Blizzard's Lead Content Designer Kevin Martens for Diablo III has talked up the action-RPG's love of randomisation and how it keeps things fresh and spontaneous. There are by default "way more quests" than Diablo II ever had, including in variety. All over the game world there are "random elements" to discover and loot.
In an interview with the New York Times, Diablo III game director Jay Wilson has revealed that the hotly anticipated action-RPG is nearly completion, “We’re definitely in the home stretch. We’re crunching. This is when the magic happens.”
Activision has announced that there will be a public beta held for Diablo III in the third quarter of this year. That alone will make many a gamer's day - expect beta signups to surpass even that of Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Yet another facet of Blizzard's upcoming Diablo III has been teased to us, and this time around it's for the follower system, the equivalent of Diablo II's mercs. We're shown the fancy UI which lets us customise our NPC brothers in arms, and are given a glimpse at the Enchantress, the Scoundrel and the Templar.
Having over 100 skills in Diablo III for our would-be heroes isn't enough for Blizzard so they come up with runestones, with each altering said skills to our liking. Each of the runestone types - Crimson, Indigo, Obsidian, Golden, and Alabaster - grant a different effect, which also depends on the "different ranks of power".
There's been plenty of rumors but no real confirmation that Diablo III would be coming to consoles. Blizzard's latest job listing has strongly hinted that the developer may be working on at least a PlayStation 3 version of the game.
Blizzard has announced what their plans for Gamescom are this August, mentioning some eSports StarCraft II, live World of Warcraft guild raids and costumes. However what wasn't said or even winked at slyly was Diablo III, you know, the sequel to that little title way back when which consumed the very souls of gamers.
Blizzard will have playable builds of both Diablo III and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm at Gamescom next month as it kicks off in Cologne, Germany. World of Warcraft will also be in attendance along with "exhibition matches, live raids, competitions and other attractions" hosted by Blizzard.
Blizzard has just hydrogen bombed your childhood, videogamer. Not only does Diablo III require a constant connection to Battle.net, but all mods are banned. The first is so they can "guarantee no cheats were involved" creating characters, and they cite "gameplay and security reasons" for no mod support. Got cash?
It seems that a closed betatest of Diablo III will be starting on September 30, as Sixen, a Battle.net forums MVP and website administrator of DiabloFans.com, has revealed on the official forums, "Supposedly, the Beta will go live by September 30th, as long as there are no major delays. I’m going to BlizzHQ on Wednesday to playtest the Beta, as part of a press event as well… I think we’re almost there... If all goes well within the Beta, it’s very possible to have a 2011 release."
A lengthy seven minutes worth of B-roll gameplay footage has been released from the Diablo III beta, which was recorded at the July 27th media/press event. It's just pure HUD-less footage of smashing up monsters. There's no music either, just sound effects and a grunt or two. The beta is expected this September.
The idea has been floated at an investors conference call by Activision that the back-end technology for Diablo III's trade system could head to StarCraft II. Real money could be exchanged for user made map content, as opposed to cash for items in Diablo III's auction house. Blizzard says this fights the black market.
The Blizzard studio is "not ready to commit to a release date" yet but they are "still working hard" for Diablo III to launch on PC before next year arrives. There's "a lot of moving parts" making a timeframe complex to nail down. Their new auction house tech has "not been fully tested" yet. Beta must come first.
Members of the Blizzard team have expressed "surprise" at the backlash by the gaming community for the announcement that Diablo III would require an internet connection to play, and that they weren't buying the idea that it wasn't DRM, but a way to make sure there was a level playing ground online.
IGN has posted a new preview of Diablo III in which many of the mechanics that players will enjoy in the upcoming beta, including the classes, the new leveling system, the combat, and so forth - as well as plenty of actual Diablo III gameplay in the vid.
A few months ago, Blizzard posted classifieds for a "Diablo-related project for consoles," which launched mass speculation of just what the developer was doing. Shacknews is reporting that Blizzard has all but confirmed that a console version of Diablo III is being worked on.
Blizzard continues to state the most peculiar stuff regarding Diablo III, which was revealed at the beginning of August to require a constant internet connection, dubiously claiming that it wasn't an anti-piracy measure. Now, Blizzard is stating that an offline Diablo III would be flawed, and that it is "not really being played right if it’s not online.”
Frank Pearce, a Blizzard co-founder, says while players not wanting to be online while gaming "is valid," they want their community "connected" however. That don't want separate groups online for each game but as an "overarching Blizzard community," so everyone is provided the "benefits" of a platform.
An ex-employee of Blizzard has allegedly leaked gameplay footage of the Diablo III beta this past week. The video gives a glimpse at character creation and the login system, as well as actual gameplay.
Blizzard has already kicked off "limited external testing" with employees and their families with Diablo III, and there's "no non-disclosure agreement" in place. That means they can brag and inflame our envy to murderous levels. The studio is "very close to starting" the closed public beta. More info "in the near future."