The game has been in development for a long time, since at least 2002, check out the interview with Pardo below. Also all the Ice in the teaser images to the lead up of the announcement as well as the Penguin hint towards winter release.
My guess is D3 will be coming out either later this year, or early-mid next year, this is all based off of SC which isn't it supposed to come out this year? Unless i'm mistaken lol.
I really hope it's the date they put up on gamespot: 12/31/2008. My guess is that the contradictory info on the gamespot webpages is due to lack of updates on that section of the diablo 3 page, and that the one on the opening page is correct.
Also, that penguin stuff AND Diablo appearing under ice on the teaser makes sense with a winter release.
The reasons for it not coming out sooner, even if it was done, are primarily that SC2 and Lich King are coming out, and they wouldn't want D3 to step on their sales. Expect Lich King to come out by Dec. 2008 for the XMas rush. Possibly SC2, as well. Lich King sales will likely not step on SC2 sales too much, since the genres are so different. However D3 sales would step on Lich King sales for sure (both are rpg), and would probably step on SC2 (both are action-oriented). Once D3 comes out, WOW memberships will take a hit. They will want it to come out 3-6 months after Lich King, to maximize sales there, and keep people paying the monthly fee while they fully explore the content. SC2 won't have the same longevity for the majority of people who will play SC2. Most RTSers are casual - they will only play the game about a month before they get bored of it. Also, there won't be a monthly passive revenue coming out of SC2, so Blizzard won't care so much if people stop playing it to play a new game. They could safely release D3 after 3 months of SC2 without worrying about either game impacting the other's sales.
Now, all that said, D3 is not as far along as either Lich King or SC2. Both of those games will come out first. To maximize D3's sales, they will want either a late June release or a December release. Late June is a good target if the game is done, as college students are out, and younger players have their school go to end of June. D3 will be a major time commitment, so releasing end of June will give it a chance to build hype among those demographics, as well as give them the whole summer to sink into the game (if there is a monthly fee, that is a good thing). Releasing a game of this magnitude in the Fall is less of an ideal slot, since parents are less likely to buy a big game for their children when school is starting, and college students are consumed with their studies. If they can't get it out by end of June, and with no other major releases scheduled Blizzard will probably choose December.
It will probably be June or Dec 09, and not later, because as we've gathered from the panelists and interviews the game is quite far along. They have multiplayer, classes, skills, and core game engine finished. Game engines also have a best-before date. They can't let it go too long before the game engine gets stale technology-wise, and the game itself begins to look dated before it is even released. The designers not involved in programming have also had a lot of idle time (over 4 years) to figure out the story and the acts, and probably quite a few quests. If you look at the hiring boards for D3, it is all artists and level designers. Pardo also said they basically just need to fill in content. With the first act nearly finished, and estimate another 3-5 acts to go (which have probably all been started to some extent), a year will probably be enough time to complete the game. On the outside a year and a half. They also said they try to announce games a year to a year and a half before they come out.
Finally, June 29 was the day of the year both D2 and D2 expansion came out. The date has significance for the series beyond good marketing timing. The announcement was the 28th - 29th of June. They will try and hit that June 29th target, ideally.
This is fucking killing me. I wish they never announced this game. This is the only game Im anticipating for a LOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME. Im on diablo 3 every day checking for updates and what not. If this comes out in a year its gonna kill me. Sure Ill buy starcraft 2 but im not THAT excited about it. I was a hardcore d2 player back 5 years ago. Diablo 3 almost brought a tear to my eye, im TOo excited.
Fuck releasing it in winter 2009
I want it by the end of this year. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya I know. This fucking sucks. I havent anticipated a single game this much in a LONG TIME. My last real game That I wanted was crysis. It was great but I got bored of it.
Diablo 3 has to come out by december at least. I cant wait any longer. I honestly want to be put in a coma right now or they could have announced this game a month or two before it comes out :).
I cant imagine the bullshit that SC2 players are going through right now. Its been a year and a half since the game was announced.
This is all bullshit, I wish I never even found out about this damn game that way I would just continue on with my life. Ugh Im like all pissed now. Fuck blizzard I WANT THIS NOW!!!!!
Quote from "Fridleif" »
Diablo currently is the only real game on the market. It will be extremely painful to wait another year or two.
This is fucking killing me. I wish they never announced this game. This is the only game Im anticipating for a LOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME. Im on diablo 3 every day checking for updates and what not. If this comes out in a year its gonna kill me. Sure Ill buy starcraft 2 but im not THAT excited about it. I was a hardcore d2 player back 5 years ago. Diablo 3 almost brought a tear to my eye, im TOo excited.
Fuck releasing it in winter 2009
I want it by the end of this year. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Something we can use to gauge the progress of the game is how quickly they release info about the other 3 classes. If we get another class announcement next month, I think we can expect the game out much sooner than we might otherwise expect. They're going to use the class announcements to maintain hype, and they won't want to blow their wad on that too soon. They won't, for example, announce 1 class per month for the next three months if the game won't be released for another year, or the bloom will go off that rose. Once they've finished announcing all the classes, I think we have at most 6 months to wait for the game to hit the stores - probably less.
Something we can use to gauge the progress of the game is how quickly they release info about the other 3 classes. If we get another class announcement next month, I think we can expect the game out much sooner than we might otherwise expect. They're going to use the class announcements to maintain hype, and they won't want to blow their wad on that too soon. They won't, for example, announce 1 class per month for the next three months if the game won't be released for another year, or the bloom will go off that rose. Once they've finished announcing all the classes, I think we have at most 6 months to wait for the game to hit the stores.
I'm with you on this.
They already stated they had all the classes playable along with multiplayer and the first act, they are far along in development and just need to add content.
And Blizzard likely won't need or have to have a beta, they can pay people to do it for them if they want to keep the release or progress secret.
If a new class is announced each month then we can expect Christmas IMO.
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You guys sound like a bunch of introverts who never go outside and wish sorcery was real.-7Deadly
Also, that penguin stuff AND Diablo appearing under ice on the teaser makes sense with a winter release.
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Starcraft was announced May last year and it still doesn't have a release date, although Gamestop has 12/3/08.
http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=65548
My guess is Christmas 2009.
I can't help it I have to look at the sig......
The reasons for it not coming out sooner, even if it was done, are primarily that SC2 and Lich King are coming out, and they wouldn't want D3 to step on their sales. Expect Lich King to come out by Dec. 2008 for the XMas rush. Possibly SC2, as well. Lich King sales will likely not step on SC2 sales too much, since the genres are so different. However D3 sales would step on Lich King sales for sure (both are rpg), and would probably step on SC2 (both are action-oriented). Once D3 comes out, WOW memberships will take a hit. They will want it to come out 3-6 months after Lich King, to maximize sales there, and keep people paying the monthly fee while they fully explore the content. SC2 won't have the same longevity for the majority of people who will play SC2. Most RTSers are casual - they will only play the game about a month before they get bored of it. Also, there won't be a monthly passive revenue coming out of SC2, so Blizzard won't care so much if people stop playing it to play a new game. They could safely release D3 after 3 months of SC2 without worrying about either game impacting the other's sales.
Now, all that said, D3 is not as far along as either Lich King or SC2. Both of those games will come out first. To maximize D3's sales, they will want either a late June release or a December release. Late June is a good target if the game is done, as college students are out, and younger players have their school go to end of June. D3 will be a major time commitment, so releasing end of June will give it a chance to build hype among those demographics, as well as give them the whole summer to sink into the game (if there is a monthly fee, that is a good thing). Releasing a game of this magnitude in the Fall is less of an ideal slot, since parents are less likely to buy a big game for their children when school is starting, and college students are consumed with their studies. If they can't get it out by end of June, and with no other major releases scheduled Blizzard will probably choose December.
It will probably be June or Dec 09, and not later, because as we've gathered from the panelists and interviews the game is quite far along. They have multiplayer, classes, skills, and core game engine finished. Game engines also have a best-before date. They can't let it go too long before the game engine gets stale technology-wise, and the game itself begins to look dated before it is even released. The designers not involved in programming have also had a lot of idle time (over 4 years) to figure out the story and the acts, and probably quite a few quests. If you look at the hiring boards for D3, it is all artists and level designers. Pardo also said they basically just need to fill in content. With the first act nearly finished, and estimate another 3-5 acts to go (which have probably all been started to some extent), a year will probably be enough time to complete the game. On the outside a year and a half. They also said they try to announce games a year to a year and a half before they come out.
Finally, June 29 was the day of the year both D2 and D2 expansion came out. The date has significance for the series beyond good marketing timing. The announcement was the 28th - 29th of June. They will try and hit that June 29th target, ideally.
whew!
Whoah, I think not. I'm on the other end of the spectrum on this one.
Fuck releasing it in winter 2009
I want it by the end of this year. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Diablo 3 has to come out by december at least. I cant wait any longer. I honestly want to be put in a coma right now or they could have announced this game a month or two before it comes out :).
I cant imagine the bullshit that SC2 players are going through right now. Its been a year and a half since the game was announced.
This is all bullshit, I wish I never even found out about this damn game that way I would just continue on with my life. Ugh Im like all pissed now. Fuck blizzard I WANT THIS NOW!!!!!
I feel the same way!
I'm with you on this.
They already stated they had all the classes playable along with multiplayer and the first act, they are far along in development and just need to add content.
And Blizzard likely won't need or have to have a beta, they can pay people to do it for them if they want to keep the release or progress secret.
If a new class is announced each month then we can expect Christmas IMO.