Why the love for Diablo 3?

[VladG]

Yes. It is basically an improved version of the game launched a decade ago, and that was an improved version of the game from 17 years ago. And it is exactly what fans want.

You see, the original Diablo basically started the genre of random loot, hack and slash clicfests (and it actually did have randomly generated dungeons, another thing I think it pioneered). It was a gameplay revolution at the time and it was an awesome game.

Diablo 2 came along and basically super-sized the game. More classes, more environments, more loot, more monsters; basically more game. It also updated some of the slower mechanics introducing a more frantic, engaging and active combat system, unique classes (the only difference in Diablo 1's classes were stat allocation and 1 skill)

Diablo 3 now promises to do what Diablo 2 did back in the day: Keep the best parts, totally improve on the rest. It will have an even better loot system, it will have a new and interesting class/skill system that is MUCH less restrictive than the old one (imo the biggest failing of D2 was it's rigid skill tree and the fact that you couldn't change anything once you commited points in a certain skill. This made it very necessary to plan ahead if you wanted a strong late game build and basically resulted in hoarding points untill you had access to whatever you wanted to use). Stuff like crafting makes adds a little diversity, organized Arenas for PVP lovers, A much improved combat system (again) that seems to require more skill and tactical awareness.

You see, Blizzard are masters of polish. They have only a few games in their portfolio, but ALL of them are insane hits. There is a reason for this. They are masters at creating simple gameplay that is incredibly fun and addictive and the reason they are so good is because a lot of time is spent on perfecting the basics.

Because it's Blizzard, I have no doubt in my mind that Diablo 3 will be awesome.

And honestly, people complaining about DRM and not buying it "because it doesn't even have a pause button" or "offline mode" deserve to miss out. Learn to actually read about the DRM and the always online mode and not just article headlines and sensationalist bullshit.

Just because the game requires you to always be connected dosen't mean that:

1) You can't play alone
2) You can't pause the game
3) It's going to be like Ubisoft and not allow you to play the game because their servers are crap. Remember that Blizzard has been hosting it's BattleNet for a very long time now, it has the LARGEST mmo out there. They know how to maintain and build their server infrastructure.

It's exactly like Starcraft 2: you have to log in to play, but from then on, you have all the singleplayer you want.

Also I personally love the cross-game chat/friends functionality that is only possible with a constant online link.


Oh, and I guess it's worth noting that a lot of games have tried to copy Diablo (2) and all have FAILED miserably. I have played every other similar game out there and not ONE is even REMOTELY as fun as Diablo 2 was.

 

[VladG]

If Diablo 3 was being made by any company other than Blizzard people would be insulting it for exactly the reasons the op states.

Most people have been blinded by Blizzard's flurry of marketing.

Yeah, you might have a point there... And here's me thinking people have been blinded by Blizzard's incredible track record of making every single game incredibly good and fun and an extreme hit.

You know, stuff like Starcraft 1 that's still one of the most played games in the world after 13 years of existence. Huh, that's some marketing they have there.

 

[Jadak]

What more do you want than what you described? I loved Diablo, I loved Diablo 2. My only fault with either is that they came to an end. Now that end is being removed, with new abilities and such just to keep things interesting.

The only thing I would want out of a sequel beyond simply extended gameplay of Diablo 2 is the graphic overhaul, it simply did not date that well and is annoyingly low res these days. And given Blizzard products of late, I'm also expecting the the interface will be greatly improved and smoother than ever, which is just icing on the cake.

But seriously, would you rather it be a different game? It's an instalment in a franchise, not a new IP. Being more of the same is exactly what it's supposed to be. The majority of the market, at least to start with, is going to be those who remember and loved Diablo 2. Why would you make a game catering to those people and than change it up so it doesn't still feel like that game? The only changes needed are those of a technical nature / modernization.

 

[Hobonicus]

Your first gripe is the gameplay. Everything you mentioned is what keeps the game in the same fucking genre as its predecessors. God knows, if this were a legit complaint, apart from something like Heavy Rain, not a single game in the past 5-30 years (depending on the genre) would have escaped gamers' ire. Plus, sometimes, a graphical update is something that's just enough to bring a dated game into a new age (in the case of the game's gameplay being perfect and unaging). Note that I'm not saying the graphics are the only thing that changed, and you're ignorant on the matter if you so much as imply that.

I knew this argument would come up, so I wanna address this specifically.

The issue doesn't scale as simply as you suggest. The TC is saying that the regular Diablo formula feels dated today. Not just the graphics, not just the point and click gameplay, the whole formula. Your point would have merit if all modern games getting sequels also felt dated, but they don't, so you can't easily compare the situation. And everything he said isn't necessarily what keeps the game in the same genre. I feel like there's certainly more they could do to modernize the gameplay as well as add potential new mechanics into the mix. You can still keep it's core values and amazing itemization while updating the bits that need it. You wouldn't remake the original Doom and still refuse to add a vertical axis.

I think the TC's argument of not trusting a game that hasn't aged perfectly is much stronger than your rebuttal of pointing at other games as some sort of a logical squeeze theorem. And then the rest of your post isn't so much refuting him as it is you accepting only minor changes as a positive. As for the graphics, Diablo 3's art design looks closer to Warcraft 3 and WoW than Diablo 2. To me it would have felt more innovative if they stuck to a darker, more gothic approach than continuing with their much more popular cartoony style.

I wouldn't have put much effort into this, but the TC made a mature and humble post. Each response until yours had been similarly mature and made me proud that a community could debate their opinions with politeness and understanding, but then i got sad. Congrats on your 777th post though, I wonder if it's lucky.

 

[Jadak]

ignore double post

 

[Jadak]

It's exactly like Starcraft 2: you have to log in to play, but from then on, you have all the singleplayer you want.

You don't have to login to play Starcraft 2 single player.

 

[VladG]

If Diablo 3 was being made by any company other than Blizzard people would be insulting it for exactly the reasons the op states.

Most people have been blinded by Blizzard's flurry of marketing.

This is a great springboard. However, I think this outlook is amplified by the outrage of some Diablo fans saying that the online requirement is a deal breaker for them and now people swear up and down that those fans (like myself) are going to miss out on some "epic" game for some petty reason. I think some people are showing massive love to try and make some point to those that are claiming they wont buy because of the AH/Online.

Truth be told, the online requirement is a deal breaker for me. This game won't be anymore epic than Diablo 2. It isn't bringing much fresh to the table. Two major downsides (AH/Online) and not much the way of upsides doesn't sound like anything to get excited about personally.

How can you argue the auction house is bad?
just don't use the thing if you dont like it. That doesnt count against the game, like at all. You can keep your anti online stance though because there are plenty of qqers like yourself who refuse to get good internet ^^

Oh and id suggest everyone kicking and screaming against using the internet brace themselves, because this is the way everything will be going.

PvP/PK system. AH that lets you buy power with your credit card. These are 2 elements of gameplay that should never mix. Ever.

Diablo 3 mixed them.

Even if you don't care about PvP (Blizzard sure as hell doesn't), Diablo has always been a "kill shit, get loot" game. If I can "beat" Diablo 3 by buying the absolute best gear within 15 minutes and probably 90$.... what's the bloody point in playing at all?

Well the point is up to whoever spends their real money on such things, if its not your kind of thing, then don't do it, its ENTIRELY optional, although i hope to get some kickass stuff to sell on there making my gametime get me money.

And competitive pvp always requires the best gear, instead of under the table deals like in WoW now they made a legal way of doing it. My careface is not on.

Wow, you really bought into this AH scam didn't you?

Here's what's gonna happen.
RMT sweatshops are going to own Diablo's economy. It's what they do, and they've gotten pretty good at it. You by yourself can't compete with warehouses of under-nourished people playing this game 24/7. Once you get a good drop, they've gotten hundreds of that same drop. They then proceed to undercut you to the point where the value of the item becomes worthless, but they'll have a huge stock and a monopoly on the sale of that item. Blizzard? They don't give a shit, they're taking their cut from each/every transaction. If RMT jump on this opportunity (since Blizzard endores their methods and made it "legal",) you won't make a dime playing Diablo 3.

Now... let's say I'm playing D3 without using the AH. I'm obviously using sub-optimal gear because it takes time to find the stuff, or I can just lvl and find a new range of gear that's better. Anywho, PK 12 yr old griefer joins my game and decides to absolutely destroy me and/or my friends because he paid 25 bucks for ZaUberSwordz!

Rinse and repeat that scenario about 200 times, and eventually anyone wanting to actually enjoy Diablo 3 will say "fuck it" and give in to using the AH, just to fight back. You can't get away from the game's central concept without it being an uphill battle.
Either that, or password lock my game so I can play my online game by myself (why weren't we given an offline mode again? Oh right, bottlenecking towards AH so Blizzard can money whore some more.)

If that sounds fun to you, more power to you. I'm not about to tell you what to spend your money on, I'm just listing why I'll personally be avoiding the game like the plague. Diablo is dead.

Whhats the downside to password locking. Your making it sound like a great deal of effort. That its simply not. And yes there will be korean grindhouses big whoop.

If Diablo 3 was being made by any company other than Blizzard people would be insulting it for exactly the reasons the op states.

Most people have been blinded by Blizzard's flurry of marketing.

This is a great springboard. However, I think this outlook is amplified by the outrage of some Diablo fans saying that the online requirement is a deal breaker for them and now people swear up and down that those fans (like myself) are going to miss out on some "epic" game for some petty reason. I think some people are showing massive love to try and make some point to those that are claiming they wont buy because of the AH/Online.

Truth be told, the online requirement is a deal breaker for me. This game won't be anymore epic than Diablo 2. It isn't bringing much fresh to the table. Two major downsides (AH/Online) and not much the way of upsides doesn't sound like anything to get excited about personally.

How can you argue the auction house is bad?
just don't use the thing if you dont like it. That doesnt count against the game, like at all. You can keep your anti online stance though because there are plenty of qqers like yourself who refuse to get good internet ^^

Oh and id suggest everyone kicking and screaming against using the internet brace themselves, because this is the way everything will be going.

PvP/PK system. AH that lets you buy power with your credit card. These are 2 elements of gameplay that should never mix. Ever.

Diablo 3 mixed them.

Even if you don't care about PvP (Blizzard sure as hell doesn't), Diablo has always been a "kill shit, get loot" game. If I can "beat" Diablo 3 by buying the absolute best gear within 15 minutes and probably 90$.... what's the bloody point in playing at all?

Well the point is up to whoever spends their real money on such things, if its not your kind of thing, then don't do it, its ENTIRELY optional, although i hope to get some kickass stuff to sell on there making my gametime get me money.

And competitive pvp always requires the best gear, instead of under the table deals like in WoW now they made a legal way of doing it. My careface is not on.

Wow, you really bought into this AH scam didn't you?

Here's what's gonna happen.
RMT sweatshops are going to own Diablo's economy. It's what they do, and they've gotten pretty good at it. You by yourself can't compete with warehouses of under-nourished people playing this game 24/7. Once you get a good drop, they've gotten hundreds of that same drop. They then proceed to undercut you to the point where the value of the item becomes worthless, but they'll have a huge stock and a monopoly on the sale of that item. Blizzard? They don't give a shit, they're taking their cut from each/every transaction. If RMT jump on this opportunity (since Blizzard endores their methods and made it "legal",) you won't make a dime playing Diablo 3.

Now... let's say I'm playing D3 without using the AH. I'm obviously using sub-optimal gear because it takes time to find the stuff, or I can just lvl and find a new range of gear that's better. Anywho, PK 12 yr old griefer joins my game and decides to absolutely destroy me and/or my friends because he paid 25 bucks for ZaUberSwordz!

Rinse and repeat that scenario about 200 times, and eventually anyone wanting to actually enjoy Diablo 3 will say "fuck it" and give in to using the AH, just to fight back. You can't get away from the game's central concept without it being an uphill battle.
Either that, or password lock my game so I can play my online game by myself (why weren't we given an offline mode again? Oh right, bottlenecking towards AH so Blizzard can money whore some more.)

If that sounds fun to you, more power to you. I'm not about to tell you what to spend your money on, I'm just listing why I'll personally be avoiding the game like the plague. Diablo is dead.

Not a big fan of the AH system, but here's the deal: Everything you complained about was happening in Diablo 2 as well, it was just not "legal". IT still happened at the same rate, so I fail to see the point of that complaint other than just general trolling. Also loot grindhouses will actually have a beneficial effect on economy since it will keep prices low (oh, sure, if you were planning to earn money off the game, tough luck). There will be no monopoly since there are 50 thousand of those sweatshops all over, all competing witch each other. It won't affect gameplay much either since all loot is level restricted, and you will be able to buy the stuff with in-game gold (and before you suggest that won't happen, because, hey, why would you sell for gold, when you can sell for RL money, check out EVE Online's economy).

Oh, and if people would even bother to learn about the game, and not just troll the always online DRM, you'd realize you don't even have to password lock your game to play alone. There is an "invite-only" mode where nobody can join your game without you inviting them to.

Now please feel free to troll the "oh, I have to do 20 clicks to play with friends, why can't they just join" aspect of this mode.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

No, they have introduced new elements towards the game, although whether or not it has worked in anyones favor is up for debate.

-- Real-money auction house.

-- Internet requirement.

I'll buy the game, most definitely. Because it's Blizzard. And in Blizzard, I trust. I damn well do, ever since Warcraft III, Diablo II and WoW and its expansions.
Feels good to be optimistic, although relying ignorantly, instead of being cynical, and judging before you leap.

Those two are pretty much the reason i won't be getting Diablo 3 although i still want to buy it i just can't stand that form of DRM so i'll stick to playing Rage and other games to take my mind off D3

 

[veloper]

D3 won't innovate on D2, because Blizzard are way to conservative, so I'll pass.

Past games have shown Blizzard won't really innovate.
Example SC2 only got SOME of the obvious interface improvements, such as new SCVs accepting rally points to minerals as an action instead of a move, but we still cannot queue effectively.
The difference is ofcourse that SC1 was still IMO a good game, so SC2 by extention is slightly better, but Diablo 2 was never really a good game, just a long game, with pretty visuals and sounds (at the time).

Blizzard are so conservative we can write off the hope of D3 getting WASD control, or another dual stick equivalent and I'm not going back to mouse movement.

 

[No_Remainders]

Feels good to be optimistic, although relying ignorantly, instead of being cynical, and judging before you leap.

I'm going to disagree, for the single point that it's always on internet. If you lose connection for a second, you're no longer playing the game, and Blizzard couldn't give a shit about that.

Oh, and as someone else pointed out, there's no pause button.

What do I do if I'm trying to fight ten monsters and then the phone rings?

 

[black_knight1337]

its the same reason why ppl by any sequel. almost all sequels take the same basic formula and then make some adjustments to it. also considering that the diablo series is the greatest hack n slash series of all time. this is all coming from a guy who pre-ordered diablo 3 over a year ago. so yeah its something that i am incredibly pumped for. its taking everything great from the series and adding a bunch of new stuff to it. really what's not to love?

 

[Aurgelmir]

I have been watching the videos for Diablo 3 and reading the comments people post. I feel like I'm looking at a completely different game from people who are excited by this and am honestly curious to hear what I'm missing.

This looks like the same gameplay, very lightly twiddled, as the original Diablo had a decade and a half ago - essentially a gussied up slot machine. The idea was reasonably novel then, but now? Procedurally generated terrain was, I think a feature of Diablo II, just over ten years ago. This one... I'm really not seeing what's new about it, what makes it worth getting excited by. Is it the moderately updated graphics? I mean, it's kind of keeping with the times, I guess, having progressed from sprites to 3D models but I've been watching videofootage and I haven't really seen anything that makes it not look like the original tile based 2D game. Points for consistency I guess.

I'm confused that people - particularly fans - don't find it insultingly stale. Isn't getting all excited by this basically the same as people who rush out to buy Madden NFL for full price every year, only with a ridonkulously long development cycle? Why all the love for the clickfest?

With that as a point of departure for this forum, let me state clearly - if you like Diablo 3, more power to you. Goodness knows I've got a place in my heart for games other people don't care for, to each their own, etc etc. I don't mean any insult and would really like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks!

If I replace the word Diablo, with the words Star Craft, you get exactly what people was moaning before the release of Star Craft 2.

My point then, and my point now is this:

You don't need to evolve your game as much with each iteration of your games, if they are released 5-10 years apart. They have made a lot of changes to the game though, and it is very different from both Diablo and Diablo II, much like Star Craft 2 is very different from Star Craft when you start looking at it.

 

[RemuValtrez]

It's just the type of game Diablo is. I always love games in diablo style, main one that comes to mind is Divine Divinity, which I almost like more than Diablo2, as it's a hell of a lot more funny. There's a point where you don't need insane graphics to make a great game. Diablo found that point 10 years ago. You want it to feel like the same game that you loved long ago, something that hardcore diablo fans and newer players can get into easily.

 

[Abedeus]

It's cool, man. Just do what I'm going to do and buy Torchlight 2. More Diablo than Diablo, and at a cheaper price.

As good as Torchlight was, compared to Diablo 2 at release, it was pretty mediocre.

3 classes. Yes, you can install mods with more, but you can also make complete remakes of classes in Diablo 2... Graphics were so-so, nothing spectacular, reminded me more of WoW than Diablo, gameplay was really easy because I somehow outleveled everything except for the portal zones. I don't think I even played half-way through the game... Don't get me wrong, I liked it. But it wasn't the next Diablo 2. It was just another copy. Better copy than most of the HnS genre, but still a copy.

And without multiplayer.

Diablo is THE hack and slash game. Always was, probably always will be.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

It's cool, man. Just do what I'm going to do and buy Torchlight 2. More Diablo than Diablo, and at a cheaper price.

As good as Torchlight was, compared to Diablo 2 at release, it was pretty mediocre.

3 classes. Yes, you can install mods with more, but you can also make complete remakes of classes in Diablo 2... Graphics were so-so, nothing spectacular, reminded me more of WoW than Diablo, gameplay was really easy because I somehow outleveled everything except for the portal zones. I don't think I even played half-way through the game... Don't get me wrong, I liked it. But it wasn't the next Diablo 2. It was just another copy. Better copy than most of the HnS genre, but still a copy.

And without multiplayer.

Diablo is THE hack and slash game. Always was, probably always will be.

Talking about Torchlight 2 in comparison to Diablo 3, bro.

 

[Aeonknight]

Not a big fan of the AH system, but here's the deal: Everything you complained about was happening in Diablo 2 as well, it was just not "legal". IT still happened at the same rate, so I fail to see the point of that complaint other than just general trolling. Also loot grindhouses will actually have a beneficial effect on economy since it will keep prices low (oh, sure, if you were planning to earn money off the game, tough luck). There will be no monopoly since there are 50 thousand of those sweatshops all over, all competing witch each other. It won't affect gameplay much either since all loot is level restricted, and you will be able to buy the stuff with in-game gold (and before you suggest that won't happen, because, hey, why would you sell for gold, when you can sell for RL money, check out EVE Online's economy).

Oh, and if people would even bother to learn about the game, and not just troll the always online DRM, you'd realize you don't even have to password lock your game to play alone. There is an "invite-only" mode where nobody can join your game without you inviting them to.

Now please feel free to troll the "oh, I have to do 20 clicks to play with friends, why can't they just join" aspect of this mode.

I know about the "black market" activity on Diablo 2. But just because it happens, doesn't make it mainstream. With Blizzard building the game around the idea, it's about to become alot more prevalent than it ever was in Diablo 2. "It happens anyway" isn't a good enough excuse for the developer to intentionally jeopardize game balance to make a quick buck.

As for the grindhouses, the only reason they got brought up was to dispel any notion bahumat42 has about earning any cash playing Diablo 3. Which you agree on. As a side effect, it does bring things to dirt cheap like you (and I) said. The consumer wins, the farmer doesn't.


In regards to the whole AH thing overall, Hammeroj did bring up a vital detail that no one else bothered to mention: no PK'ing. That in itself does make the AH completely optional, where I'm not punished for choosing to farm my gear from scratch instead of use the short cut Blizzard built into the game. Still a retarded concept imo, but at least now others can't use it to buy power then turn around and abuse it by stabbing me with their 50$ sword.

I'm not too proud to say I stand corrected on that portion of my post. But now you're just arguing a point that has already been acknowledged as moot.

 

[Zeriah]

If Diablo 3 was being made by any company other than Blizzard people would be insulting it for exactly the reasons the op states.

Most people have been blinded by Blizzard's flurry of marketing.

Hah, "blinded by Blizzard's marketing"? What a joke.

Every game Blizzard has ever released has been genre defining not to mention the best game of the genre until they release their sequel 6~ years later. But hey, it's their "marketing" that is getting people to buy/have faith in their games...

*rolls eyes*

People bitched the same way about Starcraft II and look how amazing, not to mention popular that game is. It lords over the RTS genre with an iron fist, with absolutely zero competition. D3 will be just as amazing, I'm laughing my ass off at the people who think Torchlight 2 will have anywhere near as much polish, gameplay, depth, production value or balance as D3.

 

[Abedeus]

It's cool, man. Just do what I'm going to do and buy Torchlight 2. More Diablo than Diablo, and at a cheaper price.

As good as Torchlight was, compared to Diablo 2 at release, it was pretty mediocre.

3 classes. Yes, you can install mods with more, but you can also make complete remakes of classes in Diablo 2... Graphics were so-so, nothing spectacular, reminded me more of WoW than Diablo, gameplay was really easy because I somehow outleveled everything except for the portal zones. I don't think I even played half-way through the game... Don't get me wrong, I liked it. But it wasn't the next Diablo 2. It was just another copy. Better copy than most of the HnS genre, but still a copy.

And without multiplayer.

Diablo is THE hack and slash game. Always was, probably always will be.

Talking about Torchlight 2 in comparison to Diablo 3, bro.

Problem is, neither of the games came out. Until we get to play both of them (and not just look at trailers or gamplay), we shouldn't even be talking. For now, the only thing we can do is compare the previous games.

Also, saying "Why do you love Diablo 3?!" and saying "FORGET ABOUT DIABLO 2" makes no sense. Diablo 2 is probably in my top 3 best games ever made. How, in any possible way, would that NOT influence my opinion about the sequel? If I look forward to another book from a series, it's not because of the book itself - but because the first book was great and I expect the sequel to be as good or better.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Feels good to be optimistic, although relying ignorantly, instead of being cynical, and judging before you leap.

I'm going to disagree, for the single point that it's always on internet. If you lose connection for a second, you're no longer playing the game, and Blizzard couldn't give a shit about that.

Oh, and as someone else pointed out, there's no pause button.

What do I do if I'm trying to fight ten monsters and then the phone rings?

Those are the downsides of treating a game as an online game. Any game as online, in fact.

I trust Blizzard chose this decision wisely from gained market information. For, there must had been considerably more players saved on b.net than single player.
I am completely comfortable at playing Diablo III just as I played Diablo II anyways; on B. Net.

I also find those decisions do not outweigh everything else which bear the potential, to turn the game into, undoubtedly, the bestseller of 2012.

 

[No_Remainders]

Feels good to be optimistic, although relying ignorantly, instead of being cynical, and judging before you leap.

I'm going to disagree, for the single point that it's always on internet. If you lose connection for a second, you're no longer playing the game, and Blizzard couldn't give a shit about that.

Oh, and as someone else pointed out, there's no pause button.

What do I do if I'm trying to fight ten monsters and then the phone rings?

Those are the downsides of treating a game as an online game. Any game as online, in fact.

I trust Blizzard chose this decision wisely from gained market information. For, there must had been considerably more players saved on b.net than single player.
I am completely comfortable at playing Diablo III just as I played Diablo II anyways; on B. Net.

I also find those decisions do not outweigh everything else which bear the potential, to turn the game into, undoubtedly, the bestseller of 2012.

I'd honestly be surprised if it came close to bestseller of 2012... Mostly because I doubt they'd get it out by 2012 Because they'll lose so many people who don't have perfect internet connections and don't want to have to wait until their wifi stops acting up so they can play the game.