• Registered: 2011-08-11
  • Posts: 2

Topic: D3 Region Locking Question

Hey, all. I've always been an offline single player in D2; what co-op I did was conducted with friends via TCP / IP. Now that both of these modes have been eliminated, I'm now looking ahead (but not forward) to how I'll be playing on b.net.

As far as I remember, D2 allowed players to create an account on any of the world servers. Your characters weren't transferable between the regions, but you always had access to any region at any time.

Based on second- or third-hand information, SC2 changed the format. If I'm correct, access to the world servers is heavily restricted. In fact, it seems like you're able to play only on your own local servers. So the end result is that if, for example, you live in the United States, you won't be able to connect to the European servers... only US East or US West. What's more, I can only assume D3 will function exactly the same way.

So here's my question: Is it possible to bypass region restrictions through completely legal measures?

I ask because all my Diablo friends live in Europe, and I don't. I am not planning on playing with them all the time, but I at least want the option to be available.

Am I misinformed and able to choose only one server location, but ANY server that I'd like? Is it possible to obtain a copy of D3 from England in order to access their region? If so, do I need the physical CDs or is the CD-key enough? Anything else I haven't thought of... or is there no possible way to play with anyone outside the US?

Your responses are much appreciated. Thank you!

  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 2

Re: D3 Region Locking Question

Here's how it works with SC2.

You are locked to the region you bought the game from, if you want to play in another region, you have to buy another copy of the game.

However, there is an exception, if you buy a copy in SEA, Aus, or NZ, you will also get a NA copy of the game automatically added to your account.

The same witll happen with Diablo 3, SEA get a NA copy as well, this is due to the fact we have always been part of the NA system, so we have devoloped friendships with people in the states, also, real I.D. chat doesn't work from SEA - WoW (as we play a NA version of WoW on their servers)

bottom line, they're keeping servers local, so as to avoid too much lag, but also making it so you have to buy multiple copies of the game, to grab more money, it sucks, but it's not something the majority of us have to worry about, me i'll get my SEA version and probably play on SEA servers.

So to answer you question specifically, if you're in the U.S. and want to play with your European friends, you'll have to buy a Euro copy of the game online, or they will have to buy a NA copy.

Also your characters will be locked to a region, if you swap you will have to make new characters per region, you cannot transfer them.

  • Registered: 2011-08-11
  • Posts: 2

Re: D3 Region Locking Question

Thank you very much, Gorgazm. Your description was easy to follow. And while it was exactly what I expected to hear, it doesn't mean I'm pleased.

Well... I won't be able to hold out from pre-ordering a local copy, picking it up at midnight, and taking two days off from work to immerse myself in D3. But I'll also have to send some money to a friend and have him ship a copy from England for me. It'll give be the ability to compare lag between regions, too; I'll be able to put up with lag to play with my friends, but if it's rather terrible at least I've got access to the local servers for solo play, too.

So well done, Blizzard. You're getting me to purchase two copies. No one can accuse me of threatening to boycott against the exclusion of an offline game.

(...though they can certainly accuse me of being a fanboy...)

  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 2

Re: D3 Region Locking Question

Yeh, it's one of those things i sort of sit on the fence with, on one hand I feel it's silly, and money grabbing, but on the other hand, hey, if they do it this way, people WILL buy 2 copies, thus making blizzard more money.

To me though, ultimately, it's about the gameplay, not the back end systems like this that keeps me playing blizzard games, the developers are the best in the industry and they make fantastic games. So these sorts of things are not enough to stear me away.

  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 12

Re: D3 Region Locking Question

I like that the Region Lock is to a larger geographic region, but I loved the fact that I could play on Asia or Europe any time I wanted even more ... so ...

http://i.imgur.com/ih9cc.jpg