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I'm sure many of us have fond memories of wasting time in a battle.net chat room. I, myself, remember sitting around in Diablo Retail USA-1 with a bunch of friend I met over Diablo 1 (Talk about old school). Those were times of innocence and laughter and youth and energy. I can understand that many people are understandably upset chat rooms are gone. But this isn't 1998, and the chat rooms we pine for are dead and gone anyway, and outside of inventing a time machine, we aren't going to get them back, regardless of what Blizzard does.
![[image loading]](http://www.sc2blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Battlenetinterface.jpg)
Ah, those were the days...
First of all, I believe that everyone will agree that chat rooms have no place in beta. As much as we might believe otherwise, the objective of the beta isn't for the beta testers to make a bunch of new friends and talk to them. It isn't even for the beta testers to have a swell time and play a fun game for free. The point is to test the game. The less chatting people do, the more playing they'll be doing. Not having chat channels in beta is a brilliant move by Blizzard and I support them 110%
But what about after launch? Blizzard has said that they won't be including channels after launch, either. What about then? There's no reason to keep people from socializing then, is there? Blizzard has said at several points that they are unsatisfied with how chat channels have turned out on Battle.net 1.0. Dustin Bowder has pointed out that while chat channels may have been used properly by some users, they are being "largely misused for spam".
+ Show Spoiler [Source] +
Q: In contrast to the campaign the new Battle.Net is probably a huge disappointment for a lot of the fans. That's on the one side because of the fact that features we know from the original Battle.Net won't be included and on the other side, we have to read news, that even the social networking website facebook will in some way be included. So what can you tell fans who say "Just give us chat channels now and leave it with the other stuff"?
A: Well, we're working on the chat channels but the reason they are delayed is that we have something, which we think is much better than what we had in the original games. In the original games the chat channels were used by some of our users but they were largely misused just for spam. It was kind of a mess that they weren't focused on only one particular topic. While we definitely feel the fans sort of enthusiasm to get them back, we don't want those chat channels back. We feel like those chat channels were not a huge success for us and we can do them much better. So we will be looking into chat channels down the road that are more focused on specific topics, that are better organized around different social structures. We could certainly just jam the old channels back in but we didn't feel like those were a huge success for us. But we really want this thing back, just much more interesting than before. So we're definitely working on it and we definitely hear the users' complains, but we think we can do better down the road.
(Emphesis is mine) Source
Take a look at the following and tell me with a straight face that he's wrong.
+ Show Spoiler [Picture-heavy rant] +A few weeks ago, I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about chat channels in Battle.net 2.0. He didn't believe me when I told him that, while chat channels may have at one point been awesome, they are now fucking awful. So I went and took photo evidence. Let me share my findings with you. + Show Spoiler [Frozen Throne USA-1] +Does this look familiar? If it does, it shouldn't bring back memories of Diablo Retail USA-1 in 1998. Take a long, honest look. This is what chat channels are now. Do we want this trash carrying over to StarCraft II? Where is the vaunted exchange of ideas and builds? Maybe in USA-2... + Show Spoiler [Frozen Throne USA-2] +![[image loading]](http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7066/frozenthroneusa2.jpg) Imagine all the great practice partners I could find here! Should I approach "pusyisyummy" or "NoobieDotaGirl" (Whom I have on good info is a 35 year old man) for practice first? But then again, this is that nub game WarCraft III. I'm sure in the Brood War channels are taking the exchange of information and socializing with their fellow players much more seriously. + Show Spoiler [Brood War USA-1] +![[image loading]](http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/4494/broodwarusa1.jpg) One guy reading his hallmark greeting card, one guy asking for someone to host an RP, some guy named "SlayerS_SexeR" trying to ride Boxer's coat tails, and the rest is uninterpretable conversation. Welcome to chat channels. Maybe I should ask PEEPERPEEPER to practice PvT with me? Okay, maybe not. But these are the nub USA channels. Maybe in the Korean channels, where everyone is a giga-gosu. + Show Spoiler [Brood War KOR-1] +![[image loading]](http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9151/broodwarkor1.jpg) Too bad I don't speak Korean All right! Actual chat! Not anything I can read, but judging from the speed at which it's being produced, clearly there's an active conversation going here! It's a shame I don't have the Asian text enabled. Maybe if I keep looking and I get lucky, I'll find someone speaking English! + Show Spoiler [Brood War KOR-2] +![[image loading]](http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9956/broodwarkor2.jpg) Hmm...This looks familiar What are the chances the exact same conversation is taking place one channel over by people with the exact same name with one number different? + Show Spoiler [Brood War KOR-3 and up] +Nope. Not a chance. Just spam here too. I was going to go on until I found one of those god-awful trivia-bots, but wading through this garbage is exhausting, and I stopped here. And this isn't even the worst of it. Anyone who has ever played Diablo II will be able to tell you that entering a chat channel, besides obviouslly not being helpful, is actually detrimental to your play experience. There, the spam follows you into the game.
Is it any different on ICCup? Take a step back. Log onto ICCup and read the chat going on in the channel. How much of it is comprised of "D-/D/D+ DESTI GOGO" spammed over and over and over again? Are your experiences really so different? Log onto to Battle.net 1.0 and pop into any old channel. What do you see?
Face it. Channels suck. There might be some pockets of awesomeness left somewhere in the corner of Battle.net's chat system, but the majority of players never gets to see it. All they get is spammed to death, and occasionally aki42 reading them inspirational poetry. Is this what channels were meant for? Is this what we want? As-is, the system doesn't work. Is what we have now in Battle.net 2.0 (Which I don't need to remind you is currently in beta) perfect? Probably not, but chat channels are absolutely not the answer. I'm glad they're gone and I hope they stay in the past where they belong.
I love my friends and I love the StarCraft community. A workable feature to talk to my fellow players would be great. I love tournaments, and I would love nothing more than for them to have an easier time organizing. But let's not delude ourselves. Chat channels ala Bnet 1.0 are NOT the answer to these problems.
On a side note, why is everyone up in arms over the Facebook "integration"? Is it really so horrible? As far as I can tell all it does is look through your Facebook and add people on battle.net who are already your friends on Facebook. Yet every time it's mentioned it seems like people are under the impression that Battle.net will be posting things to your Facebook or this is is some kind of huge privacy concern. Since when is getting in contact with people you're already in contact with a privacy concern? This is a fine feature with no downsides, and it's idiotic to invent issues or make over-the-top hyperbolic claims about how StarCraft II is becoming Farmville.
+ Show Spoiler [Source says] +Q: What can we expect in future patches to the game? From yesterday's press release we know that it will integrate with Facebook. Can you say something about this? Or about the system to publish the maps?
A: ...it will be added in one of the patches for the beta. This will help players to import friends from Facebook to Battle.net, thus they can quickly fill a list of people who also play StarCraft. Importing friends? Populating my friends list? Heaven forbid! Source (Google Chrome is great for translating)
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I agree. Being forced used to use facebook or give out your email address is much better.
I am also glad Blizzard didnt include cross realm play because than we would have to play koreans.
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It's my understanding that people don't miss any of the chat rooms you checked?
People use clan chat rooms, etc. Why shouldn't there be semi private rooms like there is in BW?.
EDIT: Actually, lol. It seems like you haven't listened to anyone's arguements on why not having chat rooms suck. No one uses BWUSA1 or whatever.
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On May 28 2010 12:57 Archerofaiur wrote:
I agree. Being forced used to use facebook or give out your email address is much better.
I'm glad you agree, but I would appreciate you actually reading the article. Especially the last bit that addresses all your silly Facebook concerns.
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blizzard said there would be chatrooms just not on realease if u follow there twitter
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On May 28 2010 12:58 ComradeDover wrote:Show nested quote +On May 28 2010 12:57 Archerofaiur wrote:
I agree. Being forced used to use facebook or give out your email address is much better. I'm glad you agree, but I would appreciate you actually reading the article. Especially the last bit that addresses all your silly Facebook concerns.
It was a joke, I think most people would prefer blizzard implemented bnet channels over facebook integration.
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On May 28 2010 12:58 ComradeDover wrote:Show nested quote +On May 28 2010 12:57 Archerofaiur wrote:
I agree. Being forced used to use facebook or give out your email address is much better. Especially the last bit that addresses all your silly Facebook concerns.
How about that facebook is being used as replacement channel instead of a real BNET communication system?
That reason enough for my silly facebook concern?
On May 28 2010 12:59 Notorious-B.I.G wrote:
blizzard said there would be chatrooms just not on realease if u follow there twitter
Blizzard said there would be online replays in WC3.
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Are you seriously using public channels as why channels are bad? Of course they're terrible. Take any unmoderated public forum and its going to be a total abomination.
Channels are useful for friends and organizing tournaments, primarily. And it's certainly a hell of a lot better for meeting new people than either form of friends list they've used thus far in the beta.
The case you're making here is that chat channels are bad. Ok, let's take that as truth and pretend that they're objectively terrible for the game. What do we have to replace them? A friends list that is less goddamn functional than either BW or WC3 bnet. Even if they're just a placeholder til something better gets added to the game, we need chat channels.
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On May 28 2010 12:58 Vasoline73 wrote:
It's my understanding that people don't miss any of the chat rooms you checked?
People use clan chat rooms, etc. Why shouldn't there be semi private rooms like there is in BW?
Clan chat rooms are private. They're an ivory tower of sorts. In order to gain access to a clan chat room, one needs to belong to a clan. And since any clan worth it's salt has at least a Ventrillo, and at most it's own website and forums, having a chat channel is really quite petty.
In my experience, clan chat isn't that different either. On another account I'm in my friend's clan so I can play DotA with him and his friends easily, and other than the bot that sits there and spams, there isn't much happening in the channel.
On May 28 2010 13:00 Archerofaiur wrote:Show nested quote +On May 28 2010 12:58 ComradeDover wrote:On May 28 2010 12:57 Archerofaiur wrote:
I agree. Being forced used to use facebook or give out your email address is much better. Especially the last bit that addresses all your silly Facebook concerns. How about that facebook is being used as replacement channel instead of a real BNET communication system? That reason enough for my silly facebook concern?
Is that happening? Do we know that will even happen? Sources?
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I Disagree, most half decent channels had moderators and bots that prevented that kind of horribleness, the initial channels are there just to be spammed since theres no one moderating them
Why must they destroy all that is good, so that someone who doesnt know shit about shit can create a watered down version of it for mediocre reasons in detriment of the future of bnet
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thats because you dont know where to go. private channels sucks, clan channels are necessary.
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First of all, I believe that everyone will agree that chat rooms have no place in beta. Strongly disagree. Community involvement can be a huge aid in developing the strategies and balance of the game.
And I strongly agree with the others criticizing the use of public channels as an option. I don't think people are worred about Starcraft USA-15
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On May 28 2010 13:01 Tropics wrote:
Are you seriously using public channels as why channels are bad? Of course they're terrible. Take any unmoderated public forum and its going to be a total abomination.
Glad we can agree. 
On May 28 2010 13:01 Tropics wrote:
Channels are useful for friends and organizing tournaments, primarily. And it's certainly a hell of a lot better for meeting new people than either form of friends list they've used thus far in the beta.
I have about a dozen friends on Battle.net 1.0. There are never more than seven or eight online at any given time. For my purposes, the party chat system is perfect. Especially since I'm not getting spammed by 9001 Diablo II ad-bots in the process.
As for organizing tournaments, they'll think of something.
On May 28 2010 13:01 Tropics wrote:
The case you're making here is that chat channels are bad. Ok, let's take that as truth and pretend that they're objectively terrible for the game. What do we have to replace them? A friends list that is less goddamn functional than either BW or WC3 bnet. Even if they're just a placeholder til something better gets added to the game, we need chat channels.
I shouldn't have to tell you we're in beta. The interview I quoted said they were working on something better than the trash we had with battle.net 1.0. I have faith, why don't you?
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On May 28 2010 13:01 ComradeDover wrote:
In order to gain access to a clan chat room, one needs to belong to a clan.
Or you just need to /join a clan channel and start some shit, nothing like the satisfaction of goading some anonymous people into some grudge matches.. even if u lose.. i miss bnet 
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brood war usa-1 is full of spam so channels have to go away?
what the fuck is this shit
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On May 28 2010 13:02 D10 wrote:
I Disagree, most half decent channels had moderators and bots that prevented that kind of horribleness, the initial channels are there just to be spammed since theres no one moderating them
Why must they destroy all that is good, so that someone who doesnt know shit about shit can create a watered down version of it for mediocre reasons in detriment of the future of bnet
Why so negative? Someone who doesn't know shit about shit creating a watered down version for mediocre reasons? This is Blizzard we're talking about. The greatest game developer in history.
On May 28 2010 13:02 RoMarX wrote:
thats because you dont know where to go. private channels sucks, clan channels are necessary.
You're right. I don't know where to go. And neither do 98% of battle.net users. This is why the old system is broken. What I've posted is what most people will ever see during their time using battle.net. Blizzard thinks this needs to be replaced with something different, something better. And I agree.
On May 28 2010 13:04 Tsagacity wrote:Show nested quote +First of all, I believe that everyone will agree that chat rooms have no place in beta. Strongly disagree. Community involvement can be a huge aid in developing the strategies and balance of the game. And I strongly agree with the others criticizing the use of public channels as an option. I don't think people are worred about Starcraft USA-15
Are we opporating under the assumption that, if battle.net 2.0 had chat channels in this beta phase, they would be used for highly intelligent discussion about balance as opposed to what's taking place on these here Team Liquid forums (at best), or being spammed with "FUK U DUTSIN BOWSER U NERF ROACHES I DESLIEK U!!1!" after every patch (at worst)? Be realistic.
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why do u , care its a channel. a channel. u dont have to go and make a thread about it. i like channels
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On May 28 2010 13:00 Archerofaiur wrote:Show nested quote +On May 28 2010 12:59 Notorious-B.I.G wrote:
blizzard said there would be chatrooms just not on realease if u follow there twitter Blizzard said there would be online replays in WC3.
source for both of those claims?
maybe i missed it back then, but niether roc beta nor tft beta blizz said online replays would make it into the final game.
same goes with chatrooms ... can't recall any bluepost recently that says there will be chatrooms in bnet 2.0.
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On May 28 2010 12:54 ComradeDover wrote:But let's not delude ourselves. Chat channels ala Bnet 1.0 are NOT the answer to these problems.
I read the whole article. Chat channels are the answer to ALOT of problems. If there was a better alternative then I would not be mad that there are no chat channels in SC2. But until then chat channels should be implemented. It just makes so many things easier. I wish we could live in a world where there was a better alternative than chat channels but there just isn't any.
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On May 28 2010 13:10 Beasttwo wrote:
why do u , care its a channel. a channel. u dont have to go and make a thread about it. i like channels
I care because I support Blizzard in finding an alternative that's good for everybody, not just the people that kind find a safe place to hide from the spam.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1387/frozenthroneusa1.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2563/broodwarkor6.jpg)
