StarCraft II’s official website just posted an update on the status of Battle.net and the service’s movement forward. No longer just an online component, the revamped Battle.net will be a mass online experience with impressive social networking capabilities and some pretty awesome features that are likely to enhance not only the StarCraft II experience, but the entire Blizzard gaming experience itself.
The online gaming service that was launched in January 1997 will no longer be just an additional feature. No, Battle.net and StarCraft II will now be connected and work as a cohesive unit. So whether you’re playing against others online or just enjoying the game’s single-player campaign, you’ll still be connected to Battle.net. As a result of this connectivity, you’ll get updates, news, and other tidbits of StarCraft info regardless of how you’re playing the game. Additionally, you’ll always be connected with your friends, so you’ll be able to check out their stats and socialize with them whether you’re actually playing with them or not.
Another cool new feature being integrated into Battle.net is the ability to create your very own avatar or StarCraft II Battle.net character. According to Starcraft2.com, “This character serves as your single persistent identity across the service.” What this means is that all of your records in the game will be saved to your specific avatar for everyone to see. Literally everything you do in the game will be synced with your character, so all of your accomplishments, unlockables and friends list will be a part of your StarCraft II online identity. It’s definitely an interesting, impressive addition to say the least, and it adds a personal touch to the game that will be lauded once StarCraft II arrives.
Another feature that is being added to the evolving online service—and this is something I find especially awesome—is the ability to sync your saved game with Battle.net. What this entails is the ability to keep your saved data no matter what. As stated on the website, “Say you upgrade your computer and re-install the game; once you connect to Battle.net, you can continue the campaign right where you left off.” This is a nifty feature indeed, and it will undoubtedly eliminate tedious backing up of saved games and accidental erasure.
Blizzard has really only touched the surface in regards to what the new and improved Battle.net will really be like once it’s completely revamped and modified. The development company behind StarCraft II has clearly been hard at work making changes to Battle.net, and this may justify the whole ‘StarCraft II’s launch has been a mystery for too long’ thing. A more interactive, more social experience is sure to come with the introduction of the new Battle.net. The ability to chat with friends at anytime is certainly something to foam at the mouth over as it will add more freedom to the social aspect of the game. User-specific avatars are a nice touch, and all the features that will go along with that new addition are certainly intriguing. Having all your records saved to your StarCraft II character and even being able to sync your saved game to your personal avatar via Battle.net is an amazing new concept that will please StarCraft II gamers. One can only fathom what other ground-breaking additions Battle.net will feature to be compatible with StarCraft II in terms of the game’s online community.
