So does this mean that anyone who participates in the Diablo demo at Blizzcon 2011 will inevitably be contributing to beta testing? I recall they allowed players to provide feedback at the end of the demo based on their play experience. It would be a great opportunity for them to give the beta cycle a little boost, assuming the demo is something resembling the beta product.
No, the demo was nothing compared to what a real beta should be.
So does this mean that anyone who participates in the Diablo demo at Blizzcon 2011 will inevitably be contributing to beta testing? I recall they allowed players to provide feedback at the end of the demo based on their play experience. It would be a great opportunity for them to give the beta cycle a little boost, assuming the demo is something resembling the beta product.
Well if they're on schedule the beta will already have been underway by Blizzcon.
what the hell, i started this thread. why the fuck does skarin1993 have the first post.
can i get a moderator to PM me ASAP.
Edit: I just realized they re-named another thread and folded my post into this one. And I don't like that.
Anyway, to confirm, The soonest we'll see the external beta is July.
threads got merged dude, they were all on the same thing
kinda depressing listening to them talk about WoW like a cash cow, even though i never liked the game, but wow activision
that spyro game is SUCH A NEW LOW
LOL wow *is* a cash cow. This is a company first and foremost and a publicly traded one at that. Don't let all this talk about quality and making sure it's right get you thinking it's just for us. Don't let it fool you. They want quality products so that they can make more money. The balance sheet is what matters most before anything else.
I don't mean to put that in a negative context either. That is what companies are for and I'm more then happy to let them make the most of their own hard work because, at the end of the day, it's still a job for these people. I work for the paycheck before anything else, that's for sure.
There is some conflicting information. An official post from (I would guess) Bashiok stating that they are aiming for a 2011 release, and this conference call where there are several people who have reported bliz saying "No games expected to be released this year"
Can we get confirmation on that quote? I haven't listened to the call.
What was said during the call was that, basically, D3's release is dependent on how long the beta has to be to get rid of all the bugs/balance issues. So their working towards a 2011 release, but they expect it to take until 2012 because of potential issues that arise during the beta. Its just like at the last conference call, where they stated that the official expectation is that the game won't be ready until 2012, but they are doing what they can to get it out in 2011.
The good news is that probably means that if the release has to get bumped to 2012, it will be early on in the year.
This.
Pretty much, by Blizzard saying, "We're aiming for a 2011 release." this means they want to get the game out asap. This is true I'm sure, does this mean they think they'll make it? HELL NO! Now, everyone step back from your hopes and dreams of playing D3 this year and look at Blizzard's track record, AND their task at hand. I'll reiterate from my last post, since I typed that out thinking that thread would be where most people where discussing.
If you look at it from a logical perspective, note a hopeful one, it looks very bleak for a release in 2011.
The beta will likely come mid-late Q3, only a small percentage of the game will be tested in the beta, the rest will have to be refined internally, since they've said they don't want to ruin all the plot, or content. Just because a beta ends, doesn't mean it's fixed. The beta ends when they feel they've got enough feedback to stabilize the game, I'd say 25%-50% of the patching work to the game is done after the bet ends.
On top of that, they don't only have one version of the final game. In any game there are way to many bugs to ever truly reach ZBR (Zero Bug Release). This is a phrase used to describe a game stable enough to release. After the finish patching problems found in the beta, they are left with multiple versions of the game, all of which have difference bugs. They must present all these versions of the game to a board, and figure out which one is most preferable to be the final production model. The versions are called "Clients". The finial product is call the "Gold" model.
Other than all that, which is obviously a process in itself, there is the paperwork which is a whole nothing branch of work that needs to be complete before moving onto production. In this stage Blizzard is emailing, calling, contacting hundreds of people a day working out payment, distribution, licensing, merchandise, and a whole bunch of legal BS that takes a very long time to complete, and can only truly be bitten into after they have a Gold model ready.
It's so much more than just having the game ready.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
I fully believe there will be external testing starting sometime in July, and that we will, in all probability, see this game around Christmas time.
Here we go again, not hours from this latest bit of "news." Assuming Beta will start in July, assuming seeing the game around Christmas time "in all probability."
What probability is it you're basing this on? Even while the conf call was still going on, Bashiok was quick to point out that this was a rough estimate, depending on how development goes.
Nuff said? Really? Wait so during a conference call they didn't drop a bomb by saying that 2011 is now unlikely, even though everyone knows that? You can take that as confirmation of a 2011 release, but we all know they purposefully said nothing. D3 got 3 bullets and 0 questions, a total of not more than 1 minute in the call.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: That was not a Beta announcement. That was an announcement that Alpha has started, and the game is "looking good." They gave a 3 month margin of error for Beta start, and even THAT is subject to the bombshell caveat "unless things change." It was barely even a timetable.
I'm not saying this as a QQ gamer with no life. I'm saying this as an investor and a professional software engineer.
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"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions."
-Thomas Jefferson
Nuff said? Really? Wait so during a conference call they didn't drop a bomb by saying that 2011 is now unlikely, even though everyone knows that? You can take that as confirmation of a 2011 release, but we all know they purposefully said nothing. D3 got 3 bullets and 0 questions, a total of not more than 1 minute in the call.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: That was not a Beta announcement. That was an announcement that Alpha has started, and the game is "looking good." They gave a 3 month margin of error for Beta start, and even THAT is subject to the bombshell caveat "unless things change." It was barely even a timetable.
I'm not saying this as a QQ gamer with no life. I'm saying this as an investor and a professional software engineer.
If you are an investor, then you should know why D3 got so little attention. For Activision/Blizzard, D3 is hardly a huge money maker for them compared to other games. It has nothing to do with its development. I don't know what you being a software engineer has to do with anything though. As for a beta announcement, if that's not enough for you then:
Bashiok:
Official Blizzard Quote:
The 3rd quarter reference in the earning's call today was a calendar quarter, meaning that we're aiming to launch the Diablo III beta between July 1st and September 30th. Keep in mind that it's our current goal, and of course that can change as development continues.
This is a beta announcement. Yes it can still be changed but so can any date for any product. The fact is that we are getting close to those dates regardless so if that is what they are shooting for and it is only months away then there is a good chance it will happen.
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Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Wow, Dola is trying his best to poop on the parade.
Two seemingly small details: people are basing this on...Blizzard's own estimation, and Bashiok didn't use the word 'rough', you did. Barring the requisite caveat that was offered up about not sacrificing polish to 'hit a window', this is more or less the timetable that's been hinted at for a while now, in slightly less ambiguous terms.
Blizzard has had all the chances in the world to hedge this bet far more than they have, there's no reason to think there's anything 'rough' about it. It's still an estimation, it's still a 'target', but what wouldn't be?
I really don't get all the knee-jerk reactions couched in so much cynicism and hostility.
"BLIZZARD OMFG GIVE US THE INFOZ"
Blizzard: Here is the timeline we're planning on sticking to.
"WTF U R FULL OF IT U SUCK THIS GAME WILL COME OUT ABOUT THE TIME THE SUN GOVES NOVA HAHAHA 2011ERS YOU'RE ALL MORONS"
Mmk then.
I also love how many arm-chair game developers there are on this site. Unless any of you work for Blizzard, on D3, I'm not particularly ready to buy into your 'insider' insights.
No, it is an announcement of intent to begin a beta at a period in the future, with caveats.
When Sams or Morhaime, or Wilson, or whoever tells the screaming fans "The beta starts next week!" at the closing ceremony of b'con, that will be a "beta announcement".
I fully believe there will be external testing starting sometime in July, and that we will, in all probability, see this game around Christmas time.
Here we go again, not hours from this latest bit of "news." Assuming Beta will start in July, assuming seeing the game around Christmas time "in all probability."
What probability is it you're basing this on? Even while the conf call was still going on, Bashiok was quick to point out that this was a rough estimate, depending on how development goes.
Nuff said? Really? Wait so during a conference call they didn't drop a bomb by saying that 2011 is now unlikely, even though everyone knows that? You can take that as confirmation of a 2011 release, but we all know they purposefully said nothing. D3 got 3 bullets and 0 questions, a total of not more than 1 minute in the call.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: That was not a Beta announcement. That was an announcement that Alpha has started, and the game is "looking good." They gave a 3 month margin of error for Beta start, and even THAT is subject to the bombshell caveat "unless things change." It was barely even a timetable.
I'm not saying this as a QQ gamer with no life. I'm saying this as an investor and a professional software engineer.
Yeah.. you're one of the ones I'm talking about. You put a negative spin on everything said and act like everyone who would like to view it positively is an unrealistic idiot.
Q1 SC2 beta announced
Q2 SC2 beta happened
Q3 SC2 released
nuff said? It can happen. Don't run around foretelling things that haven't happened yet. You're not actually solving or saying anything substantial.
No, it is an announcement of intent to begin a beta at a period in the future, with caveats.
When Sams or Morhaime, or Wilson, or whoever tells the screaming fans "The beta starts next week!" at the closing ceremony of b'con, that will be a "beta announcement".
The difference really isn't that subtle.
I said announcement, not release date of the beta. The difference really isn't that subtle.
EDIT: you realize in your own statement you said "No, it is an announcement"
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Are we really playing this paltry little game of semantics?
Announcement that in part pertains to the beta = beta announcement
Just because it's not a precise-date announcement or a date you don't like or whatever doesn't mean it isn't what it is. We can call it 'preliminary' if it'll make everyone feel better?
No, it is an announcement of intent to begin a beta at a period in the future, with caveats.
When Sams or Morhaime, or Wilson, or whoever tells the screaming fans "The beta starts next week!" at the closing ceremony of b'con, that will be a "beta announcement".
The difference really isn't that subtle.
Not really sure where you guys are getting this "beta announcement will not happen until Blizzcon"
That's perhaps the most unsubstantiated guesstimate of all. Neither the SC2 nor the Cata betas were announced/begun at a Blizzcon even. Both of those happened in the middle of the year, and the latter for a much larger release.
The beta will happen when it happens, let's leave the date to Blizzard.
If you are an investor, then you should know why D3 got so little attention. For Activision/Blizzard, D3 is hardly a huge money maker for them compared to other games. It has nothing to do with its development.
Are you kidding me? Do you have ANY IDEA how much revenue the D3 release will generate? Remember how they were bragging about SC2, and how it sold over a million copies its first day? Saying D3 is "hardly a huge money maker for them compared to other games" is just absurd.
I don't know what you being a software engineer has to do with anything though.
Hm, I dunno. Maybe it's that I develop computer software for a living, and I have worked under numerous different development archetypes since starting my career in 2004, including the ones they use at Blizzard. That expertise allows me to share my insights into their process, for better or worse. I, for one, don't have a vested interest in spinning everything positive, my ad revenue doesn't depend on it.
This is a beta announcement. Yes it can still be changed but so can any date for any product. The fact is that we are getting close to those dates regardless so if that is what they are shooting for and it is only months away then there is a good chance it will happen.
They announced that there would be a (ed:limited) public beta more than a year ago. Let's not get pedantic, I meant a Beta START announcement. No one knows when this Beta is going to start, and they had no interest in committing to any dates, even though it's an extremely important part of quality customer experience for most software companies.
Furthermore, when following a scrum development model (which they do), the closer you get to your target, the more accurate your predictions become. The fact that we're this close to the target dates, and the predictions have such an enormous variance, is actually a sign that their process might be broken.
Look, nobody is stopping you from getting excited. I'm not trying to make anyone sad, but I'm not trying to make anyone happy. I'm just calling it like I see it.
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"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions."
-Thomas Jefferson
Kiserai, while there are a few "are-chair game developers" around, some of us (few of us) also do indeed have general insight, and game development experience. As you said in another thread, you know little of the development process, so before forming a strong opinion you should do research to better educate yourself. Instantly latching onto official quotes of loose time frames and convoluted development details hardly warrants such dedication.
I'm not attacking you, I just would like to shed some light on why I in particular don't believe 2011 is reasonable, no matter what Blizzard may say to understandably cover themselves.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
I don't want to get trollish, so I'll end with this thread - but I do expect a little humility when the beta starts... in November.
I'll do likewise if we see it before the end of August.
Deal?
Same. I'd also like some humility if my opinions turn out to be true. Though I have a strong feeling people will take the low road and ignore I ever debated so strongly over it..
On the other hand if I'm wrong I will happily be the forum punching bag for any whom wants to shove it in my face.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
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Let me say it again. I'd like to point out one more thing. Just for good measure.
No, the demo was nothing compared to what a real beta should be.
Well if they're on schedule the beta will already have been underway by Blizzcon.
LOL wow *is* a cash cow. This is a company first and foremost and a publicly traded one at that. Don't let all this talk about quality and making sure it's right get you thinking it's just for us. Don't let it fool you. They want quality products so that they can make more money. The balance sheet is what matters most before anything else.
I don't mean to put that in a negative context either. That is what companies are for and I'm more then happy to let them make the most of their own hard work because, at the end of the day, it's still a job for these people. I work for the paycheck before anything else, that's for sure.
I know it wasn't I was there; my theory is that they will present the Beta product as a demo at Blizzcon 2011 to assist in gathering more data.
This.
Pretty much, by Blizzard saying, "We're aiming for a 2011 release." this means they want to get the game out asap. This is true I'm sure, does this mean they think they'll make it? HELL NO! Now, everyone step back from your hopes and dreams of playing D3 this year and look at Blizzard's track record, AND their task at hand. I'll reiterate from my last post, since I typed that out thinking that thread would be where most people where discussing.
Here we go again, not hours from this latest bit of "news." Assuming Beta will start in July, assuming seeing the game around Christmas time "in all probability."
What probability is it you're basing this on? Even while the conf call was still going on, Bashiok was quick to point out that this was a rough estimate, depending on how development goes.
Nuff said? Really? Wait so during a conference call they didn't drop a bomb by saying that 2011 is now unlikely, even though everyone knows that? You can take that as confirmation of a 2011 release, but we all know they purposefully said nothing. D3 got 3 bullets and 0 questions, a total of not more than 1 minute in the call.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: That was not a Beta announcement. That was an announcement that Alpha has started, and the game is "looking good." They gave a 3 month margin of error for Beta start, and even THAT is subject to the bombshell caveat "unless things change." It was barely even a timetable.
I'm not saying this as a QQ gamer with no life. I'm saying this as an investor and a professional software engineer.
-Thomas Jefferson
Just when I thought the thread was getting less delusional...
If you are an investor, then you should know why D3 got so little attention. For Activision/Blizzard, D3 is hardly a huge money maker for them compared to other games. It has nothing to do with its development. I don't know what you being a software engineer has to do with anything though. As for a beta announcement, if that's not enough for you then:
Bashiok:
Official Blizzard Quote:
The 3rd quarter reference in the earning's call today was a calendar quarter, meaning that we're aiming to launch the Diablo III beta between July 1st and September 30th. Keep in mind that it's our current goal, and of course that can change as development continues.
This is a beta announcement. Yes it can still be changed but so can any date for any product. The fact is that we are getting close to those dates regardless so if that is what they are shooting for and it is only months away then there is a good chance it will happen.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Two seemingly small details: people are basing this on...Blizzard's own estimation, and Bashiok didn't use the word 'rough', you did. Barring the requisite caveat that was offered up about not sacrificing polish to 'hit a window', this is more or less the timetable that's been hinted at for a while now, in slightly less ambiguous terms.
Blizzard has had all the chances in the world to hedge this bet far more than they have, there's no reason to think there's anything 'rough' about it. It's still an estimation, it's still a 'target', but what wouldn't be?
I really don't get all the knee-jerk reactions couched in so much cynicism and hostility.
"BLIZZARD OMFG GIVE US THE INFOZ"
Blizzard: Here is the timeline we're planning on sticking to.
"WTF U R FULL OF IT U SUCK THIS GAME WILL COME OUT ABOUT THE TIME THE SUN GOVES NOVA HAHAHA 2011ERS YOU'RE ALL MORONS"
Mmk then.
I also love how many arm-chair game developers there are on this site. Unless any of you work for Blizzard, on D3, I'm not particularly ready to buy into your 'insider' insights.
No, it is an announcement of intent to begin a beta at a period in the future, with caveats.
When Sams or Morhaime, or Wilson, or whoever tells the screaming fans "The beta starts next week!" at the closing ceremony of b'con, that will be a "beta announcement".
The difference really isn't that subtle.
Yeah.. you're one of the ones I'm talking about. You put a negative spin on everything said and act like everyone who would like to view it positively is an unrealistic idiot.
Q1 SC2 beta announced
Q2 SC2 beta happened
Q3 SC2 released
nuff said? It can happen. Don't run around foretelling things that haven't happened yet. You're not actually solving or saying anything substantial.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
I said announcement, not release date of the beta. The difference really isn't that subtle.
EDIT: you realize in your own statement you said "No, it is an announcement"
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Announcement that in part pertains to the beta = beta announcement
Just because it's not a precise-date announcement or a date you don't like or whatever doesn't mean it isn't what it is. We can call it 'preliminary' if it'll make everyone feel better?
Not really sure where you guys are getting this "beta announcement will not happen until Blizzcon"
That's perhaps the most unsubstantiated guesstimate of all. Neither the SC2 nor the Cata betas were announced/begun at a Blizzcon even. Both of those happened in the middle of the year, and the latter for a much larger release.
The beta will happen when it happens, let's leave the date to Blizzard.
Hm, I dunno. Maybe it's that I develop computer software for a living, and I have worked under numerous different development archetypes since starting my career in 2004, including the ones they use at Blizzard. That expertise allows me to share my insights into their process, for better or worse. I, for one, don't have a vested interest in spinning everything positive, my ad revenue doesn't depend on it.
They announced that there would be a (ed:limited) public beta more than a year ago. Let's not get pedantic, I meant a Beta START announcement. No one knows when this Beta is going to start, and they had no interest in committing to any dates, even though it's an extremely important part of quality customer experience for most software companies.
Furthermore, when following a scrum development model (which they do), the closer you get to your target, the more accurate your predictions become. The fact that we're this close to the target dates, and the predictions have such an enormous variance, is actually a sign that their process might be broken.
Look, nobody is stopping you from getting excited. I'm not trying to make anyone sad, but I'm not trying to make anyone happy. I'm just calling it like I see it.
-Thomas Jefferson
I'm not attacking you, I just would like to shed some light on why I in particular don't believe 2011 is reasonable, no matter what Blizzard may say to understandably cover themselves.
I'll do likewise if we see it before the end of August.
Deal?
Same. I'd also like some humility if my opinions turn out to be true. Though I have a strong feeling people will take the low road and ignore I ever debated so strongly over it..
On the other hand if I'm wrong I will happily be the forum punching bag for any whom wants to shove it in my face.