Seeing as I bought, played and liked almost every single game Blizzard has ever released (even the more obscure stuff like Lost Vikings I+II and Blackthorne) and even have several copies of some games like StarCraft or WarCraft 2+3 and I might’ve been classified as an outright “Blizzard fanboy” right up to the moment where World of Warcraft got released (which I was awaiting for years by the way and had such high expectations for) and a few years later this is particularly hard to do, but I think I will skip their games from now on, let me try to explain why.
# More spyware (Blizzard has the right to store, read and pass on every message (chat or voice) you transmit over B.Net 2.0, for security reasons of course)
https://us.battle.net/account/creation/tos.xml Q u o t e:
Content Screening and Disclosure. We do not, and cannot, pre-screen or monitor all User Content. However, our representatives may monitor and/or record your communications (including without limitation chat text) when you are using the Service or playing a Game, and you hereby provide your irrevocable consent to such monitoring and recording[. You acknowledge and agree that you have no expectation of privacy concerning the transmission of any User Content, including without limitation chat text or voice communications. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for User Content that is generated by users. We have the right, but not the obligation, in our sole discretion to edit, refuse to post, or remove any User Content. WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT, AT ALL TIMES AND IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION, TO DISCLOSE ANY USER CONTENT AND OTHER INFORMATION (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CHAT TEXT, VOICE COMMUNICATIONS, IP ADDRESSES, AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION) FOR ANY REASON
# More control (Blizzard has the right to any content (redistribute, modify and sell) you transmit or post on the Battle.Net including pictures, sounds and most certainly maps)
Q u o t e:
User Content. "User Content" means any communications, images, sounds, and all the material and information that you upload or transmit through a Game client or the Service, or that other users upload or transmit, including without limitation any chat text. You hereby grant Blizzard a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, paid-up, non-exclusive, license, including the right to sublicense to third parties, and right to reproduce, fix, adapt, modify, translate, reformat, create derivative works from, manufacture, introduce into circulation, publish, distribute, sell, license, sublicense, transfer, rent, lease, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, or provide access to electronically, broadcast, communicate to the public by telecommunication, display, perform, enter into computer memory, and use and practice such User Content as well as all modified and derivative works thereof. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, you hereby waive any moral rights you may have in any User Content.
Basically, once you’ve uploaded something onto the B.Net and if it’s popular they can take your idea, modify it a bit and put it up for money on their own map marketplace.
# Map "Marketplace" (no more "free maps", by everyone for everyone like in the first StarCraft or WarCraft 3, they got IG shops you can pay money for 3rd party maps in, and the authors even get A PORTION of the earnings, how generous of you Blizzard)
http://kotaku.com/5343006/blizzard-you-may-sell-your-starcraft-2-maps-on-battlenet-eventuallyRemember all of those free Blizzard maps for WarCraft 3, Blizzard made out of customer friendliness and to build up even more of a loyal fanbase?
http://classic.battle.net/war3/maps/Well… not anymore…
# They’re going to nickle-and-dime people for „features“ like creating Custom Tournaments/Leagues. Wonder why there’s still no chat even though it seems like a simple feature? It’s probably because it might cost something to keep a “Clan” chat-channel or similar open:
http://www.incgamers.com/Interviews/190/StarCraftIIDevelopersInterviewed Q u o t e:
So what's Battle.net all about and how is it different?
The new Battle.net will completely revolutionise the current version, but Blizzard is still looking to making this experience free for anyone buying StarCraft II or future games that use Battle.net. One idea which has been discussed in different iterations is microtransactions, meaning the service is free, but added value services like starting a custom tournament, league, or the like would cost a small amount of money.
# Facebook like "ID-page" so you can "distinguish" yourself, includes your Real Name and mail address if you put it in for Payment Details, which is awesome for Phishers, Hackers and Spammers alike...
# Actual Facebook integration, personally I don’t want a “platform” to be bundled with the games I want to play, that I’m being forced to use and I don’t need Stats about how often and how long I’ve been to the toilet, I just want separate chat channels with a simple friends list and simple /invite /ignore /add /remove features like back in the day to be able to play the game and that’s about it…
In general, be wary of marketing people using the word “platform” to describe something… almost nothing good came of it, X-Box Live, Steam, Facebook Platform etc. are described as “platforms” and they always come with additional DRM, microtransactions and often even subscription fees.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24732 Q u o t e:
"There is no better opportunity to launch this strategic initiative than through the launch of StarCraft II," said Kotick on the call. "The Battle.net platform is an investment in the future of gaming, and an opportunity that we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on."
- Bobby Kotick
# More ads (thanks to contract with Massive - company for commercials owned by Microsoft), they also collect your IP and "standard information"
http://community.microsoftadvertising.com/blogs/analytics/archive/2009/08/25/massive-s-in-game-advertising-season-kick-off.aspx Q u o t e:
Through an agreement with Blizzard Entertainment, Massive is the exclusive advertising service provider for the World of Warcraft community web sites as well as the Battle.net online gaming service. A newly redesigned Battle.net platform will launch with StarCraft II in 2010, for which Massive will also be the exclusive advertising service provider.
# No LAN or playing with friends anymore, everyone HAS to be logged in to the great Overlord hivemind B.Net 2.0 and every person HAS to have a key of the game (and every following Add-On) to be able to play with friends or family.
Remember those times when a friend came over and you played a few rounds of StarCraft over LAN or you tried to introduce someone, that wasn’t really interested/hadn’t played the game before to it the same way and Blizzard didn’t say or do anything to prevent that? Well not anymore… cause to be able to do that you’ll have to have bought all the products and gone through a lengthy process of creating a B.Net 2.0 Account and Register the keys to it…
# Selling one game as a 3-parter (if the first part costs 60$/60€... what do you think the so-called "Expansions" will cost? If you think they’re below 40$/€ you're out of your mind xD)
To play the full multiplayer (with all units and buildings etc.) and play competitively you will have to buy all 3 and register all 3 CD-Keys.
http://www.starcraft2.com/faq.xml Q u o t e:
If I buy StarCraft II but don't buy any of the expansion sets, will I still be able to play online?
Yes. This will work similarly to Warcraft III and the original StarCraft, which maintained separate online gaming lobbies and ladders for expansion set players and players with the base Warcraft III or StarCraft.
How will the expansion sets impact multiplayer gameplay?
The expansion sets will add new content to each race for use in multiplayer matches. This could include additions such as new units, abilities, and structures, along with new maps and Battle.net updates.
# Achievements (yay, thanks for keeping track of how awesome I am Blizzard... everyone's been eagerly awaiting those on the PC)
As much as I might actually like the actual game and want to pay for it, this is just too much (marketing) crap to sift through, to be able to enjoy the good parts. Thanks for all the good gaming experiences you’ve delivered in the past Blizzard and good luck.