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Ex-Blizzard Devs Sign With Namco, Blizzard Using BitTorrent

Posted by simoniker on from the blizzard-of-bits dept.

Thanks to Yahoo for reprinting a press release revealing the ex-Diablo creators now at Flagship Studios have signed a publishing deal with Namco, in a move that "marks Namco's official entry into the PC games publishing business" - we've previously covered Flagship Studios' formation on Slashdot Games. Elsewhere, several readers point out Blizzard's official World of Warcraft site, which has announced with regard to the upcoming WoW Beta test: "While we plan on having several ways available to distribute the files to everyone, our primary method will be through the Blizzard Downloader program, which uses BitTorrent technology." Update: 03/18 21:01 GMT by S : There's more discussion on Blizzard and other companies using BitTorrent in a recent mainpage post.

4 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Problem with Bit Torrent by wickedj · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Though I love bit torrent and how it provides a fast way to access different types of media on the net, it does have its problems. One of the biggest I've seen on college campuses and several ISPs is that it is being throttled down or even totally blocked off because of its use as a form of P2P sharing software. I hope this doesn't present a problem for Blizzard but I'm thinking that a lot of college student testers aren't going to be able to download the WoW beta very fast, if at all.

    1. Re:Problem with Bit Torrent by Gecedion · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Its not just that its P2P, BitTorrent seems to like to take all available bandwidth for itself. That's great when you're on a T3, but not so great for everyone else on the same line.

    2. Re:Problem with Bit Torrent by Kethinov · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Only because ISPs choose to make it expensive. When you've got a monopoly or an oligopoly on a market, you can charge whatever you want. Bandwidth "cost" is entirely arbitrary. ISPs will continue to reduce custerom bandwidth while the demand continues to go up until one day, finally, there will be legislation similar to minimal wage which will regulate how the "cost" of bandwidth fairly.

      Legislation demand fueled by the rise in popularity of such revolutionary P2P platforms such as bit torrent, which is gaining great inroads in legal P2P everywhere; not just games.

      --
      You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  2. Slight Blip on the Irony Detector by spudgun · · Score: 4, Insightful


    Bitware OSI License , Open software

    bnetd, Open source , Sued by Blizzard under DMCA

    are they having their cake and eating it too ?

    --
    Type unto others as you would have them type unto you.