This, which is probably rumor with no basis in fact, claims that Blizzard has entered crunch time on D3, with 17 hour days in effect. This is pretty typical for the last few months of game development, and this same rumor indicates that a November release is their goal.
Probably not the most reliable information, but it's nice to hear
Interesting find, though I personally don't buy it. I'm sure beyond a shadow of a doubt Blizzard employees are working hard on the game, possibly even the claimed 17 hours daily (With many breaks!). Even if the Beta goes public in early August I'd still be skeptical of a November release. The time in which the Beta ends is when a feasible release date can be guesstimated.
“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 believe there was a Diablo 2 beta, though there's little remains of its existence. I'm not sure how long it lasted. Even if we knew, D2 was released 11 years ago, it would be of no representation how long we should expect the D3 Beta to last.
“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
Crunch time for ~3 months? Let's all bet how many bugs that would result in.
I hope Blizzard's management is not that dumb.
That's actually pretty typical, and sleeping at the office more often than not is pretty common as well during crunch. Some games spend a full year in crunch time before release.
Regardless of whether the source is legit, it's probably a pretty good guess. If they're not crunching already they will be soon, given the beta timing.
*Edit* Also, I think it's reasonable to assume that the D3 beta will not need to be very long. November might be a stretch, but really, this isn't SC2. The beta might only be a couple months long. The beta running from the beginning of August->September->October->release late November isn't that unreasonable.
the longer the beta, the longer i get to play for free ^___^
Plus the longer I can have the honor of helping to find bugs, fixes, and helping with game balance, so Diablo 3 will be a masterpiece on release.
( dont mind me, im just using positive affirmations to get a beta key)
Crunch time for ~3 months? Let's all bet how many bugs that would result in.
I hope Blizzard's management is not that dumb.
Deadlines. People have to make them. Some of my best work as a Studio Art major have come from crunch time. You become focused in a way that doesn't happen without that fire lit under your bum.
Point being you're extrapolating doom and gloom from nothingness. Just because they are tight lipped about their releases until near the end and use the "when it's done" motto to the public doesn't mean they don't have internal deadlines. I'm not under the impression that this new rumor is truthful but if it becomes reality it's unexpectedly early deadline doesn't grip me with fear of a bug ridden game. I mean... Come on!
Crunch time for ~3 months? Let's all bet how many bugs that would result in.
I hope Blizzard's management is not that dumb.
Deadlines. People have to make them. Some of my best work as a Studio Art major have come from crunch time. You become focused in a way that doesn't happen without that fire lit under your bum.
Couldn't have said it better. I've stayed up days at a time sometimes working on projects for deadlines, and while it's totally exhausting, there's a zone you reach where you're doing your best work and you can keep doing it indefinitely.
Taking breaks destroys your concentration, and it takes time to reach the zone again when you resume. I wouldn't be surprised if most people only stop to make a cup of coffee and take a leak during those kind of hours. Meals are probably mostly eaten while working, or in meetings.
Well, if they need to take a break from their work I'd gladly land a hand and take a look at the game
Guess they are crunching the crunch time for the beta release, then let people rest a bit while collecting data, than go for it again in order to release the game.
How this will affect the release date is unknown, it's Blizzard we are talking about.
This, which is probably rumor with no basis in fact, claims that Blizzard has entered crunch time on D3, with 17 hour days in effect. This is pretty typical for the last few months of game development, and this same rumor indicates that a November release is their goal.
Probably not the most reliable information, but it's nice to hear
Wasn't there a video interview with J. Willson were he said "it was the crunch time when the magic happens", or whatever?
Yeah, but there's crunch time and then there's crunch time. Development gets more and more crunchy the closer you get to release. I doubt they've been on 17 hour days since that interview (though it's possible). More like 12 hour days back then
Probably not the most reliable information, but it's nice to hear
Was there even a D2 Beta?
Hopefully they're right.
Monk > Wizard > Barbarian > Demon Hunter > Witch Doctor
I hope Blizzard's management is not that dumb.
That's actually pretty typical, and sleeping at the office more often than not is pretty common as well during crunch. Some games spend a full year in crunch time before release.
Regardless of whether the source is legit, it's probably a pretty good guess. If they're not crunching already they will be soon, given the beta timing.
*Edit* Also, I think it's reasonable to assume that the D3 beta will not need to be very long. November might be a stretch, but really, this isn't SC2. The beta might only be a couple months long. The beta running from the beginning of August->September->October->release late November isn't that unreasonable.
Plus the longer I can have the honor of helping to find bugs, fixes, and helping with game balance, so Diablo 3 will be a masterpiece on release.
( dont mind me, im just using positive affirmations to get a beta key)
Point being you're extrapolating doom and gloom from nothingness. Just because they are tight lipped about their releases until near the end and use the "when it's done" motto to the public doesn't mean they don't have internal deadlines. I'm not under the impression that this new rumor is truthful but if it becomes reality it's unexpectedly early deadline doesn't grip me with fear of a bug ridden game. I mean... Come on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5BMQ-xpTog
It's been crunch time for about 3 years
Not if you love your work.
Couldn't have said it better. I've stayed up days at a time sometimes working on projects for deadlines, and while it's totally exhausting, there's a zone you reach where you're doing your best work and you can keep doing it indefinitely.
Taking breaks destroys your concentration, and it takes time to reach the zone again when you resume. I wouldn't be surprised if most people only stop to make a cup of coffee and take a leak during those kind of hours. Meals are probably mostly eaten while working, or in meetings.
Guess they are crunching the crunch time for the beta release, then let people rest a bit while collecting data, than go for it again in order to release the game.
How this will affect the release date is unknown, it's Blizzard we are talking about.
Wasn't there a video interview with J. Willson were he said "it was the crunch time when the magic happens", or whatever?
In progress: Barbarian, WD