Diablo 3
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Diablo 3 patch fixes crashes, stops endless vibration on Xbox 360
Following a PlayStation 3 release on October 1, Blizzard has now issued the 1.02 patch for the Xbox 360 incarnation of Diablo 3. Most notably, this patch fixes a number of relatively common in-game scenarios that have been causing the game to crash. It also improves the item-handling abilities of your character's Followers, ensures that proper gems can be found in higher difficulty levels and fixes an issue that would cause a player's controller to vibrate indefinitely. As with all Xbox 360 patches, this latest Diablo 3 update will be applied the next time you fire up your online-enabled console. A full list of changes can be found on the official Diablo 3 website. Just ignore the bit at the top stating the details only apply to the PlayStation 3 game; apparently Blizzard has yet to update that particular page.
Diablo III polls players about expansion prices
Was there ever an innocent survey that didn't harbor dark agendas and terrible secrets? We're inclined to think "no," so a recent email survey of Diablo III players by Blizzard has raised a few eyebrows around these here parts. The studio is polling players to see what they think of potential pricing for different editions of Reaper of Souls as well as how they rank the different features that the expansion will bring. The two price tags mentioned as possibilities for Reaper of Souls are $29.99 for the standard edition and $49.99 for the collector's edition. The expansion is slated for a 2014 release.
Diablo III starts console digital downloads
Who needs boxes when you've got the convenience of digital downloads, am I right? I am always right; you need to learn that lesson right now. Well, console fans of Diablo III are not shackled to the box-and-chain any longer, as digital downloads for the game are available on both the Sony Entertainment Network and Xbox Live. The game is $59.99 on both sites and graciously allows you to purchase a few add-ons, such as an Infernal Helm or a Treasure Goblin.
The Queue: Of murlocs and crusaders
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today. I hope that minion card coming with the virtual ticket doesn't have as much disaster potential as Gelbin Mekkatorque. Thanks for turning my Lord of the Arena into a chicken, bro. Now get out of my deck. globalsmitty asked: So, the 'Crusader Murloc' reward for purchasing a virtual ticket to Blizzcon, a clue to the next expansion maybe? The much suspected return of the Burning Legion?
The BlizzCon Artists' Stage wants your questions!
The Artists' Stage will once again be making a showing at BlizzCon, featuring presentations and live demonstrations by many of Blizzard's master artists throughout both days of BlizzCon. This year, they are looking for your questions for the artists and participants featured on stage. Those of you interested in quizzing Blizzard's artists can submit your questions on the official BlizzCon forums. In addition to the request for questions, Blizzard has released a full schedule of events for the Artists' Stage. And for those that have found the Burdens of Shaohao miniseries a delight, Lead Story Developer Micky Neilson, Senior Art Editor Doug Gregory and Senior Illustrator Laurel Austin will be hosting The Making of The Burdens of Shaohao Friday evening at 6pm. For the full list of powerhouse artists that will be making appearances at the Artists' Stage, as well as the event schedule, check out the official BlizzCon website -- and don't forget to submit your questions while you're there!
Diablo III shutting down auction houses next March
The Diablo III auction houses are being prepped for demolition next year. Blizzard announced that it will be taking down both the gold and real-money auction houses on March 18, 2014, stating that "they ultimately undermine Diablo's core gameplay." The studio is giving a heads-up now so that players have enough time to prepare for the change, although specific details regarding the shutdown process are still forthcoming. This announcement comes as Blizzard has been making noise about an improved "Loot 2.0" system to put more of an emphasis on killing monsters for one's gear. The auction houses will come down at the same time, and after they do, players will be able to trade with each other only through the trade window. You can watch the developers explain their reasoning behind this decision after the jump.
Diablo 3 closing auction house in 2014
The Diablo 3 auction house is being sent to the nether realm on March 18, 2014. "It became increasingly clear that despite the benefits of the AH system and the fact that many players around the world use it, it ultimately undermines Diablo's core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot," Blizzard Production Director John Hight writes. "With that in mind, we want to let everyone know that we've decided to remove the gold and real-money auction house system from Diablo 3." The company believes that this move, along with the upgrades in the upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion, will create a "more rewarding game experience for our players."
Blizzcon virtual tickets on sale
Don't fret if you missed out on tickets for Blizzcon 2013, because it's the future(!) and you can still attend virtually. A virtual ticket, going for $40, grants access to streams of all the panels and events taking place at Anaheim on November 8 and 9, meaning you can watch every Diablo, Warcraft, and StarCraft announcement as they're made. You can watch replays of the streams too, just in case two days straight of convention footage isn't your cup of grog. When you finally make the virtual trek home, you'll be able to happily swing your virtual swag bag around, full of in-game goodies for StarCraft 2, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, and Hearthstone.
Conan O'Brien spoofs Diablo III
Talk show comedian Conan O'Brien spent a couple of minutes discussing his experiences playing Diablo III on a recent show. While he calls the graphics and gameplay "great," O'Brien takes issue with the voices and dialogue. "They don't seem to suit the dark and violent tone," O'Brien complains. OK, so it's really just an excuse for him to show a few clips from the game while providing zany voiceovers. If you've played the game, perhaps you'll be amused by the following video. Team Coco forever?
Demowatch: Diablo 3, FIFA 14, PES 2014, Etrian Odyssey Untold
What do Diablo 3, FIFA 14, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, and Etrian Odyssey Untold have in common? Fantastically little, really, they're drastically different games after all - well, apart from FIFA 14 and PES 2014. Not our best riddle, frankly. Oh wait: They all have demos coming out soon! Diablo 3 on consoles, FIFA 14 and PES 2014 get theirs this week, while 3DS RPG Etrian Odyssey Untold receives an eShop demo on September 16. The Diablo 3 demo is out now on Xbox Live (as a Gold-exclusive), and hits PlayStation Network later today. The demo goes as far as the Skeleton King, the action-RPG's first boss, and features all five Hero classes and both local and online multiplayer. Meanwhile, the FIFA 14 demo has already kicked off on PC and XBL, taking to the field on PSN later today. It lets you play as one of eight teams: Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris St. Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls, and Boca Juniors. As for the PES 2014 demo, it's out on XBL now too, and should hit PSN today. Bear in mind, Euro-folk, PSN tradition is for updates there on Wednesday, so FIFA 14, PES 2014 and Diablo 3 demos may arrive then. However, EA Community Manager Rob Hodson tweeted this morning to say the FIFA 14 demo could hit today, around 5PM UK time.
Total War: Rome 2 fails to conquer Saints Row 4 in UK charts
These are the days of the Saints Row empire. Despite a brave attempt by Total War: Rome 2, all roads still lead to Saints Row 4 in the UK charts, where Volition's game is now into its third week as Numero Uno. Not that it was a bad launch for Rome 2; the strategy sequel upped the previous Rome game's first week sales by 4,000 copies, and it managed to pip the console versions of Diablo 3 to second place. Get tu, Rome 2! Okay, we're out of Roman references. Lower down the order, we find two new releases in Vita game Killzone: Mercenary, which docks in eighth, and - oo-arrrr! - Farming Simulator 2013, which crops up in tenth. That unusual combination pushes Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn just out of the top ten, the PS3 and PC MMO coming in 11th. Finally, if we peer right down the top 40 we just about find Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate - in 35th. At least Tecmo Koei can reflect on the updated fighter's debut in the knowledge the original shipped 580,000 units worldwide in its first month. Oh, and get this: FIFA 13 isn't in the top ten! It's the first time in recorded history (or close enough) that FIFA 13 has been sighted as low as (gasp!) 14th. Truly, this is the silly season.
Hands on with Diablo III: It's perfect for consoles
Diablo III launched on console yesterday, and I was lucky enough to be invited down to London by Blizzard Europe to attend an opening shindig for the game's new home. And as part of heading down there, we all got to have a very thorough play-test of the PS3 version of Diablo III. It wasn't the first time I'd had a go, as I had fifteen minutes of the console version, again on PS3 at Gamescom in Germany, so I had an idea of what to expect, but fifteen minutes isn't enough time to really form a firm opinion on a game. I left last night's event with a t-shirt and a copy of Diablo III in my hand, went home and put it straight in the PS3. This should be praise enough, that after an evening of playing a game I wasn't hugely enamored with on the PC, I rushed home to play it even more on the PS3. But there's something about DIII on the console that just works.
Deja Review: Diablo 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
This is a Deja Review: A quick, unscored look at the new features and relative agelessness of a remade, revived or re-released game. It was the middle of last year that I hugged my family and friends goodbye. With my hatred for the evils invading Sanctuary renewed by the impending release of Diablo 3, I assumed my free time would be consumed by Blizzard's latest adventure. When Diablo 3 arrived I was hooked and, initially, the hours melted into days and weeks. I played on multiple difficulties, completed epic runs with friends and then ... nothing. My desire to play the game that I expected to take over my life faded away faster than I imagined possible. Though I enjoyed the experience, too many issues – many of which have been addressed with frequent updates – turned me off from continuing the adventure again and again. More than a year later, and much to my surprise, it's the console port that has brought me back into the world of Diablo 3. Although my first reaction to its new controller-friendly systems was, "Oh boy, this is clunky," Diablo 3 on console keeps dragging me back into its wonderful circle of Hell.
Diablo III launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
With the game's first expansion already announced, you might be looking for a chance to play Diablo III in a different way. Does sitting around a television with your friends count? Because you can do that starting today, as the console version launches today on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. (It probably wouldn't fit well with the Wii U's catalogue anyway.) Now you can slay demons right alongside your friends in both body and spirit. Of course you can also play online, as with the PC version, or just go it alone as you rip through demon hordes. The game boasts a redesigned interface meant to take full advantage of the controller setup while still boasting all of the same content. So it might not tide you over if you've played through Diablo III multiple times, but if you'd like a refresher before the first expansion or just prefer the idea of a console experience, you can have that now.
Diablo III now available for console
One of the more interesting announcements from Blizzard this year was their intended return to console gaming after a long absence, with the re-release of Diablo III for Playstation 3 and Xbox360. Well, that day has now arrived, and if you so wish you can now go pick up a console copy of Diablo III. Even if you've already played it on the PC, you might consider it worth your time to try out the console version. I've heard very good things about its gameplay, and a some of the WoW Insider staff tell me they even prefer it over the PC original. It might be enough to switch you over -- and just in time for the Reaper of Souls expansion, too!
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls loot designed to make auction house a 'last resort'
There's been no love lost between Diablo III players and the game's real-money auction house. And while Blizzard Entertainment has no plans to remove RMT from Diablo III, the studio's upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion features a redesigned loot system built to get players out of the trading game and back into the grind. In an interview with PC Gamer, lead content designer Kevin Martens explained that the team likes trading between players but lamented that the auction house has become the primary method through which players obtain items: It is fun to go buy something instantly, the instant gratification feel, that sugar high; however, it's not the core fantasy, it's not the most fun, and by the endgame, for a variety of reasons, [players] tend to check the auction house first and play the game second. According to Martens, the looting and enchanting systems in Reaper of Souls are designed to "cut the legs out from the auction house" and to create an environment in which "the most fun way to play the game becomes the best way to play the game." Lead writer Brian Kindregan echoed Martens' sentiments, noting, "We want the auction house to be your last resort, right?" For more information on Reaper of Souls, check out Blizzard's Gamescom 2013 presentation and the new cinematic trailer, posted last week.
Project Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist
For the last several years, the MMO community has been abuzz with rumors regarding Blizzard Entertainment's Project Titan. Long reported to be a brand-new MMO based on an entirely original intellectual property, Titan was a top-secret project discussed only through occasional interviews, job postings, and hearsay. No footage ever slipped through the cracks; no early alpha build accidentally leaked to the web. Unfortunately, Project Titan as we knew it is no more. Rumors broke in May that development on the project had been restarted from scratch, and Blizzard offered comments that didn't so much as confirm those rumors as lend them a hefty amount of credence. Now it seems as though whatever we might have known about Titan may no longer apply, and whatever Blizzard had created so far may never see the light of day. With that in mind, let's take a little adventure through the rumorsphere and look back on the history of Project Titan and the stories surrounding it.
The Soapbox: Actually, that really isn't an MMO
In last week's edition of The Soapbox, Mike Foster argued that online gaming has evolved over the past few years and that the term MMO should be expanded to cover other online games like MOBAs. He examined the blurred dividing line between new online games and the classic MMOs of yesteryear, and he made the controversial argument that Call of Duty and League of Legends should now fall under the MMO umbrella. I found myself disagreeing with many of Mike's arguments and wanting to make additional points of my own, so this week I'd like to offer a few counter-points on the same topic for debate. The MMO market has certainly evolved since Massively was founded, with some pretty big innovations in gameplay and new ideas like the free-to-play business model taking hold. As much as people like to complain about a lack of innovation in the games industry, the same level of experimentation and evolution has hit industry-wide. Call of Duty has borrowed unlock and XP systems from the world of orcs and dragons, and League of Legends came from nowhere to be at the forefront of a global MOBA revolution, but neither of them is an MMO by any stretch of the imagination. In this in-depth opinion piece, I break down the definition arguments surrounding the term MMO, offer a reasoned view of where the line can and should be drawn, and look at why Massively covers games other than MMOs.
Diablo 3 director hints at Reaper of Souls possibly coming to consoles
With the Diablo 3 expansion, Reaper of Souls, announced at Gamescom earlier this week, and the console version of Diablo 3 to release on September 3, many have wondered: will console players get to experience the new content - not least of which is an awesome cinematic showing off Malthael, the angel of death - present in Reaper of Souls? In an interview with Polygon, game director Josh Mosqueira hinted that it could be so. "We've got Diablo 3 on PC, we released it and then a small team splintered off to work on Diablo for the current consoles. Now the team's really focused on Reaper of Souls for PC," Mosqueira said. "So if you look at the past, you can probably infer what the future might bring." Unfortunately, that tease is all we're going to get, as Mosqueira also clarified that the teams don't have anything official to announce "at this point."
Gamescom 2013: Watch Blizzard's Diablo III presentation
Looking for Diablo III news from this week's Gamescom convention in Cologne? WoW Insider's got it, including a video of Blizzard's presentation and a break-down of the free features the company is giving gamers in its upcoming pre-expansion patch. And speaking of the Reaper of Souls expansion set, there are some fresh screenshots from the update on the Diablo III Facebook page. Head past the cut for the Gamescom video.
