Blizzard Explores Consoles

By Sixen Nov 15, 2010
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Blizzard has said many a-times that they were tossing around the idea of joining the console wars... Now it's more than just a thought; they are currently hiring for three different Console positions on the D3 Development Team: a Senior Producer, Lead Designer, and a Lead Programmer. However, as this other version gets further into testing, I am sure we will see more positions opening up in this regard as long as all goes well.

Official Blizzard Quote:

As some of you may have seen over on the Diablo III home page, we’re currently exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles. As we’ve said in the past, with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we’re interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in contributing to such a project.

To further reiterate what’s posted on the home page: this is not an announcement of a console title. We are first and foremost developing Diablo III for Windows and Mac PCs, and we have no intention of allowing a console interpretation to delay or otherwise affect the release of the game. As always feel free to discuss this topic here, but please note that we don’t have any further details to share at this time.

If you or someone you know would be interested in joining the Diablo team, then head over to the job posts to check out the requirements and submit an application.

Since the game itself will be coming out Soon(TM) as Don has explained, I do not believe that it will be out in time to make a big impact on the Xbox360, Wii, and/or PS3 lives. If the game were to come out, it would need to be on a next-generation console otherwise, D3 will just end up like SC:Ghost.

If you guys noticed, at the end of one of the Job Opportunity pages, "Battle.net" was listed as a plus. How exactly these console games will work with Battle.net is something I would be very interested in learning about... Theoretically then, we PC users could potentially play in the same game with Console users.

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Verity
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#1 Verity

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Posted Nov 15, 2010
It's interesting.. I do think that, as Blizzard says, with proper care Diablo III could very well fit for consoles. The general gameplay (slashing monsters) is indeed fitting. I just hope they won't make any adjustments to the PC game just to make it easier for consoles.

I don't know about not getting the game out "in time" for this generation of consoles. You can probably do everything you want with the game on the current generation (at least xbox/ps3) so I see no reason to not get it out there. And the majority of the game will already be done, it's mostly porting and adjusting the ui for console that needs to be done. Should not take a huge amount of time.

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SFJake
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Do we need this again?

Here's the last big topic about consoles: http://www.diablofans.com/topic/22616-diablo-3-on-consoles/

It included exactly the same news, except less recent: "We are exploring the possibility to make D3 on consoles blabla".

I just don't see the need to start yet -ANOTHER- completely pointless debate on this matter, because this is always what happens with this.

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Azriel
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
In before "it's gonna lag PC version production".

I dunno how it's going to work on consoles. I'm still imagining myself holding a 360 controller and trying to move my guy in isometric. Just doesn't sit right with me. If they have it in third person view... not gonna like it. Not at all...

EDIT: ... why, ansl, did you ninja me and completely debunk my whole bit on the "it's gonna lag blablabla."

WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN?!

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Verity
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#5 Verity

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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from SFJake

Do we need this again?

Here's the last big topic about consoles: http://www.diablofan...-3-on-consoles/

It included exactly the same news, except less recent: "We are exploring the possibility to make D3 on consoles blabla".

I just don't see the need to start yet -ANOTHER- completely pointless debate on this matter, because this is always what happens with this.

It is true that this have been up before, but in the way that Blizzard was thinking about it. Now we have confirmation that they wish to try to develop a console version, which is something I think many would like to know.

Also, they actually didn't say they are trying tosdf do Diablo III bam to console, but "we’re currently exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles." This could be something like maybe a Battle Arena based game for the console, or anything basically.

Talking about Diablo III related stuff is what we do on this forum. Since the game is not out yet you could argue that all discussions are pointless.. but we still like it

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Verity
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#7 Verity

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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from ansl

I just hope this doesn't slow down the release date of DIII for PC's... you guys think it will?

I don't think so. That's why they are hiring more people. They want to develop this alongside with Diablo III. The main team will still focus on the PC game (most likely).

Quote from Azriel

In before "it's gonna lag PC version production".

I dunno how it's going to work on consoles. I'm still imagining myself holding a 360 controller and trying to move my guy in isometric. Just doesn't sit right with me. If they have it in third person view... not gonna like it. Not at all...

EDIT: ... why, ansl, did you ninja me and completely debunk my whole bit on the "it's gonna lag blablabla."

WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN?!

Technically, Diablo 3 doesn't use isometric, it's full 3D now. It's just viewed from the same angle as in Diablo 2 (which was isometric). I don't think it would be a problem, loads of console games use the same kind of camera angles, for example, Fifa (yes, quite different from Diablo, but basically the same camera view).

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flobernoggin
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
yea.. i see no issue with this, cross-play doesnt seem likely to me, because i assume it would require all platforms and i dunno if you could get pc xbox and ps3 to agree on such a thing.

Game developers come to mind making me think that they'll make less money if cross play was enabled cuz if you have all systems you'll only need to buy 1 game instead of 3.

but anyway, im completely confident that this wont have an effect on the release and i dont think theres much to discuss

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Siaynoq
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
I've yet to try a game that is originally meant to be played with a mouse that works well on a console. Same reason I refuse to play Dragon Age until I can run it well on a PC cause I know I'd enjoy it far more with the mouse. And I do love console games still.

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Donsro
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
I'm not sure if I like this idea. If it's for consoles, then I'll be forced to get both versions which is a lot of money. AND I don't like the fact that people who don't deserve the game (those who never played D2) will be able to grab D3 for their console with no knowledge of the story or previous games, just because it looks cool. So I have mixed feelings.

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Siaynoq
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from Donsro

I'm not sure if I like this idea. If it's for consoles, then I'll be forced to get both versions which is a lot of money. AND I don't like the fact that people who don't deserve the game (those who never played D2) will be able to grab D3 for their console with no knowledge of the story or previous games, just because it looks cool. So I have mixed feelings.

Why would you be forced to buy each version? And I wouldn't worry about undeserving console people playing a Diablo game for the first time. There's just as many jerkstores who will play the PC version that could care less about the previous games.

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ScyberDragon
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Dammit, Why don't I know anything about console programming? Yet one more missed opportunity to work for Blizzard.

Why don't they ever have any positions for "Person who can ramble on for hours about nothing"?

Seriously, I take the information about it not delaying PC release promising about the closeness of such date. As for the actual game, I still don't understand how targeting would work. There is just no way you can move a cursor with a joystick as fast as a mouse. Unless it is for the Wii, which would be awesome if they included movement based attacks. I would love to hack n' slash in my living room.

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Magistrate
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
I tried that with some Wii game and it was a pain in the ass. My friend was an expert at it, though. I have mixed feelings.

...No...

*snuggles computer mouse*

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ScyberDragon
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Zelda on Wii was pretty fun swing the wii-mote around. Sometimes I would even get lucky and kill some guys will itching my nose :P.

I will definitely prefer playing it on the comp though. I know the technology has changed but I played D1 on both PC and Playstation and the game just feels better on a PC.

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Donsro
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from Siaynoq

Quote from Donsro

I'm not sure if I like this idea. If it's for consoles, then I'll be forced to get both versions which is a lot of money. AND I don't like the fact that people who don't deserve the game (those who never played D2) will be able to grab D3 for their console with no knowledge of the story or previous games, just because it looks cool. So I have mixed feelings.

Why would you be forced to buy each version? And I wouldn't worry about undeserving console people playing a Diablo game for the first time. There's just as many jerkstores who will play the PC version that could care less about the previous games.

I would be forced because I have a ps3 and it would be too tempting not to try it. I know that people will buy the PC version with no previous knowledge, but bringing it to consoles amplifies that to everyone who walks into gamestop looking for a cool game. Maybe I'm just selfish I don't know, but another point could come up. Would Blizzard be so involved with the console version that they could spend less time and possibly overlook the PC version?

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Siaynoq
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#17 Siaynoq

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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Hmm, all I'd care about is that my laptop can run the whole game on maximum video settings. Then I wouldn't care at all about playing it on a console.

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lowl
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from ScyberDragon

Dammit, Why don't I know anything about console programming? Yet one more missed opportunity to work for Blizzard.

Why don't they ever have any positions for "Person who can ramble on for hours about nothing"?

Seriously, I take the information about it not delaying PC release promising about the closeness of such date. As for the actual game, I still don't understand how targeting would work. There is just no way you can move a cursor with a joystick as fast as a mouse. Unless it is for the Wii, which would be awesome if they included movement based attacks. I would love to hack n' slash in my living room.

I have some hack n slash games on my ps3 simalar to torchlight and the auto target and manual target switching works well. Though with things like teleport im not sure.

Quote from Donsro

I would be forced because I have a ps3 and it would be too tempting not to try it. I know that people will buy the PC version with no previous knowledge, but bringing it to consoles amplifies that to everyone who walks into gamestop looking for a cool game. Maybe I'm just selfish I don't know, but another point could come up. Would Blizzard be so involved with the console version that they could spend less time and possibly overlook the PC version?

Im more concerned with the idea that blizz would waste money on buying rights to put their game on ps3 and xbox than how they would set it up. Its been done in the past plenty of times and its not that hard and doesnt take alot of time to set up an auto targeting system (i would imagine)

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Siaynoq
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#19 Siaynoq

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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Auto targeting system? Not sure I like the sound of that.

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necronergal
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
The video reminds me more of a dungeons and dragons online look than a diablo look.

Its the spiders

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Zoobi
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Another PC-only developer succumbs to the shit-pile that is consoles. Yes I realize Diablo 1 came out for the PS1, I had hoped they would have learned from that failure.

I expect any future diablo titles to be dumbed down console kiddy pieces of shit like the vast majority of games out there today.

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AcidReign
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
The only reason I'm kind of worried about this decision, is that I'll have to buy the game twice.

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Siaynoq
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Posted Nov 15, 2010
Quote from Zoobi

Another PC-only developer succumbs to the shit-pile that is consoles. Yes I realize Diablo 1 came out for the PS1, I had hoped they would have learned from that failure.

I expect any future diablo titles to be dumbed down console kiddy pieces of shit like the vast majority of games out there today.

Whoa, put down the razor, son. And maybe Blizzard did learn from Diablo 1 being on the Playstation. Such as how to make it better for a console than that game was.

I still stand that games to be played with a mouse can never be played as well as on a PC, but your bias against consoles here almost makes me believe there are tons of people like you who hate the idea just cause they hate consoles in general.

Quote from AcidReign

The only reason I'm kind of worried about this decision, is that I'll have to buy the game twice.

I actually own Fallout 3 on PC and Xbox, but for no particular reason. Seriously I wonder why I have one for each.

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