You've been almost guaranteeing me for the past hour.
Not that I believe the Devs aren't past going back on their word.
For the time being, given the literal statements of Baishok on their own website and in interviews, they have absolutly no intention of balancing the arena or making a ranking / ladder system.
If you joined Diablo 3 for competitive PVP, you picked the wrong game.
Diablo isn't a PVP game anyway, never was. I highly doubt they'll put much effort, if any, into the PVP.
Edit: That said, Blizzard still can't even balance WoW and it's been over six years. They're not going to do any better with Diablo.
i dont think blizzard will pass up the opportunity to rake in a new playerbase/more cash simply because they said they don't want to.
and i didn't join the diablo universe for competitive pvp, i joined it because i played the last two with my friends and it was the most enjoyable experience i've ever had in a game. once the arenas become competitive will just be icing on the cake for me.
wow was never supposed to put so much focus into pvp, but they saw its potential and created one of the most fun/competitive pvp experiences online. also one of the most frustrating.
and wow is inherently harder to balance simply because there are far more usable skills, more classes, and healing classes.
And a game in which you can purchase the best weapons / armor is even harder to balance.
Do you see how this works?
They don't care about PVP. The people who MADE THE GAME flat out said it. And why would they? There is no balance when your supposed 'rating' or 'score' is only a factor of how much gear you've purchased to stay one step ahead of the crowd.
You've been almost guaranteeing me for the past hour.
Not that I believe the Devs aren't past going back on their word.
For the time being, given the literal statements of Baishok on their own website and in interviews, they have absolutly no intention of balancing the arena or making a ranking / ladder system.
If you joined Diablo 3 for competitive PVP, you picked the wrong game.
Diablo isn't a PVP game anyway, never was. I highly doubt they'll put much effort, if any, into the PVP.
Edit: That said, Blizzard still can't even balance WoW and it's been over six years. They're not going to do any better with Diablo.
i dont think blizzard will pass up the opportunity to rake in a new playerbase/more cash simply because they said they don't want to.
and i didn't join the diablo universe for competitive pvp, i joined it because i played the last two with my friends and it was the most enjoyable experience i've ever had in a game. once the arenas become competitive will just be icing on the cake for me.
wow was never supposed to put so much focus into pvp, but they saw its potential and created one of the most fun/competitive pvp experiences online. also one of the most frustrating.
and wow is inherently harder to balance simply because there are far more usable skills, more classes, and healing classes. this by design creates a hell nearly impossible to balance.
Actually no, WoW's arena based pvp created the ONLY Arena based competitive PVP. Far more impressive MMOs, such as Dark Age of Camelot, created the BEST pvp experience online.
The only thing WoW has done that has been the "best" at anything, really, is showing that the lowest common denominator crowed is willing to pay almost anything for a game that'll play on their Win98 compatible computers.
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity: Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
You've been almost guaranteeing me for the past hour.
Not that I believe the Devs aren't past going back on their word.
For the time being, given the literal statements of Baishok on their own website and in interviews, they have absolutly no intention of balancing the arena or making a ranking / ladder system.
If you joined Diablo 3 for competitive PVP, you picked the wrong game.
Diablo isn't a PVP game anyway, never was. I highly doubt they'll put much effort, if any, into the PVP.
Edit: That said, Blizzard still can't even balance WoW and it's been over six years. They're not going to do any better with Diablo.
i dont think blizzard will pass up the opportunity to rake in a new playerbase/more cash simply because they said they don't want to.
and i didn't join the diablo universe for competitive pvp, i joined it because i played the last two with my friends and it was the most enjoyable experience i've ever had in a game. once the arenas become competitive will just be icing on the cake for me.
wow was never supposed to put so much focus into pvp, but they saw its potential and created one of the most fun/competitive pvp experiences online. also one of the most frustrating.
and wow is inherently harder to balance simply because there are far more usable skills, more classes, and healing classes. this by design creates a hell nearly impossible to balance.
Actually no, WoW's arena based pvp created the ONLY Arena based competitive PVP. Far more impressive MMOs, such as Dark Age of Camelot, created the BEST pvp experience online.
The only thing WoW has done that has been the "best" at anything, really, is showing that the lowest common denominator crowed is willing to pay almost anything for a game that'll play on their Win98 compatible computers.
sorry, i found WoW's pvp much more enjoyable than DAoC's. simply because wow was more polished/more streamlined in pvp than any daoc rvr zerg i ever did. DAoC pvp was the best, when it was around and popular.
and you mean wow catered to the biggest possible crowd, showing that it had the means to create an enjoyable pvp environment for everyone, right?
I was afraid of this. Activizzard has truly screwed the pooch with this one. The past two BlizzCons, I was picking up a sort of desperate "what do all of you fans want?" vibe during the D3 Q & A sessions, and I had the sinking feeling that they had lost their way and were scrambling to get some idea of which direction to take D3, especially after the backlash they received when they released the first gameplay trailers.
Fast forward to these recent announcements and it sounds like they're covering up for the fact that they're just not going to dedicate the resources to program an offline solo campaign, and probably just going to throw most of their resources at whatever this unnamed "next gen MMO" is that they've been working on behind the scenes, or they've just become sickeningly complacent and figure they have enough fanbois to sustain whatever craptastic business decision they choose to make.
I think I can honestly say I am through with Blizzard. If the next MMO they've been working on pans out into something people like to play, I might check it out, but people are going to have to really love it, and they're going to have to feel like Blizzard was really keeping them in mind when they launch it.
Their arrogance, their mistreatmen tand disdain of fans at their BlizzCon Q & A sessions, their utter lack of respect for the community that helped build them up to where they are now, and the ridiculous Activision merger just kept nailing more rusty spikes into their stinking coffin, and even if our household's multiple subscriptions to WoW aren't missed, and our refusal to purchase copies of any other Blizzard products are a mere "drop in the bucket", my buyer dollars will be better spent elsewhere.
It's sad, I have many fond memories of D1, and D2 before it was innundated with cloned SOJ's and other hacks. I still have my boxed copy of "Lost Vikings". Perhaps some day they're shed the hangers-on that they picked up along the way, slim down their team to the truly dedicated functionable people that they need, and rectify this mess they've gotten themselves into.
Really not sure why people get their panties in a bunch over issues like this. If people want to buy and sell virtual items with real $$, why does it really matter? Diablo 1 and 2 were plenty fun without mods, so why does it matter that they are banned from D3? The only point that *may* have a legit concern, is with the whole -can't play offline- thing. But even then, the benefits outweight the cons. How popular are MMO's today? You obviously can't play them offline. They wanted to include a RMT option in the game.. that is their perogative. But, in order to better preserve the integrity of that system, it makes sense to require an internet connection to help prevent hacked items from getting sold. As much as D1 and D2 got the shit hacked out of them, can anyone *really* blame Blizz for taking that step?
Bottom line- if these points really bother you that much, don't buy the game. Very simple concept. Whatever D3 is like, it can't possibly be as bad as something like Brink - where Bethesda pretty much whole sale lied about the game.
Torchlight 2 is looking better and better then more I read about D3 lol.
You have a big point.
The thing that wthout internet connection you are forbidden to play are, are stupid.
I mean,
I pay for the game, installed, create an account, and etc...
If my internet, for some reason have problems, i will not be able to play! This is Sh*t!!
DIABLO 3 IS NOT AN MMO!
Internet should not be an requeriment to play the game. Internet should be and requeriment for register acchivements in game, and use the store, and activate the serial of the game. NOT FOR PLAY!
Blizzard are stupid for make thing this way. I don't wanna be part of a social network for play a SINGLE PLAYER GAME. I like to play Diablo alone.
Blizzard lose some points with me. They are putting rules on a game i will pay for, it will be mine, and they will decide how i will play, and what i need to play.
Torchlight 2 is looking better and better then more I read about D3 lol.
You have a big point.
The thing that wthout internet connection you are forbidden to play are, are stupid.
I mean,
I pay for the game, installed, create an account, and etc...
If my internet, for some reason have problems, i will not be able to play! This is Sh*t!!
DIABLO 3 IS NOT AN MMO!
Internet should not be an requeriment to play the game. Internet should be and requeriment for register acchivements in game, and use the store, and activate the serial of the game. NOT FOR PLAY!
Blizzard are stupid for make thing this way. I don't wanna be part of a social network for play a SINGLE PLAYER GAME. I like to play Diablo alone.
Blizzard lose some points with me. They are putting rules on a game i will pay for, it will be mine, and they will decide how i will play, and what i need to play.
As already explained - Blizzard decided to take it online to cut out 99.9% of the hacks and cheats that currently plague D2 - so easy to hack a character offline and then take him online selling fake items and so on.
Diablo 3 is as MMO as GW is, GW can be played solo but you need a constant internet connection to play - why don't people complain about that?
Torchlight 2 is looking better and better then more I read about D3 lol.
You have a big point.
The thing that wthout internet connection you are forbidden to play are, are stupid.
I mean,
I pay for the game, installed, create an account, and etc...
If my internet, for some reason have problems, i will not be able to play! This is Sh*t!!
DIABLO 3 IS NOT AN MMO!
Internet should not be an requeriment to play the game. Internet should be and requeriment for register acchivements in game, and use the store, and activate the serial of the game. NOT FOR PLAY!
Blizzard are stupid for make thing this way. I don't wanna be part of a social network for play a SINGLE PLAYER GAME. I like to play Diablo alone.
Blizzard lose some points with me. They are putting rules on a game i will pay for, it will be mine, and they will decide how i will play, and what i need to play.
As already explained - Blizzard decided to take it online to cut out 99.9% of the hacks and cheats that currently plague D2 - so easy to hack a character offline and then take him online selling fake items and so on.
Diablo 3 is as MMO as GW is, GW can be played solo but you need a constant internet connection to play - why don't people complain about that?
D3 is not D2 - things change and they have.
Some lan parties do not have internet because its a lan party and you play with everyone there. Now thats just one more game that you will have to have your lan support internet for.
As already explained - Blizzard decided to take it online to cut out 99.9% of the hacks and cheats that currently plague D2 - so easy to hack a character offline and then take him online selling fake items and so on.
Diablo 3 is as MMO as GW is, GW can be played solo but you need a constant internet connection to play - why don't people complain about that?
D3 is not D2 - things change and they have.
I was just saying my opinion about D3.
I said blizzard lose some points with ME. Only me.
But...
If you compare GW and D3 saying them both are MMO's, you really don't know what u are saying.
I will not discuss with someone who can't see the diference between a single player with multiplayer and auction house functions online, and a MMO witch u cant play alone if u want, and call them both MMO's.
As already explained - Blizzard decided to take it online to cut out 99.9% of the hacks and cheats that currently plague D2 - so easy to hack a character offline and then take him online selling fake items and so on.
Diablo 3 is as MMO as GW is, GW can be played solo but you need a constant internet connection to play - why don't people complain about that?
D3 is not D2 - things change and they have.
I was just saying my opinion about D3.
I said blizzard lose some points with ME. Only me.
But...
If you compare GW and D3 saying them both are MMO's, you really don't know what u are saying.
I will not discuss with someone who can't see the diference between a single player with multiplayer and auction house functions online, and a MMO witch u cant play alone if u want, and call them both MMO's.
I'm not about to interfere between what you guys are discussing, but you're wrong if you think you can't play GW alone. I would go so far as to say that you haven't even played GW for you to think that way.
Blizzard has truely become that loathsome, self serving, money grubbing corperation now in my eyes. Nice job Blizz on losing revenue as I can only see people be persuaded NOT to buy your product instead of buying it.
Over-reacting hyperbole much?
Everyone knows they are still going to play Diablo 3, just like they are still going to play the Star Craft expansions, and Titan, and many probably still play WoW despite feeling like someone has rained on their parade.
The thousand or so people who boycott over this are going to feel pretty left out when millions of others are playing and enjoying these new games.
Hopefully the hate filled, rage-quit troll nerd rage on the forums gives enough satisfaction to make up for the fact you won't be playing a really good game just because you disagree with the companies business model.
Sorry, but some of us boycotted Assassin's Creed 2 too -- constant internet connection for a solitaire game is unacceptable. It's DRM and it's in place to serve the microtransaction mechanism. I can speak for others, but Blizzard just lost a few sales from this household.
1. Same as SC2, get over it. It's anti-piracy because the PC platform is all but dead due to no one paying to play. They should have put it out on consoles, but blizz has always been anti console.
2. Never used mods in D2. Well until 2 months ago, but it wasn't anything special. If this is an indication that they plan to use the revenues from 3 to keep putting out good stuff of their own, then this is a boon, not a problem. If they don't, then expect them to change policies after a couple years and stop worrying so much about it.
3. Zomg let's all freak about something that was going to take place on ebay and through spammers and 3rd party sites anyways. This is a good thing people.
You can't claim to like the franchise yet throw a hissy over everything they do to preserve it and help the game grow and prosper. They make money off the game, we get more good games or expansions in return. It can't work any other way.
Good luck to the people making torchlight 2. They might break even if they offer it as steam-only, which would require an online connection to play now wouldn't it?
God the drama llamas on these forums...
PS: This game isn't an mmo. It doesn't matter if you support it or not. It's done, it's getting released, no one here gives 2 craps if you play it or not. If it was a real MMO it might matter for server population sake, but not with this game, so your tears are sucked into a meaningless abyss.
I can honestly say that these features wont do anything to hinder my experience of D3, but could possibly improve my gaming experience.
I'm not part of the 0.0000001% that doesn't have internet, so the online requirement isn't an issue. Even when I want to play solo, I can still log on and create private games. I'm looking forward to the great gameplay experience that D3 will be sure to provide me, and being connected to the internet wont affect that.
As for LAN parties, I will still have some great ones even though the LAN will technically be online. Even with a pretty basic cable internet with a wireless router, my network can easily support 10 players playing LoL. I'm sure my D3 LAN parties will turn out to be pretty awesome.
The RMAH is a pretty exciting new feature with load of potential. This could prove to be amazing. I already plan on spending countless hours playing D3, but now I have the potential to make a profit while playing video games. That's like a dream come true. Also, instead of the proceeds going towards illegal RMT companies who use it to create phishing sites and spambots, the profits will go to Blizzard so that they can create improvements to the game!!
The only downside I see to these changes is there wont be mods like median-xl (which was pretty damn amazing); however, I had many, many years of fun D2 gaming before needing to turn to mods for a fresh game. I expect to get the same longevity of fun from D3 as well.
Am I a fanboy? I sure am. Am I realistic? Definitely more realistic that the standard forum criers.
mods are for ppl who cant play the real game...and buying and selling items for RL money is a intresting perk wich i will be looking forward to...and no offlfline play? well i dont c a problem with that since everyone has the net now a days... only hics n red necks dont
I am looking forward to D3 and how they are going to twist the story line....just hope it isnt a EPIC fail like World of Warcraft....
Seeing how your from Saskatchewan, this might be an issue for you.
As for original topic, the only thing that bothers me is the always on internet requirement. It does nothing to stop pirates and only hinders PAYING customers. Its the same reason I stopped buying Ubi Soft games for having a similar policy.
Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?
Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.
As for original topic, the only thing that bothers me is the always on internet requirement. It does nothing to stop pirates and only hinders PAYING customers. Its the same reason I stopped buying Ubi Soft games for having a similar policy.
If they handle their "online only" like GW does, it'll probably hinder piracy a good amount, but it'll definitely hinder Bots/MapHack more.
The whole thing sits on the lynch-pin that server code is not provided directly to the end user. GW sells a client, not server, where as D2 included the server code on the disc.
Even D2's SP mode was a locally-run server, just with no network traffic connecting.
The biggest thing that D2 Bots/MapHack rely on for the effectiveness is Seed Data.
There are X number of possible ways the game could roll. Having a locally run server (LAN mode), they could script a means of determining EVERY seed layout possible.
This is why MapHack actually knew what the layout was, because it's already seen that possibility of the map before.
This is why D2 Bots can Baal run with impunity, because they know every possible seed and can plot direct routes much more accurately.
Now, without the ability to accurately read/record/compare that data on a massive volume, it hinders the ability of the botters/maphackers.
As long as people can never with 100% certainty determine "I'm in world 55 of X possible combos", it's a necessary evil that I'm content to live with.
Hell, they're already sanctioning/securing the grey market to snub out JSP-sites and shady-sellers, it can only get better from there.
Lets Push Things Forward
I knew I would live to design games at age 7, issue 5 of Nintendo Power.
Support games with subs when you believe in their potential, even in spite of their flaws.
Did a quick read of the posts and one thing you guys are all getting wrong is that having the game online does not provent piracy. Like 4 days after starcraft 2 came out, I was playing the torrent version for the single player storyline.
Did a quick read of the posts and one thing you guys are all getting wrong is that having the game online does not provent piracy. Like 4 days after starcraft 2 came out, I was playing the torrent version for the single player storyline.
SC2 also allowed for an offline-mode or a limited authentication mode. That, and including the mod tools means they included the "game server" code.
Take away the server code, and the piracy potential starts dropping. Hell, I just tried to find any semblance of a stable GW private server emulator, and best I found was a Proof of Concept video from last year. And thats a 7yr old game.
And hell, the most played games worldwide are pretty much all always online, and I don't just mean MMO's. Take social-network games.
Insertword-Ville doesn't have offline multiplayer, and each one of those is sure played a helluva lot more often by more people than have ever probably even heard of Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing.
Lets Push Things Forward
I knew I would live to design games at age 7, issue 5 of Nintendo Power.
Support games with subs when you believe in their potential, even in spite of their flaws.
I was looking forward to D3. But now i won't be buying it. because of the no offline play.
Same here.
But I figure some day I'll buy it. Once its been emulated. How long did it take for WoW private servers to start popping up? That was an mmorpg. Im going to laugh at Blizzard here, because once Diablo 3 is emulated, EVERYONE is going to download it and use. Every......one.
While most people that play WoW dont play on private servers, absolutely everyone is going to jump at the first hack or emulator that allows them to play D3 offline. Its going to blow right up in Blizzards face.
So dont worry. One day D3 will be fully playable offline. And I doubt Blizzard will have anything to do with it. They couldnt even keep their WoW code secure. Much less this.
Comments
And a game in which you can purchase the best weapons / armor is even harder to balance.
Do you see how this works?
They don't care about PVP. The people who MADE THE GAME flat out said it. And why would they? There is no balance when your supposed 'rating' or 'score' is only a factor of how much gear you've purchased to stay one step ahead of the crowd.
Actually no, WoW's arena based pvp created the ONLY Arena based competitive PVP. Far more impressive MMOs, such as Dark Age of Camelot, created the BEST pvp experience online.
The only thing WoW has done that has been the "best" at anything, really, is showing that the lowest common denominator crowed is willing to pay almost anything for a game that'll play on their Win98 compatible computers.
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity:
Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
sorry, i found WoW's pvp much more enjoyable than DAoC's. simply because wow was more polished/more streamlined in pvp than any daoc rvr zerg i ever did. DAoC pvp was the best, when it was around and popular.
and you mean wow catered to the biggest possible crowd, showing that it had the means to create an enjoyable pvp environment for everyone, right?
there were mods for diablo?
I was afraid of this. Activizzard has truly screwed the pooch with this one. The past two BlizzCons, I was picking up a sort of desperate "what do all of you fans want?" vibe during the D3 Q & A sessions, and I had the sinking feeling that they had lost their way and were scrambling to get some idea of which direction to take D3, especially after the backlash they received when they released the first gameplay trailers.
Fast forward to these recent announcements and it sounds like they're covering up for the fact that they're just not going to dedicate the resources to program an offline solo campaign, and probably just going to throw most of their resources at whatever this unnamed "next gen MMO" is that they've been working on behind the scenes, or they've just become sickeningly complacent and figure they have enough fanbois to sustain whatever craptastic business decision they choose to make.
I think I can honestly say I am through with Blizzard. If the next MMO they've been working on pans out into something people like to play, I might check it out, but people are going to have to really love it, and they're going to have to feel like Blizzard was really keeping them in mind when they launch it.
Their arrogance, their mistreatmen tand disdain of fans at their BlizzCon Q & A sessions, their utter lack of respect for the community that helped build them up to where they are now, and the ridiculous Activision merger just kept nailing more rusty spikes into their stinking coffin, and even if our household's multiple subscriptions to WoW aren't missed, and our refusal to purchase copies of any other Blizzard products are a mere "drop in the bucket", my buyer dollars will be better spent elsewhere.
It's sad, I have many fond memories of D1, and D2 before it was innundated with cloned SOJ's and other hacks. I still have my boxed copy of "Lost Vikings". Perhaps some day they're shed the hangers-on that they picked up along the way, slim down their team to the truly dedicated functionable people that they need, and rectify this mess they've gotten themselves into.
Really not sure why people get their panties in a bunch over issues like this. If people want to buy and sell virtual items with real $$, why does it really matter? Diablo 1 and 2 were plenty fun without mods, so why does it matter that they are banned from D3? The only point that *may* have a legit concern, is with the whole -can't play offline- thing. But even then, the benefits outweight the cons. How popular are MMO's today? You obviously can't play them offline. They wanted to include a RMT option in the game.. that is their perogative. But, in order to better preserve the integrity of that system, it makes sense to require an internet connection to help prevent hacked items from getting sold. As much as D1 and D2 got the shit hacked out of them, can anyone *really* blame Blizz for taking that step?
Bottom line- if these points really bother you that much, don't buy the game. Very simple concept. Whatever D3 is like, it can't possibly be as bad as something like Brink - where Bethesda pretty much whole sale lied about the game.
You have a big point.
The thing that wthout internet connection you are forbidden to play are, are stupid.
I mean,
I pay for the game, installed, create an account, and etc...
If my internet, for some reason have problems, i will not be able to play! This is Sh*t!!
DIABLO 3 IS NOT AN MMO!
Internet should not be an requeriment to play the game. Internet should be and requeriment for register acchivements in game, and use the store, and activate the serial of the game. NOT FOR PLAY!
Blizzard are stupid for make thing this way. I don't wanna be part of a social network for play a SINGLE PLAYER GAME. I like to play Diablo alone.
Blizzard lose some points with me. They are putting rules on a game i will pay for, it will be mine, and they will decide how i will play, and what i need to play.
As already explained - Blizzard decided to take it online to cut out 99.9% of the hacks and cheats that currently plague D2 - so easy to hack a character offline and then take him online selling fake items and so on.
Diablo 3 is as MMO as GW is, GW can be played solo but you need a constant internet connection to play - why don't people complain about that?
D3 is not D2 - things change and they have.
No offline play is supposed to prevent piracy. All this whining is ridiculous. Nowadays even my calculator can connect to the Internet -_-
No mods is kinda meh but most of D2's mods were crap anyway so I don't think we'll be missing a lot on them...
Mission in life: Vanquish all MMORPG.com trolls - especially TESO, WOW and GW2 trolls.
Some lan parties do not have internet because its a lan party and you play with everyone there. Now thats just one more game that you will have to have your lan support internet for.
I was just saying my opinion about D3.
I said blizzard lose some points with ME. Only me.
But...
If you compare GW and D3 saying them both are MMO's, you really don't know what u are saying.
I will not discuss with someone who can't see the diference between a single player with multiplayer and auction house functions online, and a MMO witch u cant play alone if u want, and call them both MMO's.
i hope Grim Dawn will have offline
I'm not about to interfere between what you guys are discussing, but you're wrong if you think you can't play GW alone. I would go so far as to say that you haven't even played GW for you to think that way.
Sorry, but some of us boycotted Assassin's Creed 2 too -- constant internet connection for a solitaire game is unacceptable. It's DRM and it's in place to serve the microtransaction mechanism. I can speak for others, but Blizzard just lost a few sales from this household.
Eh... What ever I'll buy it and I'll play it through and put it in the closet.
This whole buy an Uber sword in the cash shop so I can be leet stuff, just reinforces my belief in the stupidity of humanity.
"Be water my friend" - Bruce Lee
1. Same as SC2, get over it. It's anti-piracy because the PC platform is all but dead due to no one paying to play. They should have put it out on consoles, but blizz has always been anti console.
2. Never used mods in D2. Well until 2 months ago, but it wasn't anything special. If this is an indication that they plan to use the revenues from 3 to keep putting out good stuff of their own, then this is a boon, not a problem. If they don't, then expect them to change policies after a couple years and stop worrying so much about it.
3. Zomg let's all freak about something that was going to take place on ebay and through spammers and 3rd party sites anyways. This is a good thing people.
You can't claim to like the franchise yet throw a hissy over everything they do to preserve it and help the game grow and prosper. They make money off the game, we get more good games or expansions in return. It can't work any other way.
Good luck to the people making torchlight 2. They might break even if they offer it as steam-only, which would require an online connection to play now wouldn't it?
God the drama llamas on these forums...
PS: This game isn't an mmo. It doesn't matter if you support it or not. It's done, it's getting released, no one here gives 2 craps if you play it or not. If it was a real MMO it might matter for server population sake, but not with this game, so your tears are sucked into a meaningless abyss.
I can honestly say that these features wont do anything to hinder my experience of D3, but could possibly improve my gaming experience.
I'm not part of the 0.0000001% that doesn't have internet, so the online requirement isn't an issue. Even when I want to play solo, I can still log on and create private games. I'm looking forward to the great gameplay experience that D3 will be sure to provide me, and being connected to the internet wont affect that.
As for LAN parties, I will still have some great ones even though the LAN will technically be online. Even with a pretty basic cable internet with a wireless router, my network can easily support 10 players playing LoL. I'm sure my D3 LAN parties will turn out to be pretty awesome.
The RMAH is a pretty exciting new feature with load of potential. This could prove to be amazing. I already plan on spending countless hours playing D3, but now I have the potential to make a profit while playing video games. That's like a dream come true. Also, instead of the proceeds going towards illegal RMT companies who use it to create phishing sites and spambots, the profits will go to Blizzard so that they can create improvements to the game!!
The only downside I see to these changes is there wont be mods like median-xl (which was pretty damn amazing); however, I had many, many years of fun D2 gaming before needing to turn to mods for a fresh game. I expect to get the same longevity of fun from D3 as well.
Am I a fanboy? I sure am. Am I realistic? Definitely more realistic that the standard forum criers.
Diablo is looking more and more like Guild Wars 1
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
Seeing how your from Saskatchewan, this might be an issue for you.
As for original topic, the only thing that bothers me is the always on internet requirement. It does nothing to stop pirates and only hinders PAYING customers. Its the same reason I stopped buying Ubi Soft games for having a similar policy.
Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?
Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.
If they handle their "online only" like GW does, it'll probably hinder piracy a good amount, but it'll definitely hinder Bots/MapHack more.
The whole thing sits on the lynch-pin that server code is not provided directly to the end user. GW sells a client, not server, where as D2 included the server code on the disc.
Even D2's SP mode was a locally-run server, just with no network traffic connecting.
The biggest thing that D2 Bots/MapHack rely on for the effectiveness is Seed Data.
There are X number of possible ways the game could roll. Having a locally run server (LAN mode), they could script a means of determining EVERY seed layout possible.
This is why MapHack actually knew what the layout was, because it's already seen that possibility of the map before.
This is why D2 Bots can Baal run with impunity, because they know every possible seed and can plot direct routes much more accurately.
Now, without the ability to accurately read/record/compare that data on a massive volume, it hinders the ability of the botters/maphackers.
As long as people can never with 100% certainty determine "I'm in world 55 of X possible combos", it's a necessary evil that I'm content to live with.
Hell, they're already sanctioning/securing the grey market to snub out JSP-sites and shady-sellers, it can only get better from there.
Lets Push Things Forward
I knew I would live to design games at age 7, issue 5 of Nintendo Power.
Support games with subs when you believe in their potential, even in spite of their flaws.
Did a quick read of the posts and one thing you guys are all getting wrong is that having the game online does not provent piracy. Like 4 days after starcraft 2 came out, I was playing the torrent version for the single player storyline.
SC2 also allowed for an offline-mode or a limited authentication mode. That, and including the mod tools means they included the "game server" code.
Take away the server code, and the piracy potential starts dropping. Hell, I just tried to find any semblance of a stable GW private server emulator, and best I found was a Proof of Concept video from last year. And thats a 7yr old game.
And hell, the most played games worldwide are pretty much all always online, and I don't just mean MMO's. Take social-network games.
Insertword-Ville doesn't have offline multiplayer, and each one of those is sure played a helluva lot more often by more people than have ever probably even heard of Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing.
Lets Push Things Forward
I knew I would live to design games at age 7, issue 5 of Nintendo Power.
Support games with subs when you believe in their potential, even in spite of their flaws.
I was looking forward to D3. But now i won't be buying it. because of the no offline play.
Same here.
But I figure some day I'll buy it. Once its been emulated. How long did it take for WoW private servers to start popping up? That was an mmorpg. Im going to laugh at Blizzard here, because once Diablo 3 is emulated, EVERYONE is going to download it and use. Every......one.
While most people that play WoW dont play on private servers, absolutely everyone is going to jump at the first hack or emulator that allows them to play D3 offline. Its going to blow right up in Blizzards face.
So dont worry. One day D3 will be fully playable offline. And I doubt Blizzard will have anything to do with it. They couldnt even keep their WoW code secure. Much less this.