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[CzarTim]

So I gave SolForge a shot since it's free, and I'm still without access to the Hearthstone.

Played through the tutorial and uninstalled it. There is something to be said for the presentation and attention to UI that Blizzard gives their games. The whole SolForge package was incredibly cold and uninviting. Especially for someone who has never actually played a game like this, there was zero effort to explain things. Where as the few times I've seen Hearthstone, it's been incredibly easy to follow what is going on and why.

Granted, SolForge isn't "released" yet either, and I'm sure they don't have the amount of money to throw around like Blizzard does - but what an unwelcoming experience.

Yeah, I've put over 20 hours into SF and watching Hearthstone videos, it's night and day from a presentation standpoint. I doubt I play it anymore once I get a key for this game.

That said, every virtual card game I've played has mediocre UI at best.

 

[gotoadgo]

Will there be more keys this week too?

 

[boredJonathan]

Yeah, I've put over 20 hours into SF and watching Hearthstone videos, it's night and day from a presentation standpoint. I doubt I play it anymore once I get a key for this game.

That said, every virtual card game I've played has mediocre UI at best.

I really wanted to like it! Just felt really out of my depth even after the tutorial. where as with even just watching Hearthstone I felt comfortable with the mechanics. I don't mean to rag on solforge because it is clearly the underdog here. Maybe as it gets closer to an actual release they will add a more gentle intro

That said it's made the wait for a beta key all that much harder!

 

[tylerf]

The game is fun but I don't know what kind of lasting appeal it has. Winning ranked PvP games doesn't really feel that exciting. Arena is fun but the rewards are just more cards/materials so that you can play more ranked PvP. Maybe a more robust ranking/ladder system like SC2 has so that you can feel like you've got a solid goal.

 

[andregnreis]

The game is fun but I don't know what kind of lasting appeal it has. Winning ranked PvP games doesn't really feel that exciting. Arena is fun but the rewards are just more cards/materials so that you can play more ranked PvP. Maybe a more robust ranking/ladder system like SC2 has so that you can feel like you've got a solid goal.

Yeah I think that since its a "simple" game they could boost it with unlockables. Artwork, character profiles, backgrounds, new art for your card and thing like that. I also would really love some kind of campaign with an overworld map where you control every hero in the game like "Clash of Heroes"

 

[ThroneZwei]

Ugh, I need this game. Watching videos and streams it's like a drug. To put it shortly, I'm addicted without even playing it. I'm horrible. This game will consume me.

 

[Card Boy]

I wonder how much money Kripp is making from Hearthstone? He is getting over 10K concurrent views all day daily on his twitch channel, not to mention his got viewers on his YT channel.

 

[CzarTim]

The game is fun but I don't know what kind of lasting appeal it has. Winning ranked PvP games doesn't really feel that exciting. Arena is fun but the rewards are just more cards/materials so that you can play more ranked PvP. Maybe a more robust ranking/ladder system like SC2 has so that you can feel like you've got a solid goal.

I feel like Arena is where this game is at. I wish it was cheaper so I could just play it and ignore the rest.

 

[Cels]

Yeah I think that since its a "simple" game they could boost it with unlockables. Artwork, character profiles, backgrounds, new art for your card and thing like that. I also would really love some kind of campaign with an overworld map where you control every hero in the game like "Clash of Heroes"

they're going to need to continually add new blocks of cards to the game like with MtG, possibly with entirely new mechanics as well, to keep the game fresh.

I feel like Arena is where this game is at. I wish it was cheaper so I could just play it and ignore the rest.

arena is definitely the most level playing field, just sucks that 1) it ends after 9 wins (maybe this is subject to change) and 2) it's expensive to play in

 

[Drake]

I'm signed up for this, but I haven't played a Blizzard game in a while. (got sick of D3 and SC2) Does that affect your chances of getting in?

 

[Whooter]

I'm signed up for this, but I haven't played a Blizzard game in a while. (got sick of D3 and SC2) Does that affect your chances of getting in?

It's not supposed to.

 

[iirate]

I'm signed up for this, but I haven't played a Blizzard game in a while. (got sick of D3 and SC2) Does that affect your chances of getting in?

I got a key(second wave) on an account that hasn't bought a single thing from Blizzard. I made it as my new primary account and to distance myself from my old one(which owns everything not SC2) and they both got keys at the same time.

 

[Drake]

I got a key(second wave) on an account that hasn't bought a single thing from Blizzard. I made it as my new primary account and to distance myself from my old one(which owns everything not SC2) and they both got keys at the same time.

Haha. You got 2 keys? That's pretty lucky.

 

[Megasoum]

I got a key(second wave) on an account that hasn't bought a single thing from Blizzard. I made it as my new primary account and to distance myself from my old one(which owns everything not SC2) and they both got keys at the same time.

You lucky bastard.... I've been refreshing my inbox every 5min for a week now hoping for an invite.

 

[Card Boy]

I'm signed up for this, but I haven't played a Blizzard game in a while. (got sick of D3 and SC2) Does that affect your chances of getting in?

brb making 50 accounts.

 

[goldensun]

I really want to get in on this.. made another account to help my chances. Hope they don't find out somehow.

 

[rinker]

I figure they could find out about multiple accounts from your system upload you have to do. Either from your IP or your hardware's MAC address or something, but apparently they dont care.

 

[survivor]

I wonder how much money Kripp is making from Hearthstone? He is getting over 10K concurrent views all day daily on his twitch channel, not to mention his got viewers on his YT channel.

Yeah I have been watching a lot of Kripp's streams, they are very popular. I think him and Trump are killing it when it comes to Hearthstone on Twitch.

 

[TheHeretic]

I'm curious about this as a MTG (and Blizzard) fan, any shortcuts to getting a beta key anybody knows?

 

[HoodWinked]

Yeah I have been watching a lot of Kripp's streams, they are very popular. I think him and Trump are killing it when it comes to Hearthstone on Twitch.

its weird how fast he picks up and learns certain games (hearthstone, poe) then completely fails at dark souls.

 

[Corum]

I'm curious about this as a MTG (and Blizzard) fan, any shortcuts to getting a beta key anybody knows?

There's a limited amount of competitions and giveaways but the flow of keys is somewhat restricted at the moment.

The EU beta will start within a week or so.

 

[Brakara]

. I don't mean to rag on solforge because it is clearly the underdog here. Maybe as it gets closer to an actual release they will add a more gentle intro

The campaign mode should help with that. But that't not coming until the game is out of beta early next year. UI and presentation improvements are coming as well, but it's currently lower prioritized than features like tournaments/drafting, matchmaking, crafting/gifting, and auction house/trading.

But, yeah, for someone new to the genre it can be a bit daunting. I probably wouldn't be playing it if it wasn't for that I put money into the kickstarter (blindly only because of the brilliant Ascension). But having now learned the ropes, I'm glad I did.

And because of it, I'm also looking forward to trying out Hearthstone now (or whenever I can get a beta key).

 

[Definity]

So what's my chances of winning one of the 500 keys from the facebook contest later today? :/

 

[Freki]

So what's my chances of winning one of the 500 keys from the facebook contest later today? :/

Assuming 50k+ entered the contest our chance is <1%...
but I am telling myself a slim chance is better then none... :-(

 

[Freki]

Great - I got an email from blizzard... It was advertising for d3 on consoles :-(

 

[Brofist]

Great - I got an email from blizzard... It was advertising for d3 on consoles :-(

I have gotten more Diablo 3 console email offers than I've ever gotten any other email from Blizzard combined. It's like they are trolling people who bought the PC version.

 

[BurningNad]

^Yeah, I got burned on the PC release, why would I give them more money for the version we should have gotten?

Anyway, I really hope open beta starts soon. I can't wait to play Hearthstone and not getting into these waves is really demoralizing, even though I know the chance is <1%. Meanwhile, streamers are getting key after key to give away, themselves. Blah.

 

[Phinor]

EU beta begins!

Umm. Now to get a key.

 

[Won]

I guess we can finally join the fun!

 

[Megasoum]

EU beta begins!

Umm. Now to get a key.

They should celebrate that by sending a shit ton of keys to US users.

 

[KojiKnight]

They should celebrate that by sending a shit ton of keys to US users.

I am all for this.

 

[EscapingJail]

Still no key, the wait is killing me.

 

[Freki]

Nope - no key again... I'll guess I'll keep on waiting...

 

[Corum]

*sigh* No EU beta key here.

 

[Megasoum]

*sigh* No EU beta key here.

... You opted in hours ago. Some of us have been opt in for weeks now.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

still no key, hype has kind of died down though. There aren't enough cards.

 

[KKRT00]

EU beta begins!

Umm. Now to get a key.

Finally EU turn, hope for tons of keys and no region blocking.

 

[Tc91]

So a wave of keys have gone out? Just making sure.

 

[DeejayKnight]

Congrats to the EU users that got in! Also to the rest of you that get to wait for the next wave like the rest of us! lol

 

[Corum]

... You opted in hours ago. Some of us have been opt in for weeks now.

Huh? When did I say that?

I opted in a couple of weeks ago.

 

[AmICoolYet]

So a wave of keys have gone out? Just making sure.

For the EU beta, no new wave for NA as far as I can tell.

 

[Haunted]

EU beta begins!

Umm. Now to get a key.

Let's go Blizzard.

 

[Spookie]

EU beta begins? Hey blizzard. It's Eurogamer Expo at the end of the month.

Just sayin'.

 

[Xater]

... You opted in hours ago. Some of us have been opt in for weeks now.

Uuuuh we EU folks were able to opt in as soon as the US folks were. We just didn't get shit.

 

[Johnlenham]

I have gotten more Diablo 3 console email offers than I've ever gotten any other email from Blizzard combined. It's like they are trolling people who bought the PC version.

"Oh Blizzard email! maybe I got a key!"
.
.
.
"fuck off D3!!"

 

[dk_]

No key for me I guess.

 

[reign]

its weird how fast he picks up and learns certain games (hearthstone, poe) then completely fails at dark souls.

Well when someone games for what seems like 12 hours a day, it's easy to figure games out 'quickly' lol.

 

[Servbot #42]

so any contest going right now? i really need a key,

 

[Ravensmash]

I only signed up earlier, just before the EU beta went live (I'm in UK).

When I finished signing up it said this at the side:

"You must have at least one full version of a Blizzard Entertainment game attached to this Battle.net account in order to opt-in Diablo, StarCraft or Warcraft beta."

Now, I'm guessing that means what it says it means, but am I going to struggle to get a key for Hearthstone if I don't own any of the others?

 

[iirate]

I only signed up earlier, just before the EU beta went live (I'm in UK).

When I finished signing up it said this at the side:

"You must have at least one full version of a Blizzard Entertainment game attached to this Battle.net account in order to opt-in Diablo, StarCraft or Warcraft beta."

Now, I'm guessing that means what it says it means, but am I going to struggle to get a key for Hearthstone if I don't own any of the others?

I got in on the second wave without owning any other Blizzard titles.