DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

[Icemage]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Pertinent to this dicsussion, here are some first impressions of Diablo 3 running on PS3 from Penny Arcade:

The PA Report - Diablo 3 on the PlayStation 3 isn’t just functional, it’s far better than its PC brother

The console version of Diablo 3 isn't just competent, it's a remixed version of the original game, complete with rebalanced enemies, an improved economy, four player multiplayer on the same screen, no always-on connection requried, no game-killing real money auction house, and an inventory system that allows you to stay in the action while also swapping out your equipment for upgrades you find on the battlefield. Directly controlling your character also changes what was a click-fest into a more measured and intense action title.

Adding the right-stick evasion probably does more than all those other changes combined in terms of gameplay (since a lot of attacks will now miss you in combat instead of you just having to suck it up and tank damage or run away), but it still won't fix what really ails the game: a lack of pertinent player choices.

EDIT: Obligatory "might be an April Fool's thing", but it doesn't seem like that sort of article.


Icemage

[Malacite]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

It also means they'll have to rebalance a number of skills specifically for the PS3 version - most notably Vault for the DH.

Hmm, might actually pick this up *IF* they improve it enough (and I can get a cheap copy).


EDIT: Actually, think I'll hold off for the PS4 version. But again, wanna see Blizzard do more to fix the game.

[Etra]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Just get rid of that damned real money AH. Worst idea in the history of online gaming.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Those changes for the PS3 version are decent enough for me to buy it used.

[Malacite]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Yeah, tell that to Kotick...

[Icemage]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

I'm finding it odd that Blizzard has talked about the PS3 version, but not an Xbox 360 version.

I mean, it's Activision so it's gotta be multiplatform, right? Unless there's some sort of Battle.Net integration that Microsoft objected to. It can't be the RMAH since Diablo 3 doesn't have the RMAH on consoles.

Granted, it might be because Microsoft hasn't announced their new hardware, but again Blizzard is talking about the PS3 version but still has no comment about PS4, so why not talk about the Xbox 360 version, at least for now?


Icemage

[Etra]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

To get games on the Xbox, Microsoft tends to require a first release on their console or, at the very least, a release across all platforms at once. Since the game was out on PC first, it might be harder for Blizzard because of Microsoft being retarded. A few previous games ran into these issues with Microsoft. Dungeon Defenders being the first I can remember. They had to delay PC release by a week to appease Microsoft.

[Armando]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

PC counts against that? Even though PC is almost always synonymous with Windows?

[Icemage]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

To get games on the Xbox, Microsoft tends to require a first release on their console or, at the very least, a release across all platforms at once. Since the game was out on PC first, it might be harder for Blizzard because of Microsoft being retarded. A few previous games ran into these issues with Microsoft. Dungeon Defenders being the first I can remember. They had to delay PC release by a week to appease Microsoft.

Yeah, but it's Diablo 3, not just "any" game. I love Dungeon Defenders, but I'm pretty sure Blizzard and Activision and Diablo 3 are much more likely to get a free pass over that than Dungeon Defenders.

The whole point of Microsoft curating the content on Xbox was to make it stand out as an exceptional service (ostensibly to justify that $60/year they charge for XBL Gold), but giving high profile de facto exclusives to your competition seems to run completely counter to that idea.

Case in point: Sony's getting a very late PSN release (2 years late!) of downloadable indie twin stick shmup Ion Assault today, and as far as I can tell it's just the same thing released on XBL in 2011. Sony doesn't care much if there's new content - it's nice if it's there, but as long as there's parity it seems they're fine with it.


Icemage

[Malacite]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

I'm finding it odd that Blizzard has talked about the PS3 version, but not an Xbox 360 version.

I mean, it's Activision so it's gotta be multiplatform, right? Unless there's some sort of Battle.Net integration that Microsoft objected to. It can't be the RMAH since Diablo 3 doesn't have the RMAH on consoles.

Granted, it might be because Microsoft hasn't announced their new hardware, but again Blizzard is talking about the PS3 version but still has no comment about PS4, so why not talk about the Xbox 360 version, at least for now?


Icemage

Actually when pressed on that they simply said that their deal with Sony "Isn't exclusive" - so that's neither confirming nor denying a 360 port. D3 seems like a natural fit for XBL too, so I imagine we'll see it happen depending on how well the PS3 version goes? Or maybe they're waiting for E3.

[jenova_9]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Oh mew there is PS3 preorder gift already! And there is the box artwork with the Mature rating on it (so ESRB already approved it?) Diablo® III for the PS3™ – Preorder Bonus Revealed - Diablo III

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

OMG TEH MATURES!

Totally buying it now.

[Icemage]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Oh mew there is PS3 preorder gift already! And there is the box artwork with the Mature rating on it (so ESRB already approved it?) Diablo® III for the PS3™ – Preorder Bonus Revealed - Diablo III

A pre-order bonus of... a hat? Even with +EXP, that's sort of silly.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

Hey, it works for TF2... though if it was a TF2 hat that would probably actually be better.

Probably because the TF2 hat economy is better than the RMAH was.

[Malacite]

Re: DIABLO III - J9's thread of infernal enthusiasm!

It actually does look kinda cool.

But it's lame - and lamer still, can't use it for PC characters.