video Diablo III launch epic FAIL!

[seethru]

And your assuming the opposite. I already gave 1 solution that would have made it very easy for them to tell exactly how much more they would need to do, in a fashion that would have not affected as many people. I would hope Blizzard has the money and more talented people than I to figure out how to do this. There are ways to alleviate server load and give yourself a little breathing room.

Okay, go back and read my original reply. Now you're assuming it was simply related to the number of people trying. Can you confirm that that was indeed the issue, that it was a lack of servers, and not some other problem?

[Pc_Madness]

Argh, Blizzard are morons! :( I wanted to buy Diablo 3 and put it on my Starcraft 2 account, but couldn't remember my password. So went to the recover password thingy, and it allows you to enter the CD Key you used to register a game to your account, but only if it was done in the last 3 days. The other option is to remember the answer to a secret question, which I couldn't. So the only other option is to submit a Support Ticket, but that requires a username and password....

MORONS! :angry:

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

Argh, Blizzard are morons! :( I wanted to buy Diablo 3 and put it on my Starcraft 2 account, but couldn't remember my password. So went to the recover password thingy, and it allows you to enter the CD Key you used to register a game to your account, but only if it was done in the last 3 days. The other option is to remember the answer to a secret question, which I couldn't. So the only other option is to submit a Support Ticket, but that requires a username and password....

MORONS! :angry:

Tried calling support?

and I wouldn't call Blizz morons for forgetting your Password, you would be singing a different tune if somebody tried hacking your account

Whenever I delete the Authenticator, I just call up and give them one of my games CDKeys and they unlock it

[shakey]

Okay, go back and read my original reply. Now you're assuming it was simply related to the number of people trying. Can you confirm that that was indeed the issue, that it was a lack of servers, and not some other problem?

I'll use the message everyone got " Servers are Busy " as evidence that they didn't have the capicity at the time for the amount of people who had the game. If you would like to back up your claims, please go ahead. Right now, we can easily tell that, at launch, Blizzard was not prepared for the amount of people logging in at 1 time.

[seethru]

I'll use the message everyone got " Servers are Busy " as evidence that they didn't have the capicity at the time for the amount of people who had the game. If you would like to back up your claims, please go ahead. Right now, we can easily tell that, at launch, Blizzard was not prepared for the amount of people logging in at 1 time.

But that's a generic message, you don't know for a fact that that's why the servers were refusing connections.

All I'm saying is those of your criticising seem to believe that the job is easy and they should have been able to plan for everything. Fact is with this, and all other technologies, **** happens and you have to adapt quickly. Two hours from launch to smooth play is nothing.

[shakey]

But that's a generic message, you don't know for a fact that that's why the servers were refusing connections.

All I'm saying is those of your criticising seem to believe that the job is easy and they should have been able to plan for everything. Fact is with this, and all other technologies, **** happens and you have to adapt quickly. Two hours from launch to smooth play is nothing.

Is it? You claim all this stuff, ask proof from our claims, yet have not shown a single thing to back yours up. If you are just going to think everything we say is "generic" or wrong, then you better start backing up your claims. There are more messages than "server busy". There is Under Maintenance if it is down, there is invalid key/no game tied to account, and other messages that actually detail why you can't get in. So for you "generic" message, " Server Busy" means too many are on for it to handle any more....

[firey]

Is it? You claim all this stuff, ask proof from our claims, yet have not shown a single thing to back yours up. If you are just going to think everything we say is "generic" or wrong, then you better start backing up your claims. There are more messages than "server busy". There is Under Maintenance if it is down, there is invalid key/no game tied to account, and other messages that actually detail why you can't get in. So for you "generic" message, " Server Busy" means too many are on for it to handle any more....

Whenever I code things I use generic messages. The more generic the message the less the user is confused. Server Busy could be anything from heavy load, to crashed, to whatever. I have enough logging and such on the server that I know the problem, and the user doesn't have to know what their exact problem is.

Other Examples:

Error logging in with credentials: Could be either username wrong, password wrong, or both.

Server Down: Couldn't connect, not receiving the ack.

Server Busy: Data not received after x time (but connection established): Could be load, unaccepted connection, data getting lost somewhere, not accepting more connections (but allowed connection to notify).

3 messages, cover all the problems.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

I've been online since 12:08PDT...

I've had no disconnects and I've swtiched regions a few times. Yes, the US was hammered for the first couple of hours, but it could have been worse.

Compared to WoW's original launch or any of its troubled expansion launches, D3 has been smooth, at least for me. And I'm having a blast playing!

THANK YOU BLIZZARD!!!

[nub]

Where you seriously expecting anything else?

[Shadrack]

It's not about "I want to play D3 but I don't want to be online", it's about playing the game (in this D3 case) singleplayer without interruption. Mind you that not all peoples have godlike Internet connection that never disconnected like you, and since you'll need to be connected ALL the time while even playing SP, wouldn't that rage me when my Internet disconnected on me? No?

I'm not sure, but there may already be a "solution" out there for you on this one (although it might be less-than-'legal'). If you don't like the 100% online single-player game then speak with your bucks and don't pay for it. Best not to even play it (and keep things 'legal') if it bothers you on principle.

Yes, I agree that Blizzard shouldn't have gone this direction but they did anyway. There has already been millions of posts (I'm sure) on the issue, and it doesn't seem to have persuaded them to change their minds. I'm not trying to say you are stupid for having a bad Internet connection, I'm saying it doesn't bother me and it doesn't bother me that it bothers you. Sorry.

[Pupik]

According to reddit, took the Koreans two hours to beat the game on normal (might contain spoilers): https://fbcdn-sphoto...903256681_n.jpg

[firey]

According to reddit, took the Koreans two hours to beat the game on normal (might contain spoilers): https://fbcdn-sphoto...903256681_n.jpg

On normal.. and they are korean.. what do you expect? Those guys are hardcore lol.

[pw8888]

Anyone who defends blizzard are retards and don't know jack **** about networking or business. There is no excuse for not meeting server/bandwidth demand especially when you have an open beta to test demands and pre-order sales. It is simple math, not rocket science. If Google and Facebook can manage, there's no reason blizzard/activision can't. Also, even if they don't want to spend the money, a lot of people suggest staggering release based on time zones. Thats just common sense.

Imagine going to a restaurant, order your favorite dish, then 20 minutes later they come to your table to tell you there is no more left. Wouldn't that **** you off? Now imagine paying for that meal ahead of time with that happening and no apologies.

Company that get away with this **** doesn't deserve gratitude. They're lucky we even stick around.

[Shadrack]

I'm not sure why they're server load isn't meeting the demand, you WOULD think that Blizzard would be setup for something like this. On the other hand they probably did a little bit of math and figured out exactly what their server capacity would be like in a day or two and never intended to meet the demand of the initial serge.

[shakey]

So, Rainy Day... Business is moving as fast as a dead rabbit... So I decided on a nice 2hour lunch of D3 :) Finished Act 1 with in it. Great so far. Loving the monk :)

[Phalesafe]

Wow out till 1:30PDT guess they needed to take a damn lunch break in between that too.

[arrrgh]

yay, have been able to play 8 minutes in the first 12 hours. Nice going Blizzard.

[Skin]

It gets me how people think that any launch of a game is going to go smoothly. Especially a game that was so anticipated and a LONG time coming.

please... this is a BS thought implanted by the companies that keep pumping out crap software into production.

It's not like they don't have a QA team, betas, etc ot hammer out basic issues like a server not handling load... or activating accounts on the b-net side. Yeah, yeah, I know... they can't test everything 100%... but to have it 0% working is embarrassing and a failure.

Sheesh.

[dead.cell]

please... this is a BS thought implanted by the companies that keep pumping out crap software into production.

It's not like they don't have a QA team, betas, etc ot hammer out basic issues like a server not handling load... or activating accounts on the b-net side. Yeah, yeah, I know... they can't test everything 100%... but to have it 0% working is embarrassing and a failure.

Sheesh.

As others have mentioned though, this is probably one of the smoother launches of a game I've seen. I mean, WoW expansions can leave the game unplayable for 48 hours for many, between server resets, maintenance, emergency shutdowns, lagging and queue times, etc. Hell, their content patches alone can leave people expecting to not play until roughly 4-6pm in the evening as well. Seems most people are claiming roughly 2-3 hours they missed out for a launch. That really isn't all too bad...

Of course, much of this could've been resolved if they allowed for a true singleplayer, but if Blizzard wants to waste their money on tons of servers and bandwidth, I guess that's on them. :p

[Skin]

As others have mentioned though, this is probably one of the smoother launches of a game I've seen.

Not being able to play at all is smooth?

Whether it's 3 hours or 3 days... the game is unavailable after all that testing and years of preparation.

[Titoist]

I played it for 6 hours today and then went out. Came back and I cannot get past the "Retrieving Hero List" step. I have no issues with the way Blizzard requires internet. Hell, my computer is connected 24/7. However, it sucks for those who want to play on the go.

[Skin]

looks like maybe a patch is coming? I logged in and got the "Retrieving Hero" time out... now that I closed and reopened, it is sitting at the patching launcher screen with 1%... or it's a bug.

[Draken]

Here's how it always is on launch day:

Give it some time and the it'll have dropped to a more reasonable level.

ohhh Guinea pigs!!!

[dead.cell]

Not being able to play at all is smooth?

Whether it's 3 hours or 3 days... the game is unavailable after all that testing and years of preparation.

Isolated issues don't represent everyone. Remember that the QQ on the forums is much louder than those who are actually stuck in game having fun. Of course, they're never on the forums to tell everyone, "YO DAWG, HAVIN FUN M8! K BYE"

Also, maybe this is your first launch because there have been plenty worse. Not that it justifies it in any way, but not everything is foreseeable with the varying equipment people use from one PC to the next or what have you.

Lastly, if these kinds of things annoy you, I'd recommend not purchasing any sort of technology on release day. This is just the nature of the beast with just about... everything!

[rafter109]

Sorry for the delay, been at work. Looking at all of your responses appears to confirm my conclusions. I am now seriously considering drafting a preliminary Gamer's Bill of Rights and petitioning the major studios to agree to it. Anyone with me?

P.S.: Since this is something that affects the gaming community as a whole, I would like to hear suggestions from anyone with legitimate grievances (not just complaining about silly little things). My suggested first article is as follows:

1. Customers have a right to receive products exactly as advertised by the publisher including features, game play options, pricing, and availability (including launch times).