Author: Seraphis
Fact 1:
If you purchase World of Warcraft from a local store in Australia, you are forced (ie: you have no choice) to create a WoW account on a US server.
Fact 2:
If you purchase World of Warcraft from a local store in the US, you are forced to create a WoW account on a US server.
Fact 3:
As an Australian WoW player, you can add a Real ID friend who lives in Australia and chat with them ingame in WoW.
Fact 4:
As an Australian WoW player, you can add a Real ID friend who lives in the US and chat with them ingame in WoW.
Fact 5:
If you purchase Starcraft II from a local store in Australia, you are forced (ie: you have no choice) to create a SC2 account on a SEA (South East Asia) server.
Fact 6:
If you wish to chat with an Australian friend who's playing WoW, from within SC2, you cannot.
Fact 7:
If you wish to chat with an American friend who's playing WoW, from within SC2, you cannot.
Fact 8:
The advertised features of 'Battle Net 2.0' and 'Real ID' clearly state that you are able to chat with your friends cross-game.
Fact 9:
Blizzard have issued a statement that their intent is to allow Australian players access to the US SC2 servers within 60 days of launch.
Fact 10:
This will likely result in Australian users having to re-download the US SC2 client, potentially at an expense and/or inconvenience to the user due to Australian download caps.
Fact 11:
Whilst it has not been specified in absolute terms by Blizzard yet, it is also highly likely that an Australian SC2 player setting up an account on the US servers will likely have to 'start from scratch' both in terms of creating a nickname/handle, and in terms of achievement progress, thus making the first 60 days of play redundant for those who value achievements, campaign progress, and profile status.
Summary:
Many of the most hyped, advertised, and anticipated features (cross-game chat, online profile status and progress, etc) are non-functional if you are an Australian Blizzard consumer.
To Blizzard:
This design is as intended and you're ok with this?
Fact 1:
If you purchase World of Warcraft from a local store in Australia, you are forced (ie: you have no choice) to create a WoW account on a US server.
Fact 2:
If you purchase World of Warcraft from a local store in the US, you are forced to create a WoW account on a US server.
Fact 3:
As an Australian WoW player, you can add a Real ID friend who lives in Australia and chat with them ingame in WoW.
Fact 4:
As an Australian WoW player, you can add a Real ID friend who lives in the US and chat with them ingame in WoW.
Fact 5:
If you purchase Starcraft II from a local store in Australia, you are forced (ie: you have no choice) to create a SC2 account on a SEA (South East Asia) server.
Fact 6:
If you wish to chat with an Australian friend who's playing WoW, from within SC2, you cannot.
Fact 7:
If you wish to chat with an American friend who's playing WoW, from within SC2, you cannot.
Fact 8:
The advertised features of 'Battle Net 2.0' and 'Real ID' clearly state that you are able to chat with your friends cross-game.
Fact 9:
Blizzard have issued a statement that their intent is to allow Australian players access to the US SC2 servers within 60 days of launch.
Fact 10:
This will likely result in Australian users having to re-download the US SC2 client, potentially at an expense and/or inconvenience to the user due to Australian download caps.
Fact 11:
Whilst it has not been specified in absolute terms by Blizzard yet, it is also highly likely that an Australian SC2 player setting up an account on the US servers will likely have to 'start from scratch' both in terms of creating a nickname/handle, and in terms of achievement progress, thus making the first 60 days of play redundant for those who value achievements, campaign progress, and profile status.
Summary:
Many of the most hyped, advertised, and anticipated features (cross-game chat, online profile status and progress, etc) are non-functional if you are an Australian Blizzard consumer.
To Blizzard:
This design is as intended and you're ok with this?