If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register or login before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Continuous internet connection means little to me. At home, my router is always on and all devices connect to the WiFi network all the time. I believe a lot of people, especially the younger generation, is fine with this. (It's a different case when travelling though.) But I'm not into Diablo anyway.
For me, the equation is simple : solo player game with DRM continuous internet connection required = no buy
I do not understand why people hurt themselves with this kind penance and give money to companies that have no respect for their customers. As Nefaro has already said, how ridiculous it has become. Ubisoft tried this fancyful DRM and that's why I won't buy their games, ever.
Blizzard dos not care for me and my money, I do not care for their game. Even the DRM used by SES with Jutland was not as ridiculous.
GR, you have countered all my remarks except for one; you didn't tell us if you know of any NWN1 multiplayer worlds still active!
Besides, your remark about the 'crystal clear' part fall into the same catagory; people need to research what they buy first, MOM included. I find it way too easy to just take that responsibility away from people and just claim that if it wasn't put up there in big neon letters people have a right to not know. What happened to own responsibility?
The difference between the Ubisoft DRM and this one, is that pure gamewise you do not need to be online with many of the Ubi games to play it, the DRM has just enforced that you need to to just to start it and then it keeps on checking while playing, enforcing you to have an internet connection in a purely singleplayer game. This indeed is ridiculous.
The new Diablo works like an MMO in this sense; you do need to be online to play it.
For me, that's a huge difference. Where Ubi scams me by not being able to play my 100% singleplayer game if I do not have a connection to internet, I am fully aware that I need an internet connection for Diablo because that's the way the architecture is. It's really a multiplayer focussed game, no matter that you can choose to run through it singleplayer. Although Inferno is close to impossible to solo.
You can all disagree of course, but this is how I feel.
At home, my router is always on and all devices connect to the WiFi network all the time. I believe a lot of people, especially the younger generation, is fine with this.
The problem isn't with your internet connection, it's with the Blizzard/UbiSoft/EA/Whoever servers being down and not allowing you to play a single player game.
Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (21 MAY 2012 4:13am)
The problem isn't with your internet connection, it's with the Blizzard/UbiSoft/EA/Whoever servers being down and not allowing you to play a single player game.
Ya. 10 years down the road, you can still play Diablo and Diablo II... but not Diablo III.
For me, the equation is simple : solo player game with DRM continuous internet connection required = no buy
I do not understand why people hurt themselves with this kind penance and give money to companies that have no respect for their customers. As Nefaro has already said, how ridiculous it has become. Ubisoft tried this fancyful DRM and that's why I won't buy their games, ever.
Blizzard dos not care for me and my money, I do not care for their game. Even the DRM used by SES with Jutland was not as ridiculous.
Well for one thing it's the DIABLO franchise that had be buying into it, but, this version is so much like D2 it's more or less D2 with a graphics improvement and two new deamons of evil to contend with but no harder (in fact much easier) than the ones in D2. I can't believe how much I got the "been here done this" with this version of Diablo. They didn't make a new game they just reskinned an old one and changes some names around. Act I is the Cathedral and surrounding area just like Act I of D2, Act 2 is the desert and the Palace and much of the same mobs are there but it's much more boring and since it's the same practically as D2 rather dull and boring been here done this again. Act III is a jump to Act V of D2 with the Keep and the Pit and since I never finished Act V of D2 I enjoyed this one more. I'm not into Act IV and won't give away what it's about but it's about the same thing it was about in Act IV of D2 lol.
This version to me is just a total ripoff of $65 out of me that I could have put to use on many $5 bargain bin games or something else down the road. I will not fall for this out of Blizaard again they have now become like Paradox to me in many ways just a donkey milking developer throwing the same crap at us for another $50-$65. (Excluding Crusader Kings II of couse
Want is the foundation of impatience, a step without thought can be a drop without end
Dbeves: And LMFAO - didnt you just have to work battlefront into your response somewhere - you are priceless.
Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (21 MAY 2012 4:13am)
Originally Posted By jomni (20 MAY 2012 7:15pm)
At home, my router is always on and all devices connect to the WiFi network all the time. I believe a lot of people, especially the younger generation, is fine with this.
The problem isn't with your internet connection, it's with the Blizzard/UbiSoft/EA/Whoever servers being down and not allowing you to play a single player game.
This is disengenious, at best.
"..not allowing you to play a single player game." Really?
This is like buying World of Warcraft, without an internet connection, then complaining that you can't play it!
It is a condition of purchase. Whining about the online requirement, and making foolish statements about not being ALLOWED to play it just kills me.
I generally respect your reviews, and I have your site bookmarked, but this is silly.
Originally Posted By DennisS (21 MAY 2012 11:31am)
Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (21 MAY 2012 4:13am)
Originally Posted By jomni (20 MAY 2012 7:15pm)
At home, my router is always on and all devices connect to the WiFi network all the time. I believe a lot of people, especially the younger generation, is fine with this.
The problem isn't with your internet connection, it's with the Blizzard/UbiSoft/EA/Whoever servers being down and not allowing you to play a single player game.
This is disengenious, at best.
"..not allowing you to play a single player game." Really?
This is like buying World of Warcraft, without an internet connection, then complaining that you can't play it!
It is a condition of purchase. Whining about the online requirement, and making foolish statements about not being ALLOWED to play it just kills me.
I generally respect your reviews, and I have your site bookmarked, but this is silly.
What Jag meant was that when their servers are down you can't even play Diablo as a single player game. The online component makes it impossible if there servers are down. That isn't a disengenuous statement, it is the truth and lots of people have experienced this problem. Ubisoft's online DRM caused the same problems. If their servers were down you couldn't play the single player game.
Originally Posted By DennisS (21 MAY 2012 11:31am)
This is like buying World of Warcraft, without an internet connection, then complaining that you can't play it!
The better analogy would be "like buying World of Warcraft, being unable to log on because Blizzard's servers are down, then complaining that you can't play it", which sounds reasonable to me. We met our side of the bargain (i.e., buying the game and having the internet connection). If Blizzard can't meet theirs, then heck yes we're going to complain!
That being said, I have not encountered problems logging on.
It seems like Diablo III just can't catch a break. The game got off to a rather rocky start with a number of launch issues that have since subsided, but there's no rest for the wicked because now a number of players are reporting hacked accounts and stolen items. Eurogamer writer Christian Donlan is just one of many unlucky players who have had their accounts compromised and their hard-earned items and gold stolen.
What's peculiar about these hacks is the fact that Blizzard authenticators don't seem to be doing anything to deter the hackers. Many players on the forums are speculating that, whatever this hack is, it has the ability to bypass Blizzard's authentication entirely, which is a fairly scary prospect to say the least. That's all of the information we have for the time being, but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for further details as they develop.
We don't stop playing games because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing games. Anon
The authenticators are not active yet with Diablo 3. Game is ok. Yes, going in to act 2 and it seems like D2 deja vu. On another note, I'm playing Dark Souls and that game is awesome.
Posts : 6934 Joined: 4 MAY 2004 Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline
Yes as Wolverine has mentioned all other conciderations aside this is just a reskinned rehash. I felt the same about Starcraft 2 as well. I've been here and done it and after all these years Blizzard has failed to move either game forward innovatively.
Look at the Elder Scrolls as an example. we saw the series move foraward with each new release-roughly 5 years apart from each other--from Morrowind- to Oblivion -to Skyrim. Yet here-after 10 years it has pretty much stood still.
If this was a console game you could justify a high price tag as Sony/Microsoft generally take 25% - 30% but it's just a PC title and there's no one to pay for cartridge production. The game really isn't worth more than $24.95 given it's shallow simple setup.
I BTW posted in the game research forum here a tutorial for making a Diablo clone hack and slash RPG with code and all explained-that anyone here could do in about 3 months off hours. A game like this isn't all that hard to put together and that's why it's used as a teaching tool. It's as if Blizzard really hasn't been doing anything much at all in the last 10 years- except racking in money.
This is ridiculous. This thread has gone from negativity to pure arrogance and snobbism.
If it's that simple, why haven't you released a Diablo clone and rested on your laurels by now?
Utter nonsense, eventhough I will go along with your claim that Hack 'n Slash games are relatively simple to make (in relation to what anyway?), good graphics modelling and sound design is a big undertaking.
Games are more than code as you know for yourself, I presume, claiming you have been in the development business for quite some time.
Please, stop the elitism already.
EDIT: Update on the hacking of accounts issue; it seems like there is a breach possible where hackers can access your account by means of a public game session ID. This will circumvent the authenticator.
For now it is advised to avoid playing public sessions.
Source: diablofans.com
EDIT2: A guy names Ruksak on the Diablofans forums worded my frustration (with a lot of game communities for that matter) perfectly: "People just flat-out aren't being patient. What's worse is those of us whom are patient, whom do love this game, whom do see the potential, are being called "fanboys" and "retards".
It kinda sucks to post on our fansite while we're at work/taking a break, and have to be called retard fanboys for liking the game we're all excited about. If you truly don't like it, contact customer support and take advantage of their 30 day return policy and shut the !@$# up about it.
I call bullshit on most of the haters anyway. They spout off here for a few minutes and likely hurry back to the game, and will continue to play it for years, bitching like school children the whole time. Like some fat kid that ate a whole pizza and then complained about how bad it was. "
EDIT3: And to finish with a funny note:
As some of you might know, I am a pilot myself, so I really liked the last part! Priceless!
Originally Posted By Yskonyn (22 MAY 2012 12:18am)
This is ridiculous. This thread has gone from negativity to pure arrogance and snobbism.
If it's that simple, why haven't you released a Diablo clone and rested on your laurels by now?
Utter nonsense, eventhough I will go along with your claim that Hack 'n Slash games are relatively simple to make (in relation to what anyway?), good graphics modelling and sound design is a big undertaking.
Games are more than code as you know for yourself, I presume, claiming you have been in the development business for quite some time.
Please, stop the elitism already.
EDIT: Update on the hacking of accounts issue; it seems like there is a breach possible where hackers can access your account by means of a public game session ID. This will circumvent the authenticator.
For now it is advised to avoid playing public sessions.
Source: diablofans.com
EDIT2: A guy names Ruksak on the Diablofans forums worded my frustration (with a lot of game communities for that matter) perfectly: "People just flat-out aren't being patient. What's worse is those of us whom are patient, whom do love this game, whom do see the potential, are being called "fanboys" and "retards".
It kinda sucks to post on our fansite while we're at work/taking a break, and have to be called retard fanboys for liking the game we're all excited about. If you truly don't like it, contact customer support and take advantage of their 30 day return policy and shut the !@$# up about it.
I call bullshit on most of the haters anyway. They spout off here for a few minutes and likely hurry back to the game, and will continue to play it for years, bitching like school children the whole time. Like some fat kid that ate a whole pizza and then complained about how bad it was. "
Yskonyn.... you haven't been paying attention to these boards much lately... There's a minority here that will bash every high budget game that comes out.... They will bash every game that has DRM.... They will bash every game that is too much like it's predecessor... They will bash the every game that is NOT ENOUGH like it's predecessor. Bascially, they can all do it better... But haven't...
Personally I find people's criticism's of a game much more helpful than all the hype. There are way too many games out there for me to waste time fighting DRM, worrying about hackers, fighting GUIs, tweaking my computer, waiting for patches, saying Hail Mary's or whatever you have to do to play the game in the end.
Hearing what people say they don't like about a game is far more useful to me to in determining how much effort I might need to spend to actually enjoy the game. I still may even get games people pan, but I go in with my eyes open and only myself to blame if I wind up not liking it.
If you truly don't like it, contact customer support and take advantage of their 30 day return policy and shut the !@$# up about it.
Now that is something I wasn't aware of. If they offer a 30-day return policy, that is pretty good. I'm still personally not interested in the game since I found the public beta to be very boring, but thumbs up to them for the return policy.
Edit: This is what battle.net states in their return faq:
If you receive an order from the Blizzard Store and discover that the goods are damaged or incorrect, you can contact our corporate office to request a return or exchange within 30 days. You can also return unopened and undamaged goods for a refund within 30 days.
This doesn't sound like a policy where you can return it within 30 if you are not satisifed. My guess is that if a player stated they want a return because the game is shallow or they experienced timeouts it probably wouldn't be granted. I submitted a question to them for verification of their policy.
Originally Posted By ghostryder (21 MAY 2012 5:00pm)
Yes as Wolverine has mentioned all other conciderations aside this is just a reskinned rehash. I felt the same about Starcraft 2 as well. I've been here and done it and after all these years Blizzard has failed to move either game forward innovatively.
Look at the Elder Scrolls as an example. we saw the series move foraward with each new release-roughly 5 years apart from each other--from Morrowind- to Oblivion -to Skyrim. Yet here-after 10 years it has pretty much stood still.
If this was a console game you could justify a high price tag as Sony/Microsoft generally take 25% - 30% but it's just a PC title and there's no one to pay for cartridge production. The game really isn't worth more than $24.95 given it's shallow simple setup.
I BTW posted in the game research forum here a tutorial for making a Diablo clone hack and slash RPG with code and all explained-that anyone here could do in about 3 months off hours. A game like this isn't all that hard to put together and that's why it's used as a teaching tool. It's as if Blizzard really hasn't been doing anything much at all in the last 10 years- except racking in money.
What GhostRyder said has a lot of merit.
Considering that Torchlight 2, Sacred 2 ( 2008 game ) and Path of Exile, with a MUCH SMALLER budget, team and development time have managed to create Hack and Slash games with comparable or better graphics, comparable or longer campaign modes than Diablo 3.
Originally Posted By ghostryder (21 MAY 2012 5:00pm)
Yes as Wolverine has mentioned all other conciderations aside this is just a reskinned rehash. I felt the same about Starcraft 2 as well. I've been here and done it and after all these years Blizzard has failed to move either game forward innovatively.
Look at the Elder Scrolls as an example. we saw the series move foraward with each new release-roughly 5 years apart from each other--from Morrowind- to Oblivion -to Skyrim. Yet here-after 10 years it has pretty much stood still.
If this was a console game you could justify a high price tag as Sony/Microsoft generally take 25% - 30% but it's just a PC title and there's no one to pay for cartridge production. The game really isn't worth more than $24.95 given it's shallow simple setup.
I BTW posted in the game research forum here a tutorial for making a Diablo clone hack and slash RPG with code and all explained-that anyone here could do in about 3 months off hours. A game like this isn't all that hard to put together and that's why it's used as a teaching tool. It's as if Blizzard really hasn't been doing anything much at all in the last 10 years- except racking in money.
What GhostRyder said has a lot of merit.
Considering that Torchlight 2, Sacred 2 ( 2008 game ) and Path of Exile, with a MUCH SMALLER budget, team and development time have managed to create Hack and Slash games with comparable or better graphics, comparable or longer campaign modes than Diablo 3.
I have played all the games you have mentioned, except Torchlight 2. I have the original, and played it a lot.
I played Sacred, and another one you didn't mention, Titan Quest, also, a ton.
But...these are not supplanting Diablo 2: Lords of Destruction. You cannot say that the gaming public has bought into these games remotely as well as the original.
So....where does that leave us? Diablo 3 will be larger than all the rest - again - because that is what the gamers want. Hype and merchandising will help initial sales..but if the game isn't great, it won't grow and grow.
This game is not great. Yet. But, I have full faith and confidence that it will be.
I see the Metacritic scores for this game, and they average around 4. Why? Because there are THOUSANDS of players that rate it at zero! ZERO!!!!! Has there ever been a game that deserved a zero?
We have some folks on this board that are like that..so intent on ripping into a very good game that they are completely oblivious to the good parts of it. According to them, there aren't any good parts to the game!!!
Tell that to my wife. She has a copy, and she and I played for several hours over the weekend, and she LOVES her monk. She kept giggling when she Vulture Kicked a group of mobs into a early grave. She doesn't care about the DRM, she doesn't care that the money auction house isn't operational yet, and she certainly doesn't read the gaming forums on how bad this game sucks...all she knows is that this game is fun as hell, and that she needs to save up another 10k gold to make her stash size bigger.
Originally Posted By Yskonyn (22 MAY 2012 12:18am)
....This is ridiculous. This thread has gone from negativity to pure arrogance and snobbism.
I wanted to say this, but I didn't have the cojones.
I respect the individuals on this board, and everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but...isn't it all about the gameplay?
It's a GAME, afterall. Is the game fun? Absolutely. Is it perfect? Absolutely not.
But this is where I disagree, I didn't find the game fun. I played the open beta. I didn't find Torchlight fun either.
You are not an idiot for liking the game and I am not a snob for disliking the game. I'm also not an elitist for hating always online DRM. It angers me enough so I wrote my house and senate representatives. I am bothered that the trend for computer games is to restrict consumer's rights more and more while other digital markets have become less restrictive (music). I'm not asking anyone to change their beliefs. If the DRM doesn't bother you that is totally fine, but it is a big deal to me.
Originally Posted By Yskonyn (22 MAY 2012 12:18am)
....This is ridiculous. This thread has gone from negativity to pure arrogance and snobbism.
I wanted to say this, but I didn't have the cojones.
I respect the individuals on this board, and everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but...isn't it all about the gameplay?
It's a GAME, afterall. Is the game fun? Absolutely. Is it perfect? Absolutely not.
But this is where I disagree, I didn't find the game fun. I played the open beta. I didn't find Torchlight fun either.
You are not an idiot for liking the game and I am not a snob for disliking the game. I'm also not an elitist for hating always online DRM. It angers me enough so I wrote my house and senate representatives. I am bothered that the trend for computer games is to restrict consumer's rights more and more while other digital markets have become less restrictive (music). I'm not asking anyone to change their beliefs. If the DRM doesn't bother you that is totally fine, but it is a big deal to me.
All true, agreeable and eloquently put up here. Thank you.
But we all know what I meant by my remark, don't we?
To everyone then:
Anyway, points are made, stances are clear. Let's get back to discussing Diablo 3, please. If you do not play it, not intend to either, then please stay out of it.
You and your wife enjoy Diablo 3 more than the other games, that's fine.
However, that does not change the fact that others games such as Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and Sacred 2 offer comparable or superior graphics to Diablo 3, as well as a comparable or longer campaign, all on a much more modest budget and shorter development time, and costing less money to buy.
Those are valid reasons for people to criticize Blizzard's effort with Diablo 3.
Concerning metacritic, If you removed all the 0 votes, and still keep all the 10 votes, metacritic score goes up to around 6.14
If a person who plays Diablo 3 rates it 6.14, because they:
-deem the graphics to be sub-par for a 2012 game -deems the campaign to be short -finds the story to be bare and simplistic -doesn't like the DRM that has the practical consequence of locking them out of the game, despite them fulfilling all the hardware and network requirements to play it -finds the game to be a rehash of D2 ( see Wolverine the thread starter's post )
I'd say his argument has just as much merit as your wife's argument for enjoying the game. 2 sides to every coin.
You and your wife enjoy Diablo 3 more than the other games, that's fine.
However, that does not change the fact that others games such as Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and Sacred 2 offer comparable or superior graphics to Diablo 3, as well as a comparable or longer campaign, all on a much more modest budget and shorter development time, and costing less money to buy.
Those are valid reasons for people to criticize Blizzard's effort with Diablo 3.
Concerning metacritic, If you removed all the 0 votes, and still keep all the 10 votes, metacritic score goes up to around 6.14
If a person who plays Diablo 3 rates it 6.14, because they:
-deem the graphics to be sub-par for a 2012 game -deems the campaign to be short -finds the story to be bare and simplistic -doesn't like the DRM that has the practical consequence of locking them out of the game, despite them fulfilling all the hardware and network requirements to play it -finds the game to be a rehash of D2 ( see Wolverine the thread starter's post )
I'd say his argument has just as much merit as your wife's argument for enjoying the game. 2 sides to every coin.
I agree that the game is too short.
I disagree with the poor graphics comment. It defaults to 800x600, and once I boosted that up, I am very impressed with both the graphics, as well as the combat animations. I would go so far as to call them excellent.
I am not a big fan of the limited choices for character development. I don't like the unlock system, I much prefer the skill tree.
But...once you have made your skill tree decision, you're done. No going back.
Here, with the unlocks, you can infinitely re-configure your skills. I like this.
If you buy into the basic notion that the auction house REQUIRES player data to be kept server side, then you are also requiring an on-line connection, with the resultant DRM.
Could this be a great single player game? Sure. But...I spent 1000 gold in the auction house last night, and bought 5 items that REALLY boosted up my character, making it more fun to play. I LIKE the auction house!!!
A single player, with a vast loot table, would take years and years to gain access to all of the cool stuff available for a toon. I LIKE the notion that others items, placed in the auction house, will become available to me much sooner.
Posts : 6934 Joined: 4 MAY 2004 Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline
This is ridiculous. This thread has gone from negativity to pure arrogance and snobbism.
If it's that simple, why haven't you released a Diablo clone and rested on your laurels by now?
Utter nonsense, eventhough I will go along with your claim that Hack 'n Slash games are relatively simple to make (in relation to what anyway?), good graphics modelling and sound design is a big undertaking.
Games are more than code as you know for yourself, I presume, claiming you have been in the development business for quite some time.
Please, stop the elitism already.
EDIT: Update on the hacking of accounts issue; it seems like there is a breach possible where hackers can access your account by means of a public game session ID. This will circumvent the authenticator.
For now it is advised to avoid playing public sessions.
Source: diablofans.com
EDIT2: A guy names Ruksak on the Diablofans forums worded my frustration (with a lot of game communities for that matter) perfectly: "People just flat-out aren't being patient. What's worse is those of us whom are patient, whom do love this game, whom do see the potential, are being called "fanboys" and "retards".
It kinda sucks to post on our fansite while we're at work/taking a break, and have to be called retard fanboys for liking the game we're all excited about. If you truly don't like it, contact customer support and take advantage of their 30 day return policy and shut the !@$# up about it.
I call bull**** on most of the haters anyway. They spout off here for a few minutes and likely hurry back to the game, and will continue to play it for years, bitching like school children the whole time. Like some fat kid that ate a whole pizza and then complained about how bad it was. "
Here here/ None of my posts have called anyone retards or fanboiys or whatnot-my comments center around the game. Yours on the other hand.....and also I'll point out your whole post has nothing whatsoever to say about the game at all but rather on people who are giving honest opinions. You know...us BS Elitests.
As to your other points? The tuturial still sits here. If your interested dive in. Use your own graphics. It'll look better than Diablo3. And why haven't I? I already released a FPS-a type of game I rarely like, why would I waste my time on another type of game I only enjoy when I want to play something casual for a few minutes? When i'm in the middle of deving a complex strategy title? I'm one guy-how many games do you think I can churn out to satisfy you?
As to your claim good graphics are something restricted to only million dollar houses with huge Blizzard like teams and whooo to the small independant....or for that matter blizzard themselves for their very own poor modeling in Diablo 3....take a peek at what a single guy can do in his off hours....
You want to talk graphics I know a little-and generally they are not hard. Not with the tools today available.
Posts : 369 Joined: 19 JUN 2004 Location: US, Maine
Status : Offline
@GR - Man I love your work!!! I have to say, I think you have the art of modelling the female back side down to a fine science! I would love to meet the model who gave you the inspiration, and then marry her (if she isn't already spoken for of course
)
I have a friend who, until the D3 release, was a hardcore WoW player. I have never been a big 'fantasy MMORPG' fan so when I decided to take the MMO plunge a few weeks ago, I went with Star Trek Online and have never loved an online game quite so much! Now, my friend pre-ordered D3 forever ago and has been waiting patiently with the official D3 wallpaper until launch. Even with all the issues at launch, and all the controversy now, he is soooo happy with D3 he is 3 levels from capping his monk while still working 8 hours a day. He has already copped the cash for a year subscription and says if he could cancel his WoW account, he would!!! He is having the time of his MMO life! Now, obviously this guy is a huge MMO fan already, but being a long time gamer his opinions are valid to me. He thinks D3 will out strip any of the previous titles, and that it will certainly challenge the big boys like WoW in the subscription based MMO market.
I watched him play for a couple hours this evening while waiting for a prescription at the pharmacy near his house, and it's the first real game play I've seen of the game. On his rig (it runs RoF [he not a simmer, I installed it cause my rig will not run it] at max settings smooth a silk) the game looks amazing to me. Yeah, it has the same view point as D2 so the similarites seem glaring, but the graphics are far improved. The effects alone are what really pleases the eye, I think they're outstanding. The loot system is very interesting. In my mind this is what can make or break an MMO, and D3 has a good system that is not just uniqe but levels the loot catching field dramtically. It's not like D2 where ninja's will ruin your day. All the loot you see drop is yours, and no one else sees it or knows what you have unless you tell them. Also, the sheer volume of different types of gear/weapons/gems is staggering. Not only are their many different types, but a ton of different quality levels and capabilites. You can remove gems from items and keep both the gem and item like you never even put them together. There is no need to buy 'identify' scrolls by the cart full since it tells you when you ask it to. Town recall is free and useable anywhere without any type of spell, scroll, or ability needed.
I think D3 is great fun for those who want it to be. The cash auction house make me shake my head as people will actually be able to, in theory, make a living off farming gold/gear and then selling/trading on the exchange like a stock broker does in the world. It's real money being paid for things that don't actually exist physically in the world except as electrons, but to each their own. I tell you, I wouldn't be buying anything on that exchange, but you better believe I will certainly be selling everything excpet my kids when/if I finally start playing for the '1 born every mintute' crowd willing to pay me to have fun playing.
I think the discussion of DRM here is moot. This isn't a grand strategy game where you will spend hours all by yourself conquering the world and beating the snot out of a helpless AI that requires a full time internet connection. It's an MMO as far as I'm concerned, and it defeats the point for an MMO to not need an internet connection full time.
So, in conclusion, if you are going to go out and buy Diablo 3 expecting to play a long, complex, meaning of life answering type game all by your lonesome, don't waste your money as this isn't the game for you.
If you want to buy Diablo 3 so you can stomp through the hardest bosses on Inferno with your geared up toon and some good buddies so you can share in the wealth and glory.....then turn it around for real money in the cash exchange, this is and will be just the game for you.
PS - Any of you folks that play Star Trek Online, look me up in game as Seraphim Stratus on the Federation side. Or find my fleet, Errant Venture, and come do some Special Task Force runs, or kill some mirror universe Terran Empire types, or play a couple games of Dabo!
