DiabloFans

Once you throw in the option to actually pay to have an HC character resurrected, then you have completely defeated the entire purpose of HC. If that be the case, then everyone might as well play SC.

And offering microservices, has got to be the worst thing that Blizzard does. If they started selling Runes and items, they would be no different from the ad bots we see still running amuck all over Bnet.


"Your HC character died? For just $5.99 Blizzard can resurrect him!"

I dont mind if blizzard sells things for Diablo3 but as long as there small and not game changing im alright with that. Probably the only thing that should be paid for is probably a name change or something along those lines.

I think okay things are like the basic stuff in WoW- realm change or name change

Quote from ScyberDragon

However, with a possible free MMO from Blizzard on the horizon, it is possible that they will be using their new Battle.net system to test out some mocroservices with Diablo III? How do you feel about Diablo III having microservices? What microservices do you hope to see and more importantly, hope never appear?

Whats your problem?

Sorry if that comes out offensive, but I find it harsh to just spit things like that which we know very well that the community, and pretty much anybody, despise very much. The very thought of them doing that is disgusting. Any MMO that ever goes that way is just setting itself to be shit, and if I said "whats your problem", its because the only thing this makes me want, is to whine about the stupidly horrible concept that it is to sell any kind of gear or whatever kind of services of that kind, which is killing a part of the gaming world.

Even a free MMO should never rely on such insulting gimmicks (insulting to the human intelligence that is). That one allow you to pay monthly or whatever to be a "power user" and have access to everything, fine, but -nothing- beyond that (purely cosmetic things not included).

See? You caused this! And for no reason. For now, what the blue post actually shows us is that they seem to dislike the idea of giving that kind of advantages to the player just because they have real life money to waste, which is good.

By the way...

Quote from ScyberDragon

As we went over back in July of last year, many players were worried when the mention of microservices for real money was mentioned to be added to Diablo III. Perhaps the biggest concern was Bashiok's reply to being able to resurrect a Hardcore character for a small fee. Many Hardcore players felt that Diablo III may become too easy and catered towards a less experienced audience. Some believe that adding a way to resurrect a dead hardcore character entirely defeats the purpose and spirit of hardcore play. If microservices of this nature were implemented, no one would have to worry about being killed, so long as money is at hand. Whichever players have the most cash would likely be top hardcore players, bringing the game back to Diablo II, where riches often triumph over work. Some believe that adding a way to resurrect a dead hardcore character entirely defeats the purpose and spirit of hardcore play. If microservices of this nature were implemented, no one would have to worry about being killed, so long as money is at hand. Whichever players have the most cash would likely be top hardcore players, bringing the game back to Diablo II, where riches often triumph over work.

Little copy paste mistake!

Let it all out SF, we are here for you.

I'm not liking it so i voted No. Diablo never had it to begin with. theres no reason to start it now with the 3rd game.

just my two cents.

start a 3rd game with great respect because we waited a long time for this. lets not start it with Sh%#y free mmo game ideas PPPLLLLZZZZZZ. think of something better geez..

Quote from DesmondTiny

I dont mind if blizzard sells things for Diablo3 but as long as there small and not game changing im alright with that. Probably the only thing that should be paid for is probably a name change or something along those lines.

As long as they don't ruin it like they did with Battlefield heroes I think that some small microservices are justified.

Paying to res HC chars is not one of these services.

I don't know what kind of microtransactions Blizzard could implement here, but I'm damn sure you won't be able to buy items/levels/anything else game-breaking if it is implemented. In SC2 it's maps, in in WoW it's realm changes and cosmetic changes. But what of that nature can you implement in D3? It's hard to answer without knowing more about the game itself.

I wouldn't mind any transactions, as long as you still have to work to get good. Perhaps you can buy double XP moments or other temporary buffs.

Also, I <3 the title!

I'd much rather have Blizzard selling items, than to have 20 some odd sites selling items, and spamming the chat channels.

Plus, this would give them some actual incentive to murder the spambots, as it would interfere with their income.

I think paying to ressurect a HC char is a bad idea. The whole idea of having a HC char is that if you die that is the end. It's the challenge of staying alive that makes HC - HC. If you make it possible to get that char back then you arn't playing HC anymore.

As far as microservices go, maybe for a name change or something along those lines, but to be able to buy items hmmm - another bad idea in my opinion. What is the point of just skipping through the game not trying to find or acquire items when I can just be lazy go and buy them?


Oh, it's all your fault Scyber - that damn song is stuck in my head now.

Quote from Stormcat

As far as microservices go, maybe for a name change or something along those lines, but to be able to buy items hmmm - another bad idea in my opinion. What is the point of just skipping through the game not trying to find or acquire items when I can just be lazy go and buy them?

We can already do this, and we will always be able to do this with the amount of sites out there.
Even if they don't advertise on B-net, they'll still be there, and people will still use them.

The point of not skipping through is gameplay value, and cost.
How long have you played Diablo II with the option to pay for items through third party websites, and never bought anything?
There's your answer right there, the option still presents itself, but some players choose to not buy shit.
Myself, being one of them. I much prefer to actually play the game.
However, if some choose to go out and buy shit, good on em', I won't knock them for doing so.

I think it would be much better if Blizz started selling items themselves.
Of course, no change to drop rates, and no exclusive items for buyers, just allow people to buy them from Blizz so they actually have a reason to crack down on chat spammers.
Plus, then we'd be supporting the game developers, not some dude running a website out of his basement.

They could also give bought items a special color so people know they were bought. Perhaps all bought items can be shown in red. That way people can't lie and pretend they got the items "legit". Plus people who are oppose to it don't have to worry about trading for bought items.

Aha!
Now that would work well

Also, maybe even have a slight decrease in statistics.
Nothing intense, just like a 5% decrease in defense, or damage of the item.

Thus, getting legit items would make for better value trading, and it would encourage players to actually get their shit legit.

Are you guys actually considering this?

Blasphemy.

Lets not make an illegal service into a legal one and call it a day, please.

Quote from Zhar

I'd much rather have Blizzard selling items, than to have 20 some odd sites selling items, and spamming the chat channels.

Plus, this would give them some actual incentive to murder the spambots, as it would interfere with their income.

Assuming that Blizzard does start selling items, they will undoubtedly be in a better position that any third-part site:

• They do not have to farm for any of their stock, they have an infinite supply that can, theoretically, be sold at any price. No third part site will ever be able to compete with this.
• Blizzard will be able to sell their items directly through the game interface, and as a buyer you will know exactly what you're getting. Blizzard can also hold a stock of a much larger amount of items more easily; even obscure items that few people will want to buy can be housed in their shop; there's no limit.
• Buyers will be able to trust their purchase. No chance whatsoever that they will get scammed by this.

These three facts do speak in Blizzard's favor. Of course, it's still a matter of competition; a third-party site could build a up a reputation, as well as a large stock containing a lot of items. If Blizzard doesn't sell at a favorable price, it still won't work. The potential for competition has thus not been removed, and this limits Blizzard in what they can do.

Because of this, Blizzard will only be able to sell top-tier items. Why? Because if top-tier items are not sold, third-part sites will still retain their market. If you can buy good items from Blizzard, but the best somewhere else, you haven't fixed the problem. Thus the best items have to be sold by Blizzard. They also cannot control the prices; their price will be regulated by what third-party sites can sell at. Place your price too high, and you will have accomplished nothing. Thus Blizzard cannot artificially make it so decent items are sold for less than great items, unless they want to give them away for a few cents, which will surely flood the market if it's that cheap to acquire decent items.


While this removes the need for spam-bots, it has only contained them: Blizzard still has to play by the rules of third-party sites. If they don't, they lose in the competition for the customer.

If bots were removed or greatly limited instead, removing their ability to advertise and farm, it would have the same effect without Blizzard having to sell items. B.net 1.0 is over ten years old now, Blizzard will be able to construct a better system this time around to cope with this. It certainly won't be perfect, but it must be better than starting to sell items.

Quote from Zhar

We can already do this, and we will always be able to do this with the amount of sites out there.
Even if they don't advertise on B-net, they'll still be there, and people will still use them.

True. But justifying a cause just because it will still happen regardless of which is faulty at best. There has to be another reason for why selling items would be beneficial.

Quote from Zhar

Aha!
Now that would work well

Also, maybe even have a slight decrease in statistics.
Nothing intense, just like a 5% decrease in defense, or damage of the item.

Except you stigmatize the buyers and make their products worth less, thus again breeding a market for illegal items. Why buy a crappier item with red text that singles me out for all to see, when I could get the better item without such text from a 3rd-part site? Suddenly Blizzard isn't just in competition, but their competitor is selling a better product as well.

I don't like the idea of paying for stuff that would enhance the playing experience one way or the other. That doesn't include name changes and such superficial bullshit. Suppose you're a broke assed teenager who kept saving for months to get the game, and you still have to put aside money to keep up with rich fucks who buy their way through the game and completely ruin it. I am, however, in favor of paying to see the naked version of female characters. Yum yum.

That last statement is a complete joke. I have never masturbated to a video game character, nor have I gotten an - intentional - erection out of'em!

NOTHING !!!!!

name change, change realm, resurect hardcore... All thos things was very easy to program... damn it name is a simple variable, that cost nothing to blizzard to change it (no staff needed)

I like the way they're going, No real money ! The only thing maybe is pay for gold (so you'll be able to buy anything in the "trade" system) (it's why I think no-official site where you can buy things will not happen)

Quote from Shatterer

I wouldn't mind any transactions, as long as you still have to work to get good. Perhaps you can buy double XP moments or other temporary buffs.

They did this with Battle Field : Heroes and it destroys one aspect of the game for people. Leveling. Leveling is half the game (also it's contradictory to your "work to get good").

Buying items doesn't work because the only thing you do in end-game Diablo 2 is mf run and trade. This is the ENTIRETY of end-game (assuming you're not leveling to 99 on your ladder!).

What can you do with a perfectly built (item-wise) char?

Be bored. Atleast in Diablo 2.

Micro-transactions for items destroys any game. It doesn't destroy games like WoW because of Bind on Pickup or Bind on Equip (BoP and BoE) items. And I believe that it has been stated that some high-tier items will be BoE (BoP in Action-RPG's just wouldn't work).

I point to Battle Field : Heroes as THE bad micro-transaction model. Believe me, it was all wrong.

Cosmetic changes, like names, server changes, gender changes for a character, possibly stat resets (though I believe that's a great gold sink-hole) are, the community agrees, welcome for a fee. But really, micro-transactions take a lot of finesse and fine-tuning to get right if you're selling actual in-game gear, and the micro-transaction model doesn't work with Action-RPG's.

IMO, this shouldn't need further debating, and even I shouldn't've replied again because everything I just said has been said

Quote from Eskanasi

Quote from Shatterer

I wouldn't mind any transactions, as long as you still have to work to get good. Perhaps you can buy double XP moments or other temporary buffs.

They did this with Battle Field : Heroes and it destroys one aspect of the game for people. Leveling. Leveling is half the game (also it's contradictory to your "work to get good").

I guess I was thinking too much about MMORPGs, where leveling = grinding. Spending money to speed it up is not a problem in my opinion. The Diablo franchise is not as grinding intensive, so it won't fit there.

I still stand with my opinion that micro-transactions are good as long as you don't get an unfair advantage over other players because you simply spent more money.