cronin

I love going on a rampage and crushing my enemies, racking up 3 or 4 or 5 kills and surviving until the end of the match, triumphant!

@PersonOfSorts

ODO!

No, no, no, no, no.

You've made all sorts of noob mistakes. You've either never flamed someone before or you're a failed troll. Also you didn't deny that you worked for Blizzard, and since you seem to know so much about South Korea, I'm just going to go ahead and call you "Blizzard Associate (message) Board Operator," or Babo for short.

You see, Babo, I'm not sure how much Blizzard is paying you, but if they really want to increase their revenue stream then they should probably consider reducing your salary. Because you see, Babo, the BTA is right here: http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=23329323311&sid=5010

That's right, Babo. If you had used your super internet skills to dig through the large, complex Blizzard web sites, you could have eventually found your way to the BTA by clicking that small, hard to find yellow box in the bottom right hand corner of the main page. And then, if you were particularly lucky, you might have stumbled into the "General" forum, and, after several minutes of fruitless searching, you would maybe (if you were extra, extra lucky) have found the sticky topic, which in small, easy-to-miss BRIGHT BLUE CAPITAL LETTERS is the above elusive topic.

Actually, Babo, there is one thing you didn't know (one of only a very small number of things, I am sure, as you clearly have access to the vast and fruitful information available on the internet, and are obviously very adept at accessing it). You see, Babo, I actually used to live in South Korea, and while I was there I enjoyed going to a nice little place that they have there in every town called a PC Bang, which, roughly translated into your language, means "a place where people go to pay a little bit of money so they can sit and play computer games." And as you no doubt know, from your exhaustive research and experience, Babo, every computer in one of these "Internet Cafes" is loaded with an individual copy of Starcraft. In fact, I'm also completely sure that you are aware that there are more computers per person than pretty much any country in the world.

I know math is not your strong suit, so I will try and put this in as simple of terms as possible. Starcraft is one of the best selling games of all time (that means it sold lots and lots of copies). Starcraft II will also undoubtedly be one of the best selling games of all time. Now, Babo, you may recall that Blizzard continued to sell the Starcraft Battle Pack at nearly the price of a new game for many years after it came out, because it continued to sell and sell and sell. I want you to imagine now what will happen when Blizzard continues to sell Starcraft II at this price point for years and years after it comes out. What's that? They'll make more money than Jesus? Oh, wait? They already have, by releasing the most popular MMORPG of all time? Oh really? But I was so worried about poor, poor Blizzard, and the incredible difficulty they've had making money lately.

But getting back to the matter at hand, Babo, if you were feeling extra, extra deductive, you might have noticed that the BTA posted on the forums was posted there on the 19th of February, which, if you try really, really hard, I'm sure you would realise that that was 3 days ago. What's that, Babo? Oh, you're right, that was posted AFTER the beta went live. Which means AFTER the system check terms were finalised. Which means that they are newer. You know what newer means, right? Good job, Babo!

Actually, I'm feeling particularly jolly this morning, as I have not slept all night, so I'm going to do you a special favour. I'm going to use some very advanced computer functions called "copy" and "paste," which you will no doubt learn about when you rise a bit higher in the Blizzard corporate ranks.

1. Eligibility. Your eligibility to participate in this StarCraft® II Beta Test is subject to the following conditions: (i) You must have registered a Battle.net® account which is in good standing (the “Account”;); (ii) you must be an adult in your country of residence; (iii) you must agree to the terms of this Beta Test Agreement; and (iv) the computer system that you will use to take part in the Beta Test (the “System”) must meet the specifications which Blizzard determines are required for the Beta Test. Please note that Blizzard has the right to change the required system specifications at any time during the Beta Test, and if at any time during the Beta Test your System does not meet the requirements that Blizzard has determined are required for the Beta Test, Blizzard may determine that you are ineligible to continue to participate in the Beta Test. In order to determine your eligibility for the Beta Test, you specifically agree to allow Blizzard to obtain hardware and software information from the System prior to registration for the Beta Test in order for Blizzard to determine if you are eligible participate.

So you see, Babo, my internet buddy, there are only four requirements. Despite your attempt to tell the world otherwise, Babo, I stand resolute and firm, just as Captain Picard did before me, when I say that

THERE... ARE... FOUR... REQUIREMENTS!

Well, that's enough excitement for one day, Babo. I think it's time for your nap. Would you like me to make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Oh, and I'm sorry, but I can't join your poor student club. You see, Babo, I'm in university, which, if you work hard and do well, is maybe where you'll end up in ten years or so. Until then, have a great day in primary school!

That is how you flame someone. I really do hope Blizzard is paying you, Babo, so you can buy yourself something nice to forget the rape I have just delivered. Have a nice day.

Well, actually, I didn't read the agreement that comes with the system check software, because I CAN'T DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE WITHOUT OPTING IN TO THE BETA. Use your brain. Even if I had been able to download System Check, it's as you said-- it's GENERAL. It applies generally to the system check software. This doesn't mean Blizzard gets a free pass to violate the SCII BTA-- the system check agreement applies to the system check software only. As for the FAQ, it is not a contract or a legally binding document. I'm not saying the BTA is, but it's set up like one. Where is the press coverage of the fact that I need to buy a game to get into a free beta? I certainly didn't read anything about that on here, and I read this blog every day.

As for preventing people from setting up multiple dead accounts with a bot, they already have a system in place for that, and it's exactly the same system that works for this here blog-- requiring people to enter an e-mail address and then confirm their account through e-mail. It seems to work fine for this site, and Blizzard is already using it.

Look, I'm sorry if this doesn't gel with clear belief that Blizzard can do no wrong, but believe it or not this is not the first questionable tactic Blizzard is using with SCII. For instance, requiring users to purchase new "premium maps" when every Blizzard strategy game ever made has been supported with free dev-made maps. Also, requiring each user to purchase a copy to play LAN is also a break with tradition, and yet another attempt to wring even more money out of this game. Don't even get me started on how they're making us buy the same damn game three times to play all three campaigns. I don't want to hear the party line on how "now they get to spend more time on the Terran campaign--" the first game shipped with three campaigns that were fully fleshed-out, and SCII has been in development for years. If Blizzard wanted to include three campaigns, they could have.

Oh yeah, and guess what? I'm a broke-ass student. I'm not paying twice for a game that I bought in 2001. Seeing as you appear to work for Blizzard, could you please send me a copy?

There is no mention of requiring a purchase in any literature on the Blizzard site-- that includes the FAQ and also the Beta Test Agreement. The latter actually states the four requirements for eligibility, yet there is no mention of the purchase requirement. That means that Blizzard is breaking their own damn contract. Blizzard is screwing over a lot of people this way and they're doing it completely dishonestly.

As a matter of fact I own Diablo, Starcraft and Warcraft III but as those games came out about a hundred years ago, they currently reside at home across the Atlantic. If you can find some way of fetching them for me then be my guest, otherwise don't be a smart ass. If you can't stop being an ass: get out of here. This web site isn't for you.

"You must have at least one full version of a Blizzard Entertainment game attached to this Battle.net account in order to set up your beta profile."

WHAT THE F*CK?

She comes with the Uber Edition, right? Let me just get my credit card handy....

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY WALK INTO wait

Sten is awesome. I'm grooming him for my delicious dragon scale armour (strength 38 get!). My main is a rogue/duelist/tanking badass, Sten is useful for damage dealing, and I round out the party with Wynn for healing and Morrigan for damage spells / hot secks.

That said, (SPOILERS!) when Sten challenged my authority in Haven, I kicked his Qunari ass. (/SPOILERS!)

3d display and a full neural interface.