After a wave of dissent from Aussie gamers annoyed at being locked into playing people from the Asia Pacific region, Blizzard have relented and will unlock the ability for us to play against our NA counterparts!

We’re pleased to announce that all players who purchase the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ will also have the option of playing on North American servers following the launch. While we still encourage gamers to play on the local servers, which will offer lower latency and more action during peak hours, we recognize that many players have longstanding friendships and rivalries with North American players, and would like to continue playing with them. Because of this, we're giving Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand gamers access to both regions' servers, so they can choose where they'd prefer to play.

This additional access will go into effect as soon as possible. Our intention is to make it available within 60 days of launch -- at that time, players with a copy of the Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand version of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty will automatically gain the option to download the North American version of the game client through Battle.net®. You can check out the FAQ for more information, and we’ll have additional details to share about acquiring the North American client in the near future on our Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand community site.

Thanks to Delimiter for bearing the good news!
Promoted forum item

Also don't forget Monday's StarCraft 2 launch festivities in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - more details here.

http://www.ausgamers.com/gameres/3892/images/230/20090822-bc09sc2-001.jpg http://www.ausgamers.com/gameres/3892/images/230/20090822-bc09battlenet-005.jpg http://www.ausgamers.com/gameres/3892/images/230/20090822-bc09sc2-004.jpg

I assume its a once-only region tie.

I think this just got harder somehow ><

When the additional functionality is added, the video game giant wrote, players with a South-East Asian copy of StarCraft II would automatically gain the option to download the US version of the game through its Battle.net online match-making platform. They will be able to use either copy at will.

Actually it seems like its a choice a couple months after launch and then you can play each at wil. f***ing awesome.

How about we all just roll NA then.

I think I'd rather play against some relatively same natural-abilitied Americans.

Everyone knows white man can't multitask! :)

Our intention is to make it available within 60 days of launch

Well we'll still be SEA locked with our boxed copies until they get this out - a month or two after release.

So we have to install the game twice. One Asian Version and One US Version.... WTF will be the difference?

So we have to install the game twice. One Asian Version and One US Version.... WTF will be the difference?

play on both servers whenever we want instead of being locked to one only?

Optus gets 400ping to the SEA server. Im sure they will be keen.

plenty of other reasons.

The US client is required to play on the US servers against US people (so if you've pre-downloaded it you're set).

At this stage the best bet seems to be to get the Australian version now, as according to the FAQ the US version WONT be offered this cross-region play for some time, if ever. This is specifically for SEA buyers who feel jipped cos they cant play with the yanks (who weve been bundled with forever).

If you've pre-ordered the US version (say from amazon) and want the eventual choice between the two regions you might want to consider cancelling if its not too late now and buying SEA.

Its very interesting that they have the technical ability to implement this so soon but refuse to drop the barriers between Europe, Asia, SEA and US -- other than a commercial decision because of all the user rage in Oceania over the SEA lock.

SUPERSPECIALAWESOME!!

The gamers
United
will never be defeated.

Boycott cancelled.

you woulda purchased it anyway phonyman

excuse the language, but;

f***KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Thank f***.

sweet as

might have turned out alright for us but 1) its still lame we have to wait 60 days. 2) americans cant play on SEA and 3) it doesnt solve the essence of the problem as a community seeing as every other region is still locked and cant interact.


also may have wasted 7gig of my quota.. we'll see if i can use the US client i dl'ed when they unlock it. ill save my anger for then

So what version is the digital distribution one? A US version? Or SEA??

you get to choose

might have turned out alright for us but 1) its still lame we have to wait 60 days. 2) americans cant play on SEA and 3) it doesnt solve the essence of the problem as a community seeing as every other region is still locked and cant interact.

Yup - its quite cheeky that they are gonna unlock SEA to US but nothing else. Obviously they can do this quickly, but they won't.

I'm a cynic but I expect that guys like EB and Hardly Normal reading forums like this, where gamers like CSIRAC and myself were advocating buying the US digital version got them moving on it rather than any consideration for players directly.

also may have wasted 7gig of my quota.. we'll see if i can use the US client i dl'ed when they unlock it. ill save my anger for then

There will very likely only be one US client, and you'll patch that to whatever version is current. They're just going to grant your license a profile on the US server so you can login. Its a f***ing trivial exercise, it shouldn't take so long (maybe they need to do some key voodoo to undo what they did to region lock them) and there's no f***ing reason it should only work for SEA ==> USA.

Other than money, of course.

this makes me happy in the pants.

has it been mentioned what the SEA Digital (battle.net) price will be?

Nope. Which might be scary :)

some of the articles i have read had thrown some figures around because of SEA game servers, and a $100+ price tag, but i mean i can get the BOX for $88 so im hoping not.

I just prefer not to get Hard copies these days because i simply dont need the copy, and i end up loosing it.

Well I just pre-ordered my copy at Albert St. Never been to a launch thingy before. Should I dress as a Void Ray or a Muta? lolz.

Well I just pre-ordered my copy at Albert St. Never been to a launch thingy before. Should I dress as a Void Ray or a Muta? lolz.

If you're referring to the midnight launch I thought you had to have your pre-order in by 21/7 to have it ready on the night? :<

I may attend the launch with a mate from work but i'll pick up my copy in the morning :P

Guess not. I went in and said I will be attending midnight. They said about 1000 people are expected and they will have around 50 staff on hand.

Dick Smith Online is selling it for $70 including free delivery

http://www.ozbargain.com.au/goto/28905

^ i was about to mention this.

link

sadly it only gets to you on the 28th.. but its the most reasonable price that ive been able to find... but i want it tuesday!

so the challenge is this...find a store that will either deliver or go in person at $70 on the tuesday. go!

lol pretty much why I didn't order online. I am a sucker for day 1 play. Don't buy many games so I'll fork out the extra monies.

Sydney people will probably get it on Tuesday. Pretty sure EB's distribution centre is in Brisbane but they are expensive regardless :P

does battle.net come up in i think korean for anyone else?

Actually on the DSE page you will see this quote

Pre-Order now and have it dispatched 1 day before release date. Most Metropolitan areas will receive the game on release day. Release date 27.07.2010.

It said 28 yesterday. They changed it!

Ok so whats the chances they f*** the delivery and it comes days late??

Place I ordered my CE from sent me an email saying they are shipping it via some registered post thing to avoid mail loss, so I don't get mine to the 28th or 29th. I'm a saaaaaaaad panda.

ok i took the dive. if that s*** isnt in my hands by the time i finish work on tuesday theres going to be hell to pay.

so no ones battle.net is in korean?

edit: its US now :/

so no ones battle.net is in korean?

Yeah this dude on QGL has his bnet in korean. Pretty lolz.

Down the bottom right of bnet when you login there should be 'internationa' with a little globe icon. has all the language options in there.

I tried to get excited about starcraft 2, I really tried. But micro intense RTS are just no fun.

coz you're bad

At least attempt to understand what you are talking about when trolling.

can you use Direct Debit at Dick Smith ?
I dont do credit cards.

I just selected it and it comes up with a $6.95 delivery fee ?
still cheap though.

last edited by FaceMan at 14:03:08 25/Jul/10

they only do paypal and cc. there shouldnt be a delivery fee, i wasnt charged one. unless they do direct debit and charge a delivery fee.