new-launcher
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New Battle.net desktop client datamined
MMO-Champion have been very busy datamining, as is their way, and have happened upon some files that indicate that a new launcher may well be appearing before too long. What they have found indicates that there is a battle.net launcher coming that will shift away from separate game-by-game launchers, towards an integrated launcher for all Blizzard games. Looking at the background files which have been datamined, it looks like WoW, Diablo, and Starcraft will be included, but also the older Warcraft RTS games. Each major game group appears to have its own section, which itself includes breaking news, general information, and links to things like patch notes, guides, account management, help and support and more. There is also a news section which encompasses the news across all the games you have installed. It is important to note that this currently appears to be datamined information and should be treated appropriately. It is always best not to pass judgement on such things until an official position on the veracity of early reports is released. But, that being said, whatever this turns out to be looks great.
EVE Online reconfiguring launcher to use BitTorrent
In its latest dev blog, CCP says that it's currently working to revamp EVE Online's launcher, which hasn't seen many changes over the years. Why now? There are two main reasons -- the studio's desire to get updates out more quickly and reliably as well as the desire to reduce the incidences of failed patching that force players to reinstall the game. To address both of these issues, CCP is turning to BitTorrent. CCP cites BitTorrent's ability to utilize a number of different transport channels at the same time, a feature that would minimize patching failures. Also noted was the ability to prioritize files, which could allow users to create characters while the game is still downloading. CCP also acknowledges player concerns about BitTorrent, saying that it won't be using players' bandwidth without their knowledge: "By default the new EVE Launcher will only make you share the data required for installing the client while you are downloading; once your download is complete you will not be distributing it to others, unless you explicitly enable this in the options." This change is planned to hit test servers within the next few weeks, after which players should experience more reliable and possibly even faster updates and repairs to the EVE client.
New launchpad coming to all EverQuest II users tomorrow [Updated]
EverQuest II's official site has updated with a news blurb heralding the launch of, er, well, a new launcher. Currently, Sony Online Entertainment's fantasy title has multiple access points including the streaming launcher, the retail box launcher, and SOE's station launcher. As of November 30th, all EQII users will be migrated to a new launchpad. What's new about it? Well for starters, it doesn't require Flash. It also boasts a "much faster patching speed" and a "general aesthetic upgrade." The migration process should be painless for the end user, as Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson says that all you'll have to do is point the new launcher at your existing EQII directory when prompted. There's a bit more info on the official site if you're curious. [Update]: EQ2Wire has a great dev rundown on what exactly is coming with the new launcher.
