Blizzard: 'We're Committed to Delivering Diablo Experiences the Community Can be Proud Of' - MMORPG.

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Blizzard: 'We're Committed to Delivering Diablo Experiences the Community Can be Proud Of' - MMORPG.com

The Diablo forums have a new post from the team that reminds fans and the community that more Diablo announcements will be coming in 2019. The post further reminds everyone about "multiple Diablo projects" in the works. Read the full post after the jump.

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Albatroes

How are they are this dense....? You can say you're working on 100 Diablo projects if you want, but you reveal a mobile project at your company's BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR that is predominantly a pc crowd, followed by saying in a press-conference that Diablo Immortal was purposely designed for a younger and more diverse demographic (kids with phones and the asian market).

Yaevindusk

Feedback from is as expected.

Response from Blizzard is as expected.

Rhykker -- one of the main Diablo Youtubers that stuck with the game -- brings up a good point in that he doesn't recall there being an apology anywhere to help mend the bridge.  Now, they genuinely may not be sorry, or they may genuinely feel like they don't need to say such.  Though his analogy of promising a kid to go to Disneyland and then taking them to the dentist, with the kid then saying "F you dad" in response... is fairly accurate.  The father is upset as it's the first time his child said something like that to him, and his pride makes it so he is unable to apologize.  Though it's really needs to be an adult to stand up -- and that's typically a parent.

Though I know nothing about being a parent aside from animal adoptions.  I may also just have my western logic backwards from being in South Korea and Japan for extended times.

Avanah

The ONLY thing I look forward to from Blizzard is Vanilla WoW, nothing more. It's the only thing that has me even looking their way in this time and age.

mandros56

As an older PC gamer I really don't give any more of a damn about blizzard than they do about me. Tired of the crap they put out and then the crap they spew to cover the way they shit on pc gamers that have supported them over the years.
My wallet is closed to acti-bliz.

Cryomatrix

I think people should at least consider that businesses need to adapt or they will die. That is what blizzard is doing. They are just using their known IPs.

Honestly, if i had disposable cash, i'd look to invest in their stock as i think they will probably profit from it.

Disclaimer: i dont play blizzard games, but i think this is the right business move for them.

FlyByKnight

Xingbairong

Their stocks continue to fall. I wouldn't be surprised if this continue till the end of the year, if they announce that Diablo 4 will be released at the end of 2019 just to stop the stocks from going down anymore.

I can't believe that a multi-billion dollar company didn't have a single person that was using their brain for the 6 months before Blizzcon to tell them that this will cost them hundreds of millions at least till this moment. How come not a single person realized that you can't hype people up then tell them to tone it down 1 month before Blizzcon and then to spit in their face @ Blizzcon...

Btw I'm obviously not a stock market expert, so not sure if the random numbers I'm throwing are even remotely close, but if their stocks drop from almost $90(that was their price about 2 months before Blizzcon and $68-$69 at Blizzcon) to $48 I'm pretty sure this is at least in the hundreds of millions of losses or maybe potential profits? Not sure.

Aeander

Bullshit. If Blizzard were committed to such, Diablo 4 wouldn't have gone over 4 years without an expansion or meaningful content update. If Blizzard were committed to Diablo fans, a season would offer more than a few new items. 

FlyByKnight

H...h...h... hey Morty. I...I... I Just got back from a dimension where Blizzard *burp* knows how to acknowledge what they did wrong and apologize and gain back some trust from the fans. Check it out.

"We recognize we were obtuse for making our Diablo Immortal announcement in the manner we did, to our core audience. We also recognize the immense desire for a new Diablo experience for PC.

We humbly apologize for the miscommunication we initiated. We indeed temporarily lost touch, but our die hard Blizzard fans whom we are grateful for, have spoken with concern, and we have listened.

A new Diablo PC title has been in the works, and we are committed to doing our best to meet the expectations and good standing we have set with all of you.

When the time is right, we will make you all proud and prove we are still the Blizzard you have come to know and love.

Sincerely,
The Diablo Team"

Yaevindusk

Appropriate song when I think about Blizzard lately. 

Also this show is amazing and I'd recommend checking it out (Parental Warning: It has blood and an evil villain, don't be fooled by the design... think a bloody rick and morty, but with no cussing).

Albatroes

Cryomatrix said:

I think people should at least consider that businesses need to adapt or they will die. That is what blizzard is doing. They are just using their known IPs.



Honestly, if i had disposable cash, i'd look to invest in their stock as i think they will probably profit from it.



Disclaimer: i dont play blizzard games, but i think this is the right business move for them.

Consumers should sympathize with multi-billion dollar companies and their potential of losing revenue or not making maximum profit if they dont join an easy market in time? I know this sounds strange but maybe they should focus on making quality products and marketing those quality products to markets interested in them, instead of showing how out of touch they are with markets they are invested in by making a sole reveal to a market that does not care and expecting that market to understand their intentions from a business perspective. You dont go to a dealership and buy any car a salesman shows you just cause he tells you that he needs to make x-amount of sales for the month in order to be considered for dealer of the month/year....Next thing you'll be telling us is that we need to understand Bethesda's reasoning behind releasing that piece of garbage Fallout 76 in the state it was because they were afraid of not being able to compete with Anthem.

Lucioon

Cryomatrix said:

I think people should at least consider that businesses need to adapt or they will die. That is what blizzard is doing. They are just using their known IPs.



Honestly, if i had disposable cash, i'd look to invest in their stock as i think they will probably profit from it.



Disclaimer: i dont play blizzard games, but i think this is the right business move for them.

What you just said is someone that didn't really understand where all the hate came from.
The hate that was generated from Diablo Immortal isn't because Blizzard is making a Mobile game, its that they put the Mobile Game Center Stage in their biggest conference event. An event that was possible because of their PC fans. Every single attendee go there because of one of their games, Warcraft, starcraft , diablo, hearthstone , overwatch...etc , these games are mainly PC focused.
Game companies diversify because it is a good thing, Mobile game shouldn't be a bad thing but if its the Biggest project for Blizzard then it is a problem. Its the Biggest project because it is Center Stage , the one biggest set up for their reveal. That is the main issue.
If they announced Diablo 4, then said while we wait for Diablo 4 to come out, here is Diablo Immortal, an mobile game to keep you all busy. Then everyone would have cheered, there would not have been any problem at all.

That is the reason for the hate, not because of the Mobile game Diablo, but because Blizzard thinks a Mobile game is their future and only future.

Lokero

Yaevindusk said:

Rhykker -- one of the main Diablo Youtubers that stuck with the game -- brings up a good point in that he doesn't recall there being an apology anywhere to help mend the bridge.  Now, they genuinely may not be sorry, or they may genuinely feel like they don't need to say such.

(Not directing this at you personally, Yaevindusk.  I'm just fascinated by the overly dramatic fans)

Do people really need an apology?  Cripes.  No wonder people associate gaming with children.

First of all, an apology from a company is meaningless.  It would just be empty words, even if they gave one.  I don't have a clue who the guy you mention even is, but it would do everyone well to remember that they studios like Blizzard are not family or friends promising to take us to a theme park

All they need to do is show a 30 second trailer for their next PC project and all those moping, sulking children who didn't get to go to Disneyland will be right back on board the hype train.

It is fascinating to watch a bunch of adults throwing tantrums over a video game franchise, though.

Xingbairong said:

Their stocks continue to fall. I wouldn't be surprised if this continue till the end of the year, if they announce that Diablo 4 will be released at the end of 2019 just to stop the stocks from going down anymore.

I can't believe that a multi-billion dollar company didn't have a single person that was using their brain for the 6 months before Blizzcon to tell them that this will cost them hundreds of millions at least till this moment. How come not a single person realized that you can't hype people up then tell them to tone it down 1 month before Blizzcon and then to spit in their face @ Blizzcon...

Btw I'm obviously not a stock market expert, so not sure if the random numbers I'm throwing are even remotely close, but if their stocks drop from almost $90(that was their price about 2 months before Blizzcon and $68-$69 at Blizzcon) to $48 I'm pretty sure this is at least in the hundreds of millions of losses or maybe potential profits? Not sure.

I really don't believe for a second they were that clueless.  They've been in business for way too long to be that naive.  There's definitely stuff going on behind the curtain.

It's really laughable that people would dump that much stock because of that simple BlizzCon announcement, though.

We are talking a company whose every product release is like free gold falling from the skies.  This is a stock buyer's fantasy made real.

MadFrenchie

We can all understand the expansion into mobile.

At this point the traditional Diablo fans are likely in "show me, don't tell me" mode.

Zorgo

Xingbairong said:

Their stocks continue to fall. I wouldn't be surprised if this continue till the end of the year, if they announce that Diablo 4 will be released at the end of 2019 just to stop the stocks from going down anymore.

I can't believe that a multi-billion dollar company didn't have a single person that was using their brain for the 6 months before Blizzcon to tell them that this will cost them hundreds of millions at least till this moment. How come not a single person realized that you can't hype people up then tell them to tone it down 1 month before Blizzcon and then to spit in their face @ Blizzcon...

Btw I'm obviously not a stock market expert, so not sure if the random numbers I'm throwing are even remotely close, but if their stocks drop from almost $90(that was their price about 2 months before Blizzcon and $68-$69 at Blizzcon) to $48 I'm pretty sure this is at least in the hundreds of millions of losses or maybe potential profits? Not sure.

Their stocks are falling precipitously - however, another way to look at it:

They've fallen to the point they were last year; when they were the dominant force in the industry.
If they fall any more, they may fall to 2015 levels when they were the dominant force in the industry. Or worse yet - to 2008 levels - when they were the dominant force in the industry. Just saying going from Emperor of the universe to King of the Universe isn't that bad in perspective. Metaphorically speaking - we could nitpick this - but they have a long way to fall before not being the juggernaut to beat, and I can't imagine it will be to the point where they aren't a contender; at least for the foreseeable future. 

Foncl

Blizzard still make really polished games but they seem to lack good ideas. It's weird to see games that are so well made technically, as you would expect from Blizzard, but just not fun conceptually.

They're right about having to show me a good game to get me interested, their only interesting game after WoW was Starcraft II and I still prefer the first Starcraft. I'll need to see good gameplay to care about a new Diablo, no amount of cinematic trailers or teasers will get me interested.

Yaevindusk

Lokero said:

Yaevindusk said:

Rhykker -- one of the main Diablo Youtubers that stuck with the game -- brings up a good point in that he doesn't recall there being an apology anywhere to help mend the bridge.  Now, they genuinely may not be sorry, or they may genuinely feel like they don't need to say such.

(Not directing this at you personally, Yaevindusk.  I'm just fascinated by the overly dramatic fans)

Do people really need an apology?  Cripes.  No wonder people associate gaming with children.

First of all, an apology from a company is meaningless.  It would just be empty words, even if they gave one.  I don't have a clue who the guy you mention even is, but it would do everyone well to remember that they studios like Blizzard are not family or friends promising to take us to a theme park

All they need to do is show a 30 second trailer for their next PC project and all those moping, sulking children who didn't get to go to Disneyland will be right back on board the hype train.

It is fascinating to watch a bunch of adults throwing tantrums over a video game franchise, though.

Xingbairong said:

Their stocks continue to fall. I wouldn't be surprised if this continue till the end of the year, if they announce that Diablo 4 will be released at the end of 2019 just to stop the stocks from going down anymore.

I can't believe that a multi-billion dollar company didn't have a single person that was using their brain for the 6 months before Blizzcon to tell them that this will cost them hundreds of millions at least till this moment. How come not a single person realized that you can't hype people up then tell them to tone it down 1 month before Blizzcon and then to spit in their face @ Blizzcon...

Btw I'm obviously not a stock market expert, so not sure if the random numbers I'm throwing are even remotely close, but if their stocks drop from almost $90(that was their price about 2 months before Blizzcon and $68-$69 at Blizzcon) to $48 I'm pretty sure this is at least in the hundreds of millions of losses or maybe potential profits? Not sure.

I really don't believe for a second they were that clueless.  They've been in business for way too long to be that naive.  There's definitely stuff going on behind the curtain.

It's really laughable that people would dump that much stock because of that simple BlizzCon announcement, though.

We are talking a company whose every product release is like free gold falling from the skies.  This is a stock buyer's fantasy made real.

Interesting thoughts and points.  I definitely see some validity in them.

I think the analogy is just to elaborate or provide further context without going into great detail.  In the western market, an apology is pretty much worthless.  Though there is at least one apology that seems to have been genuine -- and it was done with action as well.

I'm sure we all recall when FFXIV was built from the ground up when it was deemed to be just as bad, if not worse, than Fallout 76 is now.  The producer director that took over the project after it launch actually cried, bowed, kneeled and apologized.  It may not have been from Square Enix directly, but you could tell that he really was sincere -- or at least it felt that way.  This followed by the success the game eventually came to be as the entire game was remade from the ground up with a new engine and all (with them making the 1.0 version free to play instantly).

Though that may just be part of Japanese culture moreso than anything.  In essence, they take pride in such and want to make sure you get what you pay for.  This is why Nintendo has also been seen pretty hard on western standards.  So long as they know they have a quality product, they have no problem milking or making things in limited quantity to make them even more popular and wanted.

Konami... Well, Konami is an enigma, honestly.  Feels like I just got over talking about them somewhere else.  Though I'm sure it was at least two years ago.

In surprising and much appreciated news, Nintendo has recently lifted many restrictions the put on the media and youtube in the past.

As with regards to the Activision Stocks... Well, the stocks aren't what a lot of people make it out to be.  They were over valued for a long while and it was expected to drop.  Probably not to the point that it did.  But it was expected.  Though it doesn't help when their investor report tried to deceive investors by saying Diablo Immortal was well received at Blizzcon, among other things.

Not to bring any sort of religion in this, but... I don't think it was the best idea to try and market a Diablo game for kids, either.  Which they are lowering the rating for, in addition to wanting to release it in China.  Honestly, I'm sure it's every parents dream -- religious or not -- to have their child play a game named after the devil.

Shaigh

All I hear is a commitment to feed diablo fans with bullshit.

gervaise1

Diablo announcements will be coming in 2019 not least: the launch date of Diablo : Immortal. 

donpadrex

OK I'm calling it. Diablo dating sim incoming. It's low cost high return, Asians will love it, it's for PC and SJW can censor the Hell out of it. (Pun intended). That's the amount of trust I have in the "creative" minds of Activision / Blizzard.

gervaise1

Lokero said:

<snip>

It's really laughable that people would dump that much stock because of that simple BlizzCon announcement, though.

We are talking a company whose every product release is like free gold falling from the skies.  This is a stock buyer's fantasy made real.

You are correct about the Blizzcon announcement not being "the" cause. Although it won't have helped share prices are driven essentially by expected future earnings. Not about the free gold though. Check out AB's last earnings report. There was a thread on it.

Put simply though:
MAU number down - driven by King. The company AB paid $5.9B for funded in part by borrowing. 100M down in c. 2 years in fact. Not good.
Then there is WoW. Subscribers - we suspect - haven't stuck around since the last expansion. Doesn't look like they nailed it.
Lets not forget Destiny 2 - even Activision have said they are disappointed.
There is more but you get the drift.

And the furore caused by the Blizzcon announcement will have reinforced the idea that AB are not "on the ball".

Throw in the anticipated downturn in their major market (the US: impact of lower tax deductions licking in, tarrifs, impact of trillion dollar deficit etc. etc.) and it all gets factored into a lower stock price. Which had, I will say, risen in the last 12+ months on the back of possible "gaming as a service" revenue - now markets are not so sure.

WhiteLantern

This is still a thing?

ceratop001

Activision *Cracks whip*, Poor Blizzard employees trying to work...Activision, "Make me money now." *Whips*

asdfsdf34534

Albatroes said:

How are they are this dense....? You can say you're working on 100 Diablo projects if you want, but you reveal a mobile project at your company's BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR that is predominantly a pc crowd, followed by saying in a press-conference that Diablo Immortal was purposely designed for a younger and more diverse demographic (kids with phones and the asian market).

Do middle aged people not know how to proof read or something?

asdfsdf34534

Another repost from suzie because she knows it causes a chatter. Too bad it's of the same sadistic people with the same wacko responses.