Our beta keys contests are still going strong and we've already given away 150 Beta Keys to forum users and people answering questions on Facebook and Twitter! The character build contest hasn't started yet and is likely to happen at the end of this week or at the beginning of the next one. Good luck to everyone!
For more details on each contest, check out Diablofans Diablo 3 Beta Key Contests! 450 Keys to win!
Updated Calculator and Game Guide
With all of the changes that have come with the recent patches, the information on the Diablo III website has become outdated. Blizzard is working on getting it updated, however, a new calculator should be up for our Character Build beta contest.
Official Blizzard Quote:
I'm wondering how soon we can expect the new skill calculator update so we can play around with the new rune system.
The web guys have been working hard on it and hope to have all the patch 13 changes reflected, including an updated calc, on the site next week.
Is there an ETA on when to expect them updated with the new stats?
No ETA, just "closer to launch".
What's Going On With Release?
Nethaera came on the forums Saturday to reinforce the fact that yes, they are still working hard on D3, and yes, they are just as eager to get the game out as we are.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Whats going on with the release?
We're working on it. No specific date to state as of yet. We're just as eager to get Diablo III into everyone's hands despite what some may say, think, or believe of us.
We appreciate everyone that's been hanging on and hanging out with us through the development of the game.
They decided to scrap the whole thing because the community got on their last nerve
That would be a terrible reason to scrap the game. Plus, we understand the frustration. Perhaps we should just hug it out? (Ignore the daggers I hold.)
Blue Posts
Originally Posted by Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
(Thoughts on hardcore
I've played hundreds of hours of Hardcore Diablo II, and hundreds of hours of normal Diablo II.
Over the last couple of years, I've gotten to know several other hardcore Hardcore players, if you know what I mean. Every single one of them plays a ton of normal in support of their Hardcore characters. So do I.
I'm sure that it's not a requirement, but I find it very important to spend 50% or more of my time learning all the tricks of the game in normal mode as a preparation for preserving my Hardcore character(s). Just learning about and knowing what near-death is like, and being very familiar with the bottom of the health globe is something that a serious Hardcore player will only do with normal characters. ( Blue Tracker / Official Forums )
Expectations
There's only like 40 minutes of content in the beta, so that's pretty amazing you played for 7 hours. I hereby crown this game ... SUCCESSFUL!
On a more serious note, I too worry that we won't be able to meet the expectations people have built up for themselves. Part of my job is managing people's expectations, so... eh... stop it. Stop thinking about how awesome this game could be. Just imagine it's a new M. Night Shyamalan movie. Sure Sixth Sense was amazing and Unbreakable had it's moments, but this right here is the sequel to The Village ... or The Happening ... or Signs ... or any of the movies besides the two I first mentioned. So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine. K?
Unbreakable sucked though.
I actually really liked it. I know most people didn't. I've come to accept this. ( Blue Tracker / Official Forums )
I've played hundreds of hours of Hardcore Diablo II, and hundreds of hours of normal Diablo II.
Over the last couple of years, I've gotten to know several other hardcore Hardcore players, if you know what I mean. Every single one of them plays a ton of normal in support of their Hardcore characters. So do I.
I'm sure that it's not a requirement, but I find it very important to spend 50% or more of my time learning all the tricks of the game in normal mode as a preparation for preserving my Hardcore character(s). Just learning about and knowing what near-death is like, and being very familiar with the bottom of the health globe is something that a serious Hardcore player will only do with normal characters. ( Blue Tracker / Official Forums )
Expectations
There's only like 40 minutes of content in the beta, so that's pretty amazing you played for 7 hours. I hereby crown this game ... SUCCESSFUL!
On a more serious note, I too worry that we won't be able to meet the expectations people have built up for themselves. Part of my job is managing people's expectations, so... eh... stop it. Stop thinking about how awesome this game could be. Just imagine it's a new M. Night Shyamalan movie. Sure Sixth Sense was amazing and Unbreakable had it's moments, but this right here is the sequel to The Village ... or The Happening ... or Signs ... or any of the movies besides the two I first mentioned. So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine. K?
Unbreakable sucked though.
I actually really liked it. I know most people didn't. I've come to accept this. ( Blue Tracker / Official Forums )
Diabolesques
calavera666 has presented us with another great comic highlighting Blizzard's iteration process that we have seen so much with the recent patches.
Guild Wars 2 - Curse Exclusive Look
The guys over at Guildwars2guru got a closed beta video from the press event. Check it out.
diablo 3 = the sign ?? or = the village ???
please dont, I dont wait 8+ years (or maybe the last 3-4 years since the announcement) for something mediocre.
I'm waiting day and night for a chance to get at least one beta key and they say the game is well, not awesome?
I'm still keeping my expectation up, and hopefully it's as good as (hopefully better) james cameroon avatar, or maybe terminator 2, or titanic.
betta get ma beta.
It's much easier to be disapointed than to be impressed, and most of the time spent polishing a game is to remove these little things that annoy players when they exist, and go completely unnoticed when they're not there.
enjoy the contest? before 1 minute past. its over 100 comments. i cnt sit around press f5 on facebook all day
*cheers!*
Also I wouldn't call the guild wars 2 press weekend "exclusive". Being that tons of "press" people got to play it. BFF guy is gonna let loose the videos!
Don't feel bad - There are normally 200+ comments in the first 30 seconds. If you miss it by 5 seconds, you've lost
Diablo 1 and 2 both had their fair share of rage-quit moments but are by far the best
RPG games of their time. They've done it before and they will undoubtedly do it again-we will learn
to live with the awkwardness and will love everything else!
Don't worry people, Blizzard always come through in the end...eventually
You put too much credit in the "fun" of this contest. I've managed to play through a friend of mine and my biggest pet pev is that this beta is SO short there is very little reason to keep it closed.
Reason 1: Built the hype, don't let people in, ???, profit. Just like Chris said, expect "the signs" and you'll be really happy.
Reason 2: Cost of bandwidth. I guess limiting the amount of time an ip can stay connected to the server is technology yet invented.
Reason 3: Server overload. If the server can only take so much stress, they can put a queue in place.
If they put a queue in place and limited the total time an account could connect to the game, then the whole world would be able to see and test the game. My guess is reason number 1, but it's a guess. However we do know they can put a queue up for login and as for the time limit. Let me reference the current state of Diablo 2 where as a retail game which I have paid for, is limiting me my games per hour as a counter-measure to botting back during 1.11. Coming up on a decade near release, also a guess, but I know I'm close.