Behold the Giant Battle.net 2.0 Preview

[John Funk]

Behold the Giant Battle.net 2.0 Preview

Do you want a giant, in-depth preview of how the new Battle.net will work? Check out the preview that just went up on the StarCraft II [http://www.amazon.com/Starcraft-II-Wings-Liberty-Pc/dp/B000ZKA0J6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1278964580&sr=1-1] site - because it doesn't seem like it's that far off, now.

Is Blizzard ramping up for the StarCraft II beta? Well, is any indication [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98176-Blizzard-Puts-Up-StarCraft-II-Beta-Forums].

Blizzard has put up a giant comprehensive preview of the new Battle.net 2.0 (also known as the reason SC2 was delayed), indicating that the new service would be coming soon: "Battle.net is about to undergo the greatest update in its long and storied history as one of the world's most successful online gaming services."

It isn't anything we haven't really seen before - social networking, the RealID that lets you have more in-depth communication with your real-life friends and family, and the Achievements system, among others - but it's nice to see it all laid out flat. It certainly looks more stylish than, say, Valve's Steam service (though one could argue that Steam is functionality over form).

The interesting bit there (for me) is the little tidbit about how the Leagues and Ladders system will work: After a few games of StarCraft II, Battle.net will analyze your performance and slot you into a league of players with comparable skill - so rather than playing against all of B.net or just a few friends, you'll have a little local neighborhood of ~100 people who are all around your level. It's an interesting idea and one that might be tricky to pull off, but it's actually really appealing for me as a guy who likes RTSes, but who's never been all that great at them.

It's a very interesting preview, and it might assure people that yes, Blizzard has been working on stuff and not just lounging around bathing themselves in the profits from WoW. As for what it means? Well, nobody get too excited - we'll only be setting ourselves up for a letdown - but it does seem like the pieces are falling into place.

We'll find out tomorrow.

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[microhive]

From what I could gather from the preview it seems like we'll get server hosted maps, a Battle.net 2.0 client and a database for where to upload and store maps.

Not sure if the server side hosted maps will be ladder only or not but if this is the case then Battle.net 2.0 is pretty much hack proof.

 

[oppp7]

You had me at achievements.
Are those going to be reconned for WC3? And Diablo 2?

 

[j0z]

this is interesting, I have never played SC1, but I might look into SC2, and this service does look promising.
And I am one of those people that think Steam is function over form. Case in point: the pretty looking Impulse is nothing compared to the ugly (in comparison) Steam.
Although I don't find Steam ugly, just not pretty.

 

[Nincompoop]

What I found the most interesting is the modding community. And what's more, is that if one wants to, one is able to put a price on one's mod uploads, and as they explain, it could encourage high(er) quality mods 'n' maps.

 

[Peace Frog]

I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight ._.

 

[robrob]

There a blizzard earnings call tomorrow too, maybe they're about to announce the beta (or at least give a date).

 

[jamesworkshop]

Looks good, its also good the system will get user tested long before Diablo 3 appears and should work without flaw by then

 

[Viruzzo]

I really hope the leagues system finally kills smurfs, it was one of the most annoying things for "casual" Battle.Net WC3 players (like me).

 

[Zillawoof]

This kinda wants to make me buy SC2.

 

[Enigmers]

Yes I can see them, the awesome new Battle.Net features...

- Matchmaking
- More commercials
- More spyware (Blizzard has the right to store and read every message you transmit over it, for security reasons of course)
- More control (Blizzard has the right to any content you transmit or post on the Battle.Net including pictures, sounds and most certainly maps)
- Map "Marketplace" (no more "free maps" for everyone like in the first StarCraft or WarCraft 3, they got IG shops you can pay money for 3rd party maps, and the authors even get A PORTION of the earnings, how generous of you Blizzard)
- Item shops
- Facebook like "ID-page" so you can "distinguish" yourself...
- No LAN or playing with friends anymore, everyone HAS to be logged in to the great hivemind B.Net and every person HAS to have a key of the game (and every following Add-On) to be able to play with friends or family.
- Achievements (yay, thanks for keeping track how awesome I am Blizzard... everyone's been eagerly waiting for those on the PC)

Thank you ACTIBlizzard, I can't fucking wait...

Here's an idea: You could theoretically not buy the game if these things are really such a huge issue for you.

Personally, I'm interested in the "matchmaking" system, Company of Heroes can match you up with people roughly your level, so hopefully Starcraft II will be able to do so as well.

 

[John Funk]

Yes I can see them, the awesome new Battle.Net features...

- Matchmaking
- More commercials
- More spyware (Blizzard has the right to store and read every message you transmit over it, for security reasons of course)
- More control (Blizzard has the right to any content (redistribute, modify and sell) you transmit or post on the Battle.Net including pictures, sounds and most certainly maps)
- Map "Marketplace" (no more "free maps" for everyone like in the first StarCraft or WarCraft 3, they got IG shops you can pay money for 3rd party maps in, and the authors even get A PORTION of the earnings, how generous of you Blizzard)
- Item shops
- Facebook like "ID-page" so you can "distinguish" yourself...
- No LAN or playing with friends anymore, everyone HAS to be logged in to the great Overlord hivemind B.Net and every person HAS to have a key of the game (and every following Add-On) to be able to play with friends or family.
- Achievements (yay, thanks for keeping track of how awesome I am Blizzard... everyone's been eagerly awaiting those on the PC)

Thank you ACTIBlizzard, I can't fucking wait...

Just going to correct you a bit on some of that - there will be free maps, the "marketplace" is just for the premium high-quality stuff. So if the new DotA people want to release their SC2 version (or whatever) for free, they can. If they want to put it up for sale, they can do that too.

And they've also been on record IIRC as saying that full multiplayer will be independent of how many of the single-player campaigns you have. So if you have all three games but your buddy only has SC2 Terran or SC2 Zerg, the multi will still function.

 

[Jared]

I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight ._.

lol, same. Im going to be looking this over!

 

[BlindMessiah94]

This kinda wants to make me buy SC2.

You didn't want to before?


OT: Looks good just release the game already!

 

[ShadowKirby]

words

On my side, I can't wait for the announcement. With matchmaking, I may finally be able to beat someone at Starcraft ;_;

 

[Dys]

Oh please lord in heaven, don't let them do to it what every other game seems to do with P2P matchmaking. The old battlenet is the best non dedicated server method of multiplayer I've seen, there's a huge potential for disapointment here.

 

[Littlee300]

Yes I can see them, the awesome new Battle.Net features...

- Matchmaking
- More commercials
- More spyware (Blizzard has the right to store and read every message you transmit over it, for security reasons of course)
- More control (Blizzard has the right to any content (redistribute, modify and sell) you transmit or post on the Battle.Net including pictures, sounds and most certainly maps)
- Map "Marketplace" (no more "free maps" for everyone like in the first StarCraft or WarCraft 3, they got IG shops you can pay money for 3rd party maps in, and the authors even get A PORTION of the earnings, how generous of you Blizzard)
- Item shops
- Facebook like "ID-page" so you can "distinguish" yourself...
- No LAN or playing with friends anymore, everyone HAS to be logged in to the great Overlord hivemind B.Net and every person HAS to have a key of the game (and every following Add-On) to be able to play with friends or family.
- Achievements (yay, thanks for keeping track of how awesome I am Blizzard... everyone's been eagerly awaiting those on the PC)

Thank you ACTIBlizzard, I can't fucking wait...

Now I think your making half this crap up... I am bet Blizzard wouldn't make a marketplace, or show commercials. (I do expect bill-board type ads though)