Battle.net 2.0 Article Series >> Definite Battle.net 2.0 Features >> (Page 1) | (Page 2)
Blizzard Accounts - Major Web Upgrade
If these “Blizzard Accounts” are the same as the current ones, or if they will be located on Battle.net is not yet revealed. Considering the handy integration with the Blizzard Store, it seems likely.
There is currently a web presence for the games today through Battle.net, but there is still room for improvement. Even Blizzard reps admit to that, and say: “Wait for B.net 2.0!”. Blizzard sources have said that they will make upgrades to the forums, and that these boards won’t be flooded with thousands of spam threads every so often. We’ll get to sort friends lists and other features directly on one control panel on the web - On Battle.net, or linked to it. A forum software like the WoW boards seems likely.
Even vBulletin now uses profile pages (example: Leord) for creating stronger bonds with the community, and the account at Battle.net will surely outdo that! It would have a registration similar to the Blizzard Store and possibly even tie in the store to the account for easy upgrades/purchases.
While we don’t know if the Accounts will be located on Battle.net, they will most likely be an integral part of the Battle.net experience, and linking together Achievements from WoW, StarCraft II and Diablo III. You would be able to register your games with the central account, and get to see all your stats as well as friends’ (or foes’). The account will probably be able to give you detailed stats of your games and characters, just like the World of WarCraft Armory.
 Blizzard Quote: |
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| MTV Kaplan: Your ‘WoW’ score would be just one factor that will go into your Blizzard Level. And rather than call it a ‘score,’ we just wanted it to be like you’re leveling up on Blizzard games… You’ll have this Blizzard identity, and you’ll be able to see things like ‘Oh, this guy was great at Diablo III, but he never played Starcraft and he was mediocre in WoW. That sort of thing. |
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Online Responsibility 2.0
Accountability is another thing that comes with an account. If you use a hack, or try to maliciously exploit a game, you could be banned from not only your game, but all the social contacts, Achievement points and status that comes with it - perhaps even other games you have bought! While you would still be able to play offline, it’s a BIG step towards making people feel more responsible for their actions online. Add in personal ban lists, or alert lists of “bad” players, and you’ll realize you might want to behave online, or be left out!
Battle.net 2.0 Launch Date
Blizzard never give release dates (...any more! They used to, a long time ago), we do actually have an ETA on both Battle.net 2.0 and StarCraft II. Diablo III’s date is unfortunately still held in mystery, but we will probably get a better idea at BlizzCon 2008. We know that the first true peek of Battle.net 2.0 will be given at the latest by the StarCraft II release (more likely by the StarCraft II beta). The StarCraft II beta seems likely to start before the end of the year, so the new Battle.net will at least be available to try out by then. With this information, the definite release date of Battle.net 2.0 then really becomes a discussion of the StarCraft II release date, a few months from now we’ll be surfing it and counting the score points to our next “Blizzard Level”.
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| 1UP I think probably sometimes towards the end of the year, we’re going to really start talking about the new Battle.net features as they pertain to StarCraft 2. |
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| Blizzard Quote: |
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| Diablo 3 Wiki Play over Battle.net, join your friends at any time. We have a lot of improvements to Battle.net. Whole newer version of it. It’s going to premiere with sc 2. you can be sure everything Starcraft 2 uses we’ll take advantage of and many more cool features. It supports easy communication and connection with other players. Matchmaking. Get online, find friends, have a good time quickly. On the multiplayer side [of Diablo III], Battle.net isn’t ready to premiere yet, but we’ll have more about that in the coming months. |
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While the list of definite Battle.net changes will grow longer, keep in mind that Blizzard have been very tight lipped about it. As for the changes that most likely will come and or are rumoured to have been told by Blizzard to different sources, read more in the last instalment of the Battle.net 2.0 Articles, Rumoured Battle.net 2.0 Additions!
