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04-09-13, 04:41 PM   #1
Cairenn
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In-game Browser and Support Tools in 5.3

Blizzard has announced that they are adding a feature-limited web browser to World of Warcraft that will replace the in-game support system with a direct portal to the Battle.net Support site. Their aim is to give players in-game easy access to the site’s robust knowledge base and support contact system.



Source and full details


(No, this one isn't an April Fools joke.)

Last edited by Cairenn : 04-09-13 at 05:01 PM.
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04-09-13, 05:25 PM   #2
Vlad
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About time, the old system had xml to bridge the site and game, but now you can actually manage tickets, restoration, e.g. in-game.
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04-09-13, 05:45 PM   #3
j800r
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A great idea, but also means more system resources being used for a limited web browser being coded into WoW. Eh, I guess we'll see how it works out. :/
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04-09-13, 07:04 PM   #4
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It's so ugly.

Really, though, it seems like it would just be better all around to make the button launch the user's real browser. These limited embedded browsers always suck, have terrible usability, no accessibility support whatsoever, etc. If I can't enlarge the font, it's not usable, period.
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04-09-13, 07:20 PM   #5
Haleth
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Really looks very out of place for me, the battle.net interface clashes massively with the default UI. Seems a bit overkill just for support, too. I'm with Phanx on this one.

I'm wondering to which extent addons will have access to this (I'm assuming anything but the frame's content itself).

I hope it doesn't turn out sluggish like Steam's built in browser but I fear it will be. I wonder what it's based on... maybe it just uses IE/Safari?
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04-10-13, 04:31 AM   #6
j800r
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Originally Posted by Phanx View Post
It's so ugly.

Really, though, it seems like it would just be better all around to make the button launch the user's real browser. These limited embedded browsers always suck, have terrible usability, no accessibility support whatsoever, etc. If I can't enlarge the font, it's not usable, period.
Terrible idea (though I see your point).

Many people, like me, play WoW fullscreen and don't have access to a browser while playing. If they were gonna do something like that they would be better off keeping the current ticket system I believe. In all truthfulness I have no issues with the current support system and think it's fine just as it is. Obviously some must disagree though.
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04-10-13, 04:46 PM   #7
Phanx
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Originally Posted by j800r View Post
Many people, like me, play WoW fullscreen and don't have access to a browser while playing.
Does your computer somehow not support multitasking? Even in fullscreen you should be able to Alt-Tab to other programs, putting them in the foreground and moving the fullscreen game window to the background... o_O
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04-10-13, 09:20 AM   #8
jaliborc
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They just remade the support window so recently... oh man, what an overkill.
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04-10-13, 09:30 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Leatrix View Post
Completely agree with this. But what irks me most about this announcement is that the bugs in Blizzard's API (which cause taint, lower performance and limit functionality) will remain while Blizzard's development team focus their limited resources on reinventing the wheel.
That was my first thought. They add something of dubious usefulness while once again completely ignoring bugs which have existed since Vanilla and TBC, and some of the more serious ones which have crept up since MoP's launch.
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04-09-13, 07:32 PM   #10
Shefki
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I could swear they already had this sort of thing in there. I remember someone abusing it in the past to allow you to browse other information like wowhead inside the game. Maybe they're making it more capable now but I don't think this is an entirely new idea.
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04-09-13, 07:38 PM   #11
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Interesting...

Needs a lot of testing too it seems I managed to break it after a couple of clicks, this window popped up in the background:



I wonder how this will develop!
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04-09-13, 07:40 PM   #12
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Will we be able to taint the internet now?

Can't wait for the "Internet action failed because of an AddOn" messages
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04-10-13, 03:52 AM   #13
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I hope they put everything (like dns server) into their client. Cant imagine how many malware-coders will jump in circles to be first to break the chain between game and webserver.
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12-15-13, 03:46 AM   #14
Barleduq
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That's what happened!!!!

When I would open the ? button, it would have the knowledge base button highlighted, and say 'your search term not found' or something like, in an frame that had the buttons, but nothing in the content section other than that.

I expect that's why I can't submit a ticket, tho I can submit suggestions and bugs.

Which is probably all because I run on Linux and Blizz doesn't admit to it.

Which gives me no way to talk to a GM either. :/

-Barleduq

Last edited by Barleduq : 12-15-13 at 03:52 AM. Reason: removing unfriendly words
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12-15-13, 05:19 AM   #15
Phanx
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Yep, in-game support has been dead to me since they introduced the <insert unfriendly adjective(s) of your choice here> embedded browser. You just have to alt-tab to your real browser to submit GM tickets now.
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