Now, this does not guarantee that Blizzard will not be releasing Diablo this year. What it means is that they are not sure if it will be and therefore, do not want to include it in their current financial plans. They did say, however, that "if a title is not released this year, that they would be releasing two titles in 2012".
Separately, someone asked why no revenue from Diablo was included. The response was basically that it is still unknown on its release date.
After the initial information, Mike Morhaime spoke about Blizzard specifically. He stated that they were very excited about Diablo III and that development continues to move forward. Unfortunately, we did not get anything specific about any dates or its progress. However, more information about Diablo III and its beta will be discussed at the next conference call in May.
Mike Morhaime also answered a question about Diablo's progress and a possible release date. His response was that they were still very excited about Diablo. The reason for the mystery behind any dates is that they are waiting for initial responses from Beta before they announce any dates. Basically, if beta goes well, it would push their plans forward and if there were multiple things they want to change, it would push the date back.
On a more speculative conclusion of this, a summer beta would be logical given that it will be talked about in the next conference call. June 28th continues to be an important date for Diablo and may follow this trend with a possible Beta start date. This would put a six month Beta finishing at the end of the year in December. This late date may be why they did not include Diablo in their financial plan for this year. The success or issues with Beta may make this date very tangible for this year or the next. Again, they did not say that Diablo will not be released this year. However, an early 2012 release is now looking more realistic according to this new information.
We can all look forward, from this point, to the next conference call in May when a date for Beta should be announced giving us a more accurate guess of the release date.
*update*
Official Blizzard Quote:
I want to make sure it’s clear that what was stated on the investor conference call was this: Blizzard has not announced a release date for its next global release. IF we don’t release a major title in 2011, then for planning purposes we would expect to launch 2 titles in 2012.
This has been misreported/misinterpreted as an announced release schedule for 2011 and 2012, which it is not. While we’re pleased with the progress of Diablo III, we have not announced a release date for it or for any other upcoming Blizzard game. We’re currently contacting a number of outlets to request that they make the appropriate corrections in order to avoid any further confusion.
What Bashiok is telling us is that we shouldn't rule out a 2011 release, but we shouldn't be too excited about having the game this year either.
Customers also lose faith if you keep telling them milestones but don't meet them as well, or if you set milestones and then deliver a bad product. And if you look at any other company that consistenly produces the same quality product as Blizzard (ie Valve and very few others), they also take just about as long as Blizzard to make a game. And once Blizzard gets out a game they pick up the process with expansion packs, as you don't have to create a completely new game. The only mistake Blizzard made, in my mind, was announcing the game as early as they did. If they had waited a year we wouldn't even be having this conversation. But no matter how you spin it, a 5/6 year development process for a game with as many mechanics and as much legacy as Diablo really isn't that outlandish. Its long, sure, but considering most games worth anything take about 3-4 years (if they're being made from scratch, not sequels that use the same engine) its not as ridiculous as you're trying to make it seem.
And if their shareholders didn't know that they weren't going to get deadlines then they didn't do enough research before buying stock, and lets not forget that a huge reason they don't give preliminary dates is because of the dissapointment it causes when/if they miss them. Not to mention that their stock isn't in any way bound to the fate of D3. Even if all else fails, ActiBlizz still has WoW and Call of Duty. Compared to those two powerhouses, D3 is almost a bonus. An amazing, top-selling game bonus, but its not like their stock is going to crash without it.
I'm mainly displeased with fan reaction. Some people obviously protect themselves from disappointment by saying that the game will be out in late 2012 or 2013 so they aren't surprised, when in saying that they clearly overlook the facts. The same can be said for individuals who only up until the calendar year turned to the year 2011 thought Diablo 3 would be released in 2010, when again they seem to be overlooking the facts for some reason unbeknownst to me. But these people that thought the release would come much earlier than it has now cry out in rage that the game might come out in 2012, like they will have to wait two more years.
The game is at the point of development where calendar years really are of little relevance anymore. It is now a matter of months. When you put it in those terms we are in all likelihood nine to twelve months away from release. Which believe me isn't bad at all. I myself have been waiting for this game since 2003. I would search the internet for information pertaining to even a hint that this game was in the making. I even remember visiting this site when it was Diablo3.com back in 2004 or 2005, I can't remember when this site got started up.
The point of my speech being. Chill out. It is a game, that is not being made directly for you as an individual, but for us a collective whole. Blizzard makes great games, yes they are more corporate in their ideals now but that comes with the territory. The game will be out "soon" and it will be fun. Have a nice day.
I just think a game like SC2 shouldn't take more then 3 years and a patch like 1.13 shouldn't take more then weeks. I gotta play D3 before jugding it but i've the feeling that 5 years of development is just too much.
In other hand WoW's expansion come out very quickly and with unbeliavable amount of content. Kinda bores me.
Expansions are easier to produce since the game is already there and you only add content. Finishing and polishing the game takes significantly more time. Starcraft II had about 6 years of development before it was released, right? It's expansion will only take 18 months according to some Blizzard employees i think.
Expect the same with Diablo III. After it's out, about a year and a half later we're going to get the expansion.
Ranting will not speed up a release. Sacrificing goats. maybe.
I'm also sure blizzard don't want to give anything away, and are dirty dogs like that. I reckon they will confirm a date at blizzcon for early December. Should have all my study done by then ready 2 glue myself to this machine.
But the thing is, if you haven't played the game yet, your opinion doesn't really matter. Thats why they have feedback booths at Blizzcon. Its extremely hard, if not impossible, to imagine the effects of a system on a game without seeing how it fits in with the bajillions of other variables that are involved. Fan feedback is a bit like communism. Its great in concept, but once you actually try it out it becomes overwhelming and broken. Everyone is going to have their two cents on everything thats announced, but again, until we've all played the game we won't really know how the thing we're complaining about really effects the game. Let me put it this way. When the Necromancer was revealed for D2, there was outrage about his look (kind of like the backlash about the Wizard's three pronged helmet). Imagine if Blizz had gone back and revamped his look. Then we wouldn't have the same Necro we all know and love today. Sometimes, the company (or really, the people who have their hands on the game) just knows whats best, and we just have to trust them until we get to play it. Then we get our turn at real feedback. Until then, all we have are theories that could easily be proven completely wrong in one play session (or completely right, in which case we'll have to wait until the beta to give them that feedback).
They've been at this for a long time. They consistently deliver products that the fans don't just like, they love. They don't 100% know that we'll like everything they implement, but they at least have a very good idea of what their fans like. And once the beta comes out we'll have more than six months to talk their ear off about every little thing we have a problem with. If you involve too many people in a game (or anything, really) too early on, it just gets jumbled and confusing. If you think the current system is inefficient, imagine if another few thousand people got a say in what happens.
I'd love it if we could just think really hard and imagine all the effects that everything Blizzard announces about D3 will have on the game, but really we can't until we get to play it. Until then, we just have to trust Blizzard. And considering their track record, they deserve quite a bit of trust in that regard.
First time poster long time reader here. Thanks for all the info you all have been giving over the years.
I read this as if they really want to give a release date but they can not due to the blizzard policy and risk of disappointment. He really goes out of his way to say that 2011 is not of the table though.
I think this is important information. Because it has been previously stated the beta would be about 6 months before the game releases. And because 2011 has not been swooped off the table yet the beta would have to start during the summer. The May conference may be a good indication to this as well. They know how disappointed people can get so i doubt they will anounce a much later date then a summer date for the beta in this conference.
Basically in my eyes a 2012 Q1 release would happen if the beta revealed more necesary work then previously suspected. They try to prepare for a worse case scenario and minimize disappointment. Either way the Beta will already be out with a lot of information and I/you might be 1 of the lucky ones in the Beta process. This will make the wait more bearable.
So basicly im hoping/expecting a summer beta of diablo 3. And im hoping for the game to release at the end of the year but I am expecting it to release Q1 2012. But that's always the best thing to do: hope for the best and expect the worse. Either way I am excited about how the game is turning out and nobody can deny the effort blizzard puts into this game to make it great.
I was just wondering how the last betas went of blizzard games? Do they usually extend the period?
Were they globally? Meaning will I have a chance to join in as a European?
Were the computers of the Beta testers of Starcraft II divided well on speed?
Thanks again for this site and keep the info coming to make the wait just a little bit more bearable.
Cheers Sjizzle
The longer we give Blizzard the better the game will be. Period. This also brings to question how much control we have over Blizzard's choices on release. A whole bunch of fan sites bickering, not much effect on its own. Their stock dropping, A LOT more. An since with bickering comes stock drop to some degree, both have some effect I'm sure.
At this point we've waited so long I have zero problems with waiting until 2012. Let them innovate systems, and perfect them. Let them balance skills, and polish every pixel with a toothbrush. I want to be playing this game until I'm 30 (21 right now). I only hope the D3 team is strong willed enough to shun out all the bitching and perfect their baby.