UGO recently conducted an interview with three of the designers behind Diablo III, including lead designer Jay Wilson.
On character classes:
There was also the question of character classes. For Diablo III’s development team, they had to ask themselves which classes fit the gameplay. As Wilson explained, the intent all along has been to build Diablo III’s character classes – old and new – to support the game rather than building the game around specific classes. The Witch Doctor, for example, bears a number of similarities to Diablo II’s Necromancer, but is meant to be played as more of a direct damage-dealer than the older game’s class. While this is all well and good in a non-revealing sort of way, the newsy bit is Wilson’s explicit confirmation that the old Necro will not be one of the three as-yet-unannounced Diablo III classes.
On Battle.net improvements:
The most exciting changes we discussed related to the new and improved Battle.net. Most of what’s going to happen is still in the planning stages, but fans can in general expect to see more integration between game and community. No one will be forced to sign on to Battle.net to play Diablo III, but characters created offline will not be playable online in the interests of limiting any potential for cheating the system.
As for community features, the recently announced Achievements for Diablo III (and StarCraft II) will also tie into the redesigned Battle.net. There are additional plans to streamline item-sharing between different characters, one suggestion being to allow items to be traded or sent through whispers. Fans can also probably expect to see voice chat in Diablo III, though modders and modding tools will not be officially supported due to the game’s random nature.
On pricing:
Pricing for the game is still being decided, but don’t expect to pay subscription fees for access to Battle.net. Sure, there’s always the possibility that different membership tiers will be introduced later on, but nothing we heard during our chat suggested that the team has anything other than a free-to-play model in mind for Diablo III’s online play.
The words ..fans may as well settle in for a healthy wait.. and ..the game is nowhere near finished.. were scary.
Oh well. I'm positive now this won't be coming until 2010 or late 2009.
nice update. The thing i enjoy about it most and why i wanted a simple announcement so long is that now the community of Diablo and Blizzard are now once again allied. Before we were all in the dark about EVERYTHING. It was hard to handle lol. But now, it seems weekly, we have contact with the ever so kind designers and their thoughts, comments, concerns. Also we have updated art and everything. I think this wait will be nothing compared to the one we all endured, this is in fact a cake walk. So far it has been an enjoyable month of learning new information all the time. So, in response to "fans may as well settle in for a healthy wait"; I am settled in nice and snug with my D2 LOD, the Diablo Archive and Diablofans.com XD
Also, how generous it was of them to let us know about the in game voice chat. Thats awesome and gives us something to look forward too for sure!
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
From the sound of things, fans may as well settle in for a healthy wait. With so many design decisions still being squared away on a weekly basis, development for Diablo III is moving along nicely but the game is nowhere near finished.
I guess its going to be a long wait guys. So much for a 08 release... probably not even a 09 either. There are additional plans to streamline item-sharing between different characters, one suggestion being to allow items to be traded or sent through whispers. Fans can also probably expect to see voice chat in Diablo III, though modders and modding tools will not be officially supported due to the game’s random nature.
Item sharing threw streamline chat and trading would be awesome. Character transfer item between other player characters is nothing new but its good to see them still confirming it.
Voice chat? Not sure I like that for diablo 3... Makes you wonder if the boss fights this time for diablo 3 are going to be on more of an MMO styled teamwork play, rather than the wing-it style hack and slash that diablo 2 was. Would I use it? I dont have a problem talking to other people AKA voice-chat style.
But that should not be read as confirmation that the team is working on any such port; as it is, they have their hands full trying to deliver on fan expectations for the confirmed PC release.
Good to know there not being lazy and sitting in NYC hotel rooms having 5 star hotel breakfasts everyday. :confused:.
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If you get personally attacked by letters through the internet its a good thing to always have a box of tissues and a band-aid around.
I guess its going to be a long wait guys. So much for a 08 release..
That is completely idiotic. How could anyone think it would be released this year, they just announced the damn thing.
probably not even a 09 either.
December 31 2009. All Blizzard games start with a theorised release date of December 31, it's like their thing. December 31 2008 is far too soon, and December 31 2010 seems to far away, so December 31 2009 works well. It's only a rough guide for blizzard they sort of pick a date and see how the game looks/works at that date then moves to release date accordingly.
Makes you wonder if the boss fights this time for diablo 3 are going to be on more of an MMO styled teamwork play,
Not sure about MMO team play style bosses, heard something about comparisons to Legend of Zelda though, also need to factor in Single Player. And a lone Barbarian Single Player at that.
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-Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
I guess its going to be a long wait guys. So much for a 08 release... probably not even a 09 either.
I do not believe it will take too long, as the game looks pretty complete, apart from the content (skills, areas, etc). How long do you think it will take to create these?
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System Specs:
CPU:Q6600 4x @ 2.4gHz->
RAM: 4GB Corsair DDR2 ->
HDD: Sata 400GB
GPU:ATI Radeon 2600xt 256mb GDDR4
Giggity Giggity
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but is the presence of fear and the will to go on."
Pricing for the game is still being decided, but don’t expect to pay subscription fees for access to Battle.net. Sure, there’s always the possibility that different membership tiers will be introduced later on, but nothing we heard during our chat suggested that the team has anything other than a free-to-play model in mind for Diablo III’s online play.
Fantastic. I was really hoping for free-to-play on Bnet.
I was just read the interview UGO recently conducted with three of the designers behind Diablo III
and on the topic of battle.net they stated;
Quote:
"... No one will be forced to sign on to Battle.net to play Diablo III, but characters created offline will not be playable online in the interests of limiting any potential for cheating the system."
When they you cant play with your characters offline, online. I take it that's solely for battle net? or does that apply to tc/ip games aswell, ... cause damn that would suck if you don't really want to do anything with the community and just want to stick to playing with your gf and friends.
it got me curious, does anyone know if there will be tcp/ip anymore or if its all simply intertwined with battle.net to play private games?
The words ..fans may as well settle in for a healthy wait.. and ..the game is nowhere near finished.. were scary.
Oh well. I'm positive now this won't be coming until 2010 or late 2009.
Send items with whisper? A mailbox would be better. Maybe he meant that if you are in chat you could do it by whisper so you wouldn't have to create game to send items.
I am so glad to hear these guys when they speak up!
I would never have expected it to be released this year. I expect it would either be summer 2009 or Santa Clause would leave it in my stocking. He knows I want it!
I also never expected to see the Necromancer as a PC in D3. Not because of the Witch Doctor, but because at the beginning of the gameplay video, when the Barbarian first spoke, I could have sworn it was the Necro's voice from D2 - and still think so. Well, whether it is, or not, I'm not really all that disappointed since I still don't know what the other 3 PCs are going to be.
Thank god it'll be free to play... very afraid they were gonna go the wow route on this. A release date of late 2009 is actually pretty quick IMO... so stop complaining... already waited 8 years, whats one more?
Ox:thumbsup:
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I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
On character classes:
On Battle.net improvements:
On pricing:
Read the full article on UGO here.
Oh well. I'm positive now this won't be coming until 2010 or late 2009.
Paladin
SanctuaryInsight.com
would be nice though if you had an item you know that a friend would want.
Also, how generous it was of them to let us know about the in game voice chat. Thats awesome and gives us something to look forward too for sure!
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
yay
and d3 will own
yay
yay!
I guess its going to be a long wait guys. So much for a 08 release... probably not even a 09 either.
There are additional plans to streamline item-sharing between different characters, one suggestion being to allow items to be traded or sent through whispers. Fans can also probably expect to see voice chat in Diablo III, though modders and modding tools will not be officially supported due to the game’s random nature.
Item sharing threw streamline chat and trading would be awesome. Character transfer item between other player characters is nothing new but its good to see them still confirming it.
Voice chat? Not sure I like that for diablo 3... Makes you wonder if the boss fights this time for diablo 3 are going to be on more of an MMO styled teamwork play, rather than the wing-it style hack and slash that diablo 2 was. Would I use it? I dont have a problem talking to other people AKA voice-chat style.
But that should not be read as confirmation that the team is working on any such port; as it is, they have their hands full trying to deliver on fan expectations for the confirmed PC release.
Good to know there not being lazy and sitting in NYC hotel rooms having 5 star hotel breakfasts everyday. :confused:.
That is completely idiotic. How could anyone think it would be released this year, they just announced the damn thing.
December 31 2009. All Blizzard games start with a theorised release date of December 31, it's like their thing. December 31 2008 is far too soon, and December 31 2010 seems to far away, so December 31 2009 works well. It's only a rough guide for blizzard they sort of pick a date and see how the game looks/works at that date then moves to release date accordingly.
Not sure about MMO team play style bosses, heard something about comparisons to Legend of Zelda though, also need to factor in Single Player. And a lone Barbarian Single Player at that.
I do not believe it will take too long, as the game looks pretty complete, apart from the content (skills, areas, etc). How long do you think it will take to create these?
CPU:Q6600 4x @ 2.4gHz->
RAM: 4GB Corsair DDR2 ->
HDD: Sata 400GB
GPU:ATI Radeon 2600xt 256mb GDDR4
Giggity Giggity
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but is the presence of fear and the will to go on."
and on the topic of battle.net they stated;
Quote:
"... No one will be forced to sign on to Battle.net to play Diablo III, but characters created offline will not be playable online in the interests of limiting any potential for cheating the system."
When they you cant play with your characters offline, online. I take it that's solely for battle net? or does that apply to tc/ip games aswell, ... cause damn that would suck if you don't really want to do anything with the community and just want to stick to playing with your gf and friends.
it got me curious, does anyone know if there will be tcp/ip anymore or if its all simply intertwined with battle.net to play private games?
im sure you will be able to do tcp/ip stuff still.
Agree, and yeah, that SUCKS !:mad:
Go Blizzard go! :thumbsup:
Btw have any one heard the rumors about a beta leaked out? true or false?
RIP: Demon Hunter: lvl 50 | Barb: lvl 60 (plvl 5) | Monk: lvl12 & lvl70 (plvl 200)
Stop it, we all know that D3 is going to come out on June 29th 2009 (you know DiabloI 12th birthday 1 + 2 = 3 it's just too perfect ;))
I would never have expected it to be released this year. I expect it would either be summer 2009 or Santa Clause would leave it in my stocking. He knows I want it!
I also never expected to see the Necromancer as a PC in D3. Not because of the Witch Doctor, but because at the beginning of the gameplay video, when the Barbarian first spoke, I could have sworn it was the Necro's voice from D2 - and still think so. Well, whether it is, or not, I'm not really all that disappointed since I still don't know what the other 3 PCs are going to be.
I can't wait to see what pops up at BlizzCon...
Ox:thumbsup:
-Albert Einstein