Blizzard is intent on a global release of Diablo 3, and this snag could affect the launch date for everyone. There is no official release date for Diablo 3 yet.
Blizzard is intent on a global release of Diablo 3, and this snag could affect the launch date for everyone. There is no official release date for Diablo 3 yet.
Reader Comments (59)
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:39PM RX3115 said
Kinda figured that this would come and bite Blizzard in the ass at some point.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:43PM Drakkenfyre said
The AH is broken up into in-game currency AH and real-money AH. They are separate.
As this article only mentions AH and does not distinguish from the real-money AH, it's unlikely they meant the RMT one.
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As this article only mentions AH and does not distinguish from the real-money AH, it's unlikely they meant the RMT one.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 3:19PM Hunter141072 said
@RX3115
this was one of the features to "prevent piracy" that blizzard added right??? guess it ended up being as bad as a DRM.......
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this was one of the features to "prevent piracy" that blizzard added right??? guess it ended up being as bad as a DRM.......
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:41PM Korbie said
"Blizzard has currently submitted three versions of Diablo 3 to the Ratings Board, including one without the auction house feature, but "committee members are still reluctant," The Korea Times writes."
Why? They submitted a version that removed the thing you don't like. What's stopping them from choosing that one?
Why? They submitted a version that removed the thing you don't like. What's stopping them from choosing that one?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:41PM Drakkenfyre said
A market which lets other people sell and purchase items, willingly, without a gamble. Yet it's somehow too close to gambling.
Does Korea block eBay on the basis that it's too close to gambling? If not, there's your answer right there. It's not gambling. I think the people in charge simply have no idea how it works.
"Hi, here's my item. I want 10g for it."
"Ok, sure, here you go."
Gambling? More like free market trade.
Does Korea block eBay on the basis that it's too close to gambling? If not, there's your answer right there. It's not gambling. I think the people in charge simply have no idea how it works.
"Hi, here's my item. I want 10g for it."
"Ok, sure, here you go."
Gambling? More like free market trade.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 3:00PM melloncollie128 said
@Tiradyn Why exactly would it be a problem in South Korea?
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Posted: Jan 8th 2012 1:43AM AntiVillian said
@Scuffles
I somehow think that was the point of his comment...
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I somehow think that was the point of his comment...
Posted: Jan 8th 2012 8:12PM ShivanSwordsman said
@Scuffles
I would have went with "How very Human Centipede of you", because it's quite obvious he has his head shove up someone's rear.
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I would have went with "How very Human Centipede of you", because it's quite obvious he has his head shove up someone's rear.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:43PM Vidikron said
How in the world do they figure that an auction house is like gambling?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:50PM Space Cobra said
@Vidikron
I am thinking it considers the AH, in some respects, to be too much like RMT. In some online gambling sites. I think, the main thing is you can "get real money" from it. It is not the "gambling" they are looking at, it is the spending time online, getting a virtual item that can sell for a variable X number of Real World dollars, and people making money off that.
It encourages people to stay online, waiting for "drops", especially rare, high-priced ones, and then selling it for eventual "cash". I would say the randomess of waiting for a Purple Item could be similar to waiting on the right combo of slots or even the right cards in online poker.
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I am thinking it considers the AH, in some respects, to be too much like RMT. In some online gambling sites. I think, the main thing is you can "get real money" from it. It is not the "gambling" they are looking at, it is the spending time online, getting a virtual item that can sell for a variable X number of Real World dollars, and people making money off that.
It encourages people to stay online, waiting for "drops", especially rare, high-priced ones, and then selling it for eventual "cash". I would say the randomess of waiting for a Purple Item could be similar to waiting on the right combo of slots or even the right cards in online poker.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:38PM Vidikron said
@copa
Not sure I'd go that far. With the previous games people bought and sold items all the time, there just wasn't an in-game method for doing so. You had to use eBay and the like. The in-game AH will certainly increase the number of people selling items, but I'm not sure I see how it would increase hacking, money laundering, etc...
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Not sure I'd go that far. With the previous games people bought and sold items all the time, there just wasn't an in-game method for doing so. You had to use eBay and the like. The in-game AH will certainly increase the number of people selling items, but I'm not sure I see how it would increase hacking, money laundering, etc...
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:42PM Vidikron said
@Space Cobra
But you're not spending any money to grind for item. That's what defines gambling. Besides, people bought and sold items all the time with Diablo II, you just had to use and external market like eBay. The in game AH doesn't really introduce anything new in that regard, except it should theoretically be safer since you aren't risking the other person not showing up to hand over your item.
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But you're not spending any money to grind for item. That's what defines gambling. Besides, people bought and sold items all the time with Diablo II, you just had to use and external market like eBay. The in game AH doesn't really introduce anything new in that regard, except it should theoretically be safer since you aren't risking the other person not showing up to hand over your item.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 4:00PM (Unverified) said
@Space Cobra
So instead of dropping money in the slot, they are spenting time because after all "Time is Money friend!".
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So instead of dropping money in the slot, they are spenting time because after all "Time is Money friend!".
Posted: Jan 8th 2012 3:45AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said
@Vidikron
And countries like South Korea have a major problem with people who were doing that, hence why they'd have second thoughts about a game that wants to make doing that part of the game.
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And countries like South Korea have a major problem with people who were doing that, hence why they'd have second thoughts about a game that wants to make doing that part of the game.
Posted: Jan 8th 2012 9:18AM (Unverified) said
@Vidikron
I hate this argument.
There's a BIG, BIG difference in illegal gold buying and a legalized RMT AH, if you can't see that well I have no idea what to tell you.
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I hate this argument.
There's a BIG, BIG difference in illegal gold buying and a legalized RMT AH, if you can't see that well I have no idea what to tell you.
Posted: Jan 8th 2012 1:12PM Vidikron said
@(Unverified)
Oh please... I realize there's a difference, bit it's Absolutely NOT a "big, big" difference. That's just damn naive. As I stated above I would fully expect the volume of buying and selling to increase, but it's the same damned activity either way. The main difference is the in game AH should actually be a safer transaction, which is a good thing. And, of course, Blizzard takes a cut. And cut the crap with the "illegal" talk. No one's going to court for violating the TOS and selling an item on eBay.
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Oh please... I realize there's a difference, bit it's Absolutely NOT a "big, big" difference. That's just damn naive. As I stated above I would fully expect the volume of buying and selling to increase, but it's the same damned activity either way. The main difference is the in game AH should actually be a safer transaction, which is a good thing. And, of course, Blizzard takes a cut. And cut the crap with the "illegal" talk. No one's going to court for violating the TOS and selling an item on eBay.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:45PM ShadowXIII said
That was quick...
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:49PM Mmmmz said
Gotta love mindless bureaucrats. A lower level of idiots, if there ever was one.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 1:57PM darkinchworm said
If I couldn't have Diablo III I'd be Iller than Kim Jong.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:39PM darkinchworm said
@darkinchworm
It's even funnier in a pathetic way because I'm joking about the wrong Korea. Breakfast, it really is important.
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It's even funnier in a pathetic way because I'm joking about the wrong Korea. Breakfast, it really is important.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:40PM darkinchworm said
@HellFlyer
didn't see your comment before I stopped to criticize my own. Good call. :p
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didn't see your comment before I stopped to criticize my own. Good call. :p
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:08PM doppel said
Some Koreans are no-lifer farmers :(
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:09PM (Unverified) said
Stay a while and gamble?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:12PM pluupy said
This...is pretty strange.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:14PM Tiradyn said
@Traptz
Yes, that's right, we should start world war III just so acti-lizzard can make even MORE money... Do you live in Texas?
Yes, that's right, we should start world war III just so acti-lizzard can make even MORE money... Do you live in Texas?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:26PM Liquidfingers said
this is stupid. why delay the game for other countries just because South Korea doesn't want to party?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:29PM DekuTree said
This while real-money AH crap completely turned me off the game anyway. Torchlight 2, here I come.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 3:38PM tecnicrow said
@DekuTree
I agree I was looking forward to play Diablo III, but the whole real money AH just turned me off. I know I know people are gonna say "You don't have to use it, they don't make you." But still no my cup of tea, I just don't like it; but hey that's just my opinion after all.
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I agree I was looking forward to play Diablo III, but the whole real money AH just turned me off. I know I know people are gonna say "You don't have to use it, they don't make you." But still no my cup of tea, I just don't like it; but hey that's just my opinion after all.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:31PM (Unverified) said
So ship a broken version to Korea and let the Korean gamers deal it out with their government while the rest of the world goes on living.
Done.
Done.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:38PM Shadowbender said
If one version is absent of any auction mode at all, then...what's the problem South Korea?
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 2:42PM darkinchworm said
@Shadowbender
Blizzard fanboys over there are arguably more dedicated than anywhere else. Maybe they're afraid of a government Zerg rush.
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Blizzard fanboys over there are arguably more dedicated than anywhere else. Maybe they're afraid of a government Zerg rush.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 3:18PM IQ Review said
Yawn. Diablo 3. I'm not even excited anymore. This game style isn't going to be that fun now. This game was a blast when it first came out but between all the hype and how long it's taking to finish the game I'm just not excited anymore.
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 8:03PM Traptz said
@IQ Review
I'm a HARDCORE Diablo fan..I have easily 1000hrs invested in D1 and D2 and I've been playing them on and off since they came out..which isn't that much when you think how long they've been out.
But I totally agree with you. After playing the beta I felt..unsatisfied. It feels like Trine..a magical fantasy game with bright colors.. It's definitely not the the old Diablo, ya know, dark, gloomy...SCARY.
And with Blizzard now releasing mod tools, that will never change. Unless they add some option to change that kind of stuff..highly doubtful.
I'm still buying it because I'm a huge fan of Diablo and Blizzard makes great products. Except Cata and Pandas OFC!
Reply
I'm a HARDCORE Diablo fan..I have easily 1000hrs invested in D1 and D2 and I've been playing them on and off since they came out..which isn't that much when you think how long they've been out.
But I totally agree with you. After playing the beta I felt..unsatisfied. It feels like Trine..a magical fantasy game with bright colors.. It's definitely not the the old Diablo, ya know, dark, gloomy...SCARY.
And with Blizzard now releasing mod tools, that will never change. Unless they add some option to change that kind of stuff..highly doubtful.
I'm still buying it because I'm a huge fan of Diablo and Blizzard makes great products. Except Cata and Pandas OFC!
Posted: Jan 7th 2012 3:26PM shaktazuki said
The game was ever exciting? I mean, if you find lucky dice rolls to be exhilarating, go play Yahtzee. Seriously, the "great item hunt" sucks.
