Diablo 3 to emphasize cooperation, PvP to be included
by Jason Dobson 
{ Jul 4th 2008 at 3:00PM }
Explained Bashiok, "We have a large focus on cooperative play for Diablo III, and the mechanics and design decisions related to multiplayer are likely going to be based on supporting and encouraging it as much as possible, and not breaking it down." However, PvP will apparently have its place in the game, as Bashiok baited forumers by adding, "That doesn't mean that PvP won't have its own focus, but those are details and features we aren't yet discussing." So for now it looks like PKers will need to find another outlet for their griefing ways, perhaps by venturing outside into the sunlight for a rousing game of Freeze Tag.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
juju187 @ Jul 4th 2008 3:14PM
i would be more excited if i could play it on my pc...
why no console, i cant see it any other way than a win win situation
Ghede @ Jul 4th 2008 3:27PM
Because Consoles are the devil.
Because PC's have a bit more freedom when it comes to development.
Since the game has a heavy online component, Piracy should be manageable.
Battle.net is probably not Live compatible.
Mouse interface + keyboard works better with ANY diablo. See PS1 Diablo.
Because Blizzard is, and have been since the SNES went out of style, A PC game developer.
Pick whatever works.
juju187 @ Jul 4th 2008 3:55PM
that sounds like personal opinion instead of fact
Will @ Jul 4th 2008 4:11PM
Because the game would have to be dumbed down to be playable on consoles. It's not quite as bad as suggesting SC2 on a gamepad, but it still wouldn't work. Look at how different Halo Wars is from a conventional PC RTS. Blizzard's fans would rape them if they deviated from the series' history too far.
Clicking on enemies, assigning abilities to mouse buttons and quickbar slots, and that kind of thing just wouldn't carry over well. It would be another "Ok! Run to the side and mash A as fast as you can!" game. And how would you target things like the barbarian's jumping attack that require not only a direction, but also a distance? You'd likely need to lock on to hit, and you wouldn't be able to aim it at arbitrary points (unless you wanted to move a cursor around with a stick, which would be a pain in the ass).
It could work on PS3 using a keyboard and mouse, but if you're going to force that you won't sell nearly enough copies to make up the port costs.
Huey2k2 @ Jul 4th 2008 4:51PM
Anyone asking why Diablo 3 isn't being developed for consoles has clearly never played a Diablo game before. The game is far too fast and has far too many hotkeys etc. to be played properly on a console.
I say this as a huge console fanboy too. There are just some kinds of games that don't work on consoles.
juju187 @ Jul 4th 2008 5:21PM
cant blame me for wanting more. Ill settle for starcraft:ghost
Huey2k2 @ Jul 4th 2008 6:53PM
You'll settle for a game that isn't even in development anymore?
mundox @ Jul 4th 2008 7:03PM
To OP:
Upgrade you PC, problem solved.
Chris Mahoney @ Jul 4th 2008 7:33PM
Because playing Diablo with a controller would be terrible. Almost unplayable. IF you have ever played diablo you know it's not just move and press a button to attack, you have to click exactly where the attack will go. Playing a melee class would work but a sorceress would be almost unplayable on the console. You would need a little pointer which are always horrible to control with a joystiq.
student @ Jul 4th 2008 3:46PM
naysayers can suck on it. This game looks great and it sounds like they're taking everything from the past two games and expanding it and building on it.
Juju, I'll be surprised if you can't play it on your computer. Blizzard games typically have been scalable and perform well on most machines. If you don't have a machine by the time diablo 3 comes out in the next year or two that can play the game, well, you probably haven't touched a computer in the last 3 or 4 years.
If they designed it for the console, they'd have to make a lot of sacrifices like most games developed in parallel for both and that win-win situation would become a lose-lose. Blizzard would lose sales and consumers would lose quality in the game.
FSK405K @ Jul 4th 2008 3:46PM
Sounds great. Diablo's always been about the coop anyway. Really looking forward to this...until they SecuROM it up or something.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Jul 4th 2008 6:04PM
I agree 100%. The easiness of stealing someone's stuff by 'splatting' them, as we called it, was just demoralising. Stopping people from playing while they're trying to is almost as bad; better to make PvP more volluntary from both parties as well as sorting out loot simply to make for a better game.
WiiFTW @ Jul 4th 2008 6:01PM
Here's to hoping the PvP doesn't become too WoW-ish.
ben @ Jul 4th 2008 7:31PM
here's to hoping nothing about the game is too wowish.
Chris Mahoney @ Jul 4th 2008 7:36PM
I WANT the pvp to be like wow. Diablo's pvp was bad. There was no point to it.
Orchid @ Jul 4th 2008 8:14PM
I don't understand why people keep whining about console play. They obviously have computers and Blizzard always caters to the low end when it comes to system specs. Is it too hard for them to play with a mouse and keyboard?
The main issue with PvP in Diablo II was that it was often a matter of who had the best gear. If you could suit up better than the other guy, you'd win. I'm betting that won't change. The big problem was that it allowed griefers to ruin big co-op games by popping into a good game with a lot of lower level players who were questing and going hostile on them. All PvP should have to be mutually consented upon.
eldee @ Jul 5th 2008 2:20AM
Of course it won't change.. You can be the best player on earth but if you're outgeared you're going to lose. End of story. That's why you get better gear and fight people in the same gear/skill/level range as you.
Your comment suggests that someone with no stats or gear should be able to take on anyone if they have the skill to back it up.. If that were the case, what would be the point of leveling up or finishing dungeons to find gear? If you want evenly matched fights that are more skill oriented and less gear oriented, play a FPS or fighting game.. RPG's are about stats and gear.
Tonester @ Jul 5th 2008 8:34AM
Why do people keep mentioning the MINORITY of people who dislike Diablo3 for whatever reason? Throngs of people are anxiously awaiting this title and could care less about the handful of livingroom wanna-be designers who are complaining.
Spartacus @ Jul 5th 2008 12:52PM
Probably because the MAJORITY of gamers have no clue the game is even coming out until there's a "Coming Soon" box or poster in Best Buy or GameStop.
If you look at the number of sigs on that petition, you'd see that it's not just a few nerds in mom's basement and that the petition has some very strong points. Your assumptions are baseless and every bit as much of an opinion as the "minority" you are commenting on.
Rare Hare @ Jul 5th 2008 5:14PM
I'm a bit put off by all the blues and greens in the dungeon shown in the gameplay video. I'd really rather see a darker, scarier, lonelier atmosphere. As such, I signed the petition.
However, I think the game other than that one little thing looks fucking amazing. I'll buy it the minute it releases.
I'm also excited about the emphasis on Co-op. Diablo II really got pointless to play after everyone decided to not actually play the game anymore. It seems like Blizzard is aiming to improve that problem.
tehvoid @ Jul 6th 2008 6:45PM
"emphasize cooperation"?
Hope that won't turn out to be some tank/healer/dps à la wow...
I don't want to see a healing class in D3!
sure palies could heal in D2 but that was an unused skill.
Dirt @ Jul 7th 2008 9:34AM
Diablo better stay Diablo. Every class should be able to solo through the game with the right builds and equipment. If it turns into some WoW crapfest I'll be offloading this game so quick. I still play Diablo 2 every single day and it STILL doesn't get old. Co-Op is just find in Diablo 2 as it is.
They need to remember that Diablo is a roguelike. Keep it that way.