Battle.net Accounts Becoming Mandatory For WoW 234
An anonymous reader tips news that Blizzard will be requiring all World of Warcraft players to use Battle.net accounts to log into the game starting on November 11th. After that time, players who don't switch will be unable to play the game. Some time after the transition is complete, players will be able to "participate in cross-realm chat in World of Warcraft, create real-life friends lists, and communicate across different games." More details on the new Battle.net and what it will do are available in our Blizzcon wrap-up and interviews from August. Naturally, the idea that the new Battle.net is getting closer to deployment has sparked speculation that the StarCraft II beta might come along soon.
This is great news (Score:2, Informative)
Fuck yes, finally my beta key will be active
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:1, Informative)
I think that Blizzard game accounts are banned on a per-game basis, even when linked to Battle.net
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:5, Informative)
Q: Do Battle.net accounts work with the Blizzard Authenticator?
A: Yes. If you use a Blizzard Authenticator, you will need it when merging the associated World of Warcraft account into the new Battle.net Account. The Authenticator will automatically transfer to the Battle.net Account during the merge process, and you will still need it when managing Battle.net Account information and logging in to the game. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment offers the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator, an application for mobile devices that players can use to protect a Battle.net account and any World of Warcraft accounts associated with it. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment offers the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator, an application for mobile devices that players can use to protect a Battle.net account and any World of Warcraft accounts associated with it. For more information on the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator, visit http://eu.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_GB&articleId=35970.
Re:Buggy (Score:2, Informative)
It's not a troll, happened to me and at least to 16 other people I know (guild mates and RL friends). I'm not sure how, but if your account is not linked to a battle.net account, and they know your email, they can link that account to their battle.net account and activate it as legitimate users.
Hell, even Blizzard has warnings on their official forums with steps to follow if you get that email, is just they don't acknowledge is a bug on their system. Oh, of course, if you tell them is a bug they deny it, Blizzard doesn't have bugs!
Not a big issue if you don't play any more, but not nice for heavy players who find their toons naked and without all the epix l00t they gathered in these months.
Re:Legal? (Score:1, Informative)
Hmm, well the notice went up on October 12th with the change to be made on November 11th latest. That is ummmm 30 days?
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:1, Informative)
Read the termination without prior notification part again. It says they can lock anyone out at any time for no reason other than that they feel like doing it.
Re:Legal? (Score:4, Informative)
The change was announced about half a year ago and the deadline was announced 31 days ahead so I have no idea what you're on about.
Re:Let's see Blizzard come after those PvPGN serve (Score:1, Informative)
Google unenforceable, unconscionable, consideration
Still better than Square-Enix (Score:1, Informative)
They started to require "Verified" credit cards, or whatever the hell it's called, a few months ago.
My bank doesn't support that. So I just can't play FF XI anymore, period. Way to go dumbasses, you just lost a customer.
So I say fuck them and their upcoming new FF-online game. I'm fucking tired of monthly fees everywhere anyway.
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:5, Informative)
The way Battle.net accounts are currently set up, if you receive a suspension on a World of Warcraft account attached to that Battle.net account, it has no affect on any other World of Warcraft accounts that may also be attached.
Source: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=20464488049&pageNo=2&sid=1#39 [worldofwarcraft.com]
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:3, Informative)
Battle.net as a digital distribution service did not exist since 1997, it was primarily a matchmaking service.
Misconceptions.... (Score:5, Informative)
1) Battle.net accounts are actually more convenient, a single login for all your Blizzard titles will make things easier.
2) As far as I know, unless your guild leader is on your battle.net friends, they won't be able to see you play Starcraft 2.
3) If you get banned from World of Warcraft, it will NOT ban your from other games, including other WoW accounts on your battle.net account.
4) Don't bot, cheat, scam people, stay stupid shit in
5) You can add multiple World of Warcraft accounts to a single Battle.net account. You'll get to choose which account you want to use when you login. If you goto another computer (multiboxing, letting your GF play, w/e) and use your battle.net login, you can choose the other account and be online at the same time (you've still gotta pay 15 bucks a month for the subscription, per account).
6) Alarmists ARE indeed funny to read.
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:3, Informative)
Heh... Considering that Linux users using WINE were tagged as breaking the rules, even though they weren't, I'd say that creating an account for each style of game accordingly might not be a bad idea.
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Of course, I didn't RTFA (Score:3, Informative)
With MMO's though you're not really buying the game. Want World of Warcraft the actual game? It's free on a ton of demo DVD's. The whole friggen game. Alternatively, you can download the game online legally. What your initial payment (essentially a signup fee) and continued monthly payments are buying you is an account on an online game, not the game itself which is more or less distributed for free.
Trying to resell that is no more logical than trying to claim fire sale doctrine on your Sam's Club membership.