While we eagerly await more news on StarCraft II’s release date and/or the beginning of the beta testing period, I decided to take some time to look back at the online gaming service that was not only partially responsible for the first game’s massive success, but also the sole reason that the country of South Korea is recognized as a sovereign nation. I am talking of course, about Battle.net.
That's what US West is for.
From what we know so far, Battle.net will remain the primary medium for playing StarCraft II online. As old-school WarCraft II gamers will remember, Battle.net was the first online gaming service to be built into the games it supported. Finally, gone were the days of having to make “friends” and play in a small “community” where everyone “knew each other”. Now, gamers could simply purchase the game, mash in their CD key and join any of the appropriately named games using the Battle.net interface.
Deep philosophical discussion inside.
I for one am thrilled that StarCraft II will also be bringing us the triumphant return of Battle.net, a service that not only brought us custom-map gems such as Micro Fa§te§tPo§§ibleGreen, but allowed frustrated young virgins around the globe a chance to play games online without having to shell out $10 for Kali using their mom’s credit card or learning something about their TC/IP/IP/UP computernet machine device.
Now it's been six years since a new Battle.net game has been released, and the entire service seems to be in a sort of post-apocalyptic state. Over the next couple weeks, I will be performing an online archeological dig as I sift through the ruins of this once great civilization. To find out what horrors remain, read on.
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