4pp. 4player, Diablo III

Remember those days when you could just buy a game from the store and you got everything that was on the disc?  When beating the game would net you a host of extra content that would unlock as soon as the final boss was felled?  Or, when you would bring the game home and actually get to play the actual game?

Those were the days.

Now reflect on that as I tell you this. In its effort to curb cheaters, Blizzard has added a new feature to Diablo III within patch 1.0.3 that will restrict players who have purchased a digital copy into the "Starter Edition" for the first 72hrs.  This means that new customers will only be able to play through Act I up to the Skeleton King, and be limited to Level 13.  These new players also won't have access to the Auction House or be able to have interaction with players who are outside of the 72hr window until the review period is up.

Don't bother checking the calendar, it's not April 1st.

Blizzard is saying that there is a possibility of that 72hrs being reduced -oh happy joy!- but the only way to totally get around this new "feature" is to purchase a boxed copy of the game.

So what was that about people being behind an all-digital era? Blizzard is stating that these steps are being undertaken to improve the experience for all, but surely there is a better -and more consumer friendly- way to go about it.

Comments

  • Avatar
    FalkonFace
    12 years, 5 months ago

    It's ingenious!

  • Avatar
    drake
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Right! And when theyre done with the 72 hour waiting period, lets make em buy an online pass!

  • Avatar
    robotmolester
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Holy dumb fuck...

  • Avatar
    Ghoul01
    12 years, 5 months ago

    You know? I have not played a single Diablo game in my life. Not Diablo 1 nor Diablo 2, or any Blizzard game for that matter (StarCraft 2 being the only exception). So I was really, really excited for Diablo 3, dude. I mean, it would be a whole new game from the oh-so-praised Diablo IP, from which I had heard great things about, as well as things that I also liked in games (LOOT). Since I have no way of getting Diablo 1 and 2 (physical copies are [nearly] non-existant, and I can't get online copies), I figured I would get Diablo 3, and roll with the new things that this game would bring.
    So, time passed, and new features were added. the auction house didn't (and stilldoesn't) bother me, and neither did the Always-Online DRM. More time passed, and the beta came. And then the beta had a free weekend, so I decided to try Diablo 3 for the first time.
    I've got to say, I was a little disappointed by what I played. The game itself was fine, but from what I heard of the other games, I expected this one to be more fun and varied. Instead I got a game with streamlined characters. And when I played the beta, I realized how STUPID the Always-Online thing was. I mean, seriously? You have to stay connected to even play ALONE? That didn't bother me much at first, but then the game started lagging to the point where it resulted in my death various times. In SINGLE PLAYER. That really got under my skin. However, it was very fun, and I decided that I'd wait until the game lowered in price.
    And then came the release, and I saw the plethora of errors that supposedly SHOULD have been prevented or, at the very least diminished, because of the beta. Such lackluster from Blizzard really let me down, and my interest for the game faded away even more.
    And now, there's this. What the fuck, Blizzard? What in the ACTUAL fuck? You expect me to buy a game, yet you keep giving me incentive to just forget about it and move on. You are treating your customers like shit for the sake of 'protecting your game', when in reality, this only pushed customers to break your rules or just not bother at all. It disappoints me so much that Diablo 3 came to this. But don't worry, it's fine. This is the sign for me to leave this game alone and move on to other games. Thanks for the red flags, Blizzard, and hopefully you'll remember how to -not- treat your customer base in the future.
    /rant
    /butthurt

  • Avatar
    Mark R
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Was it hope or home?
    /spellcheck

  • Avatar
    SonicKitsune
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Blizzard, stop trying to be EA. This is why piracy exists. This and cheapskates who don't buy any games regardless, but that's not the point.

  • Avatar
    lemith
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Okay, great.

  • Avatar
    Shades Perk
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Yeah Blizzard, just make your average consumer more inclined to pirate the damn thing.

  • Avatar
    WingZero
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Not going to win a lot of customers with this strategy.

  • Avatar
    Kickagnome
    12 years, 5 months ago

    It's a good thing I wasn't planning on buying this game anyways. Now I have even more reason to stay away from this shit party.

  • Avatar
    that_guy_mike
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Even more reason to look forward to Torchlight 2.

  • Avatar
    Sickbrain
    12 years, 5 months ago

    So let me get this straight. I'm paying same amount for a digital version, getting less than store version (no manual book, no box) and on top of that I have to play demo for the first 72 hours. If I don't care about multilayer and selling/buying pixels for real money, someone give me a good reason not to pirate Diablo 3? Just fyi, support developer, in this case Blizzard, is an invalid reason.

  • Avatar
    Iki Iki Tchikiriupow
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Up to this day, Diablo 3 is the only game I asked a refund for. Just saying.

  • Avatar
    dumon
    12 years, 5 months ago

    There are a couple of us that are still playing Diablo 2, and that would love to have more players. Also just saying.

  • Avatar
    TheFlameLurker
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Guess who is never purchasing a new copy of Diablo 3? Me. Of course the only Blizzard game I ever cared for was Warcraft 3 so this news doesn't really change anything for me.

  • Avatar
    Semikami
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Remember the days when you just download w/e you want on Steam or GOG and start playing? Yeah, I live in those days because I don't support Blizzard and their BS practises.

  • Avatar
    TheOttomatic91
    12 years, 5 months ago

    This is the best news ever now I need to buy Diablo 3 again? I hate you blizzard I hate you so much.