Comments on: Diablo III finally out http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 21:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ant http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1426239 Ant Thu, 17 May 2012 00:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1426239 Carpal syndrome! Carpal syndrome!

]]> By: Rephlex http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1425151 Rephlex Wed, 16 May 2012 04:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1425151 <a href="http://kotaku.com/5910613/korean-players-take-down-final-diablo-iii-boss-but-cant-get-loot" rel="nofollow">Beaten in 5.5 hours after release in Korea.</a> Beaten in 5.5 hours after release in Korea.

]]> By: First Last http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1425023 First Last Wed, 16 May 2012 00:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1425023 That option in Diablo II was the major source of Closed Battle.net (the restricted multiplayer only play) cheating because to supply that option they had to put the server architecture into the singleplayer game.  Ostensibly it makes a lot of sense, but providing an offline client-server architecture basically gives people a sandbox for them to learn how to fuck you hard and how softly they can fuck you without you noticing - the only alternative is to create and maintain two entirely different but superficially identical games with intentionally differentiated behaviour in the core code. That option in Diablo II was the major source of Closed Battle.net (the restricted multiplayer only play) cheating because to supply that option they had to put the server architecture into the singleplayer game. 

Ostensibly it makes a lot of sense, but providing an offline client-server architecture basically gives people a sandbox for them to learn how to fuck you hard and how softly they can fuck you without you noticing – the only alternative is to create and maintain two entirely different but superficially identical games with intentionally differentiated behaviour in the core code.

]]> By: retchdog http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424762 retchdog Tue, 15 May 2012 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424762 single-player diablo? here: http://crawl.develz.org/wordpress/downloads save some money and have more fun. single-player diablo? here: http://crawl.develz.org/wordpress/downloads save some money and have more fun.

]]> By: l337n00b http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424632 l337n00b Tue, 15 May 2012 17:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424632 If that happens with any regularity then they may indeed regret their online only play option.  That's very bad press. If that happens with any regularity then they may indeed regret their online only play option.  That’s very bad press.

]]> By: l337n00b http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424631 l337n00b Tue, 15 May 2012 17:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424631 I don't like jumping to the conclusion that it would have been easy to do.  As it is there are many aspects of the game that the client doesn't even have the capacity to provide because they are provided by the server. I'd really like an offline option, I just see this as a business decision, not a conspiratorial one. I'm sure Blizzard is mostly aware of the consequences of this decision - they did the same thing with StarCraft 2.  I think they are concerned primarily with sales, not with "controlling" us, and - whether or not it would be in this case - giving players more choice doesn't always make for a better experience for the widest possible range of people. Unfortunately unless there are some very big problems with battle.net over the next few days and weeks (the first few hours after launch aren't going to get them in really deep trouble) they are probably not going to really lose anything from their decision to leave off the offline option, so they will probably continue with this route in the future. At any rate, I don't see how this isn't going to be worth my $60, even if I can only play it one day a week. I don’t like jumping to the conclusion that it would have been easy to do.  As it is there are many aspects of the game that the client doesn’t even have the capacity to provide because they are provided by the server.

I’d really like an offline option, I just see this as a business decision, not a conspiratorial one.

I’m sure Blizzard is mostly aware of the consequences of this decision – they did the same thing with StarCraft 2.  I think they are concerned primarily with sales, not with “controlling” us, and – whether or not it would be in this case – giving players more choice doesn’t always make for a better experience for the widest possible range of people.

Unfortunately unless there are some very big problems with battle.net over the next few days and weeks (the first few hours after launch aren’t going to get them in really deep trouble) they are probably not going to really lose anything from their decision to leave off the offline option, so they will probably continue with this route in the future.

At any rate, I don’t see how this isn’t going to be worth my $60, even if I can only play it one day a week.

]]> By: l337n00b http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424606 l337n00b Tue, 15 May 2012 17:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424606 Yeah, that's totally to be expected.  I'm very pleased that that game would last 12.5 hours on normal difficulty, it's longer than I would have guessed. Yeah, that’s totally to be expected.  I’m very pleased that that game would last 12.5 hours on normal difficulty, it’s longer than I would have guessed.

]]> By: purple-stater http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424580 purple-stater Tue, 15 May 2012 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424580 I've been playing for about an hour now.  So far it's worth 10x every penny I paid for it. I got it free. Seriously, it's okay.  Nothing awesome, basically a more modern graphics version of the first two.  Fun enough for what it is.  Other than that, I'm solidly in the camp of never paying again for a game that I have no control over the long-term playability, and the on-line only aspect is a total killer.  Whenever I visit my parents I take my laptop along, but gee.... they live out in the country with no internet available. I’ve been playing for about an hour now.  So far it’s worth 10x every penny I paid for it.

I got it free.

Seriously, it’s okay.  Nothing awesome, basically a more modern graphics version of the first two.  Fun enough for what it is.  Other than that, I’m solidly in the camp of never paying again for a game that I have no control over the long-term playability, and the on-line only aspect is a total killer.  Whenever I visit my parents I take my laptop along, but gee…. they live out in the country with no internet available.

]]> By: s2redux http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424571 s2redux Tue, 15 May 2012 16:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424571 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A5174%2Ck%3AVideo%20Game%20Soundtrack&page=1" rel="nofollow">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/category2/896/a/Video+Game+Soundtrack.htm" rel="nofollow">CD Universe</a>, and <a href="http://gh.ffshrine.org/soundtracks.php" rel="nofollow">others</a>; covers and originals. Amazon, CD Universe, and others; covers and originals.

]]> By: Ryan Lenethen http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424545 Ryan Lenethen Tue, 15 May 2012 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424545 In Diablo you can craft weapons and armor, socket Gems to customize equipment, and buy and sell on an online auction house! Oh wait... In Diablo you can craft weapons and armor, socket Gems to customize equipment, and buy and sell on an online auction house! Oh wait…

]]> By: ikelleigh http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424539 ikelleigh Tue, 15 May 2012 16:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424539 One of the best improvements is that when in a multi-player group, the loot you see is for you alone. No more scrambling to greed-click stuff before anyone else sees it. Other nice things: No more identify scrolls, no more teleport scrolls. One of the best improvements is that when in a multi-player group, the loot you see is for you alone. No more scrambling to greed-click stuff before anyone else sees it. Other nice things: No more identify scrolls, no more teleport scrolls.

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424527 Jim Saul Tue, 15 May 2012 16:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424527 There have been soundtrack cds in some "special edition" packs of games... I bet there will be one. Here's a live performance of the Tristram Theme from the new game at Blizzcon: http://youtu.be/-Py4ccO2kTA There have been soundtrack cds in some “special edition” packs of games… I bet there will be one. Here’s a live performance of the Tristram Theme from the new game at Blizzcon:

http://youtu.be/-Py4ccO2kTA

]]> By: mbaren http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424518 mbaren Tue, 15 May 2012 15:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424518  I do:  http://gamepolitics.com/2012/05/15/someone-has-already-beaten-diablo-iii But no, it was beaten on Normal in about 12.5 hours.  Not the highest difficulty.  I do:  http://gamepolitics.com/2012/05/15/someone-has-already-beaten-diablo-iii

But no, it was beaten on Normal in about 12.5 hours.  Not the highest difficulty.

]]> By: ZikZak http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424497 ZikZak Tue, 15 May 2012 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424497  "Are you sure you want to create an offline character?  If you do, you will never be able to use this character in multiplayer games." [CANCEL]  [ALLOW] If Blizzard was really only concerned about the player's experience, they could simply give us the option.  It's not like it would be any trouble to implement, but it would make a big difference for people who don't have always-on internet (laptop gaming, anyone?). But they don't even offer the choice, and I'd be willing to bet that they'll take legal action against anyone who tries to make that choice available.  If they were worried about multiplayer cheats, they could restrict only multiplayer play.  If they were worried about players being annoyed when they can't transfer their characters, they could just warn them in advance. Blizzard is not moving to online-only to help you, they're doing it to control you.  ”Are you sure you want to create an offline character?  If you do, you will never be able to use this character in multiplayer games.”
[CANCEL]  [ALLOW]

If Blizzard was really only concerned about the player’s experience, they could simply give us the option.  It’s not like it would be any trouble to implement, but it would make a big difference for people who don’t have always-on internet (laptop gaming, anyone?).

But they don’t even offer the choice, and I’d be willing to bet that they’ll take legal action against anyone who tries to make that choice available.  If they were worried about multiplayer cheats, they could restrict only multiplayer play.  If they were worried about players being annoyed when they can’t transfer their characters, they could just warn them in advance.

Blizzard is not moving to online-only to help you, they’re doing it to control you.

]]> By: Michael http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424490 Michael Tue, 15 May 2012 15:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424490 Just watched the trailer for the game. Loved the soundtrack. Are those ever released for video games? Can't remember that happening. Just watched the trailer for the game. Loved the soundtrack. Are those ever released for video games? Can’t remember that happening.

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424488 Jim Saul Tue, 15 May 2012 15:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424488 What's the hurry?  You should stay a while, and listen. (Kidding... couldn't help it. Farmers gonna farm.) What’s the hurry? 

You should stay a while, and listen.

(Kidding… couldn’t help it. Farmers gonna farm.)

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424484 Jim Saul Tue, 15 May 2012 15:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424484 How's the music? Tristram theme from D2 is still my all time favorite piece of game music. Nice that they got that one so right, since it would play if I left a char in town while windowed over to some other program. How’s the music? Tristram theme from D2 is still my all time favorite piece of game music. Nice that they got that one so right, since it would play if I left a char in town while windowed over to some other program.

]]> By: Ethan Taliesin Houser http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424430 Ethan Taliesin Houser Tue, 15 May 2012 14:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424430  gay marriage?  gay marriage?

]]> By: l337n00b http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424404 l337n00b Tue, 15 May 2012 13:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424404 Really?  I'm surprised you can even run through the game four times in 14 hours.  Blizzards internal test team never beat the hardest difficulty.  Do you have a link to an article about this? Really?  I’m surprised you can even run through the game four times in 14 hours.  Blizzards internal test team never beat the hardest difficulty.  Do you have a link to an article about this?

]]> By: l337n00b http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424400 l337n00b Tue, 15 May 2012 13:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424400 I don't think there will be an "uncrippled" version to torrent.  You don't connect to the server just for authentication, key parts of the game are generated server end rather than client end. I can understand people's frustration but this isn't a nefarious decision on Blizzard's part.  They are trying to prevent hacks and cheats from ruining online play (as it did almost completely in Diablo 1 and somewhat in Diablo 2).  Sure they could have included a single player version, but there was a real problem with Diablo 2 where most people started single player and then were frustrated that they had to start over to play with friends online (since they can't control hacks in a single player mode). You aren't happy, but "treating fans like criminals" isn't really what they are doing, and I don't think there is any hope for a version that works offline, hacked or otherwise. I don’t think there will be an “uncrippled” version to torrent.  You don’t connect to the server just for authentication, key parts of the game are generated server end rather than client end.
I can understand people’s frustration but this isn’t a nefarious decision on Blizzard’s part.  They are trying to prevent hacks and cheats from ruining online play (as it did almost completely in Diablo 1 and somewhat in Diablo 2).  Sure they could have included a single player version, but there was a real problem with Diablo 2 where most people started single player and then were frustrated that they had to start over to play with friends online (since they can’t control hacks in a single player mode).

You aren’t happy, but “treating fans like criminals” isn’t really what they are doing, and I don’t think there is any hope for a version that works offline, hacked or otherwise.

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424397 Rob Beschizza Tue, 15 May 2012 13:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424397 It means you can have a single-player character that you can also play with others, should you wish to do so. "Server side worlds/characters only" is not really (or at least not just) a DRM thing. It's an anti-cheating, anti-hacking thing. And anyone whose been playing Diablo since the 1990s will know how awful hackers and cheaters have, in the past, made these games for other players. If you want an evil reason for online-only, it's not DRM -- it's ensuring that everyone is playing in a way that supports in-game for-cash item exchanges. It means you can have a single-player character that you can also play with others, should you wish to do so.

“Server side worlds/characters only” is not really (or at least not just) a DRM thing. It’s an anti-cheating, anti-hacking thing. And anyone whose been playing Diablo since the 1990s will know how awful hackers and cheaters have, in the past, made these games for other players.

If you want an evil reason for online-only, it’s not DRM — it’s ensuring that everyone is playing in a way that supports in-game for-cash item exchanges.

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424395 franko Tue, 15 May 2012 13:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424395 that happens with every new release. that happens with every new release.

]]> By: Shinkuhadoken http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424362 Shinkuhadoken Tue, 15 May 2012 12:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424362 First world problems! First world problems!

]]> By: Roose_Bolton http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424357 Roose_Bolton Tue, 15 May 2012 12:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424357 My only experience with modern day gaming has been WoW; played pretty steadily for a year when LichKing was released, dropped it for some time, just came back to the fold a month ago. Not that I hate it, but it's getting a little tiring. If anybody who is familiar with both WoW and Diablo could make a case for ditching the former in favour of the latter, I'm all ears. My only experience with modern day gaming has been WoW; played pretty steadily for a year when LichKing was released, dropped it for some time, just came back to the fold a month ago. Not that I hate it, but it’s getting a little tiring.

If anybody who is familiar with both WoW and Diablo could make a case for ditching the former in favour of the latter, I’m all ears.

]]> By: howaboutthisdangit http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424344 howaboutthisdangit Tue, 15 May 2012 11:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424344 This.  I am not always online, and I see no reason to be tied to a server just to play a single-player game. Having been burned by download-and-register-online games where the creator (if they still exist at all) no longer supports them, I refuse to buy any game which requires online anything. As my heroes at the Anti-Advertising Agency liked to say, "You Don't Need It." This.  I am not always online, and I see no reason to be tied to a server just to play a single-player game.

Having been burned by download-and-register-online games where the creator (if they still exist at all) no longer supports them, I refuse to buy any game which requires online anything.

As my heroes at the Anti-Advertising Agency liked to say, “You Don’t Need It.”

]]> By: rtb61 http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424234 rtb61 Tue, 15 May 2012 06:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424234  It's off the buy list for me because the game play style is just to damn old, spent a lot of time on LOTRO and the teeny tiny character and semi-fixed camera just doesn't cut it. Right now I'm looking for a mix of FPS with 3rd person, so you can swap from one to the other aiming in FPS (extra killing power with less situational awareness) and then in 3rd person (grinding). Simply took too long, so bargain big some distant time in the future, or not, meh.  It’s off the buy list for me because the game play style is just to damn old, spent a lot of time on LOTRO and the teeny tiny character and semi-fixed camera just doesn’t cut it.
Right now I’m looking for a mix of FPS with 3rd person, so you can swap from one to the other aiming in FPS (extra killing power with less situational awareness) and then in 3rd person (grinding).
Simply took too long, so bargain big some distant time in the future, or not, meh.

]]> By: Rephlex http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424223 Rephlex Tue, 15 May 2012 06:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424223 Now this is funny. There are difficulty modes in Diablo III. Basically, Easy, Hard, Nightmare, this is not including the Hardcore mode that is permadeath. So our Asian friends in the pacific rim have had the game servers up now I think close to 14 hours and a few people have beaten the game on the most difficult setting. Thats right, beat the game before it even went live here in the US. Ha! Now this is funny.

There are difficulty modes in Diablo III. Basically, Easy, Hard, Nightmare, this is not including the Hardcore mode that is permadeath.

So our Asian friends in the pacific rim have had the game servers up now I think close to 14 hours and a few people have beaten the game on the most difficult setting. Thats right, beat the game before it even went live here in the US.

Ha!

]]> By: Dave Pease http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424215 Dave Pease Tue, 15 May 2012 06:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424215 you can pick up gold by walking across it instead of clicking.  brilliant. you can pick up gold by walking across it instead of clicking.  brilliant.

]]> By: pfooti http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424211 pfooti Tue, 15 May 2012 06:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424211 For what its worth (and at the risk of sounding a bit fanboyish), the always-online feature is there to support things like multiplayer play and in-game item exchange. If the game didn't feature that, duping and other exploits would have made the item exchange pointless. That said, TL2 should be pretty awesome as well. For what its worth (and at the risk of sounding a bit fanboyish), the always-online feature is there to support things like multiplayer play and in-game item exchange. If the game didn’t feature that, duping and other exploits would have made the item exchange pointless.

That said, TL2 should be pretty awesome as well.

]]> By: Jeffrey Karter http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-finally-out.html#comment-1424207 Jeffrey Karter Tue, 15 May 2012 06:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=160843#comment-1424207  They did... for the start of the release party in Irvine.  They did… for the start of the release party in Irvine.

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