I've had enough of Battle.net's inane pattern recognizing procedure. Today was the second time my account got locked because I logged in from a computer other than my gaming one. Apparently, this constituted a change in my "access pattern" and requires completely preventing me from just letting me play my damn games. Now, I can unlock my account if I answer my security question correctly, which I did.....or so I thought. According to Blizzard, though, "John Tesh" is NOT my childhood hero, even though I took specific care to mark that he WAS when I made the current account (as I had the same exact problem with my previous one). Now both my emails have dud accounts attached to them and I can never play Hearthstone ever again. Can Blizzard not comprehend the idea of multiple PCs? Do they really believe every single player has a recognizable pattern of gaming, instead of simply having fun whenever they feel like it? The worst Steam has done is send me an access code each time I use a new device, which is a painless matter of checking my email to enter. Nothing like the rigid documentation Battle.net requires.
The only reason I can see for such strict regulation is the nature of WoW as an MMORPG. Such an immersive game can easily become a part of one's regular routine, and the investment many make into their characters can make extra security a massive boon. But why carry those same rules to a casual game like Hearthstone, or the entire catalogue of older titles available from the service? Asking for my birth certificate to let me play a card game is utterly absurd.
(I'm also curious how this security works on the IPad version. Does Blizzard recognize tablets as an alternate gaming device, but not a PC in the same house? Let me tell you, it would be a HELL of a lot harder to break into my isolated home than hack a tablet.)
The only reason I can see for such strict regulation is the nature of WoW as an MMORPG. Such an immersive game can easily become a part of one's regular routine, and the investment many make into their characters can make extra security a massive boon. But why carry those same rules to a casual game like Hearthstone, or the entire catalogue of older titles available from the service? Asking for my birth certificate to let me play a card game is utterly absurd.
(I'm also curious how this security works on the IPad version. Does Blizzard recognize tablets as an alternate gaming device, but not a PC in the same house? Let me tell you, it would be a HELL of a lot harder to break into my isolated home than hack a tablet.)