No LAN for SCII

[Gben 20]

http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/999/999171p1.html

 

No LAN for StarCraft II

Blizzard's upcoming RTS focusing more on Battle.Net functionality.

by Jeff Haynes

 

US, June 29, 2009 - It appears that StarCraft II will be losing one of the franchise's most popular features. In an interview with IncGamers, Rob Pardo, VP of game design indicated that LAN would not be supported for the upcoming RTS sequel. "We will not support it," he said. Instead, the only multiplayer for the game will be found through Battle.Net, Blizzard's online service that is currently being redesigned. We contacted Blizzard for confirmation and were told that it's true that StarCraft II will not support or feature LAN play at all.

 

While this might surprise StarCraft fans, particularly those that go to LAN centers for the competition, it's not surprising given that many of the new elements for the game seem to be tied into Battle.Net's tracking mechanics. In many ways, Battle.Net is attempting to provide improved features for players and observers alike. For example, spectators will be able to track a myriad of stats for each player within a match, including their army and economic strength, as well as see a specific build order for every unit fielded within a battle. Other features, like the new replay functionality, seem poised to take advantage of Battle.Net's community functions to upload videos and screens to the service. We covered a number of the new Battle.Net features within our recent multiplayer preview, but that only serves to underscore the point that Mr. Pardo made: StarCraft II won't have LAN support. Word from South Korea regarding their response to the lack of LAN play has yet to come in.

 

While we may laugh at our Blizzard competitors... surely this could affect us in the future as EALA continues to develop future C&C related games.

I'm sure a mod will be released to allow this functionality but still....

[Luk3us 63]

Another attempt to stop piracy, at least this is a little more original... Of course it kinda sucks at the same time.

[Sonic 296]

StarCraft II won't have LAN support. Word from South Korea regarding their response to the lack of LAN play has yet to come in.

Don't they need LAN support for the pro tournaments and stuff the hold all the time in the part of the world?

 

Dumb move on Blizzard's part. Improving Battle.Net is one thing but forcing people to play on it another thing.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

People will complain and it will be changed eventually.

[Guest Stevie_K]

It will be changed sooner or later.. no doubt.

[Malevolence 6]

Just as I thought the EA top management personnel are getting silly with DRM nuisance and cutting down cost by using digital downloads exclusives, I didn't expect Blizzard to pwn the customers too with yet another original idea.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Malevolence

[Guest Stevie_K]

As seen with the "well" known WoW, Blizzard likes keeping their costumers in short strings. Imagine Starcraft II and Diablo III could be making similiar profits. Highly doubtable though.

 

 

 

[mormreed 0]

Even if a patch isn't released or it isn't included in the shipped copies then someone will definitely come up with a hack to allow it, no matter how much time and effort Blizzard puts into disabling LAN somebody will be desperate enough to hack it somehow.

[Wildshield 0]

indeed. someone will bypass all the work they are doing. Its a null point.

[Guest Stevie_K]

They should work on improving the game instead of blocking LAN connections.

 

They did this with World of Warcraft but it only took a couple of months before someone found a way to make local servers.

And with local servers you don't have to pay monthly fees.

 

Those servers are also known as "fun servers" becouse they can't be patched, has nothing to do with the real servers and generally is completely out of balance.

[Wildshield 0]

they can simply hack while they are using the default servers as well.

[Malevolence 6]

here's a suggestion, maybe the company can make an "Unlock LAN mode" software if you are willing to pay extra for it.

[Sonic 296]

No one would pay for something that should be in the game to begin with.

[Wildshield 0]

they would still get by with a hack. so yes, it should just be part of the game. those who have ruin gameplay shouldn't have the rest of us suffer.

[Guest Stevie_K]

No one would pay for something that should be in the game to begin with.

 

So true. LAN is one of the basic things an RTS needs imo.

Iv'e played RTS's at LAN parties and Gaming Cafés through many years and it really is easier with local network servers instead of internet servers.