Blizzard response

When I first posted that Diablo 3 was dumbed down and targeted at a console release, there were some angry comments.

Now Blizzard has confirmed that Diablo is indeed coming out for Playstation as an official announcement:

Diablo 3 beta errors

If you have got the news about the Diablo 3 open beta weekend (a.k.a. stress test), you have probably started downloading the beta client already.

The problem is once you have the download complete – Blizzard explicitly stated you need to wait to 100% and not click play before that – you will probably not be able to log in. Welcome to error message 3003 (login problems) and error 37 (servers busy).

Even Diablo’s technical forum is filled with complaints about the 3003 error. It seems that the forum servers themselves are running pretty slow and posting is next to impossible.

Update: Since only the EU servers are up and running, make sure you select EUROPE! Go to Options > account > server region selection > europe.

Update 2: Actually, the US servers are now up so go ahead and try them instead. I just managed to log in and create a barbarian! Go to Options > account > server region selection > america.

Last batch of Diablo beta keys

It seems that the rules have changed a bit when it comes to the Diablo 3 beta sweepstakes. It seems that instead of sending 2000 beta keys on December 12, they will be sending 200 keys each Monday (until December 12).

If you are already playing the Diablo 3 beta, congratulations! If not, maybe today is your lucky day. The beta invites will be sent out today, so keep your fingers crossed.

Diablo 3 official release date - 2012

Blizzard’s Ron Pardo has been spinning the truth for the last few months. They really wanted to release in 2011 but… (fill in the blank).

It’s now official: Diablo 3 is postponed for early 2012:

HELL FREEZES OVER — DIABLO® III TO SHIP IN EARLY 2012

Despite a sterling record of always hitting its release targets, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that the expected launch window for Diablo® III, the next title in the company’s critically acclaimed series of action role-playing games, will be moving into early 2012.

That’s the BAD news. Is there any good news? Well, the beta test has been extended and additional beta invites will be sent out. In addition, I expect that the open beta will last A BIT LONGER as well, Blizzard needs more playtesting as balancing the 5 classes is a lengthy process.

Diablo 3 beta leaked

There’s a leaked video from the Diablo 3 beta! There isn’t much to see apart from the classes in Diablo 3.

Diablo 3 is probably on track for a 2011 release - nothing short of AMAZING!

Diablo 3 official beta

Gamescom attracts quite a few game journalists, so it’s the logical place for all kinds of official announcements: from DOTA2 to … Diablo 3 beta.

Reports Kotaku:

Diablo III’s beta will hit by September, hopefully before, Blizzard game director Jay Wilson said during a Gamescom press conference today.

When’s the game coming out? “When it’s ready.”

Not surprisingly, Jay’s consistent with Blizzard’s “when it’s ready” party line. So it remains to be seen if they are going to hit the 2011 release date.

Diablo 3 beta release

Diablo 3 beta is probably just a few weeks away.

Blizzard has already finalized the box art for Diablo 3 beta, so that you can select it in your Battle.net account as part of the beta selection process.

Btw, if you still haven’t signed up for the beta, go to your Battle.net account now.

In addition to the Diablo 3 box art, Blizzard’s PR machine has roared to life, announcing a press tour starting August 1.

According to MMO Champion, it’s the same pattern as with Cataclysm – the beta release date is probably 2 weeks away... the greatest day for all game sites about Diablo.

Diablo coming in 2012? No way!

Have you been reading blogs in the last couple of days? Then you must be alarmed. No, Diablo is coming out in 2011. Or so says none other than Rob Pardo:

“We really, really hope so. That’s our goal,” Pardo said. “Our goal is to get there. But you know, at the end of the day, we are going to get it right. That’s more important. We’re going to promise, we’re going to get it out there when the game is awesome. And, we’re crossing our fingers, maybe it will be this year.”

Now, there... and forget about Joystiq and their drivel.

Diablo beta

Check out Blizzard’s leaked schedule. According to it, Diablo 3 will be released sometime before Christmas. So when can we expect the beta?

First of all, make sure you have OPTED IN for the Diablo 3 beta. Here’s the steps:

Sign up for a battle.net account
If you have a Battle.net account, login here.
You’ll see a link Beta Profile Settings
You might have to download an app that will upload your system specs
You’re done

OK, so back to the question of WHEN. Using Starcraft’s beta, it should be about 6 months before the official release date. So that means summer 2011 will be the summer of Diablo 3.

Diablo 3 production plans

You’ve probably heard that Blizzard’s production schedule was leaked (source: MMO Champion). It’s rumored to have been leaked by an anonymous, yet authoritative source.

Looking at past releases, the schedule is spot on: Battle.net 2.0, Starcraft 2, WoW mobile, Cataclysm. A good idea is listening to the Blizzard's investor call conference and figure out where the overlap is.

What does that mean for Diablo 3 and its release date? First, we confirm that 2011 remains the target date. On the negative side, it seems they are targeting the holiday season, so November or Decemeber 2011.

Some of you have attended Blizzcon 2010 and 1000 beta keys will go to Blizzcon attendees.
Remember to fill in your email in the form below and you’ll get an immediate notification when Blizzard announces.

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.

---

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.

New MMORPG Riftforge Announced

Riftforge Entertainment Ltd. today announced the development of Riftforge, an ambitious fantasy online role-playing game. It challenges massively multiplayer online game conventions with deep, tactical combat, adding a significant element of player skill. Hundreds of thousands of players will be able to cooperate and compete on an unprecedented scale, thanks to a new web technology platform.

PRWEB: Upstart MMORPG Riftforge To Challenge Genre Conventions

Diablo 3 item management

Blizzard is hard at work figuring out the inventory management. If you compare the screenshots from the initial announcement to the current version, you’ll see plenty of differences.

Yet, they aren’t happy with it. Blizzard states:

Inventory management and the systems that surround it are something we’re obviously interested in, but not something that can really be tuned until we have more of the item game fleshed out and tuned itself. It’s hard to know exactly the best way to handle inventory management when the items, types, pickup frequency, and removal frequency can’t really be measured with any real accuracy.

I hope this doesn’t mean we get to play item tetris – as it was in Diablo 2 with different items taking different number of slots.

At the same time, Blizzard obviously don’t want to copy WoW’s inventory system. Or, Warhammer Online’s system of different bags filtering different item types. They want to make us THINK about which items we put in the inventory.

Diablo 3 new art

Remember the big discussion about Diablo 3 getting TOO SUNNY for a dark fantasy game? The fans had to re-do screenshots in Photoshop just to make their point that a darker Diablo is called for – no green fields.

In public Blizzard remained adamant about the art direction but since then they have let the Art Director go and lo and behold – the updated screenshots look very much LIKE Diablo 2!

Check out the desert screenshot below – I did some minor sharpening in Photoshop but I must say it looks like Act II (Lut Gholein). Mercifully, the green grass has been removed and the characters look dark and desperate!

Diablo 3 release – 2011?

My worst fears are being confirmed… Diablo 3 is again on the backburner when it comes to its release.

Blizzard have stated that TWO titles will be released in 2010. One of course, is Starcraft 2. Fair enough, it was announced a long time ago.

The other title due in 2010 is WoW Cataclysm. Blizzard needs to keep the money machine printing. I did freeze my account months ago and I suspect I’m not the only one.

Here’s the confirmation from Shacknews: “Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime has confirmed that just-revealed World of Warcraft expansion Cataclysm and StarCraft II are the two titles the company expects to hit in 2010″.

Diablo 3 map

For those of us impatient enough (isn't that everyone?), a Diablo III custom map has been released.

You need Warcraft III in order to play it and the map is still in beta. However, I'm really amazed at the graphics - the editor is indeed powerful enough to change the game completely. It does look like Diablo III.

Download Diablo 3 beta map

P.S. Maybe it was my bad luck with skill selection as a Wizard but even the first wave of zombies proved insurmountable for me!

Free Battle.net 2.0

According to BlizzPlanet, Blizzard has not stated officially that Battle.net 2.0 is going to be free to play.

However, Blizzard is known for its vague comments when it comes to monetization:

Are there any plans to monetize Battle.net 2.0 service? Mike Morhaime limited to answer: “I’m not ready to talk about that today”. Mike Morhaime confirmed that Battle.net 2.0 will be free to those who buy StarCraft 2 retail.

Of course, you need to remember that Starcraft 2 is coming out not in one but in THREE retails boxes (for a total of around $100). So even one measly box gets you into Battle.net 2.0 for life? I’ll take it.

Blizzcon 2009

Remember past Blizzcons when we wondered if that horn is Diablo’s? Or anything else that looked like a clue that Diablo 3 will be announced?

Well, Diablo 3 takes center stage at this Blizzcon! The Barbarian is displayed prominently on the homepage (next to something green looking like a Starcraft II ghost).

OK, a few bullet points about Blizzcon 2009!

• Tickets will go on sale worldwide on Saturday, May 16 for $125 each
• Blizzcon 2009 will be held on August 21 and 22 in Anaheim, California
• You get a unique WoW (non-combat) pet - Grunty the murloc marine
• Global finals for the 2009 Warcraft III and WoW Arena will be held - finalists get top prize of $25,000 per player

If you’re not able to attend, there’s the poor man’s Blizzcon - live Directv coverage for just $39.95. You do the murloc marine pet, so if you need a green/blue blob around you at all times, make sure you give your hard-earned cash to Blizzard.