Fun With Battle.Net - Blue Tracker

#0 - March 20, 2009, 8:49 p.m.

So with the new Battle.Net Account System, our WoW accounts are linked with all of our other Blizzard Games. (And our other WoW accounts) in one big happy net of love.

Now, this opens up a few new possibilities. Battle.Net is, after all, shaping up to be Blizzard's Answer to services such as Steam. Let's look at a few of the possibilities that the new Battle.Net could (possibly) provide.

Consider this both a speculation thread, and a suggestion thread.

1) BIM: Blizzard Instant Messaging

Since Battle.net is used for all Blizzard Games, it's possible to add an instant messaging system, similar to Steam. This would exist outside of individual games, so someone playing Diablo could chat with someone in the middle of Ulduar.

2) Centralized Friend/Ignore List:

Ever get tired of people making alts to harass you? Want to be absolutely sure that the person whispering you really is your friend's alt?
Battle.Net could offer a centralized Friend List. This list would work based off Battle.net accounts, rather than individual toons. Maybe your friend that you love playing DotA with has a toon in WoW, and you didn't know it?

This also will allow for more complete ignores. Ignore someone, and no toon or service linked to their Battle.Net account can contact you. No more circumventing ignores!

3) Centralized Achievements:

We already have a wonderful Achievement system for WoW, but why just let WoW have all the fun? With a centralized Achievement system, achievements for all future Blizzard Games could all be viewed and compared on a central page. Bet you didn't know that level 10 toon you just called a noob had "The Immortal" on a different server, huh?

4) Shiny things:

Let's face it. Even if it has no impact on the game, everyone loves stuff. Vanity Pets, Mounts, silly toys, alternate skins for units. It's fun! With Battle.Net, whole new avenues for promotions could open up.

For example, suppose you added a Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty CD Key to your Battle.Net Account. Log into WoW, and you might see a letter containing a stack of Stim Packs for use in the game. Reach a certain point in Starcraft, and a Tauren Marine unit might actually unlock for use in multiplayer. (It would just be a reskin, but it has a cool factor.)

Tired of having to visit Booty Bay to redeem TCG Codes? Just enter them on Battle.Net, and they'll be mailed to the toon of your choice. Or what about implementing a cross server item transfer system? Leveling an Alt has never been easier!

Or, for a more silly thing, suppose you get an achievement in Diablo 3, for beating the final boss at the lowest possible level. Log into WoW, and you get a letter containing a Diablo Themed Vanity pet. (Obviously not Mini-Diablo, or Mini-Tyrael. Maybe an iconic monster, Like an Unburied?)

Battle.Net could open a world of possibilities for us!

Zarhym

#3 - March 20, 2009, 10:18 p.m.

Good post. We have a lot of great features planned for Battle.net. You'll be seeing phases of new features being deployed over time. :)

Zarhym

#7 - March 20, 2009, 10:26 p.m.

Q u o t e:

If you put in a chat function, Zarhym, will you be on my buddy list?

Now that's a scary thought.

Zarhym

#11 - March 20, 2009, 10:28 p.m.

Q u o t e:

How could friends be scary?

You're freakin' me out man!

Q u o t e:
one compliant though,and please don't get me wrong I like the battle.net idea but, I miss seeing the two spaces in the log up in the forums rather than seeing some red text, were I used to put in my username and pass and then instantly in the foums rather than going into another page.

This is something that may change in the future. Logging into a Battle.net account requires a different authentication server, which is why you're currently redirected to a separate login page.

Zarhym

#25 - March 20, 2009, 10:34 p.m.

Q u o t e:

You know, I'm beginning to think all this negativity and pushing me away is some kind of reverse psychology to get a hug or something at Blizzcon.

I'm on to you.

Get off of me.

Zarhym

#41 - March 20, 2009, 11:16 p.m.

Q u o t e:
What would happen if I merged his account into mine, since they are all in my name and I pay for them, and he STILL lives with me (/sigh)?

His World of Warcraft account will remain banned from the forums. Yours will not. Forum bans still work the same as they always have.

Zarhym

#60 - March 20, 2009, 11:58 p.m.

Q u o t e:

It is kinda annoying to have to put in my authenticator number every tim i wanna just use the forums...but i guess it's not that big of a deal though. All in all I like the changes you guys have done with this

We're looking into making the authenticator requirement optional for forum/armory log ins. I'm not sure when such a change can be made though.