Reduced Stash Size
The stash size was reduced in patch 10 and left many players wondering why. Blizzard has given us a quick post on the reasons behind this change.
We reevaluated average character and account storage space requirements, and found it necessary to ensure we could handle what we anticipate will be a large amount of data very quickly after release.
Diablo III has both the benefit and disadvantage of having completely random items. Pretty much everything can roll up different affixes, if not a range of its benefits. That's obviously great because the item hunt is what it's all about, more randomization means you can keep chasing that perfect item, but that means the amount of data needed to describe an item is much, much larger than say, a World of Warcraft item, which is static and only needs a unique number to identify it. For example:http://www.wowhead.com/item=51003 that number there at the end is that item's unique number. That's all we need to store to identify that item no matter where it is. A Diablo III item first has to say the base item, then each individual affix that it rolled up, then the ranges of each variable, and if it has any sockets. And we have to think about everywhere an item can be, an item on the ground is still an item, and so is an item on the auction house.
We obviously have room to grow if our projections are incorrect, or we just find that we eventually have the space. World of Warcraft definitely grew over the years, and that storage space didn't appear out of nowhere (although it does seem rather magical at times). We find three tabs to be plenty for at least the initial release of the game though. Not counting the items you're wearing (assuming they're the best you have), and assuming worst case scenario of nothing but 2-slot items, you'd be able to hold 405 swords per region. That's a lot. We don't expect people to be storing 405 swords... hopefully ever, because that might indicate you have an obsession with swords, but at the very least there should be enough storage to start and then we can continue to evaluate as we go.
Legendary Weapon Updates
Correction! It could be sooner. We're aiming for when the items themselves are pretty much set in stone before revealing them. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Beta Bucks on Last Wave
The process goes in order from flagging the account, adding beta bucks, then sending an email to alert you of your invite. Not our fault if you find out you got into the beta before we told you. Grats, btw. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Open Beta
That's just not the purpose of a beta. It'd be very counterproductive for us to try and open testing up to anyone who wants in. You suggested it'd buy us time, but it'd actually achieve the opposite. We understand that threads like this only come about because people are anxious to play the game. We want to make that happen rather than trying to provide people with open access to a small fragment of the game's content.(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Blizzard at GDC
At least 6 Blizzard speakers will be speaking about different areas of game design at this years GDC. Make sure to check out the site for more information on what topics will be covered!
Reduced stash size heh? Well sounds fine by me, I believe that most people won't have any in-game issues with that.
Except maybe hoarders, or people who make many characters really quickly.
I believe they will increase if it is needed later on.
Considering the sizes of weapons nowadays, I don't see much of a problem with the stash so I don't mind it being reduced. I can't actually give my own impression on it cause Blizz no like me. But with GDC being early March, that means a month at the latest to hopefully hear some news on D3. Though from the sound of it, we probably wont even hear a damn thing about Blizzard games that we don't already know.
Heres to the runestone reveal this month!
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I don't always burn. But when I do, I use hellfire.
If it helps make the launch of the game smoother, then I'm all for it. Just beware Blizzard: I am something of a hoarder and I will want all that lost space back... soon™.
totally fine by me, as a developer i totally understand how things work on database queries.
Haha it's funny how even though from a player perspective there are things that I may not like. As a developer as well I go "Ah yeah that makes sense." So I'm glad I'm not the only one out there who thinks this way.
Blizzard if you guys actually do read these forums take note that providing a bit of technical reasoning behind some of your decisions doesn't fall on deaf ears and is, in my case, very much appreciated.
What you also fail to mention is blizzard is tracking all drops for your character on a game basis, although I am uncertain if it is in the same db, it is being stored so when you decided to pick up an item they can control that it is not duped or altered. This is using space/bandwith and servers. Especially once market prices are fairly established having 10,000 gold or sword of doom isnt going to make a large difference. Even if sword of doom goes up to 12,000 gold you still arnt at that large of a loss for selling the item vs having 10 characters full of storage.
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The stash size was reduced in patch 10 and left many players wondering why. Blizzard has given us a quick post on the reasons behind this change.
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Diablo III has both the benefit and disadvantage of having completely random items. Pretty much everything can roll up different affixes, if not a range of its benefits. That's obviously great because the item hunt is what it's all about, more randomization means you can keep chasing that perfect item, but that means the amount of data needed to describe an item is much, much larger than say, a World of Warcraft item, which is static and only needs a unique number to identify it. For example:http://www.wowhead.com/item=51003 that number there at the end is that item's unique number. That's all we need to store to identify that item no matter where it is. A Diablo III item first has to say the base item, then each individual affix that it rolled up, then the ranges of each variable, and if it has any sockets. And we have to think about everywhere an item can be, an item on the ground is still an item, and so is an item on the auction house.
We obviously have room to grow if our projections are incorrect, or we just find that we eventually have the space. World of Warcraft definitely grew over the years, and that storage space didn't appear out of nowhere (although it does seem rather magical at times). We find three tabs to be plenty for at least the initial release of the game though. Not counting the items you're wearing (assuming they're the best you have), and assuming worst case scenario of nothing but 2-slot items, you'd be able to hold 405 swords per region. That's a lot. We don't expect people to be storing 405 swords... hopefully ever, because that might indicate you have an obsession with swords, but at the very least there should be enough storage to start and then we can continue to evaluate as we go.
Blue Posts
Originally Posted by (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Correction! It could be sooner. We're aiming for when the items themselves are pretty much set in stone before revealing them. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Beta Bucks on Last Wave
The process goes in order from flagging the account, adding beta bucks, then sending an email to alert you of your invite. Not our fault if you find out you got into the beta before we told you. Grats, btw. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Open Beta
That's just not the purpose of a beta. It'd be very counterproductive for us to try and open testing up to anyone who wants in. You suggested it'd buy us time, but it'd actually achieve the opposite. We understand that threads like this only come about because people are anxious to play the game. We want to make that happen rather than trying to provide people with open access to a small fragment of the game's content.(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Blizzard at GDC
At least 6 Blizzard speakers will be speaking about different areas of game design at this years GDC. Make sure to check out the site for more information on what topics will be covered!
Really?
Reduced stash size heh? Well sounds fine by me, I believe that most people won't have any in-game issues with that.
Except maybe hoarders, or people who make many characters really quickly.
I believe they will increase if it is needed later on.
When is this GDC?
-ZTZaorish
is this your prediction on its release date? Cause, if it is, I sure hope you're right. Im dying for a new PC game to play.
or was I........
yeah I was
or would I.......
yeah probably
you heard it here first. Release date is March 5 - 9. Thanks Molster, I'll start spreading the word!
Heres to the runestone reveal this month!
It might annoy people that want to complain that you said that... But to me, it just makes me think you're a bad ass. Haha.
Director, Writer, Producer @
http://outofthevoidp...ns.blogspot.com
Haha it's funny how even though from a player perspective there are things that I may not like. As a developer as well I go "Ah yeah that makes sense." So I'm glad I'm not the only one out there who thinks this way.
Blizzard if you guys actually do read these forums take note that providing a bit of technical reasoning behind some of your decisions doesn't fall on deaf ears and is, in my case, very much appreciated.
It is a lot easier to believe that we are being manipulated by aliens everyday.