Blizzard 'exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles'
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Blizzard COO John Sams stated last year that "the major manufacturers," presumably Microsoft and Sony, had made "some pretty compelling arguments" for a console version of Diablo 3. It would seem said arguments have (tentatively) borne fruit. The studio has posted three new console positions for the Diablo 3 team, namely a lead designer, lead programmer and senior producer. Console gamers shouldn't be jumping for joy just yet though, as a post on the Diablo 3 community site makes it clear that Blizzard is only "exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles."
The post goes on to say that Blizzard believes that "with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we're interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in such a project." It adds that the positions should not be considered an official console announcement; furthermore, the possibility of a console version will not "delay or affect the release" of the PC and Mac versions.
If we might make a compelling argument of our own: We want it.
The post goes on to say that Blizzard believes that "with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we're interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in such a project." It adds that the positions should not be considered an official console announcement; furthermore, the possibility of a console version will not "delay or affect the release" of the PC and Mac versions.
If we might make a compelling argument of our own: We want it.
Reader Comments (65)
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:44PM bargaingamer said
No surprise activision blizzard is exploring this option they will make several millions dollars if they can get it on consoles.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 9:06PM bargaingamer said
@RKN
yea i know but the whole reason is because pc is to easy to pirate, blame the pirate that keep stealing games .
Reply
yea i know but the whole reason is because pc is to easy to pirate, blame the pirate that keep stealing games .
Posted: Nov 16th 2010 4:51PM Xocolatl said
@SirUrza
Wow is simply too huge. Diablo's world and mechanics are not nearly as far reaching compared to WoW. To port WoW over, you need a lot of mechanics change. WoW players rely on a lot of mods to help them perform as well. Diablo players wouldn't need these at all.
Heroes of EQ: Diablo version, here I come!
Reply
Wow is simply too huge. Diablo's world and mechanics are not nearly as far reaching compared to WoW. To port WoW over, you need a lot of mechanics change. WoW players rely on a lot of mods to help them perform as well. Diablo players wouldn't need these at all.
Heroes of EQ: Diablo version, here I come!
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:45PM Krasnytova said
GHaaaaa GGmmmZHzzhzh *seizure of joy*
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:46PM jynxycat said
Hope they keep up on console with all the patches they release over the course of its lifetime.
Valve didn't do so well with orange box.
Valve didn't do so well with orange box.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:02PM Drakkenfyre said
Valve recently said, in an interview, that not only were there memory constraints, and the desire to get all the updates out before they released them, but due to Microsoft's licensing and testing, it would have cost several thousand dollars to release all the updates.
Blade Microsoft.
Reply
Blade Microsoft.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 8:03PM SirUrza said
@Drakkenfyre
And yet they failed to update the ps3 version too. I don't believe a thing Valve says anymore, they spent years bashing the ps3, now they love it. They're also the company that spit out L4D2 a year after the first game came out after promising lots of content for it. They're selling out for money. End of story.
Reply
And yet they failed to update the ps3 version too. I don't believe a thing Valve says anymore, they spent years bashing the ps3, now they love it. They're also the company that spit out L4D2 a year after the first game came out after promising lots of content for it. They're selling out for money. End of story.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 10:00PM Drakkenfyre said
I also screwed up the amount. it was several hundred thousand dollars, not several thousand.
Reply
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:47PM Epoque said
I can totally see a Diablo III console game with Jade Empire-esque controls / interaction.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:48PM GleepGlop said
Glad to hear this: in this day and age there is no reason Diablo wouldn't work on a console.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:50PM Bronxchulo said
I think the MOVE would be a great use for this game if they do bring it to the PS3.
In fact if i was to get this game and it had MOVE support, this would make me buy the MOVE.
In fact if i was to get this game and it had MOVE support, this would make me buy the MOVE.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:27PM Mayor West said
@Bronxchulo
This. The Move should be able to act as the mouse pretty easily.
Reply
This. The Move should be able to act as the mouse pretty easily.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 9:59PM Bronxchulo said
@Bronxchulo
are you serious?? my comment gets down graded for what reason? cuz i said it should use the MOVE if it comes to PS3?
Reply
are you serious?? my comment gets down graded for what reason? cuz i said it should use the MOVE if it comes to PS3?
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:52PM GewurztraminerX said
I remember hearing the PlayStation version of Diablo was not so good. Though I never tried it myself.
Still, I'm intrigued by this news.
Still, I'm intrigued by this news.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:06PM Drakkenfyre said
It wasn't that bad. It ran a little slower. The control scheme felt weird since you directly controlled your character, and not just clicking where you wanted him to go.
There were a few upgrades. Items and gold glittered in the dark when they fell out of enemies. Only on the arc up, tho. The water in Tristram actually moved, and there were flocks of birds on the edge of town.
What really sucked was that if you played a multiplayer game (shared screen) and saved it, the save game was multiplayer only. You could not drop in and out of multiplayer as you wished. It was two completely different saves. So whatever progress you made with your single player character meant nothing to your multiplayer character.
Reply
There were a few upgrades. Items and gold glittered in the dark when they fell out of enemies. Only on the arc up, tho. The water in Tristram actually moved, and there were flocks of birds on the edge of town.
What really sucked was that if you played a multiplayer game (shared screen) and saved it, the save game was multiplayer only. You could not drop in and out of multiplayer as you wished. It was two completely different saves. So whatever progress you made with your single player character meant nothing to your multiplayer character.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:55PM context said
Why hide behind "the major manufacturers" You are going to get a backlash either way. Now it sounds like: yeah well, we don't want these millions of dollars extra but they(sony/MS) convinced us so don't be mad at us if it feels dumbed down to fit the controller.
Disclaimer: I am not saying this will be the case, I am saying this will be one of the first things that pops up in the mind of gamers because it has happened before.
Disclaimer: I am not saying this will be the case, I am saying this will be one of the first things that pops up in the mind of gamers because it has happened before.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 5:55PM Tapejara said
As someone who doesn't do PC gaming (I just like the simplicity in consoles), all I have to say is: YES THANK YOU JESUS!
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:11PM MatthewBlackwell said
I was prepared to buy a PC for this... but this is just the sweetest.
If it's going to be "Diablo-related," perhaps it'll end up being like that Baldur's Gate spinoff on consoles that got released several years back. Which would be pretty awesome, actually, especially since that game was basically exactly like Diablo.
If it's going to be "Diablo-related," perhaps it'll end up being like that Baldur's Gate spinoff on consoles that got released several years back. Which would be pretty awesome, actually, especially since that game was basically exactly like Diablo.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:17PM NIck PSN ID Rattlehead91 said
Keyboard + Mouse compatibility on the PS3. Enough said.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:27PM TheStank said
Compelling argument sounds more like "straight cash money!" and then money sign with the thumb rubbing against the index and ring fingers. And these arguments came from Activision, not Sony or MS, who also rubbed their fingers together as they put together compelling arguments to sell the cut scenes separately for a premium.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 10:03PM Drakkenfyre said
You are talking about the company who has already said no to other companies for doing ports of their games before. Blizzard has said they have been approached by big-name publishers for doing console ports of their games, and turned them down.
The last console port of one of their games was StarCraft 64.
And as much as I hate the guy, Kotick never said they were going to remove the cutscenes and sell them separately, he said they could sell them as a package, in addition to, not in replacement of.
Reply
The last console port of one of their games was StarCraft 64.
And as much as I hate the guy, Kotick never said they were going to remove the cutscenes and sell them separately, he said they could sell them as a package, in addition to, not in replacement of.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 6:38PM Jacksons said
Honestly? I wouldn't mind playing on my HDTV rather than my monitor.
Posted: Nov 16th 2010 7:50PM Jacksons said
@Vidikron
While there's a console workaround for nearly any feature on a PC, there is one thing console games seldom get aside from a few popular franchises: a large and long-time active community. There's still tens of thousands of people on battle.net playing Diablo 2.
Reply
While there's a console workaround for nearly any feature on a PC, there is one thing console games seldom get aside from a few popular franchises: a large and long-time active community. There's still tens of thousands of people on battle.net playing Diablo 2.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 7:03PM arkweld said
Press "X" to ...
move move move fight fight fight move move loot loot move fight fight
move move move fight fight fight move move loot loot move fight fight
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 7:08PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
You mean press X?
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 7:40PM CaptainProtonX said
Diablo EXTREME
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 7:46PM Killimus2188 said
I would still pick this up on PC even if it launched on PS3 and/or 360 as well. I'm sure the core gameplay could be ported pretty easily, but after seeing MS's influence on the Orange Box, I'd stay away. Plus using a keyboard to communicate in game is a pretty big deal in a game like Diablo.
Posted: Nov 16th 2010 8:51AM Killimus2188 said
@Bedlight
Naw, I prefer typing to people I don't know, rather than speaking with them with VoIP. I get enough kids swearing at me on Live to never use my mic. Besides, if I wonna voice chat with friends, I'll use my crystal clear vent server. Way better than the muddy sounds of most in-game VoIP.
Reply
Naw, I prefer typing to people I don't know, rather than speaking with them with VoIP. I get enough kids swearing at me on Live to never use my mic. Besides, if I wonna voice chat with friends, I'll use my crystal clear vent server. Way better than the muddy sounds of most in-game VoIP.
Posted: Nov 15th 2010 7:59PM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said
I know nobody wants to hear that a console game will be "dumbed down" or that it will "dumb down" the PC version, but realistically speaking, casting spells like Teleport or doing things like aiming arrows at specific enemies will be a PITA without a mouse.
That said, if they make a game that's similar to Diablo 3 but not the same game, it could definitely be made to work.
That said, if they make a game that's similar to Diablo 3 but not the same game, it could definitely be made to work.
Posted: Nov 16th 2010 1:57PM Z3R0B4NG said
@WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco
ever played Geometry Wars or Assault Heroes?
add a tiny bit of auto aiming and shooting arrows should not be a problem,
teleport could be done with the analog stick. the further you push it the further you teleport / jump / whatever in that direction.
If Sacred 2 can be played on Xbox then so can Diablo.
I still will get the PC version anyway... but hey maybe i can play it with my Xbox controller as an option?
Reply
ever played Geometry Wars or Assault Heroes?
add a tiny bit of auto aiming and shooting arrows should not be a problem,
teleport could be done with the analog stick. the further you push it the further you teleport / jump / whatever in that direction.
If Sacred 2 can be played on Xbox then so can Diablo.
I still will get the PC version anyway... but hey maybe i can play it with my Xbox controller as an option?
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