Diablo III

[Nagash]

the upcoming game Diablo III sounds awesome.... well not really. I was pretty much on the fence about getting it, but I've come to the realisation that it'll be best to actually not get it because even their own company doesn't think it's going to be a good game. here's a message they put out to fans...

"On a more serious note, I too worry that we won't be able to meet the expectations people have built up for themselves. Part of my job is managing people's expectations, so... eh... stop it. Stop thinking about how awesome this game could be. Just imagine it's a new M. Night Shyamalan movie. Sure Sixth Sense was amazing and Unbreakable had it's moments, but this right here is the sequel to The Village ... or The Happening ... or Signs ... or any of the movies besides the two I first mentioned. So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine. K?"

So from that they are saying, first = great, second = good, third = average at best.

I realise they'd still sell loads of copies right away anyway, but seems strange why they'd go out their way to tell fans that it's not going to be a good game, better to say nothing at all, cos with people like me who would consider buying it.... i've not played the other games so i would have been convinced to buy it if they gave it a little hype... but now they've lost a sale. Well i might buy it eventually but i'd wait until they reduce the price to a fiver or something. can't see the point in buying it full price... wait a week or so for the big price cuts

[Thaldarin]

It seems like he is not happy with how he has had to develop D3.

D3 is doing something that Blizzard normally refuse to do, and that is listen to the general public audience (rather than hardcore gamer/tester) on developing features.

D3 is going to initiate a simplified control system, lesser abilities, lesser item configurations and simpler than normal mechanics on item stats, an economy system fuelled by real world money. These design implementations were taken on board from a wider general audience. A lot of features for a more hardcore gaming audience are missing, with the exception of "ultra hard mode".

They've also taken the game away from "dark and gritty" and propelled their cartoony/casual approach taken from WoW in their character and environment design.

They've done all this because they've adapted to their market, they've learned from WoW and SC2 and the current climate. SC2 hasn't sold as well as they wanted it to over a longer term, because it's aimed at dedicated gamers and is harder to play casually. D3, is aimed at being a casual, with grind for hardcores.

I'm excited, because I have less and less time to play games these days. Equally, I like the universe and for me, the semi-gritty is pretty nice. Their reputation proceeds them and they're telling hardcore gamers to be less-excited, they're aiming more casual; which I think is a step forward for turning the industry around in-terms of PC gaming.

[red_ned]

i dint play any of them and "managing expectations" is a phrase i hate cus it means "we failed to do anything worth while" but if its 99p on steam i may invest a quid

[Thaldarin]

Ned go get D2, it'll probably remind you of Mir

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blizzard-Entert ... B00004UD54

[Nagash]

now they have removed PvP entirely from the game so they don't delay the release even more. eg, it's still not ready. They'll add it at a later date, but surely if your buying a game you don't want them to disable everything cos it's not complete. I've seen many a game disable features so they can meet a promissed release date only for the game to suffer because of it, and then stuff keeps getting pushed back until that disabled feature is forgotten about and they try and release something else in it's place to try and push sales.

[Siege]

blizz tend to release solid games than push for dates so untill tehy release a flop i'll belive it till i see it.

[Thaldarin]

Lack of PvP is a bit, confusing. Games such as STO which started life without PvP really suffered from it.

Although as Siege says, I'm yet to see Blizzard churn out a piece of crap. They're not exactly regurgitating CoD or BF or Fifa every year.

[Nagash]

forced release dates on companies that clearly don't need to force a release date has never been a good idea, especially when they have already been telling their fans not to get excited about the game. This is like... "you know how we told you not to get excited... well keep turning down the dial of excitement because we've got more news for you". If PvP is worth commenting about, it makes you wonder what else they've removed from the game

[Emmz]

no point dwelling, It'll come out when they think they have sorted everything. The fact they havnt released yet is a good thing rather than releasing and you having to patch it for all the bug fixes etc.
When it does eventually come out be it this year or next im sure it will make good gameplay, in the meantime play some Diablo 2 and kick Baals arse and mephisto's. and diablo's of course

[Nagash]

it's suspected to come out next month. A few retailers have leaked dates that they weren't supposed to, inc Amazon. Sometimes places like that put up fake dates to get sales, but when they do, they usually keep said date up and push it back towards the release, Amazon instead removed it completely. The suspected date is April 17th. They are also currently beta testing for release, so this date would match up.

Also it's still way buggy, as beta testers have already found a way to skip levels due to poor map design. Supposed to have been fixed now, but doesn't mean it's not all been fixed.