As we wrap up this year, I can't help but wonder if anyone feels like we've witnessed a major paradigm shift. And this is not just a Diabo-esque "tremble" of the heavens, and sanctuary, and Diablofans; rather, it is an earthquake of a magnitude similar to the ones that happen only once every few centuries. Especially given how fast-lived, ever-changing, and relatively young (compared to our history) the video game industry is, for me personally this year shattered some of my belief systems.
To elaborate on this story, it goes back to my early child hood. The first games I've played were rather simplistic mini games, some of which came with the operating system (DOS) or at least along the disks I got when I got my first (used) computer. Those were games that probably no one remembers ("Nibbles", "Gorilla") and no one remembers them for a reason - there wasn't much worth to remember. If you were to ask me to describe them I wouldn't explain gameplay, story, or content - I would rather explain how cumbersome the interaction was, how I learned more about programming or the difficulty of controlling and influencing what was going on in the game than anything else.
This all changed with Blizzard games. The first was WarCraft: Orcs and Humans, quickly followed by WarCraft 2. It didn't feel like I was driving a car that wasn't following my commands. It didn't feel like a computer game. It felt like I was the commander of the alliance and if I would not live up to my general's expectations, the horde would take over and reign with chaos. In my head there was no room to even think about how limited my ability was to influence the fight between the two factions; I was fully immersed in the experience and the atmosphere. When I compare the video game evolution to book genres, the early computer games were short novels written without emotion or any context of a bigger story they were part of, whereas WarCraft felt like Lord of the Rings extended edition.
And then came Diablo. Three things I remember and will never forget: 1) As I tried to grasp what this game was all about and wandered through the dark dungeons underneath Tristram, I opened a random door (just like I had opened so many others before) when a deep voice shouted "FRESH MEAT", scaring me to be bones as I ran away from this scary ass dude hunting me with a hatchet, successfully slicing me into pieces. 2) The eerie music which by a single stroke of guitar strings sends me down nostalgia road until I shall take my last breath. 3) The epilogue video after defeating Diablo, only making me realize that there is no happy end, but rather realizing that this game which is all about defeating all evil teaches us an important life lesson: Evil can never be defeated. Evil will always try to take over, we can only fight back. Oh boy, and how this is almost meta when looking at Diablo as a franchise. More on that later.
In the following years I've played many games, but Blizzard games always took a special place in my heart. They were never the ones with the best graphics, the ones driving technological innovation in video games. They didn't follow trends - they established new ones. They created a gameplay atmosphere which made you forget that you were playing a game. As someone who has traveled a lot and changed countries multiple times, I look back and realize that I've made friends through Blizzard games, and especially looking back at World of WarCraft and revisiting old videos recently I realize that I care less about the game, but about the memories I share with people I met in the game (I only played vanilla). Blizzard didn't create video games. Blizzard created experiences. Their motto was "gameplay first", but their actions were more than that: they created and flourished a family, and even though I've never been at the family gathering in person, the annual BlizzCon event shows that this family is more than words and games.
The holiday season is upon us, and for many of us - especially those who celebrate Christmas - it is about family time. We get together and, despite all our potential differences, emphasize the bonds between us. Traditions are a big part of this, and they are deeply connected to nostalgia. Some things can (and will) change; technology wasn't a part of Christmas decades ago, but it is now, and it has its place without disturbing the nostalgia. But some things you can't change. We have a traditional Christmas dish that I had every year since I can remember; when we discussed changing that we dismissed it almost instantly, reminding ourselves that without this traditional dish Christmas wouldn't be the same, and there would be no purpose anymore for us to meet. Those traditions, connected to nostalgia, memories, and experiences, are what has brought us together as a family, and what holds us together. Abolishing those breaks the bond.
I feel that in 2018, Blizzard has proposed such a change, and with it, I feel like I'm not part of that family anymore.
Maybe the majority of the family is interested in mobile games, as their CEO said. Maybe the majority of the family is interested in playing video games differently, is not alienated by non-cosmetic micro transactions. Maybe the majority of the family has found a lot of enjoyment in other games and wants to adopts their spirit into Blizzard's own identity. But to me personally, it means I will have to find a new family. I cannot follow Blizzard on this path. I'm not even talking about the Diablo debacle in particular; I am still waiting for Diablo 4, and albeit skeptical, will consider it once it's there. But in recent years I've noticed a change. I've tried to defend my family countless times; if someone was to go through my post history you will find me defending Diablo and Blizzard countless times, you will realize that I have been branded a "fanboy" more often than I can recall, and I have always stood by Diablo's and Blizzard's side. I have always given them the benefit of the doubt. But I cannot do that any longer.
In light of recent developments - such as Blizzard officially announcing that their most skilled developers are now working on mobile game across all Blizzard franchises - I need to see clear evidence (and no *word* is an evidence here, to make this clear) that will make me believe once again that Blizzard "hears us". I am deeply, deeply concerned that our family is being dominated by a new friend who has broken with all our traditions, and I consider this new friend an evil. When I have so far defended Blizzard and Diablo, I will still do so, but in a different way - I think it is our duty as Diablo fans to fight this evil, be it the "new Silicon Valley" business model, be it aggressive micro transactions, be it pay to win games, be it anything that does not resemble "gameplay first". Because evil will always try to win, we can only fight back.
First, let's remember us that the strength of the community that emerged from Blizzard's games is far bigger than the games itself. Take StarCraft 2 for example, a game that was 2 years ago where Diablo 3 is today: pronounced to be dead, almost no one playing anymore, professional teams closing down and the game considered in "maintenance". Now, 2 years later, SC2 is more healthy than ever before in its history, and even though Blizzard is continuing to make strange decisions with regard to the official WCS circuit, the community is an absolute delight to be part of. We are all still basking in the light of our undisputed god (literal god) Serral who has shown us that dreams can come true, even those that we thought would be too ridiculous to ever see the light of reality (please read this). This also is true for Diablo Fans, and especially these forums (well, as long as their owners let me - I am not affiliated with Curse who owns those forums, but as long as they don't close my account I will speak my word here, as I believe in free speech, and so should they, being based in the country that prides itself on said value). Let's use those forums to continue to critically but constructively discuss Diablo - it's past, present, and its future. And besides all, let's never forget our memories. Until one day, we shall be as happy as in 2008, when we heard the most favorite tune any Diablo fan can hear live on stage, giving us goosebumps and filling us with excitement, all remembering us that Blizzard used to not just create games.
And when that day comes, we'll still be there. Diablo Fans will always be there, constructively discussing Diablo, because it's what we love and care for deeply.
If you always defend those who you love (even when they are wrong), you do them no favor - you simply make them more vulnerable for the times when you won't be there.
Very nice post and really good metaphor with the Christmas dish and Blizzard destroying its traditions in 2018. Funny thing I wrote similar stuff on another forum - I feel we, PC gamers, are dying species. And Blizzard is just a corporation with one and only goal - to maximize profits. If PC gaming brings no profits, they won't release PC games. Simple as that.
I myself always loved Blizzard since D1 and played a lot of WC3 and SC back in the days. Those two games were super popular in Bulgaria and that is a reason we had gold (WC3) and bronze (SC) medalists at WCG events. At these times strategy games weren't my favorite genre however. Ironically it was not the aRPG genre too. It was the classic RPG genre with games like Baldur's Gate and Fallout. With D2 that slowly changed through the years - the aRPG genre served for more replayability and became my favorite one, although I played hell of a BG2 (solo insane poverty) and F2 (mods and stuff).
Right now I have to say first and foremost I am an aRPG fan. Then comes Diablo. I don't devote time to other genres, besides playing some HS from time to time. But HS is pretty much done as mechanics and platform. The only thing I am looking forward in the PC gaming (expecting some revolution in it) is connected with the aRPG genre. No matter whether this will be D4 or some other game from another studio, the aRPG genre could really boom if there is a new age engine in the future allowing for optimal player - AI - environment interaction (think D3 combat on steroids). I even thought of writing a book how the different aRPG elements in such a potential game should be organized to deliver the players the optimal experience. But who's gonna read it? Those that don't create games. And those that do, read other stuff - like how to extract the maximum from the MTX...
As a conclusion I have to add I always said what had to be said for the good future of aRPGs and Diablo. This made me a lot of forum enemies through the years (mostly stupid kids that bot), but also a lot of friends who sooner or later realized I was right. Whether our words will matter in the end, we have to see (they might finally decide to announce D4 in 2019, who knows).
If you always defend those who you love (even when they are wrong), you do them no favor - you simply make them more vulnerable for the times when you won't be there.
Oh yes, absolutely true words. I think this is a good point to keep in mind: People critiquing Blizzard only do so because you critique what you love.
I share your pain Bag, i still follow blizzard news because i grew up with them and have so many good memories playing their games and i love their worlds, but they have been slowly but surely shifting to a different company.
Nowadays they seem to follow "what's trending" instead of doing their thing like they used to, they catter too much to casuals and the masses, it's all about the profit... hell it's hard to even trust their statements as they change them without notice.
Now with HoTS also joining the "maintenance mode" crew, i doubt blizzard will ever be even a shadow of it's former self.
All my friends have left, not only Diablo but blizzard games as a whole, some of them refuse to even connect to the launcher to chat...
Finally regarding Diablo 4, i'm sure it will look cool as fuck with an impressive trailer, but will it have what it takes to hold itself up?
Can blizzard even do balance and proper end game content on an ARPG?
Can they stay true to what makes diablo diablo and not some korean rip off mmo?
Unfortunately we fans are at a point where they have to prove it first, i pre-ordered D3 and RoS, i played 7000k hours+, i did enjoy it and got my money's worth, but we all know it wasn't what we expected, promises were broken and now with the recent immortal fiasco our trust in them kinda shattered, it's a shame it came to this but no one blindly trusts and buys their stuff anymore...
Definately a MAJOR paradigm shift has happened, most of us lost faith and confidence on blizzard and their products, and some people might never regain enough of it to ever come back.
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Those Who Do Not Know True Pain Cannot Possibly Understand True Peace...
It's not just Blizzard that's changing. The entire AAA video game industry is imploding, with a few exceptions of course. I believe there is gonna be another crash like the one we had in '83. The signs are all there; lack of innovation, predatory monetization tactics, releasing incredibly buggy and unfinished products, Ivory tower syndrome, graphics and wow factor while game play takes a backseat, single serving gaming mentality (mobile gaming), alienation of core fan base and damaged reputations.
Companies that actually care to craft products of superb quality will come out of this ok, others are gonna fall far from grace (already happening). Indie and AA games will get the lions share of the "gamer" market in coming years. Indies are already on a massive upswing while AAA games are having increasingly poor numbers (there are a few that continue to grow and are exceptions).
This is just my honest opinion about things and in no way to be taken as facts. Research this on your own to come to your own conclusions.
LOL Is it? No idea, if so unintentionally; I've never watched a single minute of Babylon 5, sorry ;-) Nope, there wasn't much thought behind this post, in fact I wrote it in quite a hurry. But maybe I picked up this line somewhere and there was some subconscious memory trigger... ;-)
They can take all the time they want with D4 but I wish they were more straight about D3 future - is that Druid coming or not? I've lost my hope naturally after that hideous Blizzcon but hell, even Heroes of the Storm got straight talk so why not D3?
This isnt the same company that you grew up with.... you have to accept it. I did. This is not the same company i wasted my childhood time and playing their games. Disappointment was over 9000 in the last few years, why i wrote ' was ' because i gave up on this companies products.I am not giving them money anymore or anything until they change back to where they were 10 years ago. I believe thats the time when it all started. End of the WOTLK wow. I dont understand why people still support this new company, i really dont....
Just out of curiousity, which country might that be?
The country of unlimited opportunities Which apparently includes the opportunity for tweeting oranges to become elected president. In all fairness, what gets me most is that this value isn't even embraced anymore. It took just a few weeks and the people who have the power (and responsibility, in my opinion!) to lead the public into the light and away from this marketing BS have given in and are telling us that Diablo: Immortal has great gameplay and whatever. Yes, because this is really what matters, we needed to know that a Chinese mobile game engine with some Diablo textures slapped on provides a nice gaming experience, albeit the fact that we clearly stated multiple times that we have no interest in playing games on our mobile phones. All those "game journalists" telling us that Diablo Immortal is a (potentially) great game are like e-bike sellers (and professional bike reviewers) who constantly advertise e-bikes in car shops, car forums, and car Reddits. Do we have a bike? Probably. Do we like to bike? Sure. But we use our bike for some things and our car for some things, and we have no interest buying an e-bike. And no story of how amazing that e-bike was (especially given that you probably got a really nice personal speech and some goodies from the e-bike seller) will change our mind, nor do we want to be changed (we'll tell you if we do).
I'm just still very much hoping we can leave this shitty year behind, and have some actual good news (no @$#@^#@^ mobile games) in the next. Or announcements will do. I don't care if it takes them 4 more years.
While I hope so too, I don't believe in it anymore. The post-Blizzcon reaction (or lack thereof) indicates to me that they think the backlash of a few hundred thousand (or even a couple million) disappointed/angry PC gamers, most of which are rather old and rational in spending their money. Also, as indicated above, even after a crazy stock market loss and some (only a few though) "game journalists" posting some rational articles about the situation there is no change, no reaction, no indication of Blizzard understanding anything. I see many tech websites posting the same stupid marketing crap (like the "entitled gamers" headline, which translates to "just buy this game you stupid sheep, who cares what you want, as long as you give money to the big corps"). And many of them probably don't even see it. But the Blizzard/Diablo debacle is no exception, but unfortunately the rule. The current trajectory indicates it will only get worse. Just look at any random mainstream website and how they post announcements from Apple's events on their front page, which is basically straight up marketing (for products which are maybe okay, but their main purpose is to lock you into an eco-system which makes you dependent from their everything). Amazon servers had some issues over Christmas in Europe, apparently some people freaked out that Alexa was unresponsive. Imagine Netflix and/or Youtube being offline for a day. Would people survive? Blizzard's transition is not any different, but pales in comparison. Unfortunately it'll be too late before we realize what we've done.
It's not just Blizzard that's changing. The entire AAA video game industry is imploding, with a few exceptions of course. I believe there is gonna be another crash like the one we had in '83. The signs are all there; lack of innovation, predatory monetization tactics, releasing incredibly buggy and unfinished products, Ivory tower syndrome, graphics and wow factor while game play takes a backseat, single serving gaming mentality (mobile gaming), alienation of core fan base and damaged reputations.
Companies that actually care to craft products of superb quality will come out of this ok, others are gonna fall far from grace (already happening). Indie and AA games will get the lions share of the "gamer" market in coming years. Indies are already on a massive upswing while AAA games are having increasingly poor numbers (there are a few that continue to grow and are exceptions).
This is just my honest opinion about things and in no way to be taken as facts. Research this on your own to come to your own conclusions.
I feel that this is the most accurate. I don't trust Activision Blizz, even tho I'm very hopeful for Diablo 4, any other new Diablo title, and even a tiny bit for immortal being fun to play. I used to expect top quality from Blizzard games and a dedicated team who valued gameplay and story over pushing microtransactions and money. Those who keep their integrity might make it to the other side, but AAA developers are already going down the shitter because people are tired of the predatory money grabbing and unfinished game releases.
Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised by more news this coming year, maybe not, but I'm hopeful because I really love the Diablo series. I have loved it since I was ten watching my best friend play on her old shitty mac computer before I was able to purchase it for myself. I'm not willing to give up on it just yet.
All this makes me wonder though, maybe we're slowly getting to old for this busniess or something. or simply being to nostalgic about our games.
I thought so, too. But then I started playing PoE very recently, only a few dozen hours in and not even in the real endgame, and a lot of faith is restored that there *are* developers out there who still have what it takes to make games I'm interested in. Torchlight was also great, so I'm looking forward to that expansion as well. I guess we just have to look for new stuff and can't trust old names anymore, whether it's a franchise or a developer. And it's tough, because when I look at Steam there is a million shit games, so finding the rare gem takes a lot of time...
pet peeve: Free speech has nothing to do with being allowed to write what you want on a private forum.
Free speech protects you from the state controlling what you can and can not say. the owner of a privately owned forum can put whatrever restrictions he wants on his very forum and that does not violate free speech at all.
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ModeratorAs we wrap up this year, I can't help but wonder if anyone feels like we've witnessed a major paradigm shift. And this is not just a Diabo-esque "tremble" of the heavens, and sanctuary, and Diablofans; rather, it is an earthquake of a magnitude similar to the ones that happen only once every few centuries. Especially given how fast-lived, ever-changing, and relatively young (compared to our history) the video game industry is, for me personally this year shattered some of my belief systems.
To elaborate on this story, it goes back to my early child hood. The first games I've played were rather simplistic mini games, some of which came with the operating system (DOS) or at least along the disks I got when I got my first (used) computer. Those were games that probably no one remembers ("Nibbles", "Gorilla") and no one remembers them for a reason - there wasn't much worth to remember. If you were to ask me to describe them I wouldn't explain gameplay, story, or content - I would rather explain how cumbersome the interaction was, how I learned more about programming or the difficulty of controlling and influencing what was going on in the game than anything else.
This all changed with Blizzard games. The first was WarCraft: Orcs and Humans, quickly followed by WarCraft 2. It didn't feel like I was driving a car that wasn't following my commands. It didn't feel like a computer game. It felt like I was the commander of the alliance and if I would not live up to my general's expectations, the horde would take over and reign with chaos. In my head there was no room to even think about how limited my ability was to influence the fight between the two factions; I was fully immersed in the experience and the atmosphere. When I compare the video game evolution to book genres, the early computer games were short novels written without emotion or any context of a bigger story they were part of, whereas WarCraft felt like Lord of the Rings extended edition.
And then came Diablo. Three things I remember and will never forget: 1) As I tried to grasp what this game was all about and wandered through the dark dungeons underneath Tristram, I opened a random door (just like I had opened so many others before) when a deep voice shouted "FRESH MEAT", scaring me to be bones as I ran away from this scary ass dude hunting me with a hatchet, successfully slicing me into pieces. 2) The eerie music which by a single stroke of guitar strings sends me down nostalgia road until I shall take my last breath. 3) The epilogue video after defeating Diablo, only making me realize that there is no happy end, but rather realizing that this game which is all about defeating all evil teaches us an important life lesson: Evil can never be defeated. Evil will always try to take over, we can only fight back. Oh boy, and how this is almost meta when looking at Diablo as a franchise. More on that later.
In the following years I've played many games, but Blizzard games always took a special place in my heart. They were never the ones with the best graphics, the ones driving technological innovation in video games. They didn't follow trends - they established new ones. They created a gameplay atmosphere which made you forget that you were playing a game. As someone who has traveled a lot and changed countries multiple times, I look back and realize that I've made friends through Blizzard games, and especially looking back at World of WarCraft and revisiting old videos recently I realize that I care less about the game, but about the memories I share with people I met in the game (I only played vanilla). Blizzard didn't create video games. Blizzard created experiences. Their motto was "gameplay first", but their actions were more than that: they created and flourished a family, and even though I've never been at the family gathering in person, the annual BlizzCon event shows that this family is more than words and games.
The holiday season is upon us, and for many of us - especially those who celebrate Christmas - it is about family time. We get together and, despite all our potential differences, emphasize the bonds between us. Traditions are a big part of this, and they are deeply connected to nostalgia. Some things can (and will) change; technology wasn't a part of Christmas decades ago, but it is now, and it has its place without disturbing the nostalgia. But some things you can't change. We have a traditional Christmas dish that I had every year since I can remember; when we discussed changing that we dismissed it almost instantly, reminding ourselves that without this traditional dish Christmas wouldn't be the same, and there would be no purpose anymore for us to meet. Those traditions, connected to nostalgia, memories, and experiences, are what has brought us together as a family, and what holds us together. Abolishing those breaks the bond.
I feel that in 2018, Blizzard has proposed such a change, and with it, I feel like I'm not part of that family anymore.
Maybe the majority of the family is interested in mobile games, as their CEO said. Maybe the majority of the family is interested in playing video games differently, is not alienated by non-cosmetic micro transactions. Maybe the majority of the family has found a lot of enjoyment in other games and wants to adopts their spirit into Blizzard's own identity. But to me personally, it means I will have to find a new family. I cannot follow Blizzard on this path. I'm not even talking about the Diablo debacle in particular; I am still waiting for Diablo 4, and albeit skeptical, will consider it once it's there. But in recent years I've noticed a change. I've tried to defend my family countless times; if someone was to go through my post history you will find me defending Diablo and Blizzard countless times, you will realize that I have been branded a "fanboy" more often than I can recall, and I have always stood by Diablo's and Blizzard's side. I have always given them the benefit of the doubt. But I cannot do that any longer.
In light of recent developments - such as Blizzard officially announcing that their most skilled developers are now working on mobile game across all Blizzard franchises - I need to see clear evidence (and no *word* is an evidence here, to make this clear) that will make me believe once again that Blizzard "hears us". I am deeply, deeply concerned that our family is being dominated by a new friend who has broken with all our traditions, and I consider this new friend an evil. When I have so far defended Blizzard and Diablo, I will still do so, but in a different way - I think it is our duty as Diablo fans to fight this evil, be it the "new Silicon Valley" business model, be it aggressive micro transactions, be it pay to win games, be it anything that does not resemble "gameplay first". Because evil will always try to win, we can only fight back.
This post was inspired by three recent things I've read: first the front page post, but even more so a fan letter and a critical, yet rigorous analysis of how Blizzard has changed. But given that it's holiday season I don't want to end on such a daunting note, but in all of this that happens this year see the light.
First, let's remember us that the strength of the community that emerged from Blizzard's games is far bigger than the games itself. Take StarCraft 2 for example, a game that was 2 years ago where Diablo 3 is today: pronounced to be dead, almost no one playing anymore, professional teams closing down and the game considered in "maintenance". Now, 2 years later, SC2 is more healthy than ever before in its history, and even though Blizzard is continuing to make strange decisions with regard to the official WCS circuit, the community is an absolute delight to be part of. We are all still basking in the light of our undisputed god (literal god) Serral who has shown us that dreams can come true, even those that we thought would be too ridiculous to ever see the light of reality (please read this). This also is true for Diablo Fans, and especially these forums (well, as long as their owners let me - I am not affiliated with Curse who owns those forums, but as long as they don't close my account I will speak my word here, as I believe in free speech, and so should they, being based in the country that prides itself on said value). Let's use those forums to continue to critically but constructively discuss Diablo - it's past, present, and its future. And besides all, let's never forget our memories. Until one day, we shall be as happy as in 2008, when we heard the most favorite tune any Diablo fan can hear live on stage, giving us goosebumps and filling us with excitement, all remembering us that Blizzard used to not just create games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ogXqCNkyHE
And when that day comes, we'll still be there. Diablo Fans will always be there, constructively discussing Diablo, because it's what we love and care for deeply.
Happy holidays everyone!
If you always defend those who you love (even when they are wrong), you do them no favor - you simply make them more vulnerable for the times when you won't be there.
Very nice post and really good metaphor with the Christmas dish and Blizzard destroying its traditions in 2018. Funny thing I wrote similar stuff on another forum - I feel we, PC gamers, are dying species. And Blizzard is just a corporation with one and only goal - to maximize profits. If PC gaming brings no profits, they won't release PC games. Simple as that.
I myself always loved Blizzard since D1 and played a lot of WC3 and SC back in the days. Those two games were super popular in Bulgaria and that is a reason we had gold (WC3) and bronze (SC) medalists at WCG events. At these times strategy games weren't my favorite genre however. Ironically it was not the aRPG genre too. It was the classic RPG genre with games like Baldur's Gate and Fallout. With D2 that slowly changed through the years - the aRPG genre served for more replayability and became my favorite one, although I played hell of a BG2 (solo insane poverty) and F2 (mods and stuff).
Right now I have to say first and foremost I am an aRPG fan. Then comes Diablo. I don't devote time to other genres, besides playing some HS from time to time. But HS is pretty much done as mechanics and platform. The only thing I am looking forward in the PC gaming (expecting some revolution in it) is connected with the aRPG genre. No matter whether this will be D4 or some other game from another studio, the aRPG genre could really boom if there is a new age engine in the future allowing for optimal player - AI - environment interaction (think D3 combat on steroids). I even thought of writing a book how the different aRPG elements in such a potential game should be organized to deliver the players the optimal experience. But who's gonna read it? Those that don't create games. And those that do, read other stuff - like how to extract the maximum from the MTX...
As a conclusion I have to add I always said what had to be said for the good future of aRPGs and Diablo. This made me a lot of forum enemies through the years (mostly stupid kids that bot), but also a lot of friends who sooner or later realized I was right. Whether our words will matter in the end, we have to see (they might finally decide to announce D4 in 2019, who knows).
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ModeratorOh yes, absolutely true words. I think this is a good point to keep in mind: People critiquing Blizzard only do so because you critique what you love.
I share your pain Bag, i still follow blizzard news because i grew up with them and have so many good memories playing their games and i love their worlds, but they have been slowly but surely shifting to a different company.
Nowadays they seem to follow "what's trending" instead of doing their thing like they used to, they catter too much to casuals and the masses, it's all about the profit... hell it's hard to even trust their statements as they change them without notice.
Now with HoTS also joining the "maintenance mode" crew, i doubt blizzard will ever be even a shadow of it's former self.
All my friends have left, not only Diablo but blizzard games as a whole, some of them refuse to even connect to the launcher to chat...
Finally regarding Diablo 4, i'm sure it will look cool as fuck with an impressive trailer, but will it have what it takes to hold itself up?
Can blizzard even do balance and proper end game content on an ARPG?
Can they stay true to what makes diablo diablo and not some korean rip off mmo?
Unfortunately we fans are at a point where they have to prove it first, i pre-ordered D3 and RoS, i played 7000k hours+, i did enjoy it and got my money's worth, but we all know it wasn't what we expected, promises were broken and now with the recent immortal fiasco our trust in them kinda shattered, it's a shame it came to this but no one blindly trusts and buys their stuff anymore...
Definately a MAJOR paradigm shift has happened, most of us lost faith and confidence on blizzard and their products, and some people might never regain enough of it to ever come back.
Those Who Do Not Know True Pain Cannot Possibly Understand True Peace...
It's not just Blizzard that's changing. The entire AAA video game industry is imploding, with a few exceptions of course. I believe there is gonna be another crash like the one we had in '83. The signs are all there; lack of innovation, predatory monetization tactics, releasing incredibly buggy and unfinished products, Ivory tower syndrome, graphics and wow factor while game play takes a backseat, single serving gaming mentality (mobile gaming), alienation of core fan base and damaged reputations.
Companies that actually care to craft products of superb quality will come out of this ok, others are gonna fall far from grace (already happening). Indie and AA games will get the lions share of the "gamer" market in coming years. Indies are already on a massive upswing while AAA games are having increasingly poor numbers (there are a few that continue to grow and are exceptions).
This is just my honest opinion about things and in no way to be taken as facts. Research this on your own to come to your own conclusions.
You're a wizard Harry.....
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Moderator*Deleted* (fun fact: I can delete everyone's posts as mod... except mine :P)
A Babylon 5 reference ?
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ModeratorThey can take all the time they want with D4 but I wish they were more straight about D3 future - is that Druid coming or not? I've lost my hope naturally after that hideous Blizzcon but hell, even Heroes of the Storm got straight talk so why not D3?
Only for People with mobile phones.
This isnt the same company that you grew up with.... you have to accept it. I did. This is not the same company i wasted my childhood time and playing their games. Disappointment was over 9000 in the last few years, why i wrote ' was ' because i gave up on this companies products.I am not giving them money anymore or anything until they change back to where they were 10 years ago. I believe thats the time when it all started. End of the WOTLK wow. I dont understand why people still support this new company, i really dont....
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ModeratorThe country of unlimited opportunities
Which apparently includes the opportunity for tweeting oranges to become elected president. In all fairness, what gets me most is that this value isn't even embraced anymore. It took just a few weeks and the people who have the power (and responsibility, in my opinion!) to lead the public into the light and away from this marketing BS have given in and are telling us that Diablo: Immortal has great gameplay and whatever. Yes, because this is really what matters, we needed to know that a Chinese mobile game engine with some Diablo textures slapped on provides a nice gaming experience, albeit the fact that we clearly stated multiple times that we have no interest in playing games on our mobile phones. All those "game journalists" telling us that Diablo Immortal is a (potentially) great game are like e-bike sellers (and professional bike reviewers) who constantly advertise e-bikes in car shops, car forums, and car Reddits. Do we have a bike? Probably. Do we like to bike? Sure. But we use our bike for some things and our car for some things, and we have no interest buying an e-bike. And no story of how amazing that e-bike was (especially given that you probably got a really nice personal speech and some goodies from the e-bike seller) will change our mind, nor do we want to be changed (we'll tell you if we do).
While I hope so too, I don't believe in it anymore. The post-Blizzcon reaction (or lack thereof) indicates to me that they think the backlash of a few hundred thousand (or even a couple million) disappointed/angry PC gamers, most of which are rather old and rational in spending their money. Also, as indicated above, even after a crazy stock market loss and some (only a few though) "game journalists" posting some rational articles about the situation there is no change, no reaction, no indication of Blizzard understanding anything. I see many tech websites posting the same stupid marketing crap (like the "entitled gamers" headline, which translates to "just buy this game you stupid sheep, who cares what you want, as long as you give money to the big corps"). And many of them probably don't even see it. But the Blizzard/Diablo debacle is no exception, but unfortunately the rule. The current trajectory indicates it will only get worse. Just look at any random mainstream website and how they post announcements from Apple's events on their front page, which is basically straight up marketing (for products which are maybe okay, but their main purpose is to lock you into an eco-system which makes you dependent from their everything). Amazon servers had some issues over Christmas in Europe, apparently some people freaked out that Alexa was unresponsive. Imagine Netflix and/or Youtube being offline for a day. Would people survive? Blizzard's transition is not any different, but pales in comparison. Unfortunately it'll be too late before we realize what we've done.
I feel that this is the most accurate. I don't trust Activision Blizz, even tho I'm very hopeful for Diablo 4, any other new Diablo title, and even a tiny bit for immortal being fun to play. I used to expect top quality from Blizzard games and a dedicated team who valued gameplay and story over pushing microtransactions and money. Those who keep their integrity might make it to the other side, but AAA developers are already going down the shitter because people are tired of the predatory money grabbing and unfinished game releases.
Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised by more news this coming year, maybe not, but I'm hopeful because I really love the Diablo series. I have loved it since I was ten watching my best friend play on her old shitty mac computer before I was able to purchase it for myself. I'm not willing to give up on it just yet.
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ModeratorI thought so, too. But then I started playing PoE very recently, only a few dozen hours in and not even in the real endgame, and a lot of faith is restored that there *are* developers out there who still have what it takes to make games I'm interested in. Torchlight was also great, so I'm looking forward to that expansion as well. I guess we just have to look for new stuff and can't trust old names anymore, whether it's a franchise or a developer. And it's tough, because when I look at Steam there is a million shit games, so finding the rare gem takes a lot of time...
pet peeve: Free speech has nothing to do with being allowed to write what you want on a private forum.
Free speech protects you from the state controlling what you can and can not say. the owner of a privately owned forum can put whatrever restrictions he wants on his very forum and that does not violate free speech at all.