User:Kkaran99/sandbox

Original Content:Privacy controversy and Real ID

On July 6, 2010 Blizzard announced that they were changing the way their forums worked to require that users identify themselves with their real name.[36][37] The reaction from the community was overwhelmingly negative with multiple game magazines calling the change "foolhardy"[38] and an "Epic Fail".[39] It also resulted in the largest user response ever on the Blizzard forums.[40][41][42][43][44] This included personal details of a Blizzard employee who gave his real name "to show it wasn't a big deal".[45] Shortly after revealing his real name, personal information was posted including his phone number, picture, age, and home address.[40]

Some technology media outlets suggested that displaying real names through Real ID is a good idea and would benefit both Battle.net and the Blizzard community.[46] But others were worried that Blizzard were opening their fans up to real-life dangers[47] such as stalking, sexual predators, and employment issues, since a simple Google search by your employer will reveal your online activities.[40][48][49][50] Blizzard initially responded to some of the concerns by saying that the changes would not be retroactive to previous posts, that parents could set up the system so that minors cannot post, and that posting to the forums is optional.[51] However due to the huge negative response, Blizzard President Michael Morhaime issued a statement rescinding the plan to use real names on Blizzard's forums for the time being.[52]

Original Content:Legal disputes

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. vs Valve Corporation

Shortly after Valve Corporation filed its trademark for "Dota" to secure the franchising rights for Dota 2, DotA-Allstars, LLC, run by former contributors to the games's predecessor, Defense of the Ancients, filed an opposing trademark in August 2010.[70] DotA All-Stars, LLC was sold to Blizzard Entertainment in 2011. After the opposition was overruled in Valve's favor, Blizzard filed an opposition against Valve in November 2011, citing their license agreement with developers, as well as their ownership of DotA-Allstars, LLC.[71]

Original Content:Battle.net 2.0

Blizzard released its revamped Battle.net service in 2009. This service allows people who have purchased Blizzard products (StarCraft, StarCraft II, Diablo II, and Warcraft III, as well as their expansions) to download digital copies of games they have purchased, without needing any physical media. In the future, it will store a player's "Blizzard Level" (similar to a Gamerscore).[73]

On November 11, 2009, Blizzard required all World of Warcraft accounts to switch over to Battle.net Accounts. This transition now means that all current Blizzard titles can be accessed, downloaded, and played with a singular Battle.net login.[74]

Privacy controversy and Real ID

On July 6, 2010, Blizzard announced that they were changing the way their forums worked to require that users identify themselves with their real name.[36][37] The reaction from the community was overwhelmingly negative with multiple game magazines calling the change "foolhardy"[38] and an "Epic Fail".[39] It also resulted in the largest user response ever on the Blizzard forums.[40][41][42][43][44] This included personal details of a Blizzard employee who gave his real name "to show it wasn't a big deal".[45] Shortly after revealing his real name, personal information was posted including his phone number, picture, age, and home address.[40]

Some technology media outlets suggested that displaying real names through Real ID is a good idea and would benefit both Battle.net and the Blizzard community.[46] But others were worried that Blizzard were opening their fans up to real-life dangers[47] such as stalking, sexual predators, and employment issues, since a simple Google search by your employer will reveal your online activities.[40][48][49][50] Blizzard initially responded to some of the concerns by saying that the changes would not be retroactive to previous posts, that parents could set up the system so that minors cannot post, and that posting to the forums is optional.[51] However, due to the huge negative response, Blizzard President Michael Morhaime issued a statement rescinding the plan to use real names on Blizzard's forums for the time being.[52]

Apart from the negative side effects of Real ID relating to privacy, the new addition boasts new features for current Blizzard titles. For instance, real names for friends, cross-realm and cross-game chat, rich presence and broadcasts are included with the Real ID system .

Real names for friends: Your Real ID friends will appear under their real-life names on your friends list. This means that when you're chatting, communicating in-game, or viewing a character's profile, you will be able to retrieve the players account name as opposed to the character name. This saves the hassle of remembering multiple character names of your friends in order to communicate.

Cross-realm and cross-game chat: With Real ID, friends can chat cross-realm and cross-faction in World of Warcraft. Prior to Real ID this was not possible as players needed to be on the same server and same faction in order to communicate. Furthermore, cross game chat was not available to players playing different Blizzard titles. This is no longer the case as Real ID allows players to chat across different Blizzard games like Starcraft 2 to Diablo 3 to Wolrd of Warcraft.

"Rich Presence": This feature will allow you to track and monitor what your friends are playing in real time. This means when you open your friends list you will be able to view the current game your friend might be playing. Broadcasts: Allows players to broadcast a short status message for your friends to see. This means a player can make his or her status busy, available, etc. In additon, a player can send out short messages to update any change of plans which can be viewed by all friends.

Legal disputes

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. vs Valve Corporation

Shortly after Valve Corporation filed its trademark for "Dota" to secure the franchising rights for Dota 2, DotA-Allstars, LLC, run by former contributors to the games's predecessor, Defense of the Ancients, filed an opposing trademark in August 2010.[70] DotA All-Stars, LLC was sold to Blizzard Entertainment in 2011. After the opposition was overruled in Valve's favor, Blizzard filed an opposition against Valve in November 2011, citing their license agreement with developers, as well as their ownership of DotA-Allstars, LLC.[71] The controversy surrounding Valve and Blizzard regarding Defense of the Ancient is complicated. Defense of the Ancients originally was a popular Warcraft 3 modification which was made by many anonymous developers. Since 2005, a person by the alias Icefrog has maintained DOTA by providing new content and game changes. The modification used Blizzard’s Warcraft 3 engine to craft and tweak the map. Although, there are numerous spin offs of DOTA such as League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth; none of them use the name DOTA for their games.

Blizzard Entertainment claims that Valve Corporation has no right to use the name DOTA for its upcoming game labeled DOTA 2. Blizzard feels that the community reserves the right to use the name DOTA and that Valve Corporation is associating the brand DOTA with itself. Since the original modification was created using Blizzard’s tools and in the game engine of Warcraft 3, Blizzard feels that no entity should trademark the term DOTA. Therefore, the claim is over trademark issues and not copyright. Blizzard has no problem with Valve creating a standalone version of DOTA but simply the name chosen for the game as DOTA 2 which Blizzard feels will confuse consumers into thinking that Valve and Blizzard partnered to create DOTA."Valve has no right to the registration it seeks. If such registration is issued, it not only will damage Blizzard, but also the legions of Blizzard fans that have worked for years with Blizzard and its products, including by causing consumers to falsely believe that Valve's products are affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by Blizzard and are related or connected to Warcraft III"

Battle.net 2.0

Blizzard released its revamped Battle.net service in 2009. This service allows people who have purchased Blizzard products (StarCraft, StarCraft II, Diablo II, and Warcraft III, as well as their expansions) to download digital copies of games they have purchased, without needing any physical media. In the future, it will store a player's "Blizzard Level" (similar to a Gamerscore).[73]

On November 11, 2009, Blizzard required all World of Warcraft accounts to switch over to Battle.net Accounts. This transition now means that all current Blizzard titles can be accessed, downloaded, and played with a singular Battle.net login.[74]

Battle net 2.0 is the new platform for matchmaking service for Blizzard games which will offer players a host of additional features. Players will now be able to track their friend's achievements, view match history, avatars, etc. Players will also be able to unlock a wide range of achievements (rewards for completing game content) for Blizzard games. This means players can enjoy new avatars, decals, badges etc, for their accounts.

The service will also allow players to chat simultaneously with players from other Blizzard games. For example, players no longer need to create multiple user names or accounts for most Blizzard products. Starcraft 2, Diablo 3 and World of Warcraft will support the ability for users to cross communicate in game. This means that a player could be in a game of Starcraft 2, and he/she may send or receive messages from friends playing World of Warcraft or Diablo 3. Moreover, Battle.net 2.0 will track a player’s progress and skill level, and match make them with other players of even skill level. This way, everyone can enjoy the games and will only play against people who are just as good or bad as them. No player will ever feel that they are at a disadvantage. For example, in Starcraft 2 a players skill level is determined based on few key factors like a player’s APM (actions per minute) and MMR ( Match making Ratio).