Diablo 3 upcoming release

Since I first started writing this blog some 4 years ago, I had days when I thought Blizzard has totally forgotten the http://www.maxfreak.com/diablo2/“>Diablo 2 success, high on their WoW profits.

As 2010 draws to an end, Diablo 3 finally looks close enough for us Diablo fans to have a reason for celebration. In just a few weeks, it will be 2011 – the year that Diablo 3 will finally be released. With Starcraft 2 and their new mmo in the works, Blizzard’s marketing will be able to focus on their step-child franchise.

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Get into the Diablo 3 beta!

Note: You only get ONE email, when Blizzard announces the Diablo 3 beta.

Diablo 3 hero customization

Now, Diablo is officially an RPG, so some degree of character personalization is expected. Not so, if you ask Bashiok, your (not so) favorite Blizzard community manager:

Official Blizzard Quote:
We’re focusing on customization through items as they can be seen better from how far away the camera is from the character.

OK, so no character customization except for items. I guess I can live with that, just promise me this will speed up development, so you’re ready for 2011 release!

700 Diablo 3 Skills??

I remember a game designer who said that a great fantasy game has a few mechanics (skills) that result in infinite combinations, like chess for example.

Diablo 3 is obviously taking the opposite approach: an infinite number of skills that accomplish the same thing – reduce mob’s HP.

Official Blizzard Quote:

Amount of skills in Diablo III, with all player runestone variants included, is currently topping 700…

It’s staggering really, even to me still. Those are all unique in their visuals too, which is important to note. Sure some of them may be simple color shifts but most of them are unique mechanics with completely unique visual effects. It’s crazy. Big up to our effects guys.

A Diablo 3 demo will be playable at Blizzcon 2010, so we’ll see if ALL 700 skills make sense.