Don't understand the enmity towards a console version of the game. A few points:
1) Blizzard wouldn't delay the PC version for consoles. This much is plain.
2) How would a console version erode any value the PC version has?
3) A console version WOULD work. Not sure the arguments against it..... firstly, D3 keeps your character centered on the screen, so a joystick for movement works fine because it's not an RTS that requires you to scale around a map. It's all movement that is perfectly mappable by a joystick. Also, D3 has only a handful of skill bindings, and the controllers have more than enough buttons to account for them.
4) Honestly, I'd prefer if they tuned it up for consoles and let us all play together across platforms. One of the first truly cross-platform games would have an online following and community that couldn't be rivaled. I could play D3 with console friends without problems. But of course, a console version probably won't do this, especially seeing as this is Blizz's real first foray into modern console gaming (SC Ghost I guess wasnt up to scratch).
If SC-G is any indication, Blizz is actually very committed not to releasing shitty games. They have a very powerful brand and want to ensure the level of quality stays high. This is because people who don't even play their games, or maybe play only a single universe, are much more inclined to try out Blizz's new game whatever it may be simply due to that reputation. D3 is absolutely huge, and there wasn't this many people playing D2 at any point. The marketing and surrounding hype, along with a huge established audience with WoW and SC2 out, is making this game bigger than any Diablo sequel would have been if they made it prior to SC2 and WoW.
I've seen a lot of discussion about the fact that the art style is too flowery, the tone too mellow and tame, the game too easy, and so on and on, mostly comparisons from D2 from players who feel these elements critical to any Diablo experience. And the threads rage on endlessly, people feeding the flames on both sides ready to support or fight the new gameplay.
Here's what nobody seems to ever mention: the disconnect between what old Diablo players want, and what a new business model demands of Diablo 3. Remember, Blizzard is a business first. We've seen a transformation with WoW and Activision-merger; they are trying to capitalize while their profits, critical acclaim and popularity are dominating the scene. Look at SC2 in three retail packages, look at the monetization of D3's auction house, the continual WoW expansions, at least 2 more Diablo-3 expansions, Project Titan, and so on.
The things that made Diablo fun for you guys are barriers to entry and out-dated game mechanics for 2012. D3 has a high class polish. Menus are clean, art style is great and accessible.... they've made the hack n slash extremely fluid, and some would argue the gameplay is now sterile too. No more ruining characters with a misplaced skill, no more mashing all stats into vitality, no more genuinely punishing things that burn beginners, providing a natural demarcation for the professionals and the lower orders.
Blizzard wants two things: it wants a game accessible to new players, to WoW players, to SC2 players, etc... but also to implement the mechanics and end-game such that the hardcore players fuel a competitive side to it. Driving all of this is a pretty simple system of itemization, which is now even monetized, purely on the momentum of a rabid incoming fanbase. Blizzard is the ultimate super-Developer now: they have the top MMO (though its in a slow decline now), the top RTS (SC2 no doubt is the top), and a highly anticipated ARPG out this year. They have a topic secret MMO in development to take the world by storm again. Accessibility is the key to all this success, and the game has to be designed with that in mind. So its not that they dont want to give you the similar elements of D2; its that their focus is on creating a much wider community by fixing those kinds of game mechanics.
Personally; some cheese mechanics (like the scramble for loot) are lazy and deserve to be removed. I feel that things like stat allocation do give the game a sense of customization, even if that allocation is quickly formulated for maximum utility and copied everywhere (its not always about the end result, the process is important). I agree the game could have a darker mood, but i think we havent seen much in the Cathedral, and that the lighter areas will help to make the darker areas even more unnerving. Contrast helps a LOT.
I played the beta for a day before and I was kind of bored playing all alone after a couple dozen run throughs. Would anyone be interested in playing together? My email is zarx90@gmail.com, lets link up and play together in the coming days!
I'm getting a great chance to play the d3 beta for the weekend. Any suggestions as to what I should look out for, what class to try out first, etc? So excitedddd
That's just it, isn't it? They get in, after all the excitement and exclusivity... only to realize its a huge tease. After a playthrough with each class, the returns on how much you enjoy the game and discover diminish exponentially. It's actually better, considering Blizzard wants a certain amount of people actively playing, and will invite more on that basis. Because of what you commented on, I really don't know if I want to get into beta. Maybe I'd like to just so I can learn the basics of the game so that I'm on a rolling start when release comes. But starting off entirely new is not bad either, consdiering how forgiving the entire skill system is.
It's pretty clear that an opt-in wave was sent out. Anyone still in denial is just angry they didn't get in. People on reddit/r/diablo have posted saying as much, official forums had lots of threads, i doubt such a coordinated effort would be a troll. Invites came out with patch 4. Don't be such sourpusses, just be happy that fellow DFan'ers got in and can enjoy it.
I'l tell you right now your tool is going to have way too small a sample to figure this out. Think about it: Blizzard might accept a whole slew of, say, shitty PC and Mac computers in the first phase, then second phase might decide to get high performance systems, etc... so your idea has a lot of assumptions, namely that it's a linear method of invitation. I think you can find better ways to manage your time, and by the time you get any reasonable data, the game will be out a month later. People are REALLY impatient eh..
Don't think so. I mean, to some extent, there is a relationship between video games as a whole in which even vastly different genres might take up limited resources on the part of the buyer (aka the kid whose mom can only afford one game every 3 months or something).
But, remember, MW3 and BF3 are both cross-platform games. The majority of their money will be coming from PS3 and Xbox 360 sales. BF3 will be much more PC-based, but it's out in October, so even a December release date would be pretty removed from BF3's release.
Diablo has a specific following, people KNOW whether they'll be buying it, and I don't think the decision has ANYTHING to do with Activision's release of the new Call of Duty. They are non-competing franchises. I always knew D3 would never make it to 2011. I think Blizzard was really trying hard, and when they decided to overhaul the Demon Hunter, and probably realized that a host of other things needed to be finished properly, they just alleviated the pressure by saying early 2012, and from there they can work freely.
In any case, the best we can hope for is that more content is patched into beta later on.
I doubt it takes months to produce the CD/DVD's..... i really think that a day 0 patch could solve that problem. Its about getting the game to a proper stage of development rather than logistical concerns..
Honestly out of all things to be worried about, itemization is the least of my concerns... this is a beta test which is not representative of their vision.... they kept everything out of the beta for good reason, and I'm sure they've spent a lot of time looking at itemization and how it should progress. Way too early to criticize this, wait for release...
Good luck to all! It's the fateful day, and everyone is F5'ing their souls away! I hope lots of us on the site get in, and for those who don't, know that the majority of us will know your pain right up until release!
Also very interested to know if anyone from DFans got in through opt-in only =D
Ha, this situation keeps getting better and more hilarious. This is very promising news. If they knew for a fact it wasn't coming in 2011, I doubt they'd make those comments, so I think there is a genuine drive at Blizzard to get the game out. However, I still think that the stock dipping at the announcement of Guitar Hero being axed plus no major Blizz release planned in 2011 perhaps spurred these comments to get both investor and fan confidence back up. I'm a cynic when it comes to Blizzard and release dates. However, I whole-heartedly believe they are sincere in their pledge to try and get it out this year. I just don't think it will happen.
If Beta starts before June, 2011 release is possible in time for the 2011 holiday season. If not, I don't think so. But I think at the very least, we can expect a Q1 2012 release, Q2 seems pushing it. I hope this de-sours all the people who were pissed at the announcement haha.
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1) Blizzard wouldn't delay the PC version for consoles. This much is plain.
2) How would a console version erode any value the PC version has?
3) A console version WOULD work. Not sure the arguments against it..... firstly, D3 keeps your character centered on the screen, so a joystick for movement works fine because it's not an RTS that requires you to scale around a map. It's all movement that is perfectly mappable by a joystick. Also, D3 has only a handful of skill bindings, and the controllers have more than enough buttons to account for them.
4) Honestly, I'd prefer if they tuned it up for consoles and let us all play together across platforms. One of the first truly cross-platform games would have an online following and community that couldn't be rivaled. I could play D3 with console friends without problems. But of course, a console version probably won't do this, especially seeing as this is Blizz's real first foray into modern console gaming (SC Ghost I guess wasnt up to scratch).
If SC-G is any indication, Blizz is actually very committed not to releasing shitty games. They have a very powerful brand and want to ensure the level of quality stays high. This is because people who don't even play their games, or maybe play only a single universe, are much more inclined to try out Blizz's new game whatever it may be simply due to that reputation. D3 is absolutely huge, and there wasn't this many people playing D2 at any point. The marketing and surrounding hype, along with a huge established audience with WoW and SC2 out, is making this game bigger than any Diablo sequel would have been if they made it prior to SC2 and WoW.
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Here's what nobody seems to ever mention: the disconnect between what old Diablo players want, and what a new business model demands of Diablo 3. Remember, Blizzard is a business first. We've seen a transformation with WoW and Activision-merger; they are trying to capitalize while their profits, critical acclaim and popularity are dominating the scene. Look at SC2 in three retail packages, look at the monetization of D3's auction house, the continual WoW expansions, at least 2 more Diablo-3 expansions, Project Titan, and so on.
The things that made Diablo fun for you guys are barriers to entry and out-dated game mechanics for 2012. D3 has a high class polish. Menus are clean, art style is great and accessible.... they've made the hack n slash extremely fluid, and some would argue the gameplay is now sterile too. No more ruining characters with a misplaced skill, no more mashing all stats into vitality, no more genuinely punishing things that burn beginners, providing a natural demarcation for the professionals and the lower orders.
Blizzard wants two things: it wants a game accessible to new players, to WoW players, to SC2 players, etc... but also to implement the mechanics and end-game such that the hardcore players fuel a competitive side to it. Driving all of this is a pretty simple system of itemization, which is now even monetized, purely on the momentum of a rabid incoming fanbase. Blizzard is the ultimate super-Developer now: they have the top MMO (though its in a slow decline now), the top RTS (SC2 no doubt is the top), and a highly anticipated ARPG out this year. They have a topic secret MMO in development to take the world by storm again. Accessibility is the key to all this success, and the game has to be designed with that in mind. So its not that they dont want to give you the similar elements of D2; its that their focus is on creating a much wider community by fixing those kinds of game mechanics.
Personally; some cheese mechanics (like the scramble for loot) are lazy and deserve to be removed. I feel that things like stat allocation do give the game a sense of customization, even if that allocation is quickly formulated for maximum utility and copied everywhere (its not always about the end result, the process is important). I agree the game could have a darker mood, but i think we havent seen much in the Cathedral, and that the lighter areas will help to make the darker areas even more unnerving. Contrast helps a LOT.
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Willing to play any class with some fellow diablofans
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Got into the recent beta wave =)
I played the beta for a day before and I was kind of bored playing all alone after a couple dozen run throughs. Would anyone be interested in playing together? My email is zarx90@gmail.com, lets link up and play together in the coming days!
Cheers
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I'm getting a great chance to play the d3 beta for the weekend. Any suggestions as to what I should look out for, what class to try out first, etc? So excitedddd
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My submission. Good luck to everybody!
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But, remember, MW3 and BF3 are both cross-platform games. The majority of their money will be coming from PS3 and Xbox 360 sales. BF3 will be much more PC-based, but it's out in October, so even a December release date would be pretty removed from BF3's release.
Diablo has a specific following, people KNOW whether they'll be buying it, and I don't think the decision has ANYTHING to do with Activision's release of the new Call of Duty. They are non-competing franchises. I always knew D3 would never make it to 2011. I think Blizzard was really trying hard, and when they decided to overhaul the Demon Hunter, and probably realized that a host of other things needed to be finished properly, they just alleviated the pressure by saying early 2012, and from there they can work freely.
In any case, the best we can hope for is that more content is patched into beta later on.
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Good luck to all! It's the fateful day, and everyone is F5'ing their souls away! I hope lots of us on the site get in, and for those who don't, know that the majority of us will know your pain right up until release!
Also very interested to know if anyone from DFans got in through opt-in only =D