Blizzard Battle.net Balance Launched

[LightRider]

So now that the gaming industry is starting their own banks, I think it's not too far off before they start accepting legitimate digital currency like bitcoin.

http://us.battle.net/support/en/article/battle-net-balance-frequently-asked-questions-faq

[FreeMoney]

So lame, denominated in dollars (right?) but not redeemable for cash. It's like denominating accounts in gold and not giving the gold, who would fall for that, oh wait.

[Serith]

Any amount you add to your Battle.net Balance, either through an approved payment method or by adding Diablo III auction house earnings to your Battle.net Balance, will not be refundable (except as otherwise provided by law), and you are not able to convert that Balance into cash.

So in terms of eCommerce Battle.net Balance is worthless.

[jimbobway]

If we can convince Blizzard to offer bitcoins for Battle.net balance then, then...[fill in the blank].

[jwzguy]

So lame, denominated in dollars (right?) but not redeemable for cash. It's like denominating accounts in gold and not giving the gold, who would fall for that, oh wait.

I laughed.

[cbeast]

Now all we need is Wizards of the Coast to do this and we'll have gone full circle.

[adamstgBit]

what we should do is find an MMORPG underdevelopment and ask them to incorporate bitcoin into their game...

bitcoin makes perfect sense for the gaming world, since most of the time player are from allover the world.

[kjlimo]

All of these are good ideas, which is why I've been posting on League of Legends Forums for months as well as Runescape to get them to accept bitcoin.

As for Diablo III, the in game auction house that will be payable in real world currency has some potential for bitcoin usage.

Keep e-mailing these people in a respectable demeanor and we might just get somewhere!!!

[Hawker]

The best bit about Battle.net Balance is this:

Note: At this time, Battle.net Balance may not be used for Blizzard Store purchases.

W T F is the point?

[BadBear]

The best bit about Battle.net Balance is this:

Note: At this time, Battle.net Balance may not be used for Blizzard Store purchases.

W T F is the point?

They probably just want to get some more information and statistics before they open it up to that. Game hasn't even been released yet. And I didn't get in the beta.    Oh hey I did, logged in to read that and there it was. I know what I'm doing this weekend.

[Gabi]

So you transform euro or dollars in "battlenet cash"

then you use it to buy items from other players

then other players have the "battlenet cash" and... wtf are they supposed to do with it? Buy items from someone else? But then they will have that "battlenet cash"... and maybe no need to buy any items...

[ptshamrock]

I Assume peopel will set up independet servers wehere u can play with btc and use it ingame not the best wa ybut could open lots of eyes and ears

[tonto]

I suppose people might coordinate (from like maybe here or something) to join a game together and trade items for bit coins.
 
Like some ultra-rare item maybe sell for 100btc

[Hawker]

The best bit about Battle.net Balance is this:

Note: At this time, Battle.net Balance may not be used for Blizzard Store purchases.

W T F is the point?

They probably just want to get some more information and statistics before they open it up to that. Game hasn't even been released yet. And I didn't get in the beta.    Oh hey I did, logged in to read that and there it was. I know what I'm doing this weekend.

We are doing a bot for it - that real life AH looks like it will be a gold rush.  I'm not sure how easy to make decent money it will be for small player but botters and farmers have very high hopes.

[tonto]

It disappoints me that you can't "cash out", tho.  Surely they could do something like 1099s or something so that the gov't wouldn't have a cow, too?

[SgtSpike]

It disappoints me that you can't "cash out", tho.  Surely they could do something like 1099s or something so that the gov't wouldn't have a cow, too?

If they allowed cashing out, they'd have to register as a MSB, follow all the related rules and regulations, and keep track of customers' identification to comply with anti-laundering laws.  It's a HUGE amount of complication that a dev studio simply doesn't want to deal with.

[Kluge]

Doesn't it violate legal tender laws to denominate AH items in USD if the USD isn't redeemable? Seems a bit misleading to imply that users are simply transferring cash instead of buying the equivalent of "Blizzard Bucks."

[FreeMoney]

Doesn't it violate legal tender laws to denominate AH items in USD if the USD isn't redeemable? Seems a bit misleading to imply that users are simply transferring cash instead of buying the equivalent of "Blizzard Bucks."

They probably won't call them dollars, things will just happen to cost the same number of dollars as blizzard bucks.

[tonto]

I read that the reason that "some regions" won't be able to cash out was due to like Korea or somewhere having a cow. 
 
So maybe there's still hope for us in the US being able to cash-out to Paypal or whatever they allow.

[Gabi]

Doesn't it violate legal tender laws to denominate AH items in USD if the USD isn't redeemable? Seems a bit misleading to imply that users are simply transferring cash instead of buying the equivalent of "Blizzard Bucks."

Are you serious? When you recharge your cellphone you put like "20 dollars" but of course you no more can redeem them....