Archive for June, 2008:
GamesRadar: Six reasons Diablo 3 gives us a geek-gasm
June 30th, 2008 / / by Sol Invictus
GamesRadar has a new article on their website featuring Diablo 3 and the six reasons it gives us all a ‘geek-gasm’. I’d prefer to call it a nerd-gasm, but I didn’t write the article. A snippet:
#1 - Diablo is an RPG with much bigger balls than the norm
As beset as we are by the wishywashy conventions of Japanese RPGs these days, it’s easy to forget that there’s another, often much more satisfying way to do things. RPGs don’t have to be about mopey androgynous bores pontificating over their woes and engaging in protracted, balletic combat via a distancing menu-driven interface. It’s just as much fun to get knee deep in the guts and livers and start destroying anything that gets too close until you’re surrounded by naught but a fine red mist. And this, friends, is where Diablo comes in.
And aside from the hack-slash-kill-profit focus of the Diablo gameplay, the setting is far less polite than you’d expect from any JARP. No quietly tense political machinations between bland, faceless kingdoms or slow-burning threats from generi-empires here. Diablo is about the titular big bastard demon tearing the world to pieces simply because he is a big bastard demon. Men, women and children alike have already been murdered en masse, many by the hero of the first game after he became possessed by Diablo in the sequel, and things only show signs of getting grimmer and more violent from this point on.
We can’t agree more.
GameSpot - Diablo 3 Release for 2008?
June 30th, 2008 / / by Sol Invictus
GameSpot’s Most Popular games list is reporting that Diablo 3’s release date is set at December 31 2008.
This detail contradicts Rob Pardo’s statement that the game would only be released in a year to a year and a half from now. Granted, Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 have both been in development for a similar length of time (4~ years) so the possibility still exists, however unlikely.
Have your say on this topic within our forums.
Starcraft 2 Information from the WWI
June 29th, 2008 / / by Sol Invictus
Rob Pardo’s developer panel on Starcraft 2 revealed several new details on the game with much to say about the Zerg’s new creep-related abilities, the new purpose of the Protoss Mothership and its de-emphasis as a “Superweapon” and their de-emphasis on Heroic characters within the game.
Joystiq has written up an extremely detailed report on the panel, which can be read here.
Diablo 3 World Lore & Environment Art Panel
June 29th, 2008 / / by Sol Invictus
For those of you who couldn’t watch Blizzard’s Worldwide Invitational live earlier today, you may have missed Blizzard’s World Lore and Environmental Art panel featuring the Lead World Designer, Leon Boyarsky and Art Director, Brian Morrisroe.
If you’re interested in discovering the design philosophy behind the interesting locales within Diablo 3’s world of Sanctuary, you’ll definitely want to check this out.
In case you’re wondering, Leon Boyarsky was the Art Director for Fallout, Arcanum and Vampire: Bloodlines. Good stuff!
Joystiq chats with Jay Wilson on Diablo 3
June 29th, 2008 / / by Sp3tSnAz
Joystiq has a new interview up with lead designer of Diablo 3, Jay Wilson. The interview deals with many different topics, however there isn’t too much we don’t know already.
From a lore perspective, when is the game set? [Ed: Warning, spoilers below if you haven't played through Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction!]
It’s about 20 years after Lord of Destruction. Essentially since then, if you’re familiar with the lore, Tyreal destroyed the worldstone and the general consensus was that this was going to be the big Hell invasion because the worldstone’s keeping everything back. And essentially that invasion never happened and one of the many questions is … why? And we aren’t going to answer that today, but that’s what the story addresses. What’s happened to Tyreal since then? What’s happened to Deckard Cain?
We bring back a lot of characters, not just from Diablo 2 but Diablo 1 as well. We’re also bringing back some characters in kind of unconventional ways. For example, the barbarian we showed today is actually meant to be the same barbarian from Diablo 2. So we’re planning on doing a lot of cool stuff to make a richer storyline.
Enjoy 
GameSpot: Diablo III Video Interview
June 29th, 2008 / / by Sp3tSnAz
Gamespot has conducted an interview with Rob Pardo, the Executive Vice president of game design at Blizzard and the Executive Producer of Diablo 3.
The interview talks of how the game was made and how long ago, which is about three years, as Blizzard North was working on a different copy first. The game is really far along and fun to play already, so they felt it’s the right time to announce it. Read more…
Diablo 2 Now Available at Blizzard Store
June 28th, 2008 / / by Sol Invictus
Most of you may not know this, but the Blizzard Store was just updated, making the Diablo 2 and Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction client available for digital download. If you already own the games and wish for digital copies, simply create an account at the Blizzard Store and register your cd-keys.
The titles are both on sale for a small price of $19.99 each.
Diablo III Tidbits
June 28th, 2008 / / by Sp3tSnAz
Tidbits of Diablo 3, straight from Blizzard’s Worldwide Invitational, via Ve3d. Right after the jump: Read more…
Screenshots and Trailers Galore
June 28th, 2008 / / by Sp3tSnAz
The WWI has brought us not only Diablo 3 this year, but has also touched on the other two franchises that Blizzard has. The links below are not from Blizzard websites, they are from a local ISP provider’s gaming website, however the screenshots are placed nicely on one page there and there is direct link downloads to the trailers. However there are also links in those pages to the respective Blizzard websites.
Diablo 3:
Trailer can be seen on the website directly or downloaded below.
Art Trailer
Cinematic Trailer
Gameplay Trailer
Screenshots are available on the site, or on the link below
Starcraft 2:
Screenshots available on the site, or at the link below
Lich King:
Screenshots available on the site, or at the link below
Enjoy
Diablo 3 FAQ
June 28th, 2008 / / by Sp3tSnAz
The FAQ for the newly and officially announced Diablo 3 is now available on the official website here.
The FAQ goes through details such as that there will be five classes, the game is a sequel and not a prequel, it will have many new features, new customization options, new physics system, interactive environments, use a new Battle.net with plenty of new features, Tristram will be featured, Deckard Cain will be featured, you can choose your gender, there will be a single player mode, class based quests, NO release date yet ;), and last but not least, the game will ship on Macs, with no pricing details yet available.
Enjoy
