Breakfast Topic: The great Battle.net merge
by Matt Low 
Oct 13th 2009 at 8:00AM
Of course, an announcement like this comes with all sorts of complaints. I've perused the forums on the topic and checked out some of the comments when we announced it here. Here's a few common reasons players are against it. Just for kicks, I've offered some solutions!
Common excuses
- Lack of trust in the Battle.net system since some players who converted had their account hacked after (Solution: Get an authenticator)
- Privacy concerns since email address is the sign-in
(Solution: Make a new email address and use that instead of your personal or work email) - Multiple account hassle
(Solution: It's one email login where you can choose which WoW account to get into and yes, you can login simultaneously to different WoW accounts attached to the same Battle.net account) - My WoW account has a different name then my Battle.net account
(Solution: Don't buy accounts) - I'm too lazy
(Solution: Guess we won't be seeing you in game anymore)
Regardless, Blizzard appears to be adamant about this. I've had a few guildies myself who didn't like the idea. I've heard some players were considering quitting which I find extreme. Over what? Because Blizzard's implementing streamlined account changes for the sake of security and convenience?
Come on now!
If you're a GM with players like that, you're not going to have much of a choice other than to call their bluff. Start shopping around for other players to fill their position if they're serious about leaving. Because once November 11th rolls around, you really don't have another choice.
Those are my personal thoughts on the issue. Where do you stand?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Umehte Oct 13th 2009 8:05AM
I like it actually. Its nice to have all your blizzard games in one spot to manage!
Realmreaver Oct 13th 2009 9:59AM
Honestly, I had no issues cause I created an email account specifically for this purpose. However, the email should have been an underlined marker for your battle.net accounts and NOT part of your primary password.
That was EXTREMELY stupid of Blizzard to do this and; to me at least, gives the impression they WANT people to hack the accounts.
I am quite sure I will not have to suffer the same ignorance when SWTOR comes out. I was thinking of switching to that game anyways and all they are doing is forcing cancelations that could be; after 4 years, all too easy to a repeatable game mechanic that offers really nothing new.
Seriously, the original game was great. Since then the expansions have offered nothing entirely new to the genra. I know, I know you can fly. Well I assume that was possible cause one could swim from the get go cause their using the same bloody dynamic code. We cannot fight while riding, which is modified walking or flying, which is modified swimming. Everything else is just fluff which even Blizzard reconizes since they are pretty much taking out most of the crude that BC introduced.
Just my opinion.
Knyle2 Oct 13th 2009 10:22AM
no reason not to, I wonder if this would have come about if not for activision.
I can only assume its to move more people closer to store.blizzard.com
As if we haven't all bought all of the blizz products over the years.
I did mine a long time ago. I dont really like that when i go to config my addons my wow/interface/wtf folder still shows my "old fashion" wow account name.
Cthulu Oct 13th 2009 11:33AM
Another trick is to save your password to a text document make sure you have your remember account name check box selected. Then everytime you log in you never enter your username and your password is ctr-c and ctrl-v... now tell me how the hacker can get that unless they are directly on your computer in your home or remote access the file.. obviously don't name it wowpassword.txt and you could even zip the file for added security.
Aeryk Oct 13th 2009 11:46AM
Actually, the clipboard is quite insecure and just as easy for a hacker or keylogger to get your password from as manually typing it in, plus you have the added insecurity of having your password stored in your computer.
Kirklees Oct 13th 2009 11:55AM
Yes, because no hacker can get into your computer and crawl it for passwords.
Worst Password Advice EVAR.
If you want to keep your account safe and are worried:
1. Make a password at minimum 8 character length
2. Make the password nonsense (non-words) with symbols and letters
3. Do NOT store it anywhere on your computer
4. Get an authenticator
Vidi Oct 13th 2009 12:11PM
I agree, having all your blizz games in one spot is nice, but without an authenticator, ( which I have ) I would never merge if it wasn't mandatory. Personally, I think we're going to see alot more hacked accounts over the next several months. Too many people don't take the simplest of precautions.
Also, this should be quite a boon for authenicator sales.
tatsumasa Oct 13th 2009 12:13PM
@realmreaver
you sense no make and sentences that run on purpose with no
...or for those who speak english, what you said makes no freaking sense and has nothing to do with anything.
Gothia Oct 15th 2009 4:49AM
You people are a bunch of computer zero's. If a hackers is already in your compter then it doesn't matter if you have an authenticator or not - your stuff is comprimised.The facts are that battlenet.com is not as secure as what I am currently using and their password requirements are weaker than what I use now. This leads me to believe that they have holes in their website or are comprimising user information. The authenticator should not be the end all solution if their website was secure to begin with - I know savvy computer users that have been hacked since crossing over to Battle.net - this means much more to me than a bunch of Fan Boy idiots downgrading comments from users that have REAL concerns.
Just another reason to bag ass as soon as possible ....and ....
Her five-year mission: To explore strange, new worlds; To seek out new life and new civilizations; To boldly go where no man has gone before..."TM
Jim Whatshisname Oct 14th 2009 6:10AM
The conspiracy theories are getting really silly. There is no reason Battle.net would be any less secure than the old login system. The keyloggers are getting better all the time, even net-savvy people can get hacked these days. Get an AUTHENTICATOR if you value your account! Claiming the blizzard servers are being compromised is just ridiculous.
As for people knowing your email and thus your login this is not really an issue either since your login was never meant to be a secret like your password is. When you login your name is displayed but your pass is not, you can choose to save your name on your computer but not your password, when you contact blizz customer service they may ask for your login name but never your password, etc, etc. The password is secret, the login name is not.
However I'm pretty sure the nov 12 date is not a firm cutoff. They are obviously keeping a close eye on how many people have merged and if there is still a large portion that haven't done so when nov 12 rolls around then they will no doubt extend it. Note that the forum whiners do not constitute "a large portion" no matter how vocal they are.
In the end blizz have to do this since the bnet platform will be so important going forward, I'm sure they're kicking themselves for not having the foresight to do this five years ago.
Blaargh Oct 13th 2009 8:07AM
I totally agree with your assessment of the common excuses. I transferred my account to a battlenet account the first day it was available. I have not had any problems yet.
Bottom line is that people fear change.
AlicanC Oct 13th 2009 9:05AM
I used my namesurname@gmail.com for my Battle.net account so now I have to enter
asdfghjklzxcvbnmq@gmail.com
instead of my old and short username:
asdfghjklzx
which is very annoying in some situations. I hope we will get an optional "Battle.net Username" so we can have something easier to type in. Battle.net also forces me to use a complicated password which is really unnecessary since I have an authenticator. Battle.net made logging in a big mess for me...
Jafari Oct 13th 2009 9:17AM
seconded
Eric Oct 13th 2009 9:17AM
Remember account name check box.
Thomas Prescott Oct 13th 2009 9:19AM
@AlicanC
Contrary to popular belief, an authenticator alone isn't foolproof. A STRONG password, combined with an authenticator are much better. Plus, its a good habit to use a password that has uppercase, lowercase, numeric, and symbol characters in it. An authenticator is only designed to prevent keylogging, thats it.
Skonged Oct 13th 2009 9:34AM
@Thomas Prescott
Uhh I don't believe you know what your talking about. An RSA type security key is very very very secure. It's the same technology we used at the bank I worked at to secure 100% of our mission critical servers. I would challenge you to find a more secure easy to use method.
kv83 Oct 13th 2009 9:35AM
@Thomas Prescott
Not to burst your bubble, but the WoW-account-password is not case-sensitive. it doesn't matter whether you use upper-case or lower-case characters. Also a authenticator is pretty much fool-proof even if you have a weak password like "secret".
QQinsider Oct 13th 2009 9:42AM
It's not necessarily fear, people also don't like what they perceive to be unnecessary change. If you have only one account and don't play any other Blizzard games then having to go through this is just plain annoying, for no benefit at all.
Having said that, quitting over it is a bit extreme.
artifex Oct 13th 2009 9:52AM
@AlicanC, why don't you tell it to save your email address?
Works for me.
artifex Oct 13th 2009 9:54AM
Oops, that's what I get for opening tabs of all the new articles and then not refreshing this one before replying :) Someone else said it first.