Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Diablo III roars into an open beta weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/diablo-iii-roars-into-an-open-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/diablo-iii-roars-into-an-open-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/diablo-iii-roars-into-an-open-beta-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III
Flex those mouse-clicking fingers, compadres -- it's demon-hunting time! This weekend, Blizzard is blowing the doors off Diablo III's beta, allowing any and all (well, those with a Battle.net account, that is) to come try out this upcoming action RPG.

The open beta weekend begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT today and lasts until 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23rd. During the beta, all five classes will be available, but players will be limited to a level 13 cap as they give the game a whirl.

To access the Diablo III open beta, you'll need a valid Battle.net account and a BattleTag. Despite playing in the open beta, participants won't be able to post in the beta forums and won't receive Beta Bucks to spend.

Asian players in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau will be part of not this stress test but rather a separate invitation-only closed beta test starting on April 23rd.

MassivelyDiablo III roars into an open beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattle.netbattlenetbattletagbetabeta-bucksblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhong-kongkoreamacaumultiplayeronline-multiplayeropen-betaopen-beta-weekendroguelikerpgstress-testtaiwanFri, 20 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW's Mists of Pandaria beta download surfaces on Battle.net [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Mists of Pandaria install screen
Kung-fu panda fever is gripping the World of Warcraft community, and the latest tremor comes courtesy of the Mists of Pandaria beta page that showed up on Battle.net last night. Our sister site WoW Insider reported that some players jumped at the chance to begin downloading the expansion's beta client, but the early birds were subsequently stopped by an error page stating that the download server was, well, down.

WoW Insider continued updating its news post as the night wore on, and interestingly enough, Mac users were indeed able to download the patch (no such luck for PC folks, though). Blizzard also published a beta character copy page on Battle.net, where players got a good look at all the test servers ready and waiting for a slew of avatar imports.

Thus far Blizz hasn't commented on an official start date, but the company has said that it's sending out MoP beta invites in waves.

[Update: MoP beta is now live!]

Pandas, pagodas, and pet battles are en route in World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion! Stay tuned to Massively and WoW Insider as we bring you FAQs, previews, analysis, and impressions in the lead-up to launch.

MassivelyWoW's Mists of Pandaria beta download surfaces on Battle.net [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattle.netbetabetasblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-betamopwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard beta FAQ explains how to test Mists of Pandaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Kung fu panda fighting
Mists of Pandaria is right around the proverbial corner, and Blizzard has graced us with a beta FAQ that explains how to participate in the testing period.

If you have a Battle.net account with at least one attached Blizz title, you can opt in to the test via the beta profile page. After you do that, sit tight and wait for an acceptance email. If you have an annual World of Warcraft pass, you're automatically in, but Blizzard says that you might have a bit of a wait anyway due to its staggered invite waves.

Finally, there's no NDA for WoW's newest expansion, so you'll be seeing plenty more screenshots, video, and commentary flooding the web in short order. Check out our sister site for the latest and greatest MoP coverage.

MassivelyBlizzard beta FAQ explains how to test Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattle.netbetablizzardblizzard-betablizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-betaopt-in-betawarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battle.net Balance boots up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net
Diablo III may not be out yet, but that's no good reason not to be filling up your virtual coffers for the day that it hits the streets! Blizzard has thrown the switch on Battle.net Balance, activating its online payment service that allows players to charge up their Battle.net funds to purchase various Blizzard game services.

The new Balance system can be used to buy World of Warcraft game time (although you can't set up a recurring subscription with it), in-game pets and mounts, paid account services in WoW such as character transfers, digital copies of Blizzard titles, and the opportunity to buy and sell items on Diablo III's auction house. It's important to note that not all regions will be able to participate in Diablo III's real-money transactions, however.

Once real money has been funneled into Battle.net Balance, it cannot be converted back into cash. Blizzard does state that in some regions, players will have an option to get cash back on Diablo III auction sales via PayPal. The company also mentioned that there is a cap on how much any player can have in his or her Balance account and that there are potentially region-specific expiration dates for Balance funds.

MassivelyBattle.net Balance boots up originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netbattle.net-balancebattlenetd3diablo-3diablo-iiidiiigame-timemicrotransactionsmountmountspaypalpetpetsreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsubscriptionsvirtual-walletworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard yoinks Diablo III companion pets due to excessive cuteness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/blizzard-yoinks-diablo-iii-companion-pets-due-to-excessive-cuten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/blizzard-yoinks-diablo-iii-companion-pets-due-to-excessive-cuten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/blizzard-yoinks-diablo-iii-companion-pets-due-to-excessive-cuten/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Oh no, color! Destroying the ambiance!
Charges of extreme cuteness have been directed at Blizzard ever since the company unveiled its Panda-themed expansion for World of Warcraft. If a new post on the Battle.net forums is any indication, that won't be an issue for Diablo III.

A Blizz community manager penned an update regarding D3's beta patch 10, and among the notes is the fact that the game's companion scrolls are going away temporarily. "The companion pets felt like they were mandatory to maximize play efficiency and some of the pets were too cutesy for the gritty, dark world of Sanctuary," Nethaera wrote.

The pets (and scrolls) aren't gone for good, as the devs have plans for "a much cooler system (both mechanically and visually)" in the future.

MassivelyBlizzard yoinks Diablo III companion pets due to excessive cuteness originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattle.netblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcompanion-petsd3diablo-3diablo-iiigame-mechanicsnethaerapetsThu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard introduces universal BattleTags to its titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net logo
When Blizzard first rolled out Battle.net's Real ID feature, many players were timid (read: incensed) about using it due to the fact that it revealed players' real-life names to fellow gamers they added. These worries can be easily laid to rest with Blizzard's latest announcement: the addition of BattleTags. What's a BattleTag, you ask? Well, simply put, it's a screen name by which you are identifiable across all Blizzard games, only without the privacy concerns of Real ID. Real ID, however, will continue to exist along with BattleTags, so players can use whichever method they so desire.

BattleTags are currently being tested in the Diablo III beta, and the feature will be available to Diablo III players when the game launches. The feature will also be rolled into World of Warcraft and StarCraft II, but the studio isn't ready to give solid dates on when that may take place. For the full details on BattleTags, including instructions on how to claim your own, head on over to WoW Insider and have a read.

MassivelyBlizzard introduces universal BattleTags to its titles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b-netb.netbattle-netbattle-tagsbattle.netbattletagbattletagsblizzblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbnetd3diablo-3diablo-iiireal-idrealidstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net
Choo choo -- the Blizzard Micotransactrain is leaving the station! Whether or not you're aboard with Blizzard's increasing fixation on monetizing all aspects of its games, this train is certainly picking up steam. Its next station is called Battle.net Balance, and with it comes a whole new paradigm for the Blizzard empire. (Many apologies for using the word "paradigm.")

In effect, Battle.net Balance is a virtual wallet where players can purchase -- or "charge up" according to Blizzard's parlance -- points to then spend on items and services in World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and elsewhere. Diablo III players who earn Battle.net currency in-game can save those points through the service to spend later. The system can also be used to pay for WoW gametime.

However, the system comes with an important caveat: Once you've converted real-world money into Battle.net Balance, there's no getting it back as cash. So if you've got plans to make a living playing Diablo III, you might want to think again (although "certain regions" will be able to cash out via PayPal).

Battle.net Balance is heading our way in the near future, and if this affects your game, you might be interested to read the informative FAQ that goes into more detail.

MassivelyBlizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netbattle.net-balancebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcurrencyd3diablo-3diablo-iiidiiimicrotransactionsmicrotransactrainpaypalreal-money-tradingrmtuniversal-currencyworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Starcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/starcraft-universe-mmo-mod-testable-through-october-30th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/starcraft-universe-mmo-mod-testable-through-october-30th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/starcraft-universe-mmo-mod-testable-through-october-30th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

StarCraft Universe - PvP screenshot
You may remember StarCraft Universe, the fan-made MMO mod that received an official Blizzard blessing earlier this year. Development on the project is moving right along, and the mod team has left fans with a nifty present as it gets ready to head to BlizzCon.

StarCraft Universe PvP is playable as of today via Battle.net, but you'd better hurry because the fun only lasts through October 30th. At that point, the game will be taken down "for further polishing since technically it isn't even ready for an open beta."

The playable portion features an arena called the Encephalon Grid, and testers will start at level 30 (fully geared). Every class is available, and players may also be able to unlock additional abilities by winning enough matches. Check out the full press blurb on the mod's official website, and get a load of the PvP video after the cut.

Continue reading Starcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th

MassivelyStarcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netbetablizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentencephalon-gridmodspvpryan-winzensci-fiscifistarcraftstarcraft-universevideoworld-of-starcraftWed, 19 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard backs down on Real ID]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/blizzard-backs-down-on-real-id/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/blizzard-backs-down-on-real-id/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/blizzard-backs-down-on-real-id/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"We've been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums. As a result of those discussions, we've decided at this time that real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums."

After what turned out to be a complete PR nightmare, the voices of the fans have been heard and the requirement for real names on Battle.net forums is not going to happen. Blizzard CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime put the word out just a short while ago, but he had quite a bit more to say about Blizzard's plans for the future.

Check out the full post on the World of Warcraft forums for all the details.

MassivelyBlizzard backs down on Real ID originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardbreakingreal-idreal-id-forumsWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 09 Jul 2010 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Real ID -- Do we finally have our WoW killer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/the-daily-grind-real-id-do-we-finally-have-our-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/the-daily-grind-real-id-do-we-finally-have-our-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/the-daily-grind-real-id-do-we-finally-have-our-wow-killer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Okay, maybe we do and maybe we don't, but there's no question that Blizzard dropped a huge bomb on their community yesterday.

Battle.net forum members were treated to a wall of blue text yesterday, but here's the core of the issue: "The first and most significant change is that in the near future, anyone posting or replying to a post on official Blizzard forums will be doing so using their Real ID -- that is, their real-life first and last name -- with the option to also display the name of their primary in-game character alongside it."

Given the fact that the most gamers cut their teeth on internet security lessons, this announcement was met with a predictable storm of protest. It can be argued that it's a pretty short leap from someone's real name to their forum posts to their game name/account information, even if they choose not to link their character names directly -- and that's treading in dangerous territory. Everyone either has a horror story or has heard one.

A huge number of the over 13,000 forum posts are variations of "See ya", including many popular MMO bloggers. But the fact that others saw this as only a good thing proves that there are two sides to every coin. So where do you stand on this hot topic? Is it something that will finally get the WoW forums in order or will upset players truly leave the game for good this time? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Real ID -- Do we finally have our WoW killer? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardinternet-securityoh-no-they-didntopinionreal-idtdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowWed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Be yourself or someone like you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/the-daily-grind-be-yourself-or-someone-like-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/the-daily-grind-be-yourself-or-someone-like-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/the-daily-grind-be-yourself-or-someone-like-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It wasn't one of the biggest news items of last week, but Blizzard's announcements regarding Battle.net and the RealID system did turn a few heads. The fact that it uses the real name of players was a bit surprising, but at the end of the day it's not the first game allowing people to track players across alts. City of Heroes has always had a global chat handle integrated with the client, and both Star Trek Online and Champions Online integrate your name directly with the name of a given character.

On the one hand, this can be seen as a good thing. Rather than friending an army of alts that your friend cycles through on a regular basis, you friend somebody once and you know them. There's also no hiding behind alts for disrespectful or unpleasant players. On the other hand, it means that no one gets to advantage of taking a night off on an alt no one knows about, and it can raise some security and identity concerns. (Especially in Blizzard's case, what with the real names being used.) What do you think about global identities in MMOs? Are they a good move as a whole, or are they a bit too Big Brother for your tastes?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Be yourself or someone like you originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netchampions-onlinecharacter-nameschat-handlescity-of-heroescocohglobal-handleshandlesididentificationidentitynamesopinionrealidstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain Placeholder reminds you: Get your BlizzCon tickets tomorrow!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In case you somehow forgot in the crush of excitement coming into E3, there are other conventions going on out there later this year. There again, if you're a die-hard World of Warcraft player, we suspect you probably remember BlizzCon - potentially before E3 even springs into your mind. Well, if you're one of the teeming masses who are just dying to get your hands on some BlizzCon tickets, we felt it was best to remind you that the second (and final) round of tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning for $125 each.

If you're after one of those coveted tickets, remember, you need to make sure you have a Battle.net account ready for tomorrow's insane crush of humanity on the ordering servers. The last round was sold out insanely fast, so you may also want to consider getting to bed early and making sure you have all the proper mats gathered to buff yourself up for the BlizzCon raid tomorrow. It's going to be an epic battle to get them, we're sure.

MassivelyCaptain Placeholder reminds you: Get your BlizzCon tickets tomorrow! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzconblizzcon-2009captain-placeholderticketsFri, 29 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2009 tickets go on sale May 16, first time streamed live via web]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/blizzcon-2009-tickets-go-on-sale-may-16-first-time-streamed-liv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/blizzcon-2009-tickets-go-on-sale-may-16-first-time-streamed-liv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/blizzcon-2009-tickets-go-on-sale-may-16-first-time-streamed-liv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Tickets for BlizzCon 2009 will go on sale May 16th, Blizzard announced today on the event's official site. BlizzCon 2009 will be held on August 21st and 22nd in Anaheim, California, and the first block of tickets going on sale on May 16th will sell for $125 each through the official BlizzCon site. A second block of tickets will be sold beginning Saturday, May 30th.

Blizzard has made upgrades to the Blizzard Store to deal with the impending ticket rush. Their press release states they'll have a "first-come, first-served queue system and a fixed time limit for completing purchases. Also, those interested in attending BlizzCon can simplify the purchase process by registering a Battle.net account at www.battle.net before ticket sales begin."

Continue reading BlizzCon 2009 tickets go on sale May 16, first time streamed live via web

MassivelyBlizzCon 2009 tickets go on sale May 16, first time streamed live via web originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardblizzard-storeblizzconblizzcon-2009breakingdirectvmmo-industrystarcraftworld-of-warcraftTue, 05 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Petroglyph general manager Chuck Kroegel on Mytheon's union of MMO and RTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/petroglyph-general-manager-chuck-kroegel-on-mytheons-union-of-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/petroglyph-general-manager-chuck-kroegel-on-mytheons-union-of-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/petroglyph-general-manager-chuck-kroegel-on-mytheons-union-of-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We've been seeing a number of new options in online gaming, some clearly definable as being 'massively multiplayer', others less so. One of those game categories that blurs the line a bit is the MMORTS (massively multiplayer online real-time strategy) game... we'll probably just stick with the acronym from now on. But we've wondered, what exactly can we expect from RTS titles as they adopt more features traditionally associated with MMOs?

Steven Crews from The MMO Gamer spoke with Petroglyph Games general manager and executive producer Chuck Kroegel about their upcoming title Mytheon. The game is a free-to-play, downloadable title that will be supported by microtransactions and focuses on the myths, heroes, and monsters of the world's ancient cultures. Crews asks the questions we think are on a lot of people's minds when they hear "MMORTS" -- "Why bring strategy games into the MMO space? What do you get from a persistent universe that you couldn't get out of something like Battle.net?"

Continue reading Petroglyph general manager Chuck Kroegel on Mytheon's union of MMO and RTS

MassivelyPetroglyph general manager Chuck Kroegel on Mytheon's union of MMO and RTS originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netchuck-kroegeldreamlordsdreamlords-the-reawakeningfantasyfree-to-playhistoricalinterviewsmicrotransactionsmmo-gamermmo-industrymmortsmytheonpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespetroglyph-studiosrtssteven-crewsthe-mmo-gamerWed, 29 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yesterday, we reported the rumor that it looked like Chinese World of Warcraft operator The9 might be losing the licensing rights to a competitor, and today we can confirm that rumor to be 100% true. Rival company NetEase has purchased the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, starting once The9's current contract is up with Blizzard on June 8th.

NetEase is already the operator of Battle.net in China, supporting Warcraft III and the to-be-released Starcraft II. They have been operating with Blizzard since last August, when they acquired all of the rights to the other Blizzard games. This acquisition only brings NetEase and Blizzard closer together in their business arrangement.

What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of Wrath of the Lich King. DoNews, a Chinese news site, has reported that Wrath has been licensed by NetEase, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch]

MassivelyThe9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardlegallicensingneteasepatch-3.0rightsstarcraft-2starcraft-iithe9transitionwarcraft-3warcraft-iiiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Battle.net ties in World of Warcraft with other Blizzard games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/new-battle-net-ties-in-world-of-warcraft-with-other-blizzard-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/new-battle-net-ties-in-world-of-warcraft-with-other-blizzard-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/new-battle-net-ties-in-world-of-warcraft-with-other-blizzard-gam/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


For those of you who can remember back to the Wrath of the Lich King beta, you'll recall that you had to link your current World of Warcraft account to a Blizzard shop account before you could get into the game. While that was interesting, it obviously never made it's way into the game...

...or did it?

Blizzard has finally released their account merge, only you're not longer merging your account with your Blizzard shop account anymore. You're merging your World of Warcraft account into Battle.net, allowing you to use one login for all of Blizzard's current and future titles.

As a side benefit to all of this, the new Battle.net allows you to link any of your Blizzard games to your account, including World of Warcraft, and be able to download the game from anywhere, much like Steam. Since this is the case, and since Blizzard has been offering downloadable upgrades for World of Warcraft, will we be seeing the rise of a Blizzard version of Steam via Battle.net?

All future titles will be utilizing Battle.net, so it only makes sense to log in now and get your logins all converted over. All you need to do is sign up on the main page, and the website walks you through the rest.

MassivelyNew Battle.net ties in World of Warcraft with other Blizzard games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzarddiablostarcraftsteamwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard bans Battle.net accounts before WotLK launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/blizzard-bans-battle-net-accounts-before-wotlk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/blizzard-bans-battle-net-accounts-before-wotlk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/blizzard-bans-battle-net-accounts-before-wotlk-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blizzard recently announced that they'd be switching over to a new centralized account system, tying together the company's online games through Battle.net. Existing World of Warcraft accounts are essentially replaced by Battle.net accounts, and will allow for the tracking of achievements across the Blizzard titles. But some players, roughly 350,000 of them, found another unexpected feature arrived with the Battle.net account integration: bans.

Gamesindustry.biz reports: "Blizzard has revealed that is has closed over 350,000 StarCraft and Diablo II accounts which were found to be using third-party hacks. The company further revealed that the Diablo II CD keys associated with the closed accounts are now barred from playing on Battle.net for 30 days and warned that repeat offenders face a permanent ban." Check out the full report over at Gamesindustry.biz, along with a statement from Blizzard about the bans.

MassivelyBlizzard bans Battle.net accounts before WotLK launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banningbattle.netblizzardcheatcheatingdiablo-2diablo-iiexploitsfantasygamesindustry.bizhackhacksmmo-industrystarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 12 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST