Thursday, February 23rd 2012

Don't Expect Too Much from Diablo III: Blizzard to Gamers

Diablo III has many gamers waiting for it with the anticipation of some Biblical event - the third-coming of Blizzard's popular hack-and-slash game. However, its makers worry that this anticipation could turn into over-hype, which could damage the game's market success once launched. A community manager at Blizzard Forums posted this carefully-worded note, in one of the countless threads in which fans drool rainbows over the upcoming game:
On a more serious note, I too worry that we won't be able to meet the expectations people have built up for themselves. Part of my job is managing people's expectations, so... eh... stop it. Stop thinking about how awesome this game could be. Just imagine it's a new M. Night Shyamalan movie. Sure Sixth Sense was amazing and Unbreakable had it's moments, but this right here is the sequel to The Village ... or The Happening ... or Signs ... or any of the movies besides the two I first mentioned. So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine.
This fine-tuning of public opinion away from over-hype to healthy PR could work wonders for the game's success.
Sources: Joystiq, VR-Zone
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46 Comments on Don't Expect Too Much from Diablo III: Blizzard to Gamers

#1
phanbuey
Lol - alright then... another mediocre RPG clone then. Probably am not going to buy it until it has been out for a while.

I think this is a bad tactic personally, seeing how successful Skyrim was with the hype... Downplaying a game before release is strange and makes it seem like it is not worth buying. Just more of the same, just another game, nothing new. I dont even know when the release date will be.

Skyrim was always 11.11.11 BOOM... aaand it worked - I made plans to stay home that day lol.
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#2
CJCerny
I think Blizzard is very wise to do this. It is just a game, after all.
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#3
hurrakan
WTF. :wtf:

Nopbody was expecting much... until they dealyed it again... and again... and again...

Most people assumed it kept being delayed because Blizzard kept improving it - but I guess we were wrong. Now it sounds like they actually delayed it because ... they suck at making games?
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#4
mrw1986
Well, I can tell you from personal experience it is DEFINITELY worth waiting for. The hype surrounding it is well deserved. I'm in the closed beta and so far it's amazing.
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#5
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
hurrakanWTF. :wtf:

Nopbody was expecting much... until they dealyed it again... and again... and again...
Whut? Gamers have had wet dreams of a new Diablo for 10 years now. It's beyond hype, it's a dream.

This is actually good of them imo.
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#6
ironwolf
hurrakanWTF. :wtf:

Nopbody was expecting much... until they dealyed it again... and again... and again...

Most people assumed it kept being delayed because Blizzard kept improving it - but I guess we were wrong. Now it sounds like they actually delayed it because ... they suck at making games?
Not that I am defending Blizzard but AFAIK there never was an official release date, so technically the game can't be delayed or delayed again. It just feels like it.

EDIT: Mentions of 2nd Quarter or such don't really count as a release date to me.
Posted on Reply
#7
AsRock
TPU addict
Shame they got rid of the options to make chars many different ways for example they got rid of the str, dex, cha and such.

Seems all simplified, and at any rate D2 was not as good as D1 so nothing new there.

How ever been waiting for the continuing story as long as they done that right and made it a nice playable game i be happy..

In the end there will be always some thing some one will not like.. There trying to hard to make people happy.. People are NEVER happy.
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#8
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
AsRockSeems all simplified, and at any rate D2 was not as good as D1 so nothing new there.
.
I think most people find it's the opposite. Depends on what you're after i guess.
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#9
Animalpak
For a complete DLC that adds a few hours of fun to the storyline i can accept.

But you can not ask me money for armor upgrades or whatever World of Warcraft shitty nerd style.

Nah not for me !
Posted on Reply
#10
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
AnimalpakBut you can not ask me money for armor upgrades or whatever World of Warcraft shitty nerd style.
Yes, Blizzard wants your money for armour upgrades, unlike such single player games as Dragon Age and Oblivion.

You have never played WoW have you?
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#11
mrw1986
People who judge a game before playing it baffle me...
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#12
Disparia
Considering I still fire up D2 every now and then means my only expectation of D3 is that it's simply an evolution of the series. This is all sequels need to aim for, IMO.
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#13
1Kurgan1
The Knife in your Back
FrickWhut? Gamers have had wet dreams of a new Diablo for 10 years now. It's beyond hype, it's a dream.

This is actually good of them imo.
After seeing your posts in the DNF thread, I find it hilarious that out of all people you are the one to say this. People don't use logic when thinking about games, they assume longer it took to make better it will be, always, even if a game has been canceled and revived numerous times and has been stated perfectly clear that it's running on a dated engine. People will still piss and moan that it isn't game of the year, just like you did in the DNF thread, and probably like you will in the DIII thread when it comes out :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#14
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
1Kurgan1After seeing your posts in the DNF thread, I find it hilarious that out of all people you are the one to say this. People don't use logic when thinking about games, they assume longer it took to make better it will be, always, even if a game has been canceled and revived numerous times and has been stated perfectly clear that it's running on a dated engine. People will still piss and moan that it isn't game of the year, just like you did in the DNF thread, and probably like you will in the DIII thread when it comes out :laugh:
You have a fair point (I am well aware that I've been bitching and whining about lots of stuff the past months) but you can't really compare DNF to D3 and be serious about it. DNF got pretty bad reviews from lots of folks. A bad game is a bad game (to me) no matter the development time. I would've hated DNF no matter what.

EDIT: And the comparision is silly even.

EDIT again: For more Frick-level retardedness see my comments on Qubit's news post and anything related to Bethsoft.
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#15
KithKhan
Beta is good but not great

I've played the beta, and Diablo III is shaping up to be good but not great. It's highly addictive, has great graphics and a clean interface, but is also mindless and inevitably unsatisfying. Blizzard is probably wise to try to lower the hype some.

I'm most excited for SC2: Heart of the Swarm!
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#16
1Kurgan1
The Knife in your Back
FrickYou have a fair point (I am well aware that I've been bitching and whining about lots of stuff the past months) but you can't really compare DNF to D3 and be serious about it. DNF got pretty bad reviews from lots of folks. A bad game is a bad game (to me) no matter the development time. I would've hated DNF no matter what.

EDIT: And the comparision is silly even.

EDIT again: For more Frick-level retardedness see my comments on Qubit's news post and anything related to Bethsoft.
My comment is more based on reasoning. People need to have realistic levels of expectations, I expected DNF to be funny and entertaining, but not really that great. So when I got it I wasn't shocked, I enjoyed it for what it was. Just like with DIII people just need to have a realistic outlook, honestly, Activision has made changes for the worst at Blizzard and its not the company it use to be. But people still expect so much. Just got to step back and be realistic about it, and thats why I used the comparison, it makes perfect sense, because most people are unreasonable and don't think realistically about it.
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#17
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
1Kurgan1My comment is more based on reasoning. People need to have realistic levels of expectations, I expected DNF to be funny and entertaining, but not really that great. So when I got it I wasn't shocked, I enjoyed it for what it was. Just like with DIII people just need to have a realistic outlook, honestly, Activision has made changes for the worst at Blizzard and its not the company it use to be. But people still expect so much. Just got to step back and be realistic about it, and thats why I used the comparison, it makes perfect sense, because most people are unreasonable and don't think realistically about it.
Oh that. You're totally right there.
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#18
Animalpak
FrickYes, Blizzard wants your money for armour upgrades, unlike such single player games as Dragon Age and Oblivion.

You have never played WoW have you?
No luckily... :D
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#19
Gjohnst4
Writing this after announcing a game FOUR YEARS before release seems pathetic......like sorry, we couldnt pull it off like we thought.
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#20
Inceptor
btarunrThis fine-tuning of public opinion away from over-hype to healthy PR could work wonders for the game's success.
In theory, yes.
In reality, the fans drooling rainbows will completely ignore that statement and be titanically disappointed anyway, generating thousands of Diablo III bashing/criticism posts. That's what happens when gamerbois try to read and understand something :p
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#21
Jon A. Silvers
For me is enough to be something between diablo 1 & 2 ,with better graphic. :)
and for those from blizzard if they red post and forums like this ,make more realistic characters like in diablo 1,with horor music....
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#22
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
InceptorIn reality, the fans drooling rainbows will completely ignore that statement and be titanically disappointed anyway
I guess the extensive media-coverage of that post (such as this one by TPU, and countless other sites), takes care of that.
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#23
magibeg
I actually had great fun playing the beta, and it's really just one tiny piece of the game. I think i am going to miss the stating up of skills and str,dex,vit,energy. But overall I think i'm probably going to love it.
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#24
Depth
He has a very good point. It's Diablo for F's sake, I still play Diablo 1. Sales will skyrocket and they know it.

By tuning down all the fuss they'll avoid a potential drop in ratings that come with unrealistic expectations. Don't expect it to be Jesus when someone rings the doorbell.
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#25
joyman
I guess they like to release finished games, which is something to be desired these days - release dates makes developers to rush out some bugged crap and you have to wait few patches to be able to play the game. Also this thing with preorder and pay 1 yr of WoW subscriptions to get full diablo is something that will frustrate ppl if they release it earlier. But hey - Blizz trend of late is child oriented games so I got no special attitude of D3. I might even pass it since I heard of the action house with real money thing.
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