No one knows when StarCraft II, or at least the first third of it, will finally be released. Apparently it won't be long 'til your everyday gamer will get to try it out in the closed beta, though.

Blizzard COO Paul Sams has revealed that the beta will take place in "the coming months." Gamers who attended BlizzCon 2008 received a voucher for beta access. Blizzard previously revealed that they may hold a contest or two to determine other beta participants.

StarCraft II will be released in three installments, each one with a campaign for one of the main three races as well as full multiplayer. Sams also revealed that a "frontline" Blizzard title will be released this year, which presumably is the Terran installment of SCII but could also be Diablo III for all we know.