DiabloFans Interview With the Devs: Highlights
DiabloFans had the opportunity to speak to Josh Mosqueira, Travis Day and Wyatt Cheng and while we work on the full transcript we wanted to summarize the major points in an easy to read form.
The Game
- There will be announcements about new features before BlizzCon
- Even though he loves PvP, Travis hopes Diablo 3 doesn't go down the eSport road, because when you focus on that type of PvP content you’ll have diminished results in the PvE part. Diablo 3 is meant to be a PvE game
- Archon and Wrath of the Berserker changes won't come in a “vacuum”. They'll be part of a bigger change to class skills. This way skill power can be redistributed more effectively
- Blizzard are working on including the Mystic back into the game, but it’s still not clear what unique feature she might offer
- There are talks about making Paragon levels account-wide, so that you don't feel like you're losing experience while playing your Paragon 100 character. Also potentially adding customization like stat allocation to it
- If additions to the Paragon system are made, people that already have the required Paragon level will get the rewards on patch day
- The different Blizzard teams not only give feedback to each other, but sometimes even help each other with development
- The Diablo team draws a lot of inspiration and even “some direct ideas” from the community and even mentioned specifically some of our “Suggestion” articles that have gained some good popularity
- The Diablo 3 team has actually just received the new PS4 development kits so the translation for that platform is yet to be done. They really like the features on the PS4 controller and want to try and do something cool with the trackpad and share button
- Diablo 3 will not be a launch date title for the PS4. It will come in 2014. The developers prefer to try and get the most out of the different features that platforms have, instead of just porting the game to each of them
- There aren't any plans for Diablo 3 on portable devices
- When an expansion comes the main concern will not be to ship it simultaneously on all platforms, but instead try to make the expansion features as relevant to each platform as possible
- Jay Wilson approached Josh for the position of Lead Console Developer, because of their long past of working on other projects together
- Josh tries to play a variety of games besides Diablo 3, like other ARPGs and even some Call of Duty in his spare time. Currently he's looking to try The Last of Us
- Travis explains that Josh is the type of person that really thinks about the grand scheme of things and how the different features may pan out in the long run and their exact purpose in the game
Would you have preferred more repeated news about the console version's pending release and the how itemization will be released after BlizzCon?
Awaiting the transcript.
Loved the news. Hopefully the major skill overhaul and Paragon changes comes before Christmas
Well, maybe those that reached X PL100 characters pre-[insert whatever future paragon change patch number] will get some kind of emblem on each character profile that shows they reached paragon 100 on them the... "original" way? Makes for more bragging rights
Look I know nobody has time to level 5 characters to paragon 100, I just got my first paragon 100 two weeks ago. However what's the point if there isn't always something to strive for. I'm pretty done until patch once I finish achievement cap. However at my slow ass rate the patch may come first.
However I would totally 100% be alright with it if the expansion had lvl 99 like Diablo II. Then Paragon being account is totally fine with me.
One final note. I think the Mystic making the return to the game was inevitable. Seriously, who's stupid ass idea was it to remove it in the first place? They should be fired............................................;)
1) That we will get some new features before blizzcon
2) That the devs do have their ears open - that fact that they at least saw some of the Dfans suggestions (not that they are going to implement them) is good because it actually shows they are at least listening. Hopefully this acknowledgement from Blizz devs that show they are listening sparks some of our members to make more cool ideas!
3) That they might do some huge skill system overhaul.. I heard in the 'Twizzcast' that in retrospect Travis thought that the skill runes would have been better as affixes on items...might have been cool in some ways eg the item hunt..
A bit sad that they never want to make PvP an eSport.. PvP is a big end game mode for me in most games.
Overall - excited for the future and am going to start Paragon leveling now since it might be useful later...
I'm not a console player so all the stuff about it didn't stir my interest too much.
Good to hear they are still working to improve the game.
I'll be waiting!
What features a Mystic Woman could do? A striptease? You pay 20m gold to see her tits.
I think I would pay 20 mill to add an affix to my item..
1. Travis Hopes it will not be e-sport. This doesnt mean it wont be, but yeah, seems like no e-sport.
2. Mike Morhaime told us that Diablo 3 wont be an e-sport game a while ago. Things can change
Total: No to e-sport seems legit.
It is the mystic, yes. They changed her appearance and cut her dialog very heavy to make it seem she was just a normal traveler. But yeah, She was in the beta actually. Footage can be seen here in the beginning:
Andrew Chambers: You specify the item you want, then you choose the enhancement you want, and that enhancement actually has a range. So say the plus experience might be 10 to 20 percent: when she applies it you might get +15% experience. You can reapply that and you’ll have a change of getting +16% or +17% experience, but it will never go beneath the current enhancement and you've always got a chance to improve to the maximum possible value. Blizzcon 2011 interview.
The mystic creates scrolls, potions, magical weapons, spell runes, and charms, and can also enchant items. The full list of Formulas she will apply.
Nice to see she's coming back in a patch. I bet it is about charms! Like those runestones we had in D2, but with a new feel to it. Hopefully a tetris styled invension.
Too bad D3 wont be on a PS Vita. But yeah, It might change!
Do not see the point in having paragon account-wide. Once you hit 100, people might get bored. My goal currently is to level up my second character to paragon 100, while doing so try to craft her better gear. Money is however always an issue.