Though StarCraft II won't hit stores until 2010, you could get your hands on the game earlier than that. The beta is still slated to begin this year.

"I'm confident the beta will start this year," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime in an interview with BlizzCon Live host Geoff Keighley. "We don't have a date yet, but that is a focus--we're working on getting the beta ready."

StarCraft II is currently penciled in for the first half of 2010. Details on signing up for the beta are here.