Starcraft 2 Beta Opt In

Note: Some have reported being unable to view the battle.net sites. It may be a region issue. I have added us. in front of all URLS. Additional when you the Battle.net system profiler checks your system specs, it may take multiple send attempts for it to go through. I'm sure the servers are busy!

The StarCraft II beta-test period is coming in the months ahead! If you'd like a chance to participate, now's the time to let us know. Simply go to the "Beta Profile Settings" page in Battle.net account management to go through the new beta opt-in process and upload a snapshot of your system specs. During this process, you'll also have the opportunity to opt in to future betas for other Blizzard Entertainment games. Please note that even if you've opted in to our betas previously, you'll need to complete this new process and upload your current system specs to have a chance to be invited.

For more information, see the FAQ -- or create a Battle.net account to opt in now. If you have an unused beta code from BlizzCon 2008 or WWI 2008, visit this site to enter your code.

More info:

Questions answered by Chris Sigaty, StarCraft II lead producer

Q. StarCraft II opt-ins are now available through Battle.net. Does the opt-in process mean that the start of the StarCraft II beta is imminent?

A. We’re getting closer and closer to the start of our closed beta with each week that passes. Several months ago, we expanded our internal testing of the game to the entire company, and we’ve made significant progress since then. We’re looking forward to inviting external testers into the process soon, which is why we’re starting sign-ups now.

Q. What aspects of the game will be available for testing in this beta?

A. As with previous betas for our real-time strategy games, the StarCraft II beta test will be multiplayer only, and players will have access to all three races -- terrans, protoss, and zerg -- and all of their units. We’ll include a selection of multiplayer maps, but they won’t necessarily include all of the maps that will be in the final version of the game. We’re making some great progress on the single-player campaign, but we don’t plan to do a public beta since we want to keep the story under wraps until the game’s out.

Q. Will we be able to try the new Battle.net during this beta?

A. You’ll be connecting to and playing on the new Battle.net in the StarCraft II beta, and you’ll definitely have a chance to play around with a few of the new features -- but what you’ll see in the beta is really only a taste of what’s to come.

Q. What updates and changes have you made to the game recently?

A. We’re constantly tweaking the gameplay and balance, and we will be all throughout the beta process, but perhaps the most visible changes have been made to the zerg. Our art team has done a polishing and iteration pass on many of the zerg unit models and structures, so players can look forward to seeing a lot more detail there. Compared to the versions you’ve seen before, the zerg units and bases now look a lot slimier and more sinister.

We’re also really looking forward to seeing testers try out the new gameplay mechanics we’ve introduced to each race, like the proton charge for the protoss and the MULE for the terrans that allow them to harvest minerals faster. The zerg also have a spawn larvae ability that gives them a new way to expand their production. We’re hoping these abilities increase the strategic tension for players and force some tough tactical decisions when managing economies and micromanaging battles.

Q. Which regions can join the StarCraft II beta test?

A. Our plan is to include multiple regions and countries in the StarCraft II beta-testing process. We’ll be starting with a North American beta, where testers from the United States and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand will be able to join. We’ll then phase in testers in other regions such as Korea, Taiwan, and Europe as soon as we’re able to set up in those areas.

Q. Why aren’t you running StarCraft II beta simultaneously in all regions?

A. It’s more efficient from a development standpoint to phase in each region one at a time. A big part of the beta test involves setting up new hardware and networking infrastructure, which is not a trivial process. If we set up one region at a time, we can more quickly address any issues we run into at the start, and take the lessons we learn from that experience to establish a smoother setup experience for the next region.

We can also implement all sorts of gameplay and balance changes, view the results, and react to what we’ve observed much more quickly in a single test environment, as opposed to getting bogged down trying to push those changes out across several test environments. Once the major issues are ironed out, we can expand the testing to additional regions. Going region by region will also put us in a better position to test localized versions of the beta.

Q. Will testers be allowed to write about the beta? Take screenshots and videos?

A. Yes! Beta testers will be free to write about their experiences playing the beta as well as take screenshots or videos. We’re really looking forward to getting the game into players’ hands so we can hear their feedback, since that will help propel us into the final stages of development and balancing. We’ve been working hard on StarCraft II, and we can’t wait to finally be able to hear what everyone has to say about it.

FAQ

StarCraft® II – Beta Opt-In FAQ

The StarCraft® II beta is coming! If you’re interested in participating, you need to sign up for a Battle.net account, opt in to participate in upcoming Blizzard Entertainment betas through Battle.net Account Management, and upload your system specifications using our quick system-snapshot software. If you’re selected, you’ll be notified in the coming months. For more information, including what to do if you have a StarCraft II beta code from BlizzCon 2008, check out the FAQ below.

How do I sign up for the StarCraft® II beta?
In order to sign up for the StarCraft II beta, you first need to register a Battle.net account. You can opt in to the beta for StarCraft II, as well as betas for future Blizzard Entertainment games, through our new beta opt-in process. To get started, simply click “Beta Profile Settings” in Battle.net Account Management.
To be considered, you must create a beta profile containing your system specifications (see below) and indicate which Blizzard Entertainment games you’re interested in beta testing -- be sure to check the box for the StarCraft universe. Once you’ve successfully uploaded a beta profile, the associated Battle.net account is added to a pool of potential beta testers.

What is a beta profile?
A beta profile is a snapshot of your current system specifications. It includes such information as how much RAM you have, available hard drive space, your graphics card and driver, and other information about your system. We gather this information to ensure that we are able to test our games on a wide range and distribution of systems.

How do I get selected to become a beta tester?
Participants for each beta test will be selected from the pool of eligible testers who have opted in based on their system specifications, beta-test preferences, and other factors, including pure luck. Opting in does not guarantee you will be selected to participate in a beta test.

How will I be notified if I am selected for a beta test?
In the event you are selected to participate in a beta test, you will receive an e-mail informing you and directing you to Battle.net Account Management. From there, you will be able to download the beta client and obtain a beta key. If chosen, you will need to agree to the StarCraft II Beta Agreement prior to installing the client.

I attended BlizzCon 2008 and received a code for the StarCraft II beta. Do I have to go through this process?
There is a separate process in place for players who received StarCraft II beta codes from BlizzCon 2008. To redeem your BlizzCon 2008 beta code, visit the beta sign-up page (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/misc/beta-signup.html -- don’t worry that the page says World of Warcraft), and enter the code from your BlizzCon 2008 card, along with a valid email address that you check often.
Once you’ve completed these steps, we will contact you via email at some point during the StarCraft II testing process with further instructions. Please note that in order to participate after your receive the invitation, you will need to sign up for a new Battle.net account (if you haven’t done so already).

Why do I have to download an application to create a beta profile?
Our beta opt-in application allows us to gather information about potential beta testers’ systems quickly and accurately, helping us ensure that the resulting pool of beta testers we select most closely represents the range and distribution of systems we wish to test.

How does the beta opt-in application work?
Running the beta opt-in application quickly and automatically generates a profile based on your system specifications. It then displays this information and asks if you wish to submit the specifications to create a beta profile for the Battle.net account you used to download the application.

Does the application also profile the software I have installed on my system?
No, the opt-in application simply scans the major hardware components of your system, along with your graphics card driver. Other system information, such as the contents of your hard drive, is not scanned.

Will entering multiple times improve my chances of being selected?
Each Battle.net account can only opt in once, so you are unable to opt in multiple times to improve your chances.

Will opting in early improve my chances of being selected?
Beta invitees will be selected periodically from the entire pool of players who have chosen to opt in and who meet the requirements. Opting in early doesn’t mean you’ll be invited sooner than someone who signs up after you.

I created a new Battle.net account, but I’m unable to opt in. Why?
In order for a Battle.net account to be able to opt in to upcoming beta tests, you must have at least one Blizzard Entertainment game that you own attached to the account. Please note that the World of Warcraft trial edition does not count toward this requirement. Having more than one game attached to an account or having specific games attached to an account will not affect your chances to be selected.

When does the StarCraft II beta test start?
We don’t have an exact start date to share at this time, but note that when it does begin, we will be adding additional regions to the beta test in phases. North America will be the first region to begin beta testing, and other regions will follow afterward in phases.
The reason for setting up the beta in regional phases is that it takes time to set up and configure our testing infrastructure in each area. Bringing up one region at a time makes the overall testing process for StarCraft II and Battle.net more efficient from a development perspective, making the test more effective, and allowing us to complete the game more quickly than if we attempted to start the beta test in all regions at the same time. We will share more information about the start dates for the beta in different regions at a later date.

I play World of Warcraft, but the option to merge a World of Warcraft account into a Battle.net account is not yet available in my region. What should I do to opt in?
We plan to add the ability to merge a World of Warcraft account into a Battle.net account in Europe prior to the European phase of the StarCraft II beta, so that World of Warcraft players there will have a chance to participate. Please note that when it comes time to select StarCraft II beta participants, we will not consider how early or late they opted in before the beta began. In the meantime, if you have any other Blizzard Entertainment games, you can attach one of those to a Battle.net account to fulfill the requirement to opt in now.

I have an unused beta code from WWI 2008. Can I use this to access the StarCraft II beta?
If you have an unused beta code from WWI 2008, you will be able to use the code to gain entry to the European phase of the StarCraft II beta. If you have already claimed your WWI code to receive an invitation to a previous beta but did not end up using that invitation, you will not be able to use your WWI code or invitation for the StarCraft II beta. Please note that beta codes received at other WWI or BlizzCon events (except BlizzCon 2008) will not grant you entry into the StarCraft II beta.

When I first signed up for a Battle.net account, I checked a box to indicate I wanted to participate in Blizzard betas, but I didn’t submit a beta profile with my system specs. Do I need to complete this new process?
Yes. In order to be considered for the StarCraft II beta and any other upcoming Blizzard Entertainment betas, you’ll need to upload your beta profile through the application found in Battle.net Account Management.

If you have any questions not covered in this FAQ or encounter issues during the opt-in process, please visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/contactbilling for contact information, or contact us via our web form: http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform.xml.