Update: StarCraft II Will Not Support LAN

Dying to play a round of StarCraft Deuce with your buddies? You'll induce to use Battle.net, since the game will not supporting LAN connections. On the plus side, the service wish still be free.

It's no secret that I'm actually excited for StarCraft II – like genuinely, really excited – so I've been eagerly devouring all the news coming out of last week's multiplayer press issue like a starving dog World Health Organization just discovered a truck full of smoked hickory bacon. Largely, it's been good tidings, with one exception: The gritty won't recognize LAN connections, Overcharge Pardo told IncGamers.

According to Pardo, the choice to take out LAN games "is because of the planned technology to be incorporated into Battle.net," which leave personify revealed at a advanced day of the month.

It's a surprising move, given that the first game's heavy popularity was in part impelled by LAN parties – more gamers including myself have affectionate memories of spending evenings and nights bound together with friends, talking trash atomic number 3 we spawned more Overlords. Without its "Spawning" feature, which allowed multiple installs of the multiplayer client off of one CD identify, there's no effective if the plot would have anywhere close to the fanbase it enjoys to this day.

I'm not sure what bequeath come about if, for any reason, a group of would-embody SC2 fans finds itself without a connection to the Internet for Struggle.net, and then my reaction to this indefinite is caution. Happening the plus side, however, the like consultation confirms that, although the company is sounding to "monetize" Battle.net in close to way, Blizzard remains engaged to guardianship the service escaped to play on for StarCraft II and any games to follow (presumably including Diablo III):

Unity idea which has been discussed in different iterations is microtransactions, substance the service is free, but added value services like starting a bespoke tournament, league, operating theater the like would cost a small amount.

It's an exciting philosophy, and one that makes sense – though apparently advertising revenue will not comprise a part of it, as more let suggested. "We spent a lot of money on Battle.net, right, so we need some manner to hold it," same SC2 lead Dustin Browder, though "current mockups don't include ads."

Beyond that, Browder told Kotaku that the team was hoping for the SC2 beta to last approximately four to six months. Given that we'ray almost halfway through 2009, this could put Rash dangerously about running over its goal of emotional the stake before the end of the class. Of course, it's non impossible: "It's getting there," Browder joked. "We can still make four!"

Course, the company is determined to earn sure the game is in top-top shape before information technology releases the beta: "The minute beta goes out, we lose a lot of efficiency."

Update: Snowstorm PR rep Bob Colayco inveterate to Joystiq that the company did non plan to support LAN games in StarCraft II:

We don't presently plan to support LAN play with StarCraft 2, as we are construction Battle.take-home to be the nonesuch goal for multiplayer gaming with StarCraft II and future Blizzard Entertainment games. Patc this was a difficult decisiveness for us, we felt that moving away from LAN play and directing players to our upgraded Battle.net service was the best option to ensure a quality multiplayer receive with StarCraft II and guard against piracy.

Several Battle.net features like high communication options, achievements, stat-trailing, and more, require players to follow connected to the service, thusly we're encouraging everyone to use Battle.net as overmuch as possible to get the nigh out of StarCraft II. We'Re looking forrad to communion more details about Battle.net and online functionality for StarCraft II in the near future.

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/update-starcraft-ii-will-not-support-lan/

Source: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/update-starcraft-ii-will-not-support-lan/

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