Cross-realm Real ID grouping now available
by Mathew McCurley 
Jul 14th 2011 at 1:00PM
The service has apparently just gone live, free, for what is probably a limited time. Blizzard had also said that this cross-realm grouping would be part of the premium package of WoW services that players can pay for monthly, and only the group leader doing the invites would have to have the service in order to invite people cross-realm. Much as the mobile guild chat feature was rolled out free to let people check it out, it appears cross-realm Real ID grouping is getting the same trial period.
Check out cross-realm Real ID grouping in game, and start grouping with your friends beyond server boundaries, and hit the jump for the full announcement.
When delving into the depths of Azeroth's darkest dungeons, it always helps to have some friends at your side... now you're able to issue a call to arms no matter what realm they play on. We're pleased to announce the new Real ID Party feature is now available for testing! This new feature will allow World of Warcraft players to invite their real-life Real ID friends of the same faction to a party regardless of the realm they play on, and then queue up for a 5-player regular or Heroic dungeon.
To learn more about Real ID, please visit the Real ID web page and read the FAQ.
For more information about how the Real ID Party system works, check out the FAQ below.
Real ID Party Feature – Test Phase FAQ
Q: What is the Real ID Party feature?
A: Players can now invite Real ID friends of the same faction to a 5-player normal or Heroic dungeon group, regardless of what realm their friends are on. This system is designed to make it easier for real-life friends to play together.
Q: How do I invite Real ID friends to a Real ID party?
A: Inviting a Real ID friend to a Real ID Party is simple. Just open up your Friends list to see which Real ID friends are online. Click on the "Plus" button to send an invitation to a Real ID friend to join your group. You can continue to add Real ID friends to your party until the group is complete. If you cannot complete the group with Real ID friends, you are free to join the Dungeon Finder to fill in the missing roles.
Q: Does a player need to have Real ID enabled to accept a Real ID group invite?
A: Yes, a player must have Real ID enabled, and both players must be Real ID friends to accept or initiate Real ID party invitations.
Q: Can a party leader invite a mix of Real ID friends, character-level friends, guildmates, or random players to the same party?
A: A party leader can invite any combination of Real ID friends from any realm, guildmates from the same realm, or other characters from the same realm to the same party. If the party leader isn't able to fill up the entire party, the Dungeon Finder can fill in the missing roles.
Q: Can I invite someone who is not a Real ID friend?
A: You can only invite members to a party if they are on your Real ID friends list or if they are on the same realm as you are.
Q: Can I invite a friend of a Real ID friend?
A: No, you can only invite those who are Real ID friends with you directly to the party.
Q: How long will the testing period last?
A: We haven't yet determined how long the testing period will last. We'll keep you updated on the status and inform you when the test period is going to end in the future.
Q: Will aspects of the Real ID Party system be premium-based?
A: We'll have information on the premium-based aspects of the Real ID Party system toward the end of the testing period.
To learn more about Real ID, please visit the Real ID web page and read the FAQ.
For more information about how the Real ID Party system works, check out the FAQ below.
Real ID Party Feature – Test Phase FAQ
Q: What is the Real ID Party feature?
A: Players can now invite Real ID friends of the same faction to a 5-player normal or Heroic dungeon group, regardless of what realm their friends are on. This system is designed to make it easier for real-life friends to play together.
Q: How do I invite Real ID friends to a Real ID party?
A: Inviting a Real ID friend to a Real ID Party is simple. Just open up your Friends list to see which Real ID friends are online. Click on the "Plus" button to send an invitation to a Real ID friend to join your group. You can continue to add Real ID friends to your party until the group is complete. If you cannot complete the group with Real ID friends, you are free to join the Dungeon Finder to fill in the missing roles.
Q: Does a player need to have Real ID enabled to accept a Real ID group invite?
A: Yes, a player must have Real ID enabled, and both players must be Real ID friends to accept or initiate Real ID party invitations.
Q: Can a party leader invite a mix of Real ID friends, character-level friends, guildmates, or random players to the same party?
A: A party leader can invite any combination of Real ID friends from any realm, guildmates from the same realm, or other characters from the same realm to the same party. If the party leader isn't able to fill up the entire party, the Dungeon Finder can fill in the missing roles.
Q: Can I invite someone who is not a Real ID friend?
A: You can only invite members to a party if they are on your Real ID friends list or if they are on the same realm as you are.
Q: Can I invite a friend of a Real ID friend?
A: No, you can only invite those who are Real ID friends with you directly to the party.
Q: How long will the testing period last?
A: We haven't yet determined how long the testing period will last. We'll keep you updated on the status and inform you when the test period is going to end in the future.
Q: Will aspects of the Real ID Party system be premium-based?
A: We'll have information on the premium-based aspects of the Real ID Party system toward the end of the testing period.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new tier 12 armor!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Nina Katarina Jul 14th 2011 1:04PM
We've got some preeeeeeeemium dope here (cross-server grouping) but don't worry, the first hit is free...
Gunthen73 Jul 14th 2011 2:23PM
Note- I originally posted this in the official forums, It was immediately deleted.
I want to start this thread out by saying, I love WoW, and I love playing it.
With that out of the way, I feel like this needs to be said. As consumers we have a great responsibility, it is our jobs to show the company's we support what we want. If you, like me feel that things like cross realm grouping should be a part of the subscription cost, then it is your responsibility to stand up.
We allowed,
BoA Mounts/pets in the pet store.
Additional monthly cost for remote AH/guild chat.
No Spawn installations on SC2
No LAN mode for SC2 tournaments,
No Replays with Friends in battle.net, causing issues for co-casting.
We have allowed micro transactions to permeate a monthly subscription based game. As consumers, we have shut up and allowed this to happen. If you like me feel that Blizzard is going to far, then our only reasonable course of action is to stop supporting them.
I love your game Blizzard, I love the friends I have made in it. But at a certain point I have to stand up for fair, and good business practices, that respect the people who have and continue to support you. And so if the Real-ID cross realm grouping service does become a premium. I will be forced to stop subscribing to WoW.
Please listen and respect your consumers, please do not attempt to nickle and dime us for services that should be included in the cost of the game. I know we have allowed this to happen for years now, but you are crossing the line. And I for one will look into free WoW alternatives if you continue to cross it.
[quote]A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.
~Albert Camus [/quote]
Tropxe Jul 14th 2011 2:27PM
Do you say the same thing whenever you see a movie trailer, game demo, a test drive at a car showroom, a free food or drink sample at a mall, etc?
talkingmike Jul 14th 2011 2:30PM
@Gunthen73
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnERkBKoj3E
Totemer Jul 14th 2011 3:01PM
I think we should enjoy the ride while it is free. That being said, if you enjoyed it then pay for it. IF you don't think it's worth it then don't. If we demand all these upgrades for free there will be a good chance we could get them in time. BUT I'm sure at some point blizzard will work it into the game time cost and quiet frankly that would suck for alot of people who don't need/want it. Just like remote g chat or remote AH. If my cost goes up because of stuff I don't need or want, like most people, chances are I too will go play one of the free games out there begging for our attention.
MO Jul 14th 2011 3:24PM
This seems like the line to me, all the other stuff they charge for really is extra but grouping is fundamental to the game. RealID is part of the game now, they should not charge for RealID grouping. I very much doubt this involved a lot of work to implement given the fact that we can randomly be assigned to a group with the people in question already.
Tfish92 Jul 15th 2011 12:52AM
Here's something to ponder. You ever wonder what all else might be in this premium package that hasn't been announced yet?
I wonder why they haven't finished and released cross server heirlooms mailing by now...
JattTheRogue Jul 14th 2011 4:05PM
I completely agree with Guthen. Stuff like mobile guild chat and auction house I'm perfectly fine with being premium features; they're outside the actual game and are just little extras. But as Gunthen said, grouping up is pretty much the core of the game. And aside from how important grouping is, this is the first thing they're going to be charging for that is only usable in-game. Pets, mounts, those are vanity things that don't affect gameplay at all. But charging to let you group up with certain people? I don't find that acceptable. We've already bought the game, we pay $15 a month for a subscription; I think that's enough. I would never buy one, but I'm fine with there being one-time transactions like pets and mounts. But adding another subscription fee for something inside the game is going too far.
Storm Eagle [Planeteer | Power of Phoenix Wrights Colloquial Catch Phrase - OBJECTION! and Captain Planets Second in Command] Jul 14th 2011 4:09PM
@Gunther73
This is what happens when Activision gets their greedy little paws into things....
...And it's only going to get worse.
WrecklessMEDIC Jul 14th 2011 5:00PM
I don't know what all the whining is about. Seriously, RealID grouping should be a premium service like MobileChat & Mobile AH. U never had it before and u don't have to use it now. It's an EXTRA bonus.
Do u complain when u pay a premium to watch a 3D movie at the theatre or that Blu-Ray discs cost more? Stop bitching or Blizzard will just say "Screw u guys. You don't appreciate it. So we aren't gonna create any more features for you."
loop_not_defined Jul 14th 2011 6:30PM
With WoW's numerous servers, the chances of being on the same server as a new friend/acquaintance who also plays WoW are incredibly slim. Like, close to zero slim. The fact that Blizzard is charging extra to *play* with *friends* in an MMO does piss me off, and I think I'm more than justified in feeling so.
I understand that this has been the norm for quite some time, but more and more MMOs these days are surpassing the shard/server walls from days of yore. Look at how many employ "channels" that you can freely jump through without even having to log out. If you meet another person who plays Metal Assault or Guild Wars, that's it. You can play with them. There's no tricks or technical barriers. This is Blizzard's opportunity to finally tear down the ~150+ walls separating it's player base.
Spellotape Jul 14th 2011 7:31PM
@Gunthen
It's impossible for any one person/group to claim they are speaking for the entire player base, even if it happens to be the one currently making the most noise. In the end the decision on what should or shouldn't be a charged service probably includes things like the number of people who - of their own free will (I hope) - currently subscribe to existing mobile/premium features.
At the moment I don't really have an opinion either way on the usefulness of Real ID grouping since I don't use Real ID outside of people already on my server, but I wouldn't feel disrespected by a charge on this feature and I wish people would stop taking it upon themselves to represent the cause of "all" players when they don't know how "everyone" feels.
JattTheRogue Jul 15th 2011 4:06PM
@WrecklessMEDIC: "Do u complain when u pay a premium to watch a 3D movie at the theatre or that Blu-Ray discs cost more?"
Actually, yeah, I do. There's no reason to pay up to $5 more for a 3D movie than a normal one; it doesn't cost 150% more to make one so I shouldn't have to pay that much. So I don't. And I don't find BlueRay's quality worth the extra money, so I don't buy them. Your comparison is flawed, though; it's not like we're getting better graphics with the premium package. What paying for RealID is like is if you went to a movie theater and had to pay extra to sit next to your friends if they were from out of town, or if you bought a DVD and had to pay a fee when you watched it with people other than your family. Is it absolutely NECESSARY to be able to watch movies with other people? No, but it seems really stupid to not be able to do so for free.
Revrant Jul 16th 2011 8:28PM
First comment, intelligent discussions, criticisms, to think when I quit over the recycled of content as I recognized a pathos starting to form, and then this, no one accepted it was a poor decision on their behalf, now, this.
>soniamproud.png
Iirdan Jul 14th 2011 1:05PM
"We'll have information on the premium-based aspects of the Real ID Party system toward the end of the testing period."
Pointing this out now so we can put a preemptive stop to all the Premium service slippery slope whining. We've all heard it, we're all tired of it. Talk about the feature itself (which I personally am very excited for).
cyanea85 Jul 14th 2011 1:13PM
Haha. You know that's not gonna happen.
Iirdan Jul 14th 2011 1:18PM
I can dream...
DonNochay Jul 14th 2011 2:06PM
What's your point? The slippery slope of micro transactions and small, niche services that you have to pay a premium for are bad. I pay $15/month to play already, these features SHOULD be part of it. Valid argument is valid.
JBluntz Jul 14th 2011 2:21PM
@Don - what valid argument are you talking about?
1.) Slippery Slope is commonly accepted as a fallacy. The primary reason behind this is the argument assumes that all future decisions are based solely on the outcome of previous decisions, and not on their own merit.
2.) Why do you assume your $15/mo adequately pays for an additional service? Do you have any information about the manner in which it was implemented, or how much it cost Blizzard in development, or how much it will cost in maintenance? Today, you can't group cross-realm, and you pay $15/mo. Tomorrow, you will be able to, and you think that should be free? So, basically, you want something for nothing?
Iirdan Jul 14th 2011 2:27PM
Oh God, no! It's happening on a post specifically designated to prevent it!