Blizzard Apologizes for Diablo III Launch Troubles

[Yvressian1]

This whole Diablo 3 thing makes me feel completely exhausted.
It kills me to see that a sequel to the two games that I've spent much of my childhood on have been turned into this cynical attempt to control users to unimaginable lengths.
I was considering buying the game when it was first announced, but the past few months have not only turned me off this game, but pretty much most of them.

The thing that really amazes me is the people defending Blizzard saying this is all perfectly normal and to be expected. I'm sorry, I cannot give 75 USD (the local price) to get a licence. I want a game, a product that I can buy once, and play whenever and however I want for the next 100 years if I feel like it. I don't want to be constantly connected to your server, and i don't want to give you my address or my personal information. I didn't have to do it over ten years ago when I bought Diablo 1 and 2, and I can still play those two whenever I like, without anyone knowing about it if I don't want them to. Is it to much to ask that I get the same treatment I got fifteen years ago? I know that people say that this is "the way things are" right now. And they blame the pirates. Or the corporations. Or hacks, cracks, cheaters, exploits or whatever else. I don't care anymore.

Besides which, I can't really afford games anymore. Not with the inflated prices, always-online requrements, online passes, DRM etc. This is what it's come down to. Games are a service, a method to keep you constantly handing over money, never own what you paid for and feel grateful, even defend the industry from criticism. It's just stopped being fun for me, and I don't feel like playing any more.

 

[manic_depressive13]

I was busy on launch day so I didn't get to experience the soul crushing disappointment of trying to log in to crowded servers. Nonetheless, my sympathies extend to every player who was forced to undergo such an ordeal.

 

[The.Bard]

I seriously wonder how anyone can still take anything in an escapist-forum serious when D3 is always called a singleplayer game.

I can not remember that i played D1 or D2 in singleplayer more than.. 5min to test a mod or something. If you're playing this multiplayer game as a singleplayer game - then yes, you'll be disappointed.

And now go and play Counterstrike on your empty server.. because being online is evil.

OT:
One of the smoothest starts i've witnessed, considering the huge playerbase D3 has.
People just like to hop on the "Boohoo D3"-Train because there's nothing else to moan about.

You're joking, right? Please don't tell me you're one of the 10-15% who got in ok on launch night, therefore the whole debacle must be made up by Blizzard haters. Maybe if you compare it to WoW's launch it was smooth. Maybe. If people buying a game and being unable to play it for several days is smooth, then I'd hate to see your version of a rough launch. Replacing the game discs with an airborne version of the Bubonic Plague, which is released upon breaking the seal of the jewel case?

As to your other point, D1 & D2 were single player games with multiplayer components. So despite Blizzard mauling the series by mutating D3 into an MMO, people have a right to be upset for not getting what they wanted... a single player game w/ a multiplayer component. In fairness to Blizz, they stated this insanity a year or so ago, but a lot of people don't actively follow internet news. They expected the game to be like D2, and it's simply not.

I hated playing with others, so I spent most of my D1/D2 time soloing in single player where I could be left alone. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

One of my friends bought ME3 for the coop and hasn't touched the single player campaign. Does that mean he can point and laugh at people who call Mass Effect 3 a single player experience?

Just because YOU only like Diablo for its multiplayer doesn't mean you should discount the opinions of those who just want to play whack-a-mole by themselves without this forced online DRM MMO garbage. It's a big reason I won't purchase the game. I mostly play PC games on my lappy when I'm traveling. Forced online servers can bite my shiny metal $*#&.

 

[PingoBlack]

Just because YOU only like Diablo for its multiplayer doesn't mean you should discount the opinions of those who just want to play whack-a-mole by themselves without this forced online DRM MMO garbage. It's a big reason I won't purchase the game. I mostly play PC games on my lappy when I'm traveling. Forced online servers can bite my shiny metal $*#&.

There goes a perfectly fine argument about personal choice. You ruined it yourself.
Yes, you should not discount opinions of others. On the other hand, you should not impose your opinion or desires on reality either.

This so called "forced DRM" is actually a well explained design decision, clearly explained to you before purchase. Since the game was designed to run on servers (i.e. always online), calling authentication a DRM only measure is purposeful distortion of reality.

You might dislike the fact Diablo 3 is an online only game. That's personal. But so was Guild Wars, the original. As long as you were clearly informed how game works, you really have no leg to stand on complaining about how the game works, right? So where are the same complaints about Guild Wars?

It is not for you. But giving impression Diablo 3 design allows offline play but was blocked on purpose is just untrue. It's not even opinion any more, but an outright misleading statement.

 

[PingoBlack]

If the current version was ACTUALLY being developed for 11 years, then it shouldn't be possible to beat it in 6 fucking hours.

It took decade to make an atom bomb, but it was gone in 2 milliseconds.
What was the point you were making again?

 

[The.Bard]

There goes a perfectly fine argument about personal choice. You ruined it yourself.
Yes, you should not discount opinions of others. On the other hand, you should not impose your opinion or desires on reality either.

Uuhhhhhhhhh, what? Where did I ruin it? I said that just because he thinks of Diablo as a multiplayer-only series, he shouldn't assume that's what other people think it is. The key point here being "Diablo SERIES". Not "Diablo 3". Did I ruin my argument by forcing my opinion on him that you shouldn't force opinions? Is that what you're trying to say??? The only opinion I imposed is that we should have a choice, just like we did in D1 &D2. (ie- Add an offline mode, Blizz!)

This so called "forced DRM" is actually a well explained design decision, clearly explained to you before purchase. Since the game was designed to run on servers (i.e. always online), calling authentication a DRM only measure is purposeful distortion of reality.

Well, for starters, if you read my post you will see that I gave Blizzard credit for mentioning this once a year and some months ago. But that isn't enough. It was not clearly explained before purchase. I have two friends who don't follow internet news, but loved D1 & D2. They learned that it was a free-to-play MMO after purchase and being unable to login.

I'm not saying they're entitled to refunds or anything, but this is something Blizz mentioned a year ago and never brought up again since. And let's call it for what it is. It's DRM. If you want to distort reality and pretend it's just a "well explained design decision," go right ahead. But it's DRM gussied up like an MMO. Prove me wrong and I'll give you a cookie.

You might dislike the fact Diablo 3 is an online only game. That's personal. But so was Guild Wars, the original. As long as you were clearly informed how game works, you really have no leg to stand on complaining about how the game works, right? So where are the same complaints about Guild Wars?

Again, we were NOT "clearly" informed how the game works. We were informed. Once. And then never spoken to about it again. To Casual Joe who doesn't surf the web - which I've seen many complaints from on this site alone - it was not clearly stated. And if not being able to login to play the game you just purchased constitutes "no leg to stand on," then yea, I suppose not.

Ironically, a man accused of murder can get away completely free if you discount the murder weapon with his prints on it. It's great how we can make arguments fail by throwing out the evidence! Wheee!

I don't play or follow Guild Wars news, so I can't talk to those points.

It is not for you. But giving impression Diablo 3 design allows offline play but was blocked on purpose is just untrue. It's not even opinion any more, but an outright misleading statement.

Ok, please don't put words in my mouth. I NEVER implied or gave any impression that D3 allowed offline play and was blocked on purpose. I don't even know what you're going on about here.

My point - which I believe still stands - is that D1 & D2 allowed offline play, and a casual mention of it being online-only over a year ago does not excuse Blizzard from people's anger when they bought the game and couldn't play it. D3 is a free-to-play MMO, and it was NOT marketed that way. Not clearly. Not secretively. People have a right to be angry at that.

And again, the DRM is why I won't buy it. Do I want to play it and see if it's as good as D2? Yes. Yes, I do. But I will not give them money for a game that has no offline mode. I can't do it. That's my personal choice, and I respect those who want the MMO angle. But don't think you can put makeup on it and call it something else.

 

[Leadfinger]

Again Escapist turns to sensationalist side.

Yesterday I saw zero reports that there were any problems. That apology was posted after they sorted out most of issues, especially log in ones.

So they seem to have managed to make it "actually work" in 2 days, Johnny. Not to mention you should be experienced enough to know D3 runs server side, so it is not quite single player with DRM. But then again, we knew this before purchase, didn't we? Especially professionals in the field of gaming should know the difference. Press then could explain it to lay people, right?

Guess you are going for hipster rage, one day too late. Or is this caused by Blizzard not giving you early access before masses for your review post?

No. Can't. Log. on.

 

[Abedeus]

Did you play the game?

No?

Then shut up and don't say it's shitty without having played it. Rushed? It took 10 years to release, and was announced in... 2008 or 2009? That's not rushed.

I remember problems Half Life 2 had after release. Game was unplayable not for the first few hours, like D3, but DAYS.

You bet your ass it's rushed.

Most of the work that has ever been done on it has been throw out the window. Blizzard realized that one gargantuan cash cow isn't enough, so they designed the entire game around the Real Money Auction House.

If the current version was ACTUALLY being developed for 11 years, then it shouldn't be possible to beat it in 6 fucking hours.

Diablo 3 is a bigger disappointment than fucking Spore

You beat the entire game, to level 60, all difficulty levels, in 6 hours?

Wow. Time traveler, no less.

Unless you actually didn't play the game and pulled the "6 hours" out of your ass. 12 hours played, level 29 Wizard when I finished Normal Mode, after rushing half the content and just going from objective to objective. And that's after having experience from Beta about monsters and skills to use.

A person new to the game after 6 hours might be in Act 2 or about to finish Act 2.

No. Can't. Log. on.

Weird. I've been able to start a Demon Hunter to level 7 (about half an hour) and few hours with level 22 Monk during last two days, that's how long the servers allowed me to log in.

And I still have no problems with logging in.

 

[PingoBlack]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

 

[tangoprime]

Just an update everyone- All of battle.net and blizzard.net, their subdirectories, and services are down at the moment. No WoW (as far as I've heard), no DIII, no SCII. Always-on drm sounds really great now doesn't it Blizzard?

 

[PingoBlack]

Again, we were NOT "clearly" informed how the game works. We were informed. Once. And then never spoken to about it again. To Casual Joe who doesn't surf the web - which I've seen many complaints from on this site alone - it was not clearly stated. And if not being able to login to play the game you just purchased constitutes "no leg to stand on," then yea, I suppose not.

See? Here is the crux of the argument.
You claim you were not adequately informed, while I seem to have managed to get the info as did a few others at least.

So herein lies the problem. The design decisions are not something we can change, but we can debate weather you were mislead into thinking Diablo 3 is not a online only game. (I won't expand this subject with the fine details of server hosted game vs online DRM like Steam, to simplify it.).

So the question is: Were the requirements for network connection clearly labeled?
Answer is ... Well ... Says on the box, required broadband.

 

[Leadfinger]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

I couldn't even access tech support. According to tangoprime (above), all battle.net is down. I'm definitely beginning to sour on always-on drm.

 

[tangoprime]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

I couldn't even access tech support. According to tangoprime (above), all battle.net is down. I'm definitely beginning to sour on always-on drm.

Confirmed, Battle Net, all subdirectories and folders, all services, Blizzard's website, store, all subdirectories and services are down. So at this point the only people able to play D3 or SC2 are the theives, while paying customers are shafted.

captcha: teflon president lol

 

[tangoprime]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

Hey Pingo-
Try playing D3 right now. Or SC2. Or WoW. Or going to Blizzard's website. Or Battlenet. Or their store. It's all down, and has been for at least the last few hours.

 

[The.Bard]

See? Here is the crux of the argument.
You claim you were not adequately informed, while I seem to have managed to get the info as did a few others at least.

As someone who works in marketing, let me put it to you this way. If I make a statement about my product that is absolutely accurate - but 65% of my customers misinterpret it, guess what?

I need to rethink what I'm saying, because I'm doing it WRONG.

But, no, the crux of the argument to me is not whether Blizzard informed people. To me, the crux of the argument is WHY D3 has no offline mode, and more importantly, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS KIND OF SLEAZY BUSINESS PRACTICE GO AWAY FOREVER? WHY punish people who want to play in an offline mode, especially when Blizzard half-assed the launch in such a cataclysmically bad way? (wocka wocka)

The game was not marketed as an MMO. Guild Wars, however, was! So if it's not marketed as an MMO, the forced online is a nasty li'l bit of DRM. I #@$&# HATE DRM. A lot of people also hate DRM.

The answer, of course, is Blizz wants to pillage our wallets. Combat piracy at the expense of the paying customer, and also to gold plate their cars with the money from a real money auction house. Both of those goals could still be fulfilled with an offline mode.

Intentional design or not, I think it's a crappy business tactic that I believe in vehemently fighting against. And I will continue to be vocal about it online because I think if people let it slide now, it's going to happen more and more frequently in the future.

And I for one don't feel like getting screwed out of money with some jerk in customer service telling me: "Oh, but it says we're screwing you right on the box!"

 

[Amnestic]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

Hey Pingo-
Try playing D3 right now. Or SC2. Or WoW. Or going to Blizzard's website. Or Battlenet. Or their store. It's all down, and has been for at least the last few hours.

Is working for me. [http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/?-]

And I just logged into WoW to check if that was working. It is. A guildy received an epic 8 minutes ago as of this post, which is the time when you made your post.

Clearly, it's "not all down".

 

[tangoprime]

No. Can't. Log. on.

Try contacting Tech Support then. You are now very definitely a minority, unlike first two days when issues were very real.

As a paying customer you have access to support, correct?

Hey Pingo-
Try playing D3 right now. Or SC2. Or WoW. Or going to Blizzard's website. Or Battlenet. Or their store. It's all down, and has been for at least the last few hours.

Is working for me. [http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/?-]

And I just logged into WoW to check if that was working. It is. A guildy received an epic 8 minutes ago as of this post, which is the time when you made your post.

Clearly, it's "not all down".

All .us and .com services just came back up after being down for the last few hours. I guess .eu was still working?

 

[PingoBlack]

All .us and .com services just came back up after being down for the last few hours. I guess .eu was still working?

What I noticed earlier was some DNS errors, but I was still at work and using my corporation's DNS. It also proves a very important point I was making ...

DNS problems are not related to Blizzard but are global thing, usually related to ISPs. I know it's easy to throw blame without looking into details, but reality is often way more complex than people want it to be.

Saying DNS problems are Battle.Net fault is about the same level of inaccuracy as calling Diablo 3 servers online DRM while ignoring they actually run the game.

 

[PingoBlack]

double

 

[jbm1986]

Yeah Blizz good job. I per-ordered the collectors edition ($100) 4 f**king months in advance. I couldn't play because my system wasn't up-to-date (partially my fault but still...) and even then after spending the time to get D3 to even install, I'm finally able to log in just to see a f**king "error 37"!? This happened not just one but two days in a row AND YOU'RE SORRY!? No, I'll tell ya what, I'm sorry for getting this DRM filled pile of fail.

Up yours Blizzard, up yours.

/rant