More on Blizzard's Plans For Battle.net

[DoctorFinger]

When Activision Blizzard announced earlier today that Starcraft II would slip into 2010, they pinned much of the blame for the delay on their ambitious plans for their battle.net service. Now we're beginning to see some of what Blizzard has in mind for their online hub. And Microsoft's Xbox Live service seems to loom large in the minds of the people crafting the new battle.net.

Morhaime explained that in addition to tournaments, rankings and multiplayer matching, the new Battle.net will "add social networking features, cross-game communications, unified log-in and account management and more."

"Eventually, it will allow [players] to connect, communicate and share experiences with each other through the service regardless of which Blizzard games they are playing," Morhaime added.

More and more it sounds like battle.net is the star attraction here, with Starcraft II almost reduced to a supporting player. If that sounds a bit nutty, remember that it's not too far afield from how Valve launched Steam back in 2003.

Source - Gamasutra

[Deadend]

So Blizz is making another XBL for PC, them and everyone else. Now, Matrix Online had a good idea, letting me use AIM from ingame.
Also cross-game communicating for Blizzard games only is kind of lame, even though it covers about 60% of people playing games online in the next couple years (WoW + Diablo 3 + Starcraft 2). I wonder if they will end up making it Activision as well to get the Modern Warfare 2 players in.

[mightbe]

Fuck yes I want an awesome battle.net frontend.

I also hope that they, xbox live, and steam allow external developers to use their friends lists.

[mightbe]

Originally Posted by Deadend

So Blizz is making another XBL for PC, them and everyone else. Now, Matrix Online had a good idea, letting me use AIM from ingame.
Also cross-game communicating for Blizzard games only is kind of lame, even though it covers about 60% of people playing games online in the next couple years (WoW + Diablo 3 + Starcraft 2). I wonder if they will end up making it Activision as well to get the Modern Warfare 2 players in.

If I'm not mistaken, Modern Warfare is coming to Steam eventually.

[Libuke]

Originally Posted by mightbe

If I'm not mistaken, Modern Warfare is coming to Steam eventually.

Cod 4 was on it from day one, I assume Cod 6 will be too just like Cod 5.

[paketep]

Meh. And why not Twitter too while they're at it?.

And for this shit and the piracy excuse is why we're losing LAN and having to wait to 2010?. FU, Blizzard.

[cp#]

I guess this is no longer cutting it

[iHap]

I have extreme doubts Blizz will start a Battle.net/Live system. HIGHLY doubt it.

[bryan]

Just integrate with Steam and be done with it.

[digitalErich]

Just watch, one of the "features" will be a subscription price

[DarkDay]

business i business. You will pay, I will pay, we will all pay, we complain on the internets, but WE will pay. Might loos a few but millions Will pay

[Sl1pstream]

As more companies decide to do this, it becomes more and more useless.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with the idea, but when Steam, Live and now Battle.net start using their own social networking...network, chat and messaging system, unified login system and whatnot, what's the point?

Every other game uses a different system anyway, so the unified login becomes less useful. The social networking can go to hell because I'm not going to set up an account on a bunch of services. The cross-game messaging and invites are nice, but when I'm playing a game on Steam I can't read it anyway.

I can see why this would be cool if you only played Blizzard games. It probably won't work with others anyway.

[muddi900]

Originally Posted by digitalErich

Just watch, one of the "features" will be a subscription price

And we have a winner.

[Narradisall]

Well they do seem to be mashing things together with the online store and adding game eys etc to your battlenet account so I suppose it makes a bit of sense.

Personally, I don't agree with peoples opinion here that they will charge for the service.

Even though I'm a huge blizzard fan I'm one of the rare few that play for the solo content first then the MP, if it is a pay per play service, I doubt I'll be signing up for it, which is a shame as I loved all the old DoTA maps and online play. I just don't play it often enough to consider paying for it a good thing.

[Kelegacy]

Originally Posted by DarkDay

business i business. You will pay, I will pay, we will all pay, we complain on the internets, but WE will pay. Might loos a few but millions Will pay

If all people had willpower, nobody would have to pay.

[DarkDay]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

If all people had willpower, nobody would have to pay.

Agreed...but the masses are not us. Diablo 3 will make me pay no matter what if they ask it, ill be pissed and do the obvious and bring it to the boards where only .000000001 percent of gamers that bring in the rev care. Then when thats done ill play the dam game and somehow justify it.

Then again I just got back from the casino, spent more on alcohol tonight then I would on 2 year subscriptions, let alone the 5 bills I dropped..But then I also came home up 4 bills.
Sill could have gone the other way. I laugh at my hypocrisy. How I will pay nightly massive amounts into nothing just to loose it but when something I really dig comes out and they ask a measly couple dollars extra I get all up in arms about it.

[Doogie2K]

Originally Posted by DarkDay

business i business. You will pay, I will pay, we will all pay, we complain on the internets, but WE will pay. Might loos a few but millions Will pay

Yeah, that Steam subscription is a killer.

I'll believe it when I see it. For now, it sounds like an awful lot of paranoia.

[Goronmon]

The new Battle.Net is pretty badass so far. How many other companies let you input CD keys to tie old games to an online account where you can then download the game on any computer you want?

Edit: Stuff like that is why it's not as simple as "Just do it with Steam."

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by Goronmon

The new Battle.Net is pretty badass so far. How many other companies let you input CD keys to tie old games to an online account where you can then download the game on any computer you want?

Edit: Stuff like that is why it's not as simple as "Just do it with Steam."

Yup. I gladly dropped all of my Blizzard game serials into the Battle.net digital locker and haven't looked back. It's a seriously awesome feature that melds the best of both worlds. I have a digital copy available for as long as Battle.net remains around, and a physical copy in my collection that allows me to install and play just like normal even without an internet connection.

[Jackel]

Originally Posted by Goronmon

The new Battle.Net is pretty badass so far. How many other companies let you input CD keys to tie old games to an online account where you can then download the game on any computer you want?

Edit: Stuff like that is why it's not as simple as "Just do it with Steam."

Adding old CD keys IS available on steam, it is just a publishers choice

Steam can download the game to any computer you want.