Just gonna jump in here and say, with confidence, that I both despise this system, I think it violates our rights as a customer (you know I'm serious, I said rights!). I mean, I really don't like the hacky-slashy type gameplay of Diablo games and games like them, but I swear that's the lesser reason, I swear!Mariena said:
id Software Praises "Always On" in Diablo 3
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
I for one will probably buy collectors edition if I am able to but wait to see if anyone makes a unofficial offline patch or mod. Though if that doesn't happen then I'll probably play it for singe player then have it collect dust like Starcraft II has until recently favorite WC3 TD got put on it.
The way TF2 generates items is based on the client being connected to the TF2 item servers. The longer you're connected, the more item drops you get. This is, of course, limited to a certain number per week and is reset every Wednesday. Crate drops operate in the same manner but use a different drop timer than the timer for your hats, weapons, and other items.qwerty19411 said:
If you're playing in offline mode, you're most likely not connected to the item servers. Ergo, you won't accumulate any items in that time. Also, if you're not connected, you won't have access to you dropped items.
This can be annoying, but it also keeps people from flooding their backpacks with duped and generated items since everyone's backpack items are stored on the Valve servers. However, it doesn't stop you from playing offline by yourself or with friends on a LAN. Which is something Blizzard apparently doesn't think is a good idea.
I was anxious at the prospect of finally getting to play Diablo 3. For a time, I was apathetic towards the news but quickly remembered how fun Diablo 2 was and the fun times I had playing with friends over LANs or playing the story by myself. Apparently Blizzard thinks I'm some kind of criminal jackass or a moron for wanting to play that way. So here comes the "Always On DRM".
Well, frankly Blizzard, I'm calling bullshit. This is one of the biggest dick moves I've seen from a game company in a long time. Just because you're merged with Activision doesn't mean you have to act like them. So, seeing as you've given me the equivalent of a giant middle finger in regards to how I'd like to play the game BY...MY...SELF..., I will respond in kind...
Pretty much this.Zenn3k said:
Don't like it, don't buy it.
I'm not too bothered by it, though I can understand where the opposition is coming from. Not everyone is blessed with a perfect internet connection. Regardless, I'm going to buy it. And play the hell out of it for many years to come.
Just to point out, lots of ISPs have some really insane "fair usage policies" which cap download speeds and capacities, and always on DRM is likely to impact these policies, particularly if large numbers of gamers are using them at the same time.
Perhaps these people should stop developing games on their dedicated development testing machines, and actually go about seeing how real people actually use their PCs and internet connections.
I bet a lot of companies are basically looking at the downsides and saying to themselves "but that's down to your ISP, not us" or "things like that happen, but are very rare." Screw that - they should step down from their ivory towers sometime and see the real world...
Perhaps these people should stop developing games on their dedicated development testing machines, and actually go about seeing how real people actually use their PCs and internet connections.
I bet a lot of companies are basically looking at the downsides and saying to themselves "but that's down to your ISP, not us" or "things like that happen, but are very rare." Screw that - they should step down from their ivory towers sometime and see the real world...
Huh. You mean like I couldn't have used a special sumthin sumthin to work a certain Ubisoft Renaissance-related game offline after I bought it? Weird, I did, with the help of Uncle Google.
...And this is how it's going to end. Legit customers will have to search for hacks the thieves use to play the game they paid for. Or risk having gameplay interrupted.
...And this is how it's going to end. Legit customers will have to search for hacks the thieves use to play the game they paid for. Or risk having gameplay interrupted.
As usual, this policy will further diminish what anonymity and privacy consumers in a digital age have, while barely hindering pirates. The efforts to make a hack-proof, electronic media just result in a more restricted experience for the unquestionably ethical gamer whose paid his fare.
Actually, it's remarkably easy to argue that he's being spectacularly stupid. Observe: I just lost the following rant because my internet died. No, wait, sorry, internet's a constant, especially outside the US, I must have imagined it.Andy Chalk said:
I live in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. If you haven't heard of it, I forgive you. We lose the internet to every, say, second or third thunderstorm to roll through. For the last two months, we've had great chances of thunderstorms, and excellent actual thunderstorms, fairly regularly. We've lost internet frequently. What do I do during these outages? Why, I play games. Duh. Some Sacrifice, VVVVVV, TF2, that sort of- wait. TF2's multiplayer only. Except, oh wait, it's got a bot match in case you're offline. Huh. The multiplayer only game supports a single player? Who's offline? While the game with a single player story mode doesn't support offline? And requires that I be streaming the game content? On Saskatchewan's internet? Pff-hahahaha ha ha ha haaaa... ha. Wait. You're not kidding? You, you're aware that Canada actually doesn't have anyone offering unlimited internet use at reasonable speeds, right? You're aware Canada has great internet compared to other parts of the world, right? You're aware that the US isn't the only. Damn. Country. In. The. World.
Right?
...
...
Hate. I hate this. Hate it with an unholy passion. Hate all who would support it. Hate, hate, hate, hate.
Sorry if this little bundle of hatred got incoherent or hard to read. Not particularly sorry if you got pissed or depressed because of it, though.
Principles are only there to take down any disciussion before there is a point. With this always-online strategy you're being treated as a criminal as much as when you walk across the street, where CCTV-camera's are watching you.fenrizz said:
You're not a criminal, but those camera's are there for the ones that are. Same with this, I don't assume you or anyone else specifically pirates. I'm just saying that because people pirate, Blizzard is forced to take such a measure. This grants them my full understanding as I couldn't come up with a better, less agonizing (but equaly viable) solution.
Again; I'm always online anyway. It doesn't hurt me (nor the majority of the people).
Yeah, I used to live in a house in Scotland (not particularly remote even, just in the country side) where firstly, fuckin' BT didn't connect the internet for 4 months (but still charged us for the internet) and even when it was connected, heavy rain would take us off the grid. So yeah, I understand your troubles.Eggbert said: