official Diablo III

[Kirkburn]

Are you sure? I've heard that the end of the D3 beta is the equivalent of the Blood Raven quest from D2....if that's the case, it's only about 1/3rd of Act 1.

Yeah, it's less than half of Act 1.

[Nagisan]

Just finished the Path of Exile stress test weekend (still in closed beta otherwise) and I found it 10x more fun within the first 20 minutes than the fun I had throughout the entire D3 beta....given that it is going to be free-to-play with a micro-transaction shop that doesn't sell anything that gives players an advantage, I can definitely say I will be playing Path of Exile in place of Diablo 3.

[Alladaskill17]

Diablo 3 reveal site up! http://goo.gl/0e0m6

Go there, like the Facebook link, talk on twitter, CREATE A BANNER (that you keep to keep as your D3 sigil if you so choose at launch). Apparently similar to a SC2 pre-launch even with "100%" resulting in some cool unreleased Diablo 3 video.

[watchthisspace]

I'll be waiting until after launch before I pick up the game.

I really love Diablo 2 and the Lord of Destruction expansion. Both brilliant games. But the video's I've watched of Diablo 3 look like they don't retain the dark, depressing and grim world the Diablo 2 had.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I'll be waiting until after launch before I pick up the game.

I really love Diablo 2 and the Lord of Destruction expansion. Both brilliant games. But the video's I've watched of Diablo 3 look like they don't retain the dark, depressing and grim world the Diablo 2 had.

If you enjoyed the previous Diablo games, then you have nothing to worry about. The atmosphere changes with each area so one may look colourful while another looks dark.

[Amarok]

Just finished the Path of Exile stress test weekend (still in closed beta otherwise) and I found it 10x more fun within the first 20 minutes than the fun I had throughout the entire D3 beta....given that it is going to be free-to-play with a micro-transaction shop that doesn't sell anything that gives players an advantage, I can definitely say I will be playing Path of Exile in place of Diablo 3.

I think you might be on your own there. I pay attention to game news and this is the first I've even heard of Path of Exile.

If you enjoyed the previous Diablo games, then you have nothing to worry about. The atmosphere changes with each area so one may look colourful while another looks dark.

This. I had the same worries before I played the beta, but once I actually got to play the game and see it in motion I was convinced that the game kept that gritty feel that D2 had.

[Nagisan]

I think you might be on your own there. I pay attention to game news and this is the first I've even heard of Path of Exile.

I hadn't heard of it up until the stress test weekend. And I know I can't be on my own based on the forums. The game is 100% free to play (when it releases) and it is still in closed beta. They have opened up a donation system and cosmetic shop (which will stay cosmetic/non-advantage giving), and they have had people donate quite literally $1000 for a COMPLETELY FREE game. How many people do you know would pay $1000 to play D3 right now?

Honestly after the stress test weekend, the forums blew up in terms of registrations and activity, this game pretty much glided under the radar and surprised lots of people, myself included. If I had to pick 1 of the games to release right now, it would be PoE.

EDIT: To give you an example, since December 1st of last year, there have been about 500-700 accounts created per day, up until the stress test weekend. During the stress test weekend, 4000 accounts were created per day during the event.

Also, as you have not heard of the game, you have not played it so you have no clue how it compares to D3, many people on the forum have called it what D3 should have been....other people (specifically a 15 year Diablo player, starting with the very first one), have stated they will be going with PoE over D3.

It is not the type of game you would expect just by looking at it, it is such a fun game and so similar to D2 but much more modern and updated that its a lot more fun. To the point I have gone back to playing D2 Median XL (mod) to fill the game before PoE hits open beta.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

The Evolution of Diablo

Check out the changes from Diablo II to Diablo III.

Like previous games in the franchise, Diablo III is still all about fast-paced combat presented from an overhead perspective. Though III might look similar to Diablo II at a glance, there's quite a bit different under the hood, including a reworked skill system, real-money auction house, and a much more sophisticated crafting system.

[watchthisspace]

Ah feeling a lot more at ease now :D Can add this as a game to play instead of grinding on BF:3

[LOC Veteran]

I hadn't heard of it up until the stress test weekend. And I know I can't be on my own based on the forums. The game is 100% free to play (when it releases) and it is still in closed beta. They have opened up a donation system and cosmetic shop (which will stay cosmetic/non-advantage giving), and they have had people donate quite literally $1000 for a COMPLETELY FREE game. How many people do you know would pay $1000 to play D3 right now?

Honestly after the stress test weekend, the forums blew up in terms of registrations and activity, this game pretty much glided under the radar and surprised lots of people, myself included. If I had to pick 1 of the games to release right now, it would be PoE.

EDIT: To give you an example, since December 1st of last year, there have been about 500-700 accounts created per day, up until the stress test weekend. During the stress test weekend, 4000 accounts were created per day during the event.

Also, as you have not heard of the game, you have not played it so you have no clue how it compares to D3, many people on the forum have called it what D3 should have been....other people (specifically a 15 year Diablo player, starting with the very first one), have stated they will be going with PoE over D3.

It is not the type of game you would expect just by looking at it, it is such a fun game and so similar to D2 but much more modern and updated that its a lot more fun. To the point I have gone back to playing D2 Median XL (mod) to fill the game before PoE hits open beta.

Hell, I donated to get access to the PoE closed beta because I had so much fun during the stress test weekend. I just wish I could get a D3 invite to totally compare them, because let's be honest if you enjoy Diablo 3, you will more than likely enjoy Path of Exile (and vice versa).

[firey]

Hell, I donated to get access to the PoE closed beta because I had so much fun during the stress test weekend. I just wish I could get a D3 invite to totally compare them, because let's be honest if you enjoy Diablo 3, you will more than likely enjoy Path of Exile (and vice versa).

I got the e-mail yesterday saying I could donate 10$ and get beta access. However with GW2 getting pre-launched on Tuesday I wasn't sure I'd have time lol.

[Nagisan]

Hell, I donated to get access to the PoE closed beta because I had so much fun during the stress test weekend. I just wish I could get a D3 invite to totally compare them, because let's be honest if you enjoy Diablo 3, you will more than likely enjoy Path of Exile (and vice versa).

I am in the beta (I would give you a friend invite if I had one), and honestly I will not buy Diablo 3 before at least after Path of Exile comes out and I get a few characters max level. From the D3 beta, it really is not all that fun compared to PoE, I would say if you enjoy PoE you probably won't like D3 as much as you think you will.....there is not nearly as much customization or flexibility in the skill system.

D3 has runes that change what skills do and passives that you can select, but specific to each class.

PoE has different skills that you can equip whenever and however you want. And it has a passive skill system that you can customize to your character. Want a templar (paladin) with a bow? Completely viable.

For those who haven't played PoE, basically any class can get and use ANY passive or active skill, and those passive skills change your character, not the skills you use (though skills do require a certain amount of strength, dex, or int, which are gained mostly from the passive skill tree). Active skills are equipped like gems in D2, the only difference is you can remove them or place them in a socket with no penalty, the only penalty is you have a limited amount of each colored socket (red gems only go in red sockets). But, there are also support gems, which work much like D3's rune system for skills....

In short, the PoE skill system works similar to D3 + customizable/flexible passive skills.

I don't know about you guys, but being able to actually customize how ALL my skills work, and how I want to build the character all together, is a lot better than being stuck with a selection of skills specific to my class.

I don't know.....comparing them side-by-side, I feel like Path of Exile is definitely a better game all around than Diablo 3....it still has more development to go than D3 (going open beta sometime around June, vs D3 releasing here soon), but it still feels just as polished as the D3 beta is, but its much more fun being able to customize your character build......I enjoy the kinds of games where you can create "builds" and get optimized characters (such as Guild Wars, PoE, D2, etc), Diablo 3 took most of that customization away, which makes it a lot more boring than even D2 IMHO.

[Noxa12]

Like previous games in the franchise,

Diablo III is still all about fast-paced combat presented from an overhead perspective. Though III might look similar to Diablo II at a glance, there's quite a bit different under the hood, including a reworked skill system, real-money auction house, and a much more sophisticated crafting system.

First time i saw that video, good share.

I'm really hoping i can run Diablo 3 on my computer, had a few problems with modern games so fingers crossed i don't need to fork out for upgrades!.

[spedanden]

I am in the beta (I would give you a friend invite if I had one), and honestly I will not buy Diablo 3 before at least after Path of Exile comes out and I get a few characters max level. From the D3 beta, it really is not all that fun compared to PoE, I would say if you enjoy PoE you probably won't like D3 as much as you think you will.....there is not nearly as much customization or flexibility in the skill system.

D3 has runes that change what skills do and passives that you can select, but specific to each class.

PoE has different skills that you can equip whenever and however you want. And it has a passive skill system that you can customize to your character. Want a templar (paladin) with a bow? Completely viable.

For those who haven't played PoE, basically any class can get and use ANY passive or active skill, and those passive skills change your character, not the skills you use (though skills do require a certain amount of strength, dex, or int, which are gained mostly from the passive skill tree). Active skills are equipped like gems in D2, the only difference is you can remove them or place them in a socket with no penalty, the only penalty is you have a limited amount of each colored socket (red gems only go in red sockets). But, there are also support gems, which work much like D3's rune system for skills....

In short, the PoE skill system works similar to D3 + customizable/flexible passive skills.

I don't know about you guys, but being able to actually customize how ALL my skills work, and how I want to build the character all together, is a lot better than being stuck with a selection of skills specific to my class.

I don't know.....comparing them side-by-side, I feel like Path of Exile is definitely a better game all around than Diablo 3....it still has more development to go than D3 (going open beta sometime around June, vs D3 releasing here soon), but it still feels just as polished as the D3 beta is, but its much more fun being able to customize your character build......I enjoy the kinds of games where you can create "builds" and get optimized characters (such as Guild Wars, PoE, D2, etc), Diablo 3 took most of that customization away, which makes it a lot more boring than even D2 IMHO.

Hitting on your previous post... you dont think that some Diablo fanatics would donate 1000 bucks a few months back to play a beta of the full game? You're kidding yourself. Im betting close to a thousand people (or more) would donate 1000 bucks. And while PoE numbers will be impressive for players because of it's free nature, the numbers for Diablo will be equally impressive (if not millions more) for a game that costs $60. We havent even hit ANY meat in Diablo as the beta is merely a setup to the unfolding story. Looking at videos, the game really ramps up in terms of environments and enemy size/count. Having all classes have the same skills as you mentioned seems like inevitably people will find what workds best and then everyone will be forced to use the same skills or not be viable, where in Diablo they have balanced where each class has own skills and each are viable, heck you can even have a melee wizard and be viable.

It comes down to, while I dont doubt PoE will be a great game, Its going against an ACTUAL Diablo sequal (not a knockoff) made by some of the greatest game creaters in the business (no room for argument). When both games are released this argument will be put to rest. And I realllllllly suggest you dont place all your cards in PoE's direction yet.

[Krome]

Paying $1,000 just for beta test D3? I think you over exagerate that way too much. When I first saw D3 video, I was not impressed. I thought it's just like D2 or Dungeon Seige. And after beta testing the game, I still stand on what I said.

[spedanden]

Paying $1,000 just for beta test D3? I think you over exagerate that way too much. When I first saw D3 video, I was not impressed. I thought it's just like D2 or Dungeon Seige. And after beta testing the game, I still stand on what I said.

It was in response to his comment that people donated $1000 to PoE to play the full game beta. And while you would not donate that much, there are fans that would pay that much to play the full game right now.

[firey]

It was in response to his comment that people donated $1000 to PoE to play the full game beta. And while you would not donate that much, there are fans that would pay that much to play the full game right now.

I doubt it would be in the thousands thought. Yes you CAN donate 1000$ for PoE, but you can also donate 10$, 15$, 25$ so it's not like 1000$ is the ONLY thing. Plus the 1000$ lets you be a part of the team, you get to make and design your own item in game, get to name it, and basically become super awesome.

[spacer]

Path of Exile looks ok, but I don't have first-hand experience with it. However, reading about it and watching some gameplay videos does give me an idea of what it's like.

Yeah it's free-to-play, but there are always caveats to such games. The cost of entry is zero, which is good; but that usually lends itself to lower production values in the game. Just watching some recent videos it's plain to see that the UI, quest structure, and graphics look dated. I would gladly pay (and I did already) $60 for Diablo 3 if that means I have access to a game that is not only fun, but is also well-supported, has a great art-style, voice acting, a good story (in my opinion), stable servers, and loads of other perks that come with a game backed by large company like Blizzard.

I don't know too much about PoE, so it could very well have all of those things. But a cursory look at the website, some screenshots, and video says otherwise. And I have no idea how reliable the developer is. What's to say that they won't stop supporting the game a year or so after release? Who's to say the game will even get released? Sometimes these projects don't get enough funding and development just stops. It's great that people are donating lots of money, but it's still a possibility. At the very least, we know that D3 will be supported and playable for the foreseeable future.

The sphere grid of the skill system looks cool, and it certainly seems like you can pick any "class" and build them however you want. However, this type of progression usually ends up with optimal builds for every class. Sure you could make a caster-like marauder, but they will never be as good as a caster witch or a melee-centric maruader. It's the same thing with most MMOs now a days. Hybrid and "off-specs" are generally inferior to "proper" ones. So that type of "freedom" doesn't really mean anything to me at this point. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

With Diablo 3, each class can only use the specific skills assigned to it; so it does "limit" it to some degree. But it also means that those skills are more meaningful and useful which lends to more viable builds for each class. There will still be optimal specs, there is no getting around that. But the difference between THE optimal spec and all the others will be less pronounced. (I think)

I don't know how I feel about the active skills in PoE being gems that you slot into armor. That seems kind of lame in that you could theoretically never find a skill you want, or never level a skill that you like simply because it doesn't drop or isn't sold from vendors. That kind of arbitrary looting system for skills is exactly the reason why Blizzard got rid of the runestone system in D3.

Also, in PoE every class uses the same resource system (mana) and potion spamming in more difficult fights. Yeah, this is totally a throw-back to D2 and Torchlight; but that doesn't mean it's a good system. Diablo 3 is going away from these mechanics for good reason.

The game could be fun, but it seems really behind the times. Though please take my initial first impressions with a grain of salt. I haven't played the game. My views are probably skewed because I'm a huge Diablo fan and I have played the D3 beta for months now. I am certainly going to play PoE when it's available, but from what I've seen it won't keep me from playing Diablo 3.

[Nagisan]

Hitting on your previous post... you dont think that some Diablo fanatics would donate 1000 bucks a few months back to play a beta of the full game? You're kidding yourself. Im betting close to a thousand people (or more) would donate 1000 bucks. And while PoE numbers will be impressive for players because of it's free nature, the numbers for Diablo will be equally impressive (if not millions more) for a game that costs $60. We havent even hit ANY meat in Diablo as the beta is merely a setup to the unfolding story. Looking at videos, the game really ramps up in terms of environments and enemy size/count. Having all classes have the same skills as you mentioned seems like inevitably people will find what workds best and then everyone will be forced to use the same skills or not be viable, where in Diablo they have balanced where each class has own skills and each are viable, heck you can even have a melee wizard and be viable.

It comes down to, while I dont doubt PoE will be a great game, Its going against an ACTUAL Diablo sequal (not a knockoff) made by some of the greatest game creaters in the business (no room for argument). When both games are released this argument will be put to rest. And I realllllllly suggest you dont place all your cards in PoE's direction yet.

I agree, but how many do you think would have paid $1000 for beta access to Diablo I ? Path of Exile is the first game Grinding Gear Games has worked on, they have no fully released titles, and people are still willing to pay $1000 just to support them and get beta access.

Yeah it's free-to-play, but there are always caveats to such games. The cost of entry is zero, which is good; but that usually lends itself to lower production values in the game. Just watching some recent videos it's plain to see that the UI, quest structure, and graphics look dated. I would gladly pay (and I did already) $60 for Diablo 3 if that means I have access to a game that is not only fun, but is also well-supported, has a great art-style, voice acting, a good story (in my opinion), stable servers, and loads of other perks that come with a game backed by large company like Blizzard.

After playing the PoE stress test weekend, I honestly feel PoE has much better graphics (as a whole) than Diablo 3. But that all comes down to preference.

The sphere grid of the skill system looks cool, and it certainly seems like you can pick any "class" and build them however you want. However, this type of progression usually ends up with optimal builds for every class. Sure you could make a caster-like marauder, but they will never be as good as a caster witch or a melee-centric maruader. It's the same thing with most MMOs now a days. Hybrid and "off-specs" are generally inferior to "proper" ones. So that type of "freedom" doesn't really mean anything to me at this point. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

Did you copy and paste that from an interview with a D3 developer? I swear I read that same argument from a D3 dev (or PR person or whatever) when this sort of thing was brought up in an interview. And I couldn't disagree more, one of my friends and I played Guild Wars for years, and our main fun with it was finding new ways (and optimizing old ways) of doing things. PoE has the PERFECT system to do that. Sure people will develop "builds" that generally work best for most people, but its the outside the box thinking of looking for new ways to play the game that make it fun for me.....not following someone else's build.

I don't know how I feel about the active skills in PoE being gems that you slot into armor. That seems kind of lame in that you could theoretically never find a skill you want, or never level a skill that you like simply because it doesn't drop or isn't sold from vendors. That kind of arbitrary looting system for skills is exactly the reason why Blizzard got rid of the runestone system in D3.

True, but people can sell these gems and you also get many skill gem options from quests.....it may not be perfect but it is still beta so things could still change.

Also, in PoE every class uses the same resource system (mana) and potion spamming in more difficult fights. Yeah, this is totally a throw-back to D2 and Torchlight; but that doesn't mean it's a good system. Diablo 3 is going away from these mechanics for good reason.

Not exactly, there is a passive you can get called blood magic, basically it removes mana and your skills now use your life to activate instead, which is actually optimal usage for many non-int characters, because they have more life and life regen. So it's either health and mana, or health and health.....but potion spamming is not viable. Potions are unlimited but you can only use them X amount of times before you have to refill them, you refill them by killing enemies or returning to town. So basically, if you need to spam potions, they will run out and you will die.

The game could be fun, but it seems really behind the times. Though please take my initial first impressions with a grain of salt. I haven't played the game. My views are probably skewed because I'm a huge Diablo fan and I have played the D3 beta for months now. I am certainly going to play PoE when it's available, but from what I've seen it won't keep me from playing Diablo 3.

I understand, I too was a huge Diablo fan (I am still playing D2 with Median XL mod), but I still like PoE better than D2 and what I've played in the D3 beta.

[Alladaskill17]

Soooo much text above :p I just wanted to leave you with this: 1%! wooo haha

[_neutrino Veteran]

Beta Patch 16 incoming.

[spacer]

Beta Patch 16 incoming.

Bah, I just finished getting all the achievements again.

[Tech085]

Still not in Beta :( anyone willing to give me a Beta key for D3?

[_neutrino Veteran]

Still not in Beta :( anyone willing to give me a Beta key for D3?

They do not hand them out to the players to invite their friends, the only way to get into the beta is to either be invited by Blizzard or to win a Beta key giveaway sponsered by the. However, from what I understand there are no longer any giveaways going. and Blizzard is not inviting folks anymore.

Just wait a month until the game comes out (May 15th)

[Kirkburn]

I agree, but how many do you think would have paid $1000 for beta access to Diablo I ? Path of Exile is the first game Grinding Gear Games has worked on, they have no fully released titles, and people are still willing to pay $1000 just to support them and get beta access.

You realise that just suggests *more* people would pay $1000 for D3, not less?