No online replays by launch! - Pardo Interview

[FrozenArbiter]

Hello,
First, allow me to introduce myself - I'm the moderator for the Teamliquid.net Starcraft 2 forums, and a long time serious SC player. I've posted here a few times in the past on the old forums, and the old Protoss guides by Z_Dragon (if anyone remembers those) were among the first things I read when I started playing SC.

I know there's a topic about the interview in general, but I feel that this particular part of it is important enough to warrant its own topic. I hope you will agree.

http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/763/...oper-Interview

Around the 8 minute mark, paraphrased:

On the replay side, there's probably not gonna be a facility to do that [watch them with others] at launch, but we'd love to do that in the future.

So let me get this straight - they put in a minor (but incredibly hard) feature like replay rewinding, but decided to skimp on something as ESSENTIAL as this? Really?

I know some people here might never have even played SC (hey, it's an 11 year old game after all), and might be perfectly used to not being able to watch replays online. Well, in SC, we've been able to watch replays online together with others since.. 2001? 2000?

To me, the lack of online replays contributed largely to why I never got into WC3 - I bought it at launch, played a little, didn't REALLY love it and quit after a week, going straight back to SC. A large reason was the fact that I knew many people in SC, so even if I didn't want to play SC at that moment, I'd just login and watch some reps with them. Not possible in WC3.
So point 1: The removal of online replays takes away a ton of potential for social interaction.

Throughout WC3s history I've constantly kept sort of an eye on the scene, and always enjoyed how almost all leagues released their replays (since Korean SC leagues are super strict about this).. And constantly disappointed in having to watch them alone - where's the fun in that? It's like watching a live-cast on your own, or a football game alone..

Another thing I haven't even mentioned is how much easier this makes it to teach someone - you play, you watch the replay, and can have it pointed out to you were you went wrong.

I think everyone always assumed they'd have online replays for SC2, maybe to the point where Blizzard didn't see it as a desired feature since people weren't requesting it. Honestly, many SC players I've talked to about this are shocked when I tell them WC3 doesn't have online replays.

Removing a feature like this for a sequel is insane - I can live with the lack of LAN, but this? No way. WC3 has gone 7 years without a patch to add online replays, and I really do not want to risk the same thing happening with SC2.

Hopefully if Blizzard is made aware of how important this is, if it becomes a community wide issue, they will prioritize it. Rewindable replays are great, version independence is awesome.. but Online replays are ESSENTIAL.

Thank you for reading.

[Skyze]

I kinda agree, but personally i almost always watch replays alone, so I can focus on learning from it/dissecting it.. of course, its fun watching with other people but I dont think its necessary, except maybe for obs/commentary replays

[Edfishy]

It wouldn't be so bad if it were delayed so you could direct other player's attentions to portions of the screen, or draw on the mini-map or inside the game window with a "marker" of some sort.

But really, I'm not sure why it wouldn't function in time for release. The only two things that come to mind is either there were too many advanced features (like doodling on the map, or exporting as YouTube videos), or the abillity was just one of the things that got cut to ensure a 2009 release.

In regards to wanting LAN vs On-Line Replays, I can understand Replays requiring (minor, but) additional work to get functioning. LAN on the other hand is the same as internet, except you use your subnet IP instead of the internet IP, so there's no real work involved to get LAN working.

Still puzzling though.

[Zabimaru]

Ah, I had already read this a TL.net, I presumed it was already posted here. It is somewhat puzzling though... :/

Honestly... it is meant to be a newer and improved version of battle.net... even if they release it afterwards it’s still weird...



And hello FrozenArbiter! We’ve never actually spoken but I read through most of the TL threads/ guides.

[DemolitionSquid]

... but decided to skimp on something as ESSENTIAL as this? Really?

Essential? Think u might be exaggerating a bit? I agree its a bit silly its not available, but if you want to watch a replay with friends just upload it to youtube or something, like everyone does with good (or really bad) replays anyway.

You TL types aren't as entitled as you think u are.

[FrozenArbiter]

It wouldn't be so bad if it were delayed so you could direct other player's attentions to portions of the screen, or draw on the mini-map or inside the game window with a "marker" of some sort.

But really, I'm not sure why it wouldn't function in time for release. The only two things that come to mind is either there were too many advanced features (like doodling on the map, or exporting as YouTube videos), or the abillity was just one of the things that got cut to ensure a 2009 release.

In regards to wanting LAN vs On-Line Replays, I can understand Replays requiring (minor, but) additional work to get functioning. LAN on the other hand is the same as internet, except you use your subnet IP instead of the internet IP, so there's no real work involved to get LAN working.

Still puzzling though.

In the same video they actually said they will NOT have an export to video option They "wanted it, but no time".

Essential? Think u might be exaggerating a bit? I agree its a bit silly its not available, but if you want to watch a replay with friends just upload it to youtube or something, like everyone does with good (or really bad) replays anyway.

You TL types aren't as entitled as you think u are.

I don't know what your problem is with me, I don't know who you are, but yes I think it's essential. Call me spoiled, but I think that it's one of the most important replay features you can have (maybe 2nd to being able to speed them up), and it's even more essential when it was present in the original game.

And how can you compare watching replays IN game, with a friend, to having to 1) Make a video. 2) Upload that video. 3) Sync up with your friend. 4) Chat over msn/ventrilo when you could be chatting ingame (it supports voice chat).. It's not the same thing at all

I don't see why you would "defend" Blizzard in this regard, it's not like I'm asking for them to remove MBS or something (I don't care about MBS, for whatever it's worth).

[Nicol Bolas]

Here's a question: what are "online replays"?

[TheEconomist]

I really didn't care too much about the removal of LAN ... but this ... this ... is a big blow.

I never thought I'd say it but I'm actually disappointed with Blizzard right now.

[FrozenArbiter]

Here's a question: what are "online replays"?

Hm, sorry if it's not clear (not sure if you are unclear or if you think my wording is bad :P), but I mean being able to watch replays online with other people, like you can in SC (but not WC3).

[DemolitionSquid]

I don't know what your problem is with me, I don't know who you are, but yes I think it's essential. Call me spoiled, but I think that it's one of the most important replay features you can have (maybe 2nd to being able to speed them up), and it's even more essential when it was present in the original game.

I dislike you, your site, and its members. Its like you think only people who compete for money should play the game. Trying to re-add features that were caused from limited UI just so you can have pointless APM sinks. Screw the casuals, right? Everyone should want to click mindlessly and pretend to have skill.

You elitist posers make me sick.

But that's beside the point. Being able to view replays with other people in-game is not a game-breaking feature. And, as per Blizzard, they'll try to patch it in asap anyway.

[And how can you compare watching replays IN game, with a friend, to having to 1) Make a video. 2) Upload that video. 3) Sync up with your friend. 4) Chat over msn/ventrilo when you could be chatting ingame (it supports voice chat).. It's not the same thing at all

You're right, its not, and I never said it was. What I said, was that it was possible, and that in many cases good (or bad) games will be uploaded to the net anyway for thousands of people to view and learn from, which is pretty damn good.

I don't see why you would "defend" Blizzard in this regard, it's not like I'm asking for them to remove MBS or something (I don't care about MBS, for whatever it's worth).

I'm not defending them. Again, I agree it sucks they won't have it. But its a MINOR feature they will be working on. Cry wolf more.