellow.
  • If you are snowed in or cannot fathom the idea of actually going outside, then keep playing video games! The period between the end of the HotS beta and the expansion's official release is the perfect time for you to check out games you have wanted to play. You can play any game, as long as that game is not the enemy (League of Legends).SC2 Challenge: All jokes aside, check out another popular eSports game. Chances are, you will find a new game to play in your free time. Even if you truly dislike the game, it will make you appreciate the HotS release ever so much more.
  • Need an eSports fix? Check out Team Liquid's website to find dates of upcoming tournaments. You can also view VODs of previous games on the SC2Casts website.SC2 Challenge: Do you have info about an upcoming tournament? Help other readers get through their HotS withdrawals - let them know about the tournament in the comments below!
  • Whether you are attending one of Blizzard's HotS launch events in person or watching the festivities online, you need to prepare for the 24 hours of awesome - not to mention the countless hours you will spend afterward actually playing the game.If you are one of the lucky souls attending an event, you can pass the time between the close of the HotS beta and the start of the celebrations by packing for the event (if you are traveling) and by solving the pivotal decision of which epic t-shirt to wear.If you plan to watch the festivities online, prepare for the launch by making sure you have an abundance of snacks. You should also stock up on some form of energy-providing drink to keep you awake during the 24-hour event and the subsequent countless hours of playing once the expansion is released.SC2 Challenge: Prepare some of these game-inspired recipes to really get into the spirit of the celebration!
  • If none of the previous ideas can sate your SC2 thirst, these final two ideas will help. To try something new, check out some of the countless Wings of Liberty custom games. If you are unsure where to start, Blizzard's website features arcade highlight blog posts that point out new, fun and interesting custom games.SC2 Challenge: Be social! Play custom games with friends, or have a competition to see who can win the most games. You could even build a mod of your own!
  • Do your HotS withdrawal symptoms leave you craving something familiar? Replay the Wings of Liberty campaign to amp yourself up for the next chapter of the story. You can even try to earn the available campaign achievements.SC2 Challenge: Do you already have all of the SC2 campaign achievements and need more of a challenge? Be totally epic and replay all of the game campaigns, starting with the original Starcraft.
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, Starcraft II Examiner

Jaycie has been a huge fan of watching Starcraft II for over a year. She has attended two tournaments and watched countless others. She and her husband are currently building a website that will allow users to learn about the game through various quizzes. She hopes to one day become a tournament...

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