official Diablo III

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Engine: In-house engine
Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
Release Date: TBA

Description:

Diablo III is similar in style to its predecessor, Diablo II. The proprietary engine will incorporate Blizzard's custom in-house physics, a change from the original usage of Havok's physics engine, and feature destructible environments with an in-game damage effect. The developers are aiming to make the game run on a wide range of systems, and have stated that DirectX 10 will not be required. Diablo III will use a custom 3D game engine in order to present an overhead view to the player, in a somewhat similar way to the isometric view used in previous games in the series. Enemies will utilize the 3D environment as well, in ways such as crawling up the side of a wall from the depths into the combat area.

As in Diablo II, multiplayer games will be possible using Blizzard's Battle.net service, with many of the new features developed for StarCraft II also available in Diablo III. Players will be able to drop in and out of sessions of co-operative play with others.

An enhanced quest system, a random level generator, and a random encounter generator are slated for use in order to ensure the game provides different experiences when replayed. Overall, the game will include both static and randomly generated levels. Additionally, there will be class-specific quests to go along with the main storyline quests. Blizzard originally planned to have in-game cutscenes, but decided these would divert from the gameplay and decided against them. Three new armor pieces will be available: shoulder plates, arm-guards and leggings.

Unlike previous iterations, gold can be picked up merely by touching it, rather than having to manually pick it up. One of the new features intended to speed gameplay is that health orbs drop from enemies, replacing the need to have a potion bar, which itself is replaced by a skill bar that allows a player to assign quick bar buttons to skills and spells; previously, players could only assign two skills (one for each mouse button) and had to swap skills with the keyboard or mousewheel. Players can still assign specific attacks to mouse buttons.

Skill runes, another new feature, are skill-modifying items that are randomly dropped by monsters and used across all classes. Rather than changing equippable items as in Diablo II, they are instead attached to skills, often completely changing the gameplay of each skill. Skill runes also have the ability to make one particular spell in each class more powerful, and give the player options as to how the rune will enhance a particular spell. For example, investing skill runes on the wizard's "lightning" can allow the players to make the lightning jump onto additional enemies, or, alternatively, adding the runes with explosion effect blows the enemy up and causes damage to the surrounding area. [Source]

Features:

 

• Explore a fully-realized Sanctuary ? the living, breathing gothic fantasy world of Diablo III rendered in gorgeous 3D.
• Battle the unholy forces of the Burning Hells with all-new character classes like the otherworldly Witch Doctor, or with re-imagined warriors from Diablo?s past: such as the fierce Barbarian.
• Rain Hell on your enemies wielding the interactive environment as a weapon: lay cunning traps, turn destructible objects against your foes, and use environmental obstacles to your advantage - all powered by the Havoc physics system.
• Experience the intensity of multiplayer Diablo III over an all-new, wickedly-enhanced Battle.net platform with numerous enhancements to make connecting with your friends easier ? and cooperative gameplay more fun.

[Source]

Story:

Two decades have passed since the demonic denizens, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, wandered the world of Sanctuary in a vicious rampage to shackle humanity into unholy slavery. Yet for those who battled the Prime Evils directly, the memory fades slowly and the wounds of the soul still burn.

When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram's Cathedral seeking clues to new stirrings of evil, a comet from the heavens strikes the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. The comet carries a dark omen in its fiery being and it calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells ? and even the failing luminaries of the High Heavens itself. [Source]

Links:

Official site: http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/diablo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diablo
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/blizzard
FAQ: http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/faq/

System requirements:

Diablo III

Windows

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System     Windows? XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 (latest service packs) with DX 9.0c

Processor     Intel Pentium? D 2.8 GHz or AMD Athlon? 64 X2 4400+

Video     NVIDIA? GeForce? 7800 GT or ATI Radeon? X1950 Pro or better

Memory     1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB (Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8)

Storage
12 GB available HD space

Internet     
Broadband Internet connection

Media     
DVD-ROM (required for retail disc versions only)

Resolution     
1024X768 minimum display resolution

 

Recommended Specifications:

Operating System     Windows? 7/ Windows 8 (latest service pack)

Processor     Intel? Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon? 64 X2 5600+ 2.8 GHz

Video     NVIDIA? GeForce? 260 or ATI Radeon? HD 4870 or better

Memory     2 GB RAM

 

Storage     
12 GB available HD space

Internet     
Broadband Internet connection

Media     
DVD-ROM (required for retail disc versions only)

Resolution     
1024X768 minimum display resolution

 

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Windows

 

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System     Windows? XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 (latest service packs) with DX 9.0c

Processor     Intel? Pentium? D or AMD Athlon? 64 X2

Video     NVIDIA? GeForce? 7800GT or ATI Radeon? X1950 Pro

Memory     2 GB RAM

 

Storage    
25 GB available HD space

Internet     
Broadband Internet connection

Media     
DVD-ROM drive (required for retail disc versions only)

Resolution     
1024X768 minimum display resolution

 

Recommended Specifications:

Operating System     Windows? 7/ Windows 8 (latest service pack)

Processor     Intel? Core? 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon? 64 X2 5600+ 2.8GHz

Video     NVIDIA? GeForce? GTX? 260 or ATI Radeon? HD 4870 or better

Memory     2 GB RAM     4 GB RAM

Storage     
25 GB available HD space

Internet     
Broadband Internet connection

Media     
DVD-ROM drive (required for retail disc versions only)

Resolution     
1024X768 minimum display resolution

 

 

Screenshots:

Videos:

[Lexcyn]

I am buying the F*** out of this game when it comes out.

That is all.

[speedstr3789]

ummm thanks? You seem to be a little behind the times there.

[crazzy88ss]

is it just me... or the graphics don't look that special yet?

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I am buying the F*** out of this game when it comes out.

That is all.

I might even line up to buy it, just like I did with StarCraft 2.

ummm thanks? You seem to be a little behind the times there.

You're welcome. Official threads are usually made a couple of months before the game's release date. Diablo 3's release date hasn't been announced yet.

[bjoswald]

Diablo 2 under a fresh coat of paint. I'll pass.

[_neutrino Veteran]

Diablo 2 under a fresh coat of paint. I'll pass.

not really sure how you think its D2 with a fresh coat of paint, it has a whole new engine almost everything is completely different, what more did you want. to make the game an FPS?

[Rigby]

Diablo 2 under a fresh coat of paint. I'll pass.

Wow, are you serious?

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Diablo 2 under a fresh coat of paint. I'll pass.

It's more than just a "fresh coat of paint". Aside from a new game engine as well as new content, the core gameplay has been refined. Take a look for yourself: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/game/whats-new

[Billthy]

Haha people buy games just for graphics make me laugh

[Shadrack]

Blizzard's games have never been top of the line graphics, but their art direction is always top notch which more than makes up for it. I honestly can't wait for this game. As Lexcyn put it, "I am buying the F*** out of this game when it comes out."

I signed up for the beta but look forward to a polished final release.

[Rigby]

Haha people buy games just for graphics make me laugh

You think people want Diablo III just for the graphics? You're either trolling or just really dumb.

[briangw]

Sorry, not buying it. Ever since I heard about the always on connection and the lack of modding, I'll use my money for Torchlight 2. All I wanted was SP and modding like the great ones for Diablo 2. I also wanted to be able to play it while travelling or at a lake that might not have an inet connection, but I guess we as consumers don't matter....

[Joseph B]

Whenever I see the direction they took with D3, all I see is "Torchlight" written all over it... The art, the color scheme...

All of it, looks nothing like Diablo 2. It's like they are directly challenging the old people from Blizzard North who are making Torchlight 2. Which further enrages me, because I don't want to be playing some company rivalry afterbirth...

...That being said, i'll more than likely buy and play both Torchlight 2 & Diablo 3.... Because I love Hack&Slash. And I am an impulse buyer... :(

[Soulsiphon]

omg. Just as I start working on my Masters Degree. That means I won't be playing any Diablo until IV lol

[Rigby]

Sorry, not buying it. Ever since I heard about the always on connection and the lack of modding, I'll use my money for Torchlight 2. All I wanted was SP and modding like the great ones for Diablo 2. I also wanted to be able to play it while travelling or at a lake that might not have an inet connection, but I guess we as consumers don't matter....

I don't mind the always online thing because I'm always online. It's 2011, who isn't? Travelling could be an issue I suppose but that's not something that would affect me. Now the modding thing, I can see many people not being happy about that. It's not something I really care about personally, to each his own. Torchlight 2 looks really great too though, and I will probably get both.

The reason for the always online part makes sense. There was massive cheating going on in the first two games and this will help stamp that out. There will also be the real money auction house that needs to be secured. Again I'm fine with it myself and I think most people won't mind. Millions of people play MMOs and they all naturally require you to be online.

[lalalawawawa]

It's like they are directly challenging the old people from Blizzard North who are making Torchlight 2. Which further enrages me, because I don't want to be playing some company rivalry afterbirth..

... maybe it is just me, but I am pretty sure I've seen this line posted for every other H&S / Action RPG out there. It is like these employees created a few dozen studios and are working on many, many games... Mythos, Hellgate, Torchlight... I wonder what other game will be 'made' by former Blizzard North employees.

There must have been thousands of them, for them to be able to create a bunch of game dev studios and games.

...

If they have a single BN employee, that doesn't make the ****ing game to be created by former Blizzard North employees, ffs.

[Joseph B]

If they have a single BN employee, that doesn't make the ****ing game to be created by former Blizzard North employees, ffs.

I love uneducated opinions.

" Over the years, some former Blizzard employees have moved on and established gaming companies of their own:

Flagship Studios, creators of Hellgate: London, also worked on Mythos.

ArenaNet, creators of the Guild Wars franchise.

Ready at Dawn Studios, creators of Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus and an ?kami port for the Wii.

Red 5 Studios, currently working on Firefall, a free to play game MMOG.

Castaway Entertainment, currently in a state of financial crisis, ceased working on a game similar to the Diablo series, Djinn.

Click Entertainment, creators of Throne of Darkness.

Carbine Studios, currently working on a massively multiplayer title "WildStar".

Turpitude Design, founded by Stieg Hedlund.

Hyboreal Games, founded by Michio Okamura.

Runic Games, founded by Travis Baldree, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer; creators of Torchlight.

Undead Labs, founded by Jeff Strain. Currently working on a Zombie MMO for consoles. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_Games " Runic Games is a Seattle-based American computer game company formed by Travis Baldree (creator of Fate), Max Schaefer and Erich Schaefer (co-founders of Blizzard North) "

It's right in the damn Wikis, and even on some of the official websites it is noted of the previous games they have worked on... It's all common knowledge.

[briangw]

I don't mind the always online thing because I'm always online. It's 2011, who isn't? Travelling could be an issue I suppose but that's not something that would affect me. Now the modding thing, I can see many people not being happy about that. It's not something I really care about personally, to each his own. Torchlight 2 looks really great too though, and I will probably get both.

The reason for the always online part makes sense. There was massive cheating going on in the first two games and this will help stamp that out. There will also be the real money auction house that needs to be secured. Again I'm fine with it myself and I think most people won't mind. Millions of people play MMOs and they all naturally require you to be online.

I agree, but our infrastructure in the US still doesn't support an always online model esp. for travellers. I travel a lot and I want to be able to play a game whether or not I have a connection.

As for the cheating. I can fix that. Do not allow any mods or modified files to be presented on Battle.net. Simple as that.

[Elliott]

Whenever I see the direction they took with D3, all I see is "Torchlight" written all over it... The art, the color scheme...

Blizzard has been going with the painterly style of art ever since they released Warcraft 3 in 2002. This is more of an evolution of their own style than a copy of Torchlight's cartoonish graphics.

[spacer]

Diablo 3 is my game to end all games. I cannot tell you how much I played D1 and D2, or how much I want this game. I watched Gamespot's hour long beta gameplay video this morning, and it has only made me crave Diablo 3 more. I'm so excited for this game.

I was originally miffed about the art direction changes when compared to Diablo 2 too, but then I read a developer blog or interview which explained their thought process, logic, and how they came to the art style that we see now. And, I must say that I agreed with everything they said. The skill system is all new, crafting is new, companions, vendors, even multiplayer has been changed for the better from what I've read. There is no other game I want more.

That being said, Blizzard needs to light some fires under their asses and release this game already...or give me beta access.

[Taliseian]

I am disappointed about the always-online DRM and the lack of mod support, but I will more than likely buy D3 when it comes out.

T

[Nagisan]

Diablo 3 is my game to end all games. I cannot tell you how much I played D1 and D2, or how much I want this game. I watched Gamespot's hour long beta gameplay video this morning, and it has only made me crave Diablo 3 more. I'm so excited for this game.

I was originally miffed about the art direction changes when compared to Diablo 2 too, but then I read a developer blog or interview which explained their thought process, logic, and how they came to the art style that we see now. And, I must say that I agreed with everything they said. The skill system is all new, crafting is new, companions, vendors, even multiplayer has been changed for the better from what I've read. There is no other game I want more.

That being said, Blizzard needs to light some fires under their asses and release this game already...or give me beta access.

I agree, D2 is easily the game I played the longest, at least 5 years solid....I have high hopes that D3 will pull computer games out of this dry spell where games are only fun for a week or two then you need to find another to keep having fun.

I am disappointed about the always-online DRM and the lack of mod support, but I will more than likely buy D3 when it comes out.

T

It's not always-online DRM, its a multiplayer-only game.

[S00N3R FR3AK]

Whenever I see the direction they took with D3, all I see is "Torchlight" written all over it... The art, the color scheme...

All of it, looks nothing like Diablo 2. It's like they are directly challenging the old people from Blizzard North who are making Torchlight 2. Which further enrages me, because I don't want to be playing some company rivalry afterbirth...

...That being said, i'll more than likely buy and play both Torchlight 2 & Diablo 3.... Because I love Hack&Slash. And I am an impulse buyer... :(

Torchlight came out in 2009, Diablo 3 was announced in 2008 with at least a year or two of dev time before the announcement so i really doubt they set out to copy torchlight.

[DukeEsquire]

Diablo 2 under a fresh coat of paint. I'll pass.

Really?

There is actually a post on Reddit complaining about how Diablo III was so different from Diablo II that they should have made it into a different franchise.