Downloader: Blizzard's StarCraft 2 and World of Warcraft to implement Facebook integration

Monday, July 26, 2010

Blizzard's StarCraft 2 and World of Warcraft to implement Facebook integration

I could clamber onto my soap box and rant all day about Blizzard's pathetic, poorly thought-out Real ID implementation - but - as this isn't a games blog, I've been told to keep it short and sweet. So, straight to the diabolical point: Real ID is just the beginning. With StarCraft 2's launch at the end of July, Battle.net will also feature Facebook integration.

Real ID, if you haven't been apprised, is Blizzard's Orwellian approach to policing its community. In one fell swoop it removes the anonymity, agency and escapism that actually make massively multiplayer online games enjoyable. But again, I shan't go on -- read WoW.com's coverage, if you want to find out more.

Battle.net's integration with Facebook is actually quite neat, if you don't mind the whole invasion-of-privacy thing. You'll be able to connect to Facebook from Battle.net and import your friends, rather than having to know your friends' email addresses. Still, with some 2,000 pages of complaints on the official World of Warcraft forums, you can be damn sure that it'll be a while before the community is able to stand back, take stock and analyse at the bigger picture.

Incidentally, if you're a fan of StarCraft or World of Warcraft, and you're opposed to these proposed changes, go and register your discontent on the forum! It's not too late to force Blizzard to rethink their totalitarian technology.