iPad Release Media Event on April 3rd
Blizzard is holding a media event on April 3rd to show off Hearthstone's iPad final build before the public gets to see it. Attendees will get to try out the iPad version themselves and have a one on one chat with a member of the development team. This media event is being held in the US, but should be quite similar to the one previously held in China (images below).
ESGN's Fight Night - Season 5 Episode 4 Decklists
In today's Fight Night, Team DogeHouse's Artosis and ManaGrind's Chakki faced off in an epic best of five. We won't be spoiling any details from the matches, but if you'd like to watch them, or check out the decklists for yourself, we've got the VoDs and decks available.
It should be noted that it was announced today that Chakki has joined Clarity Gaming. Fight Night is taped a few weeks in advance, so he was still a member of ManaGrind during Season 5. Season 6 though is going into taping soon and will feature ManaGrind vs Clarity Gaming! How interesting!
can't wait for it to eventually hit the smart phones too!
Curious of the minimum requirements for the iPad version. I have my older iPad 2, hopefully that makes the cut.
I think you'll be safe: the iPad 2 has the same innards as the iPad mini without Retina, that Apple is currently selling. I doubt Blizz is gonna release an app that doesn't play nice with something Apple's shipping now (especially since Apple has been pressing/leaning for a Blizz game on iPad for a while now, I've heard tale...)
Should have gave Chakki more money. He's 3rd best on the team after Kolento and Darkwonyx
So about that "beta" coming soon....
Hopefully we'll get some news about the Android version not long after the iPad version is released. I'm sure it's no easy task porting HS to Android, but I feel like we've heard absolutely nothing about it since Blizzcon.
Good news is porting a Unity based game to different platforms is rather easy. With Ipad version being more or less done (and therefore "touchability" done), it should be rather quick.
Bad news is porting (or creating) a game to Android and supporting multiple mayor releases is not an easy task.
It can be quite stressful.
From what I remember, if they include in-App purchases on it, it has to be the same price as it currently is on PC, just Apple will take a 30% cut in it.
If they want us to buy coins or cards pack they have to include in-app. They can't bypass Apple systems due to their ToS. Many companies tried to appeal to Apple but to no avail.
I think they would shoot themselves in the foot if they increase the price by 30% on iOS. They will most likely keep it same price and live with it ;)
There's a possibility that they can get away with it due to using Battle.net balance for in-game purchases, you just wouldn't be able to add balance to your account dollar for dollar when purchasing it through the apple store. Not a big deal, if this is the case, we just need to make sure people are educated on how they can get around it.
My question is, will it cost anything on ipad? do packs increase? it seems weird if apple don't want any part of the cake (not a big dealk if there is a PC nearby)
The game will most likely be free and the card pack (in-app) will stay the same. The will have to soak the "Apple cut". Increasing the price by 30% would only make players buy through the PC game and thus reducing the number of transaction. Why would it reduce it? Because people buy with a call to action : Impulsivly. Asking them to go on their PC and buy it there would put a step between the player and their purchase and thus give them time to re-think their purchase.
The trick with "in-app" and any other form of premium things you can buy (mounts, skins, flavor stuff) is it needs to be quick for the player to do, simple and appeal to them at the most crucial moment. If they do get those key factors they will make money :)
It will be great to see the iPad launch because that's what we're going to be seeing on Android. Once they're closer to the Android release, I'll be finally dropping them bills on a tablet. I've managed to stay away from apple products for this long, Hearthstone isn't going to change that.
Someone may reply to this stating I could get a tablet now and just use Splashtop / TeamViewer, and quite honestly, it's not the same experience. For that I still need to have my computer running, and other things running on my pc could interfere with the game. Much better to have it native. Plus by waiting it out until the release, I'll likely get a beefier tablet for the same amount of money.
Yeah the whole splash top is nice but there is lag issues and it's not that enjoyable of a experience. Once we get a native app I really doubt I will play a bunch on my PC as long as it works as advertised. On you getting a tablet might as well wait and see what Google comes up with to replace the nexus 10 it is due for a refresh.
I am pretty dang excited to see it come out on iPad tho I wonder will the payments (For cards and arena) have to go through the app store or Blizzard? I am sure it will go through Blizzard but is that allowed? You know Apple will want to see some pennies out of the game I would not mind it either way. tbh it would be almost easier for it to go through Apple cause I wont have to wait up to 3 days for my money to get over.
Take a poop and play some Hearthstone? Yeah sign me up!
You are wrong thinking it will go through blizzard, rules and regulations of the app store stipulate transactions must be done through the app store. And apps can be taken down if they offer other type of "currency" purchase. It has been done before with major apps.
Like @LuisOscar said Blizzard cannot "bypass" or go directly to their system. Apple ToS (Term of services) for developer is very very clear and strict on that. If you want to allow purchase in your game, you need to go through the "In-App" system of Apple, and thus give them the 30% cut. Big companies whoever they are have no way of going away with it. They might be able to negotiate better rate, but even then.
For example, Zynga, Rovio and King.com, the 3 biggest companies on the mobile market uses the in-app system of Apple and even if they generate TONS of revenue and impression on the market they cannot go against it. Do they give a 30% cut to apple? Reports says they have a better rate but it's not a BIG difference...
Interesting. That is great then. I am not a fan of dealing with battle nets way of how money has to go through a review process so this makes me extremely happy considering Apples payments are instant and I always get iTunes gift cards for Holidays. Thanks for the response.
This! The only applications that have successfully skirted the 30% are ones that offer services outside of the app, but still charge in-app. Uber & Lyft, for example, are ones that I've used.
To be fair though, most of these companies were created around Apple's 30% model. If Apple has truly been "pressing/leaning" on Blizzard for an iOS game, I wouldn't be surprised if they got some special treatment, especially considering this is going to be exclusive to Apple's mobile solution for a few months, minimum.