Update: StarCraft II Will Not Support LAN

[Lord_Panzer]

That's pretty damn lame, Blizz.

 

[Bobtowna]

the problem with b.net is that unwanted players might youre games.

 

[cainx10a]

I bought Warcraft 3 and it's x-pack over 3-4 years ago, I only played it around 5-10 times on BNET. It's a game I only reserved for LAN parties and such, I never saw the appeal of playing with random people to rank up or whatever it is those expert micro managers wanted me to do with my elves with those funny spells.

No LAN is lame, that is all.

 

[Pirce]

Not really digging this. The vast majority of my SC playtime has been on a LAN, a more than enough of it was done with little to no internet access.

 

[Fightgarr]

As long as the game is still supported on services like Hamachi I will be fine without the ability to LAN or spawn install. I am, however, confused as to what element of multiplayer gameplay requires that LAN should be taken out.
MEaoow...

How do you fake a LAN connection for a game that doesn't have LAN abilities?

Magic?
Dragon Magic.

 

[Dr. UBAR]

.......Someone. Must. Pay.

 

[Laura.]

Ok, thanks. I've actually never really heard of people bringing their PCs over to each other's houses to play LAN games...I've only ever heard of that sort of thing done in the big annual LAN parties, and with consoles.

Did that last sunday!

Apart from that, everyone seems to be cutting LAN multiplayer from their games... which sucks big time.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

i miss lan parties SO MUCH, no one does anything like that anymore

the closest thing I've had in a long while was I took my box and monitor over to my friend's house for some TF2 action, but I miss getting three or more people together for some LAN fun. some of the best nights of my childhood. long time ago...

It sounds to me like they're going to force all multiplayer through battle.net in order to generate ad revenue.

I think you're on to something. I hardly played Starcraft, I bet I still couldn't figure it out, but I can tell you not having a spawn-installer with the game is a big step away from the legacy of the first game. This is LAME.

 

[HvD]

I never had the money to buy SC, but I do remember dragging my old box over to my friends house and spawn installing SC and having a blast. Well SC2 just went from my must have list to my probably won't ever buy list. It's a lame idea to remove LAN Blizzard, very lame. If they are messing around with SC2 like this I expect they will do the same for D3, so I guess that game gets a pass from me too. Oh well, more money for me to spend elsewhere.

 

[Grampy_bone]

If it hadn't been for LAN parties and Spawn installs I never would have purchased Starcraft. This sounds like some king of big slap in the face from Blizzard. First the game will be released in three parts, and now I have to log onto the net to play multiplayer with people sitting five feet away from me? For shame Blizzard, for shame!

 

[Low Key]

I never played Starcraft over a LAN connection so I guess it doesn't make any difference to me, but it seems kind of odd that Blizzard are essentially downgrading their game.

 

[Irandrura]

But, I find the best part of starcraft is that online competitive is not the only game type it offers. There are also many co-op game types, and to write all those off seems like a waste.

Good for you, but not everyone does. I've logged more hours of SC single player than LAN and Battle.net combined, and that's the way I like it. Some people like single player; and when it comes to multiplayer, I definitely prefer playing with a few friends in person than playing with the anonymous hordes over the internet.

This move won't stop me from probably getting the game - since they split the single player in three, it sounds like they're putting a good deal of work into it - but it is a blow.

 

[Valiance]

Terrible. LAN (hamachi too) or private PGT/WGT/iCCup servers were the only way to play Starcraft unless you liked having unbearable lag (and I mean like at least 1/2 a second before a unit you give orders actually does them).

It doesn't sound like much, but that half a second made a huge difference with micromanagement.

Knowing Blizzard, they won't improve their anti-lag, they'll say they will, and they won't, but it'll be written in the patch so 95% of the people on the forums will say "Yay it's fixed" when it's not for competitive players. :/

If Bnet works as designed, it should feel just the same as a LAN option.

 

[mooncalf]

While the game still expects to be a massive hit, the bad news does seem to just keep coming :/
why would anyone want to play a local game routing all their network traffic through a distant exchange? Bad call, Blizzard. No doubt some third party code will restore the requisite functionality.

 

[samsonguy920]

I'm rather blank on the reasoning behind this, and the blatant mention of "we want money cuz all our hard work retooling battle.net was expensive" sounds like a lot of people who can't throw money away(which last I heard, is still a LOT of people right now) are going to get screwed, big time. They best have some good details on battle.net come soon or there might very well be big drops in projected sales. This move inspires me to get my money back on my reserved copy.

the problem with b.net is that unwanted players might youre games.

Do what now?

 

[Syntax Error]

What is a Spawn install?

My friends and I play Starcraft on Battlenet, because none of us want to haul our boxes to each other's houses...

From what I can recall, a spawn install is a type of install that only puts in the basic building blocks of the game, such as units and terrain. There is no campaign and cinematics in this type of install, and the only way you can play is through Battle.net or through a LAN.

 

[LewsTherin]

You have chosen poorly.

Spoiler: Or, possibly...