Boy the Fur is a'flying regarding Diablo III!!

[Netwit2008]

I just watched a couple of video interviews from GameSpot with the devs of Blizzard's Diablo III. Despite the ten year wait for the game, and hyping it up for the last 2-3 years they STILL are not giving a release date. BUT, they are starting to divulge bits of information about the game folks are hoping is due for release in 2012 or 2013.....but with their current history, who knows when it will actually be, lol I've lost some interest in it, even though it was my favorite game before I discovered Morrowind. As I saw it once said a year or so ago, by the time they release the game, the engine will already be obsolete!

 

The recent gameplay trailer I watched was pretty cool. Lots of flash and fire. Looks as though the old type of weapons have been replaced with more magicka based skills and items. Fans generally salivate when they even hear the words "Diablo III." But recent info releases have got many folks up in arms about the changes Blizzard is talking about making.

 

The biggest outcry is coming from long time fans of the game who are outraged at Blizzard's move to make even single players always be online. I myself do not like this idea. As someone in the comments after the video said- what if you just finished a 30 minute boss fight, only to have a power outtage, or Blizzard's servers drop connection. Dropped connection was something that, when I played LOD on Battlenet, did happen quite a bit. It was easy to lose progress, valuable stuff or even your character. Plus if you didn't play your character at least once every 90 days, it would disappear, forever lost.

 

This move is supposedly being implemented due to Blizzard trying to reduce the hacking and piracy of the game. I might be very dense and not seeing the bigger picture, but REQUIRING EVERYone to play online, whether they want to or not, (or even can), seems extreme.

 

Then there is the fact that they will NOT support or allow modding of the game. Again, a ploy to try and reduce hacking and piracy. When I modded LOD, that was the best thing I ever did. Just increasing the size of the pack, storage chest and horadric cube was a big deal for a hoarder like me, lol Plus, we have such a vibrant modding community here, that really extends the life and re-playability of the game, I can't imagine a game company NOT wanting it to be modded!

 

Then there is the "Auction House." Blizzard will not sell items, the process will be facilitated by them, but player/community driven. From what I understand, you can buy any item for sale, beginner to rare items for either in game gold, possibly Blizzard points, and for sure REAL MONEY! What do you think of this? Wouldn't this allow some folks to just advance without really playing the game? It's their choice and right, but it would seem like a huge cheat and take some of the fun out of it for me. But I do know folks do it now. I've seen Diablo items for sale on ebay before!

 

I think the biggest reaction from the Diablo fan base is due to being forced to play the game online. Some folks didn't even use that option. I used it very rarely. I enjoyed playing alone with in game companions. I just think that is an over the top manuever to prevent piracy, so is no modding. Bethesda allows it and it has only increased the game's value. I wonder why this is such an issue for them? A lot of players cry GREED! since Blizzard will get a cut of all sales made through the Auction House.

 

Your thoughts? If anyone would like to petition the devs to incorporate single player-offline mode back into the game, you can go here:

 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/diablo-3-offline-single-player-petition.html

 

Here are links to the interviews:

 

Update on Gameplay and Developments so far:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/video/6326137/diablo-iii-the-story-so-far--interview-boyarsky?tag=related_video%3Btitle%3B1

 

Technical Aspects of the game discussed:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/video/6326084/diablo-iii-technical-video-preview?&tag=stitialclk%3Bgamespace

 

Discussing the Auction House:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/video/6326089/diablo-iii--the-cash-money-auction-house-interview?tag=related_video%3Btitle%3B1

 

This site has lots of good info on the game, including a great new gameplay trailer- (shows the action with all the new characters):

http://diablo.incgamers.com/

 

So, what are your thoughts on all of this, especially if you are a Diablo series fan?

[brokenergy]

You didn't add "I don't care about Blizzard at all" and "I'm not even considering to buy Diablo". Blizzard could burn for all I care.

[Netwit2008]

LOL! You're right, I didn't even think of that. Are you telling me that you are not a Diablo fan? I'm shocked :facepalm:

[Illiad86]

I have a bad bad feeling about this game...but I said maybe in regards to purchasing it. The auction house ticks me off in the sense newbs will just buy everything to be godly. But it does stop all the stores that they had about for D2. But still, the point of the game is to FIND the good items, not buy them. Plus, Blizzard will get a cut of the sales...aren't they happy with their 180 million a month they make off WoW?

 

Heard also about having some sort of client to play the game as well. Oh boy, ANOTHER thing I have to sign up for, log on to, and be on to play the game. Can't keep it simple like the old battle.net. Being online at all times is pretty lame too. Blizzard needs to realize that many people don't have the internet, have bandwidth caps, etc.

 

Skill trees for mercenaries, no more runewords...the list goes on.

 

It looks too much like WoW and they borrowed way too much stuff from it. It looks like Diablo with the atmosphere and all that, but more and more it's looking like a "poor man's WoW". I have a feeling this game is going to bomb hard. Maybe if it does, more people will come back to Diablo II :P

[brokenergy]

LOL! You're right, I didn't even think of that. Are you telling me that you are not a Diablo fan? I'm shocked :facepalm:

 

Not really, if someone says that Diablo is an RPG I would slap them in the face. It just reinforces the horrible mechanics that we had in the 90's. All Diablo is a dungeon crawler with tons of loot. They could have massively changed the franchise and bring it to the 21st century but all they did is to give a old game a new lick of paint and I really hate it. What's the point of buying it then when you already have in your collection (aka Diablo II).

[Thor.]

Umm there is a release date for Diable 3, coming out September 2011. Coming from a video that blizzard released for the beta sign up awhile ago. Words from the devs, so it must be true.

 

http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/385891-diablo-3-beta-is-out/

Edited August 4, 2011 by Thor.

[sendo75]

If D3 is gonna run online mandatory, there are gonna be indefinite server downtimes for maintenance or hack attacks which will hinder my playtimes. I dislike the idea of lack of control of when and where I want to play a game I bought, especially when it is technically unnecessary. Bandwidth might not be an issue unless it runs like an MMORPG, although I wonder about the server load on handling prolonged connections with a huge number of users worldwide. An unnecessary strategy that encumbers its customers for its own benefits. Fortunately, other games will satisfy me.

 

I also suspect the cost of this online implementation will eventually be absorbed by the consumers. The online auction house will most probably attract much spam bots and farm bots.

Edited August 4, 2011 by sendo75

[Netwit2008]

I have a bad bad feeling about this game...but I said maybe in regards to purchasing it. The auction house ticks me off in the sense newbs will just buy everything to be godly. But it does stop all the stores that they had about for D2. But still, the point of the game is to FIND the good items, not buy them. Plus, Blizzard will get a cut of the sales...aren't they happy with their 180 million a month they make off WoW?

 

Heard also about having some sort of client to play the game as well. Oh boy, ANOTHER thing I have to sign up for, log on to, and be on to play the game. Can't keep it simple like the old battle.net. Being online at all times is pretty lame too. Blizzard needs to realize that many people don't have the internet, have bandwidth caps, etc.

 

Skill trees for mercenaries, no more runewords...the list goes on.

 

It looks too much like WoW and they borrowed way too much stuff from it. It looks like Diablo with the atmosphere and all that, but more and more it's looking like a "poor man's WoW". I have a feeling this game is going to bomb hard. Maybe if it does, more people will come back to Diablo II :P

 

Yeah Weather Girl, I'm skeptical too. I would think the temptation to buy what you want will be just too great. I wonder how this affects things like PVP? Theoretically, you could come up against a player at a way lower level than you, but they have way better stuff! :confused: I never played WOW or Starcraft. I did play Hellgate London which was done by the same folks who had exited Blizzard. The game was very disappointing because it did just what you say D-3 might. It was just a reworked Diablo. Very boring. :pinch:

 

I saw they were getting rid of the skill trees and points. Blah! I think your prediction is not so far out of the realm of possibility, that's for sure.

 

 

Not really, if someone says that Diablo is an RPG I would slap them in the face. It just reinforces the horrible mechanics that we had in the 90's. All Diablo is a dungeon crawler with tons of loot. They could have massively changed the franchise and bring it to the 21st century but all they did is to give a old game a new lick of paint and I really hate it. What's the point of buying it then when you already have in your collection (aka Diablo II).

 

Once I found Morrowind, I learned what a REAL RPG was! It wasn't Diablo, cause you're right, it was 3rd person shooter. When I got introduced to it, I didn't even like 3rd person games of any kind. I see the trailers and the graphics, gameplay, etc. While it looks exciting with all the flash and trash, it still doesn't look all that different from Diablos of times past. I was seriously hoping I was seeing things wrong, or with too narrow of a view. :ermm:

 

 

Umm there is a release date for Diable 3, coming out September 2011. Coming from a video that blizzard released for the beta sign up awhile ago. Words from the devs, so it must be true.

 

http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/385891-diablo-3-beta-is-out/

 

That is so wild Thor! I get updates by e-mail. Also did some reading on the net. On Aug. 1st CBS news site was still saying the beta/game was coming, but it wasn't out yet, nor was there any kind of release date. Guess I should have gone to the source, lol Sounds as though it might be tough to get in the testing pool though. Now I wonder if they are going to beta test it for like 2 years before they release it? :huh:

 

If D3 is gonna run online mandatory, there are gonna be indefinite server downtimes for maintenance or hack attacks which will hinder my playtimes. I dislike the idea of lack of control of when and where I want to play a game I bought, especially when it is technically unnecessary. Bandwidth might not be an issue unless it runs like an MMORPG, although I wonder about the server load on handling prolonged connections with a huge number of users worldwide. An unnecessary strategy that encumbers its customers for its own benefits. Fortunately, other games will satisfy me.

 

I also suspect the cost of this online implementation will eventually be absorbed by the consumers. The online auction house will most probably attract much spam bots and farm bots.

 

Amen to that! I dislike NV and steam for that very reason. I'll decide if I want to play online or not! Like I said, Battle.net used to have its share of problems with connectivity from time to time. How on earth will they handle thousands of players having to be online without hiccoughs of some kind?

 

I'm glad Skyrim is coming. Even tho Diablo was my favorite series until Morrowind, in a duel, I think for me, Skyrim will win out. This is especially true with the "have to play online" restriction. Sometimes we'd play Diablo because we couldn't get online. Guess that's all a thing of the past now. :sad:

[Pyrosocial]

Yeah can't wait. I miss playing my necromancer back in lord of destruction. I'll be picking this up on consol. Ps3.

[Illiad86]

 

Yeah Weather Girl, I'm skeptical too. I would think the temptation to buy what you want will be just too great. I wonder how this affects things like PVP? Theoretically, you could come up against a player at a way lower level than you, but they have way better stuff! :confused: I never played WOW or Starcraft. I did play Hellgate London which was done by the same folks who had exited Blizzard. The game was very disappointing because it did just what you say D-3 might. It was just a reworked Diablo. Very boring. :pinch:

 

The temptation is strong for some, but not for me. I'd rather work to get my items.

 

I heard something about separate PVP servers, which I guess is alright.

 

Hellgate London...saw my friend play that. It was kinda cool I guess, but it did so bad that they closed down the servers. Titan Quest did decent homage to Diablo II, but it was missing a few key things. There were no randomized maps, game got incredibly boring fast because of that. The multiplayer wasn't moderated either, so everyone hacked and it was no fun to play online.

 

Ah, just read....everyone gets their own drops. I find that incredibly lame. The fun part was when you all worked together to kill something and whoever was the fastest clicker got the good item lol. I guess it's for being fair and all...but meh.

 

Got a bad feeling they will bring up the good old report system into this too. So, if someone doesn't like the way your acting or playing, they'll report you and you'll get restricted for a few hours. I honestly don't like that system. I'm not a jerk on games, but you know there will be some jerk that will report everyone because he/she feels like it. Can also bet that your character names will be censored. Oh boy does D2 have some horrible names lol...you couldn't use the major swears in your name, but all you had to do was put a 1 or a 3 or something to make it past the filter. Got a feeling that they will make the filter better. IMO, you should be able to name your character whatever the heck you want....but everything's gotta be all politically correct these days...

 

I signed up for beta testing, no response from Blizzard. Ah well...