Earlier today Blizzard completed and released its updated and improved online store. Not only is the site now graphically intense with a slick new interface but it also boasts the largest sitting selection of Blizzard merchandise, both published/produced by Blizzard and by almost all of their licensed partners.
In addition, Blizzard now allows you to register a "Blizzard Account" that is not only used to make purchases from their online store, but even if you aren't going to buy anything there are some major bonuses.
Firstly, your "Blizzard Account" now seems to be the main place for you to enter Blizzard's Beta-Test Eligibility Lists. Once an account is set up there is a feature in the e-mail settings to enter yourself into the Blizzard Beta Lottery, which will enter you into the potential beta pool database for upcoming game betas.
The second and most interesting new function now available to your "Blizzard Account" is the ability to download digital copies of Blizzard games that you have previously purchased. On the Games tab, inside your account, you're able to add your CD-Keys from
StarCraft,
StarCraft Battlechest,
StarCraft Anthology (digital copies of SC and BW that are now available for purchase),
Warcraft III,
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne,
Warcraft Battlechest,
Diablo II,
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction,
Diablo II Battlechest (Diablo II downloads will soon be available) and/or
World of WarCraft (though the WoW client downloads are still handled through the WoW website) to validate that you own the games and then proceed with your digital download.
Between the recent updates to WC3 and SC removing the CD requirement and now digital downloads for games you've purchased, Blizzard is moving towards and experimenting with digital distribution. It will be interesting to see if Blizzard moves towards
Valve's sucessful
Steam digital distribution platform - now that would be interesting. It will also be worth watching to see if Blizzard ties more of their other functions to this new account. Will password recovery or game records/characters be accessable from this account in the future? Definitely make sure that you check this out.
Source:Blizzard's Online Store
