Box versions tied to region?

[Kimera757]

Yes, not only that, but if the business model for that country is "pay per time"

Both models are available in those countries, and the complete version is not necessarily just by download.

[GnaReffotsirk]

So, I'm basically screwed if the game store finally gets their copies and it's SEA not enUS? I preordered a copy and the lady was like, "uh, doh, I don't know, I'm just the cashier."

edit: How in the world, will blizzard manage region specific keys? Like they generate 1mb worth of keys for NA and put those in print and into the box? I think these keys are universal.

I in panic atm.

edit 2: Jeez, if some keys are pay-per-play!!! I am utterly decimated.

To answer my own question, taking from this forum: http://forums.gameaxis.com/showthread.php?t=1550270

it says:

Would like to correct astron... reply from Blizzard on select region.

Hello,

1) We cannot confirm at this time, but history says that it will probably be
released shortly after.
2) You will be able to select your region for play with the paid version.


Sarah I.
Customer Services
Blizzard Entertainment
www.blizzard.com/support

So I guess it's when you select your region in your battle.net account, while plugging in the key code. Imma check my account now if something shows evidence of this process.

Battle.net is down for maintenance. But here's my take on this one. Your account (sc2 account) is locked to the region where you registered your retail key. Just like in beta. So, the prime concern is how to make sure one is entering his/her key into the desired region one wants to play in.

[Norfindel]

Both models are available in those countries, and the complete version is not necessarily just by download.

Not according to this:

The game will be available in Mexico, Argentina and Chile at u$s30. With this buy, you will have access for 6 months to single player and MP. If you want to acquire additional game time, there will be subscription options for 30 and 60 days. The prices will be announced later.

Source: http://us.blizzard.com/es-mx/company...es.html?100506

# Is there some option to avoid this pay per time?

Yes, it's. If you want unlimited access to campaign and MP, you can buy and download an unlimited version of the game, in any language, thru Blizzard Entertainment for a price similar than in USA, of $59.99 USD.

Sources: http://us.blizzard.com/es-mx/company...es.html?100506

I translated it, the original text is in spanish, from this thread: http://beta-us.battle.net/sc2/es/forum/topic/20282120

The collector's edition will be unlimited, however (obviously). No idea how much is it going to cost, if it really gets distributed, and what language/region it's. But it's not like i'm interested in buying it, anyways.

Still, "buy and download an unlimited version" could be interpreted in more than one way. Anyways, i'm going for the digital download USA version. The LA servers are physically in USA, anyways.

I can barely believe they did the worst they could do to online gameplay: fragment the player base on purpose, completely dividing the community, by not allowing them to change gateways. All that community talk was BS.

[Hammy]

Thanks Gna, although the guy could just be a complete fraud, this'll give me an excuse to go to a midnight release despite the fact I'm not in europe.

Anyone doing a midnight release in manhattan?

[FoxSpirit]

Blizzard has already stated that they'll most likely allow region switching later on. But don't expect this to be a simple gateway select, more of a migration of your account to a gateway of your choice.
Should be good enough.
Oh, and yeah, once you entered the key, you can select any language evrsion to download. They changed this only recently and it now works for all games in your account.

[Hammy]

After thinking about it a bit more, I don't really understand the blizzard rep's response. How is that possible since, if retail is anything like beta, your installed game will be bound to a server. In other words, if I bought a box in the US, and registered my game to EU, I could never play by using my CD. It's not a problem since I could just download the client, but this doesn't sound like something blizzard would do.
They usually like to keep things simple, even if that means closing some doors for everyone (which is an understandable position for a company to take).

Not only is there no way to confirm that message is in fact from blizzard, but it's also rather vague since it could mean that you'll eventually be able to set your server (like FoxSpirit said), but who knows how long that'll take.

Does anybody know how WoW works in that regard? That would be very helpful. I know that each account is bound to a server, but if you have to accounts, one NA and one EU, could you use the same client to play on both or would you need versions of the game installed?

[GnaReffotsirk]

After thinking about it a bit more, I don't really understand the blizzard rep's response. How is that possible since, if retail is anything like beta, your installed game will be bound to a server. In other words, if I bought a box in the US, and registered my game to EU, I could never play by using my CD. It's not a problem since I could just download the client, but this doesn't sound like something blizzard would do.
They usually like to keep things simple, even if that means closing some doors for everyone (which is an understandable position for a company to take).

Not only is there no way to confirm that message is in fact from blizzard, but it's also rather vague since it could mean that you'll eventually be able to set your server (like FoxSpirit said), but who knows how long that'll take.

Does anybody know how WoW works in that regard? That would be very helpful. I know that each account is bound to a server, but if you have to accounts, one NA and one EU, could you use the same client to play on both or would you need versions of the game installed?

Browsing Language, region assignment, and changing regions:


Selecting region: (after clicking the Change Region link)

Sends you to Eu.battle.net, US, etc. This becomes your realm/region.

What does this mean?

Here's my take on this one. Check your browser before entering a key. If it says EU, US, etc. you're going to be playing in that region.

This is so since changing region gives you those options, and selecting an option redirects your browser to that region. (EU for Europe, US for North America, etc.) Meaning, your key will be registered to the realm/region you're in while entering the key.

Now, we have these question:

Are these clients locked to specific regions? Can someone use a Latin America client with a NA registered key?
What happens if I change my battle.net account region after I have entered a key in another region?

[Hammy]

Yes but the question remains:

With the digital version I'm sure you can play with any realm, but what if I want a box? :/
Can I tie the key from a US box an EU account?... can't seem to find that answer from blizzard. It works for beta! But that's a different animal since all keys are "digital" keys.

And yes, there's the question in my previous post: are clients bound to realms?

[Norfindel]

Now, we have these question:

Are these clients locked to specific regions? Can someone use a Latin America client with a NA registered key?
What happens if I change my battle.net account region after I have entered a key in another region?

Answered by Blizzard (Luuhmt, from the Spanish site):

If you buy the version available in stores in Argentina, Brasil, Chile or Mexico, you will only be able to play in the Latin America region.

source: http://beta-us.battle.net/sc2/es/for...ic/16521673#13

The client itself has the region-blocking. If you download the digital version, the filename mentions the region and language, and there's a warning when you download the client, saying that you will only be able to play the choosen region if you download that client. Just try to download a client for a region different from what you are physically, and see what happends: http://beta-us.battle.net/en/info/digital-purchase

[Hammy]

Thanks Norfindel. So that's one answer

I guess I'm still stuck wondering whether or not the keys also include region locking...

Because technically if I'm just in the US for the summer, but I want to play on EU, AND I want a box: I could go for the digital download in EU_enGB, and then buy a box here and bind my key to my EU battle.net account.

But that only works if keys are international and not region locked.