If you were hoping the release date of Diablo 3 might be announced during Activision-Blizzard's Second Quarter financial call today, I'm sorry to let you down: Diablo 3 still doesn't have a shelf-date (although Activision is having a very good financial year). Blizzard head CEO Michael Morhaime reiterated the long-held Blizzard assertion that they are working really hard for a 2011 release date, but it was not confirmed.
Absent any hard info from Activision, I spoke with a couple of industry analysts, Michael Pachter of Wedbush and Jesse Divnich of EEDAR, to get some expert opinions on the likelihood of a 2011 release date for Diablo 3.
"It’s going to be right on the edge," Pachter said. "They’re getting close, but I think that on balance, Blizzard would prefer to launch two titles next year, and three the year after, to show growth."
Divnich offered a compelling reason why it might be better for Acti-Blizzard's bottom line to wait until 2012 to put out D3.
"Given the very tight competitive market this holiday season, I don’t believe it is in the best business interest for Activision or Blizzard to release Diablo 3 this year," Divnich said. "We already have one big PC RPG title, Star Wars: TOR coming out in December* and while I’m sure Activision would love to challenge Electronic Arts, they wouldn’t do so at the risk of losing potential sales to Star Wars: TOR."
"If Diablo 3 was going to launch this year, they would have to announce it by September, as by that time the retail orders for the holiday season are nearly solidified," Divnich added.
My expert analysis: I predict Diablo 3 will be released in mid-March, 2012. When you take into account the value of the dollar vs. the yen, this release window would maximize earnings-per-share for stockholders, as well as increase non-GAAP earnings and diversification efforts vis-a-vis expanding Far Eastern distribution channels. (I don't know what any of that means.)
*an official release date has not been announced
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
so, the fact that Mike Morhaime said that they are still pushing for a 2011 release date today means nothing?
Blizzard already have a lot of heat at their door right now. Saying outright that Diablo 3 won't be released till 2012 would probably anger more people. I would say that they are aiming for a 2011 release, if possible, but it's doubtful, especially with the need to refine the rune systems and with major game alterations etc, etc.
I'm not trusting a financial analyst, but I'm not really hopeful that Blizzard will get this out in 2011 either. :\
so, the fact that Mike Morhaime said that they are still pushing for a 2011 release date today means nothing?
Blizzard already have a lot of heat at their door right now. Saying outright that Diablo 3 won't be released till 2012 would probably anger more people. I would say that they are aiming for a 2011 release, if possible, but it's doubtful, especially with the need to refine the rune systems and with major game alterations etc, etc.
I'm not trusting a financial analyst, but I'm not really hopeful that Blizzard will get this out in 2011 either. :\
I think it will be 2011 simply because these changes weren't implemented last week they have been working on them for months the only system that needs refining is the runesystem and thats just to see if their idea works, if not they will just use the previous system.
Well as of today, Blizzard is still shooting for a 2011 release. That is all I need to hear. That is only four more months. They must really be close if they think they can get it out within four months. The closer and closer the end of the year comes, and the more they say 2011, the more relevant and probable it is.
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yeah, what worries me is the release of star wars, mw3, bf3, skyrim. im not a star wars fan, but if they say diablo 3 will be out in 2012, i will def. pick up mw3, bf3 and skyrim to kill time. if i know that diablo is going to drop in 2011, i might buy skyrim or mw3. one or the other, just to kill that last bit of time. but its likely that i wont buy anything, b/c once diablo 3 comes out, im prolly done with all other games for 3 years or more. i dunno, i really hope its out by the end of the year, i know they are trying, but like kelsper said, even if they knew for sure it was 2012, i dont think they would say anything.
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When or if I get to Lut Gholein, Im going to find the largest bowl of Narlant weed and smoke til all earthly sense has left my body. -Gheed
The analyst's conjecture isn't even based on anything relevant to Blizzard. Blizzard doesn't release games based on what other people are doing. They release their games whenever they want and then watch as the entire market shifts around their schedule.
Get real, folks, the diablo you all knew is dead, a few years ago i said right here in this forum that D3 had a pretty good chance of being blizzard first bust (i was flamed to death ofc), and what you know, its not even beta and its already looking that way.
If you were hoping the release date of Diablo 3 might be announced during Activision-Blizzard's Second Quarter financial call today, I'm sorry to let you down: Diablo 3 still doesn't have a shelf-date (although Activision is having a very good financial year). Blizzard head CEO Michael Morhaime reiterated the long-held Blizzard assertion that they are working really hard for a 2011 release date, but it was not confirmed.
Absent any hard info from Activision, I spoke with a couple of industry analysts, Michael Pachter of Wedbush and Jesse Divnich of EEDAR, to get some expert opinions on the likelihood of a 2011 release date for Diablo 3.
"It’s going to be right on the edge," Pachter said. "They’re getting close, but I think that on balance, Blizzard would prefer to launch two titles next year, and three the year after, to show growth."
Divnich offered a compelling reason why it might be better for Acti-Blizzard's bottom line to wait until 2012 to put out D3.
"Given the very tight competitive market this holiday season, I don’t believe it is in the best business interest for Activision or Blizzard to release Diablo 3 this year," Divnich said. "We already have one big PC RPG title, Star Wars: TOR coming out in December* and while I’m sure Activision would love to challenge Electronic Arts, they wouldn’t do so at the risk of losing potential sales to Star Wars: TOR."
"If Diablo 3 was going to launch this year, they would have to announce it by September, as by that time the retail orders for the holiday season are nearly solidified," Divnich added.
My expert analysis: I predict Diablo 3 will be released in mid-March, 2012. When you take into account the value of the dollar vs. the yen, this release window would maximize earnings-per-share for stockholders, as well as increase non-GAAP earnings and diversification efforts vis-a-vis expanding Far Eastern distribution channels. (I don't know what any of that means.)
*an official release date has not been announced
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Are these your words or are you quoting a source without using quote tags?
Diablo 3 beta shouldn't need more then 6-8 weeks unless a very big issue comes up, they aren't even public beta testing more then a small portion of the content, and since there pvp isn't an issue balancing can be done per patch as the issues come up.
The main focus of the beta is to see how the servers and battlenet handle it, not the content.
What are your goals for this beta?
The primary reason for the Diablo III beta test is for us to test out our new hardware, see how the server–client infrastructure holds up, and look for bugs in the installer and patcher as well as the game. We’re also looking to get some quality feedback about the beginning game experience and how the different classes feel. The beta test will help us ensure that the release is stable and fun, and that we’re ultimately able to deliver the experience we intend with Diablo III.
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If you were hoping the release date of Diablo 3 might be announced during Activision-Blizzard's Second Quarter financial call today, I'm sorry to let you down: Diablo 3 still doesn't have a shelf-date (although Activision is having a very good financial year). Blizzard head CEO Michael Morhaime reiterated the long-held Blizzard assertion that they are working really hard for a 2011 release date, but it was not confirmed.
Absent any hard info from Activision, I spoke with a couple of industry analysts, Michael Pachter of Wedbush and Jesse Divnich of EEDAR, to get some expert opinions on the likelihood of a 2011 release date for Diablo 3.
"It’s going to be right on the edge," Pachter said. "They’re getting close, but I think that on balance, Blizzard would prefer to launch two titles next year, and three the year after, to show growth."
Divnich offered a compelling reason why it might be better for Acti-Blizzard's bottom line to wait until 2012 to put out D3.
"Given the very tight competitive market this holiday season, I don’t believe it is in the best business interest for Activision or Blizzard to release Diablo 3 this year," Divnich said. "We already have one big PC RPG title, Star Wars: TOR coming out in December* and while I’m sure Activision would love to challenge Electronic Arts, they wouldn’t do so at the risk of losing potential sales to Star Wars: TOR."
"If Diablo 3 was going to launch this year, they would have to announce it by September, as by that time the retail orders for the holiday season are nearly solidified," Divnich added.
My expert analysis: I predict Diablo 3 will be released in mid-March, 2012. When you take into account the value of the dollar vs. the yen, this release window would maximize earnings-per-share for stockholders, as well as increase non-GAAP earnings and diversification efforts vis-a-vis expanding Far Eastern distribution channels. (I don't know what any of that means.)
*an official release date has not been announced
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Read more: http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/715106/diablo-3s-release-date-still-uncertain/#ixzz1U0naBH8R
Still, it's not the worst date ever, it could be Summer 2012. Obviously I hope it is sooner, but meh.
I will take his word over some random financial analyst on the inner workings of Blizzard.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Blizzard already have a lot of heat at their door right now. Saying outright that Diablo 3 won't be released till 2012 would probably anger more people. I would say that they are aiming for a 2011 release, if possible, but it's doubtful, especially with the need to refine the rune systems and with major game alterations etc, etc.
I'm not trusting a financial analyst, but I'm not really hopeful that Blizzard will get this out in 2011 either. :\
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
What do you mean? Can you give a link?
EDIT: Oh, I got it now.
I would say that D3 will be released 3-4 months after beta, so if beta starts in september, the game will still be released in 2011.
Are these your words or are you quoting a source without using quote tags?
Diablo 3 beta shouldn't need more then 6-8 weeks unless a very big issue comes up, they aren't even public beta testing more then a small portion of the content, and since there pvp isn't an issue balancing can be done per patch as the issues come up.
The main focus of the beta is to see how the servers and battlenet handle it, not the content.