'Global play' for Diablo 3

Blizzard has said Diablo 3's servers will be region free and will allow players to form alliances with other players in-game.

Although there are three regions for the Diablo servers, Asia and Europe will not be region locked, while the Americas (including Australia and New Zealand) will. So it's not really 100% region free, you'll have to play as a separate character in each region.

Irrespective, players will be able to join friends' games across territories allowing Blizzard to brand this as its "Global play" function.

In addition to this you'll need to recreate your friends list in each region as well as play as a separate character.

Normal gold auctions will apply irrespective of what region you play in the auction house and if you want to get involved in real world money auctions you have to do that from the character in your home region.

So, not really "Global play" but close enough...