Do you like Diablo 3?

[zespri]

It's got a 4.0 from over 5,000 reviewers - most of these ex-Blizzard fanboys who were disgusted with the game.  Some people made an account just to say how awful it is.
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/diablo-iii
I could go into detail about why the game fails so miserably, but suffice it to say that Blizzard's greed has ruined any chance it had.
No, it's a shining example of what happens when profit becomes more important than gameplay (also League of Legends).

Most vocal does not mean right. I do agree that all the gripes are valid and that game would be better if they were not there, but it's still a great game despite all of these. I think it's a huge accomplishment. For me the real measure is how I feel playing the game. I can say that in past two years I have not spent even half of hours on *any* game that I've already spent on Diablo 3. There could be all sort of logical arguments, but I know what I feel, and that is that I'm enjoying this game more than other games and I think this is the ultimate measure. And I sure know that many other people like it too. You see, with something such big as blizz and diablo there always be haters. It's the nature of the game. It's also obvious that those who inclined to dislike blizzard for their greediness are going to use every single argument that can think of to support their point of view, so that everyone would be bitching about always-on (and rightly so) was obvious from the start.

So in the end, it's all of course quite sad but it's not as fatal as you say. I have a suspicion that a lot of people are driven by emotion and just don't let themselves enjoy the game because they are blindsided by all this negative publicity.

[eRe4s3r]

I played more AI War than Diablo 3..  already burned out from Diablo 3 after just 70 hours (seen all events, and got a feel for all classes) seen Inferno and noticed it sucks beyond imagination.

It's also pretty insane I played Diablo 2 for about 150 hours and never once actually got to the last difficulty. On the other hand I played Sacred 2 (which I now consider superior to Diablo 3) for about 200 hours and didn't even *see* everything. I think I only saw about 75% (later levels are very challenging and you can't dawdle around) and best of all, later difficulties really drop you VASTLY superior loot. So you have an incentive not to not "farm" anything. Regular enemies can drop stuff just as good (and often superior) to boss enemies... Ah yes, Sacred 2.. feel like playing that again ;P

Regarding e-books, I can only hope Amazon pushes the e-books ahead because with this pricing in Europe they are destroying the e-book market. Amazon kindle sold millions, and those millions are not going to be willing to pay extra cash for an e-book. They now have infinite choice and already there are *HUGE* TB large author packs in certain illegal sites. And the draw to those is big, as you can imagine and the speed to share a book with a friend is gone from "prohibitive hassle" to "instant copy and transfer". Nowadays everyone I know strips even legally bought e-books off their DRM so they can share it with their friends and family properly. Still stumped the market is so completely missing the wants of its customers.

[Wingflier]

Most vocal does not mean right.

Certainly not, but in this case, yes.

For me the real measure is how I feel playing the game. I can say that in past two years I have not spent even half of hours on *any* game that I've already spent on Diablo 3.

Well unfortunately, how you feel playing the game really says nothing about its quality, nor is it a good way to quantify for anyone else how good it is.  A cocaine addict may feel good when he's smoking crack, a masochist when he's cutting himself, but that doesn't make the activity healthy or productive.

There could be all sort of logical arguments, but I know what I feel, and that is that I'm enjoying this game more than other games and I think this is the ultimate measure.

Your argument almost boils down to religious zealotry.  "It doesn't matter how much logical evidence there is against my beliefs, I know how I feel".  Well the way you feel about something doesn't dictate much of anything, and certainly not to anybody else either.  If how you feel about something is the only measure of its importance, then just about anything becomes valid.

And I sure know that many other people like it too. You see, with something such big as blizz and diablo there always be haters. It's the nature of the game.

Sure, every game has its detractors - but let's look at previous Blizzard Titles:

http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/st...ngs-of-liberty
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/diablo-ii
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/warcraft-iii-reign-of-chaos

All of these games have gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews, even from the fans.

You act like there's some kind of conspiracy theory out to get Blizzard, but it's nothing like that.  In the past, the vast majority of players have had no problem giving their games good reviews.  Diablo 3 is a bad game, that's the only explanation for the negative feedback, and the players have given many valid reasons as to why:

-Forced online play for a single-player game.
-No LAN support for a game made in 2012.
-Constant login problems and overloaded servers that many players have to deal with.
-Auction house which ruins the drop rates and forces the players to use it in order to beat Inferno.
-Hacking and exploits already rampant less than a month after release (so much for security).
-No modding support that Blizzard is so famous for.
-Level 60 cap, which makes it completely obvious they are going the WoW route of releasing microexpansions.
-I could go on forever but do I need to?

It's also obvious that those who inclined to dislike blizzard for their greediness are going to use every single argument...

You act like being inclined to dislike a company for becoming greedy and corrupt is a bad thing.

So in the end, it's all of course quite sad but it's not as fatal as you say. I have a suspicion that a lot of people are driven by emotion and just don't let themselves enjoy the game because they are blindsided by all this negative publicity.

The negative publicity was well-earned sir.  And if anybody here is being driven by blind emotion, its yourself - since apparently, contrary to all reason and evidence, the way the game makes you feel is the only thing that matters.

[zespri]

On the other hand I played Sacred 2 (which I now consider superior to Diablo 3) for about 200 hours and didn't even *see* everything. I think I only saw about 75% (later levels are very challenging and you can't dawdle around) and best of all, later difficulties really drop you VASTLY superior loot. So you have an incentive not to not "farm" anything. Regular enemies can drop stuff just as good (and often superior) to boss enemies... Ah yes, Sacred 2.. feel like playing that again ;P

It's interesting, what games tick and what do not. I did not like Sacred 2 at all, neither did I like Titan Quest. But I liked Hellgate London very much. And unfortunately I can't really put my finger on why. All these four games are the same genre and share a lot of common....

[eRe4s3r]

Yeah Sacred 2 must be something that tickles something unique for Germans because I know a lot of Germans that love it. Tis pretty weird. ^^

I really love how "hitting" stuff feels in Sacred 2 though. It has a nice "saturated" feel to it.

[zespri]

Well unfortunately, how you feel playing the game really says nothing about its quality, nor is it a good way to quantify for anyone else how good it is.  A cocaine addict may feel good when he's smoking crack, a masochist when he's cutting himself, but that doesn't make the activity healthy or productive.

...

Your argument almost boils down to religious zealotry.  "It doesn't matter how much logical evidence there is against my beliefs, I know how I feel".  Well the way you feel about something doesn't dictate much of anything, and certainly not to anybody else either.  If how you feel about something is the only measure of its importance, then just about anything becomes valid.

...
And if anybody here is being driven by blind emotion, its yourself - since apparently, contrary to all reason and evidence, the way the game makes you feel is the only thing that matters.

I'd like to point out that above the comes closer to personal attack that I would have liked. For that reason I'll refrain from responding to these ones. No offence taken, but there is no point to keep exploring in this direction.

You act like there's some kind of conspiracy theory out to get Blizzard, but it's nothing like that. 

You misinterpret my act.

In the past, the vast majority of players have had no problem giving their games good reviews.  Diablo 3 is a bad game, that's the only explanation for the negative feedback, and the players have given many valid reasons as to why:

-Forced online play for a single-player game.
-No LAN support for a game made in 2012.
-Constant login problems and overloaded servers that many players have to deal with.
-Auction house which ruins the drop rates and forces the players to use it in order to beat Inferno.
-Hacking and exploits already rampant less than a month after release (so much for security).
-No modding support that Blizzard is so famous for.
-Level 60 cap, which makes it completely obvious they are going the WoW route of releasing microexpansions.
-I could go on forever but do I need to?

You don't. I agree with most of the point and the ones I don't agree with are not worth arguing.

It's also obvious that those who inclined to dislike blizzard for their greediness are going to use every single argument...

You act like being inclined to dislike a company for becoming greedy and corrupt is a bad thing.

Well, two points here. First, I think that despite the fact that Blizzard made some unpopular decisions, the game is still great. So I think that to dislike a game for the greediness of the company that made it is making oneself disservice. Second, making money and maximizing profit is the point of any business and a game developer company as a business. So blaming them for reaching their main objective would be odd.

[Wingflier]

I'd like to point out that above the comes closer to personal attack that I would have liked. For that reason I'll refrain from responding to these ones. No offence taken, but there is no point to keep exploring in this direction.

No offense intended, it's just difficult to get people to see why, "It feels good" isn't really an explanation for anything.  It gets tiring to hear this argument repeatedly, whether it be on the topic of religion, politics, abusive relationships, video games, or anything.  The way something makes you feel is important, but you also have to take everything else into account.  If the ONLY reason you're doing something is because it feels good, that can be rather dangerous or disingenuous to say the least.

I've said this before, but even if Diablo 3 was the most enjoyable game in the entire world, I still wouldn't buy it.  What Blizzard is doing to the gaming world with there decisions is unforgivable.  Can you imagine if every company started making these same decisions for their own games?  What if Arcen started making their games online-only, no LAN, and building the entire game around what could make them the most money.  I rest my case.

Second, making money and maximizing profit is the point of any business and a game developer company as a business. So blaming them for reaching their main objective would be odd.

As I said before, making money shouldn't be the main objective.  Arcen's main objective is making a good game and doing something they love.  They made CoN when they were practically going bankrupt, and still gave most of the profit to charity.

Sure, they are an Indie company, but even big companies still do this as well.  Valve puts quality before profit, they hire small, tight-knit teams and they are all very close.  Ask any Valve employee they are all paid and treated well there, and it shows in their games.

I'm sorry, I won't be buying a game from companies who have made it blatantly obvious that their first priority is money.  And Blizzard - literally- could not have made it any more obvious.

[zespri]

I'm sorry, I won't be buying a game from companies who have made it blatantly obvious that their first priority is money.  And Blizzard - literally- could not have made it any more obvious.

I'd rather a company be honest than trying to appear something that they are not.

Well the way you feel about something doesn't dictate much of anything, and certainly not to anybody else either.

Apparently enough people feel the same as myself so that the game sells better than any other: www.neogamr.net/news/diablo-iii-is-mays-number-one-best-selling-us-retail-game

[chemical_art]

Quantity =/= quality. Ever. It's called the lowest common denominator

Or do you consider reality TV to be among the greatest TV?

Or Call of Duty the paragon of FPS? (Newest one, not orginal or older ones)

[zespri]

Quantity =/= quality. Ever. It's called the lowest common denominator

Or do you consider reality TV to be among the greatest TV?

Or Call of Duty the paragon of FPS? (Newest one, not orginal or older ones)

Luckily for Blizzard, quantity is what matters =)

[chemical_art]

I see. If you don't care that you are supporting an ever increasing decline in quality, well, I can't save you from your folly. I only wished it didn't come back to hurt me, too.

[Wanderer]

Well, I can't say I agree with the detractors in all cases, but here's the short form.

I have never had a problem being online except when they do server maintenance at 3 in the morning... when I should have been in bed anyway.  I'm not saying they don't exist, just not for me.  Also, lag occassionally can be a problem but very rarely.  For me.

Are they obvious about wanting to make money?  Oh lord yes.  The RMAH charges $1.00/sale, and an additional 15% if you transfer your money out to paypal.  That means no micro-purchases, everything's in dollars, not a few pennies here and there.  They've shot themselves in the ass with that one.  However, that's their choice.  Luck with that, just don't shut down my authentication servers and keep the Gold AH up.

Does the game drag on farming?  Ayuuuppp.  Did D I and II?  Ayuuuupppp.  I personally don't see a lot of difference in the farming in D III vs. D II.  Oh, were the areas a little more interesting? Yeah, some.  Siege weapons and the like actually attacking you until you got 'up the hill' and things.  However, you farmed incessantly to play at the higher levels.

Hell is about Inferno on the last game, it's up there.  Inferno's WAY the heck up there.  One of the mistakes I believe Diablo III makes is not that the gear isn't good enough, it's that you level TOO FAST, so you level out of your area's gear without farming for better too quickly.  This inspires people to push past an area too early.  This comes from a game design mentality and understanding your gamers.  Diablo tends to attract VERY hardcore players who love to constantly get 'better stuff!'.  When that 'better stuff!' is 15 levels under you, you feel like you're not in the right place, so you move forward, and get trounced.

All that said, I *like* DIII.  Oh, it's no AI War, but it's amusing.  I get to play with different skills and watch big numbers go blasting away at my enemies.  I can drop back to Normal with my main and eat things.  Pointless but amusing.  The areas vary from wide open areas to thin corridors and things in between, allowing for a variety of skill tactics.  Multi-player with my buddies is a blast, trying to figure out the best way to organize ourselves.

It's nothing but a farming grind.  It's a fun way to kill an hour or two on an evening.  (shrugs)  With an RMAH in play I understand the always online bit, it helps to cut down on hacking.  No, it doesn't defeat it, but it helps.  It allows for immediate balancing of certain things since most of it doesn't need to be on the client.  It's not a perfect solution, but what is?  It was worth a try and I'm quite sure Blizzard knew they were risking a lot by using it.  I'm kind of impressed they stuck to their guns on it.  It's not like you installed it and were surprised, it's right there on the box and if you purchase online it's in big bold letters.  Anyone who purchased DIII and DIDN'T know they were always online needs to learn to stop drooling at the counter and paying for things without even looking at them.

I'm not a fanboy of Blizz but they haven't done wrong by me with DIII.  It's about what I expected.

As to Sacred 2... great game right up until the point where you start running into the bugs in it (ie: Blowguns won't shoot after a certain speed), which is about the time you go to the website of the company, realize they've shut their doors, and you're screwed.  Very annoying.  That CD is now a coaster on my table to remind me to ALWAYS search online for issues and to determine patch support before I buy a product.

[eRe4s3r]

bl...blow guns don't shot past a certain speed? This is the first time I ever heard of this bug... do you have the expansion?

And did you try this http://www.sacredwiki.org/index.php5/Sacred_2:Community_Patch

[Wanderer]

I should mention I picked it up on XBox, which means any patches I got had to go through XBLA.  And no, they don't.  They start to 'gap' shots.  It was only one of many minor bugs that eventually added up to my annoyance levels that I turned the game into a coaster.  You wouldn't see the majority of those bugs until Game++ though.  It's been a long time since I goofed with it but there were hidden restrictors for magic find, odd things that would happen while mounted due to stat mod, things like that.

Edit: Oh, regarding the gapping? You get the sound and action but no damage output.  It's hard to notice at first until you realize things you were killing at x rate (werewolves in the swamp for me when I first noticed) are dying slower even though the only modification you did was a faster attack rate.  Part of that's because you're already landing 2+ shots/second, so it's hard to see.  It doesn't break the game, just one of those little things that annoyed me far beyond what the impact was because it would never be patched, and I just got a hair more frustrated with it every time I played my main.

[eRe4s3r]

Sorry to hear you had such issues but I understand why you would be angry about that. I thankfully got it on PC and the support for that was pretty good. Not awesome but.. good. And they patched pretty much all major issues on PC.. not sure what version the xbox got stuck on.