Battle.net Integration will be added prior to Cataclysm
Zarhym announced that the new Battle.net integration will be integrated to the game before the release of Cataclysm. It could explain why we have to wait so long for Patch 3.3.5 and I guess it means that we won't see the Ruby Sanctum before the release of Starcraft 2.
Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
This is exactly what we are working on implementing with Battle.net and real-life friends. You'll be able to add friends at the Battle.net account level and talk to them while in-game whether they're on the opposing faction, a different realm, or another Blizzard game entirely. This is coming prior to Cataclysm.
[...] No one outside of your faction on your realm will be able to communicate with you unless you accept their friend request, or they accept yours. You will still have your normal World of Warcraft Friends list, but we'll be adding in the ability to have Battle.net players on your Friends list as well. The characters on your Friends list will allow the same communication functionality which exists today. It's only when you've confirmed someone as a Battle.net friend that you can take advantage of the additional communication features.
We'll get more into that soon, but it's safe to say in advance that you shouldn't accept a Battle.net friend request from anyone you don't know, similar to Facebook or other social networking media.
Along those lines, will it be possible to un-friend people from this list? Just because I accepted them as a friend at one point doesn't mean I'm interested in giving them info on me for the rest of my time with Blizzard.
Definitely.
I'll probably have to wait until then for an answer, but just in case: Does the Battle.net communication methods include private chat rooms with several friends at once? (And, even more specifically, persistent ones that will be autojoined upon logging in?)
Private chat rooms are something to consider for the future of the system. Initially you will be able to invite up to five friends into a conversation.
Please add the option to ignore someone's entire Battle.net account as well. I for one am sick and tired of ignore listing someone only to get bombarded with "f**k u" tells from 5-10 level 1 alts.
We would like to do this in the future, but it likely won't be ready at release. You can block a Battle.net account, but that won't block all characters on that account's World of Warcraft license from messaging you. It's a technical limitation between the two systems which we'd like to overcome in time.
Cataclysm Badge and PvP Point Changes Clarifications
<div class="blizzquotewrap"><div class="blizzquoteinner">Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
<div class="blizzquote">Here are some clarifications to some common concerns we're seeing:
So this means that at some point I'm encouraged to stop playing because I know my current valor will convert to hero and I'll have a huge stockpile of points which I can then just use to buy the set I'd be after anyway.
Our basic model throughout Wrath of the Lich King has been that you can get the shiny hotness now, or wait until it
More...
Zarhym announced that the new Battle.net integration will be integrated to the game before the release of Cataclysm. It could explain why we have to wait so long for Patch 3.3.5 and I guess it means that we won't see the Ruby Sanctum before the release of Starcraft 2.
Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
This is exactly what we are working on implementing with Battle.net and real-life friends. You'll be able to add friends at the Battle.net account level and talk to them while in-game whether they're on the opposing faction, a different realm, or another Blizzard game entirely. This is coming prior to Cataclysm.
[...] No one outside of your faction on your realm will be able to communicate with you unless you accept their friend request, or they accept yours. You will still have your normal World of Warcraft Friends list, but we'll be adding in the ability to have Battle.net players on your Friends list as well. The characters on your Friends list will allow the same communication functionality which exists today. It's only when you've confirmed someone as a Battle.net friend that you can take advantage of the additional communication features.
We'll get more into that soon, but it's safe to say in advance that you shouldn't accept a Battle.net friend request from anyone you don't know, similar to Facebook or other social networking media.
Along those lines, will it be possible to un-friend people from this list? Just because I accepted them as a friend at one point doesn't mean I'm interested in giving them info on me for the rest of my time with Blizzard.
Definitely.
I'll probably have to wait until then for an answer, but just in case: Does the Battle.net communication methods include private chat rooms with several friends at once? (And, even more specifically, persistent ones that will be autojoined upon logging in?)
Private chat rooms are something to consider for the future of the system. Initially you will be able to invite up to five friends into a conversation.
Please add the option to ignore someone's entire Battle.net account as well. I for one am sick and tired of ignore listing someone only to get bombarded with "f**k u" tells from 5-10 level 1 alts.
We would like to do this in the future, but it likely won't be ready at release. You can block a Battle.net account, but that won't block all characters on that account's World of Warcraft license from messaging you. It's a technical limitation between the two systems which we'd like to overcome in time.
Screenshot (from Blizzcon, might not reflect the final changes)
Cataclysm Badge and PvP Point Changes Clarifications
<div class="blizzquotewrap"><div class="blizzquoteinner">Quote from: Zarhym (Source)
<div class="blizzquote">Here are some clarifications to some common concerns we're seeing:
So this means that at some point I'm encouraged to stop playing because I know my current valor will convert to hero and I'll have a huge stockpile of points which I can then just use to buy the set I'd be after anyway.
Our basic model throughout Wrath of the Lich King has been that you can get the shiny hotness now, or wait until it
More...
