Diablo III Beta Announced!

[Scotty]

The day has finally arrived!

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/events/diablo3-announcement/index.html#summary

EDIT: Ars' insider's take on it: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/08/diablo-3-rundown.ars

[T-Rok]

Thank you blizzard!!

[Lucifer]

I would jizz myself silly if I got one.

[Freeforall]

Never heard of it.

[Lucifer]

Never heard of it.

[Scotty]

Never heard of it.

Oh!  Here Freeforall, allow me to help lift this rock you've spent too much time under!

[Freeforall]

Never heard of it.

Oh!  Here Freeforall, allow me to help lift this rock you've spent too much time under!

Lol, sorry. I just really haven't heard of it before. Looks pretty fun though.

[Lingus]

Can't wait. If anyone gets in the beta, and they start doing friend invites, I am hereby formally requesting one of said invites.

Btw, what say you all regarding the real money trade auction house? Anyone planning a start up business farming and selling D3 items? It's definitely an interesting concept considering people were doing that anyways for D2, except it was all illegal. It's kind of like the argument for legalizing drugs. There is better control, and you have a better chance of not being screwed out of your money. In addition, there is better chance of keeping the market clean from duped or hacked items (which was rampant in D2). I know people tend to hate the idea and rebel against it for reasons of purity and not allowing people with money to buy their way to the top of any given game, but all in all I think it's actually better in the long run.

[Meiun]

Can't wait for the game, sounds really awesome. However, from what little I've heard about the real money auction house, I just feel like that will attract the wrong kind of crowd to play the game... It's a game, and is suppose to be played for fun an enjoyment. Instead, a large portion of the people you play with will likely now be taking it way too seriously and just wanting to do stuff that profits them the most. Not only that, but now I'd imagine it will be more about who's willing to blow the most money on the game that makes you good, not who is actually skilled at it.

[Cactuscat222]

Can't wait for the game, sounds really awesome. However, from what little I've heard about the real money auction house, I just feel like that will attract the wrong kind of crowd to play the game... It's a game, and is suppose to be played for fun an enjoyment. Instead, a large portion of the people you play with will likely now be taking it way too seriously and just wanting to do stuff that profits them the most. Not only that, but now I'd imagine it will be more about who's willing to blow the most money on the game that makes you good, not who is actually skilled at it.

The good news is, is that won't affect your game play experience in any way, shape or form, unless you also start to take advantage of the Auction House. :P

I'm pretty excited for the game, though I'm a bit nervous for Blizzard with their decision to make the game require a constant internet connection in order to play - even for single player. I know my brother would love the game, but seeing as he is overseas (and will still be when it comes out), it doesn't look like there is much hope.

[Lingus]

Can't wait for the game, sounds really awesome. However, from what little I've heard about the real money auction house, I just feel like that will attract the wrong kind of crowd to play the game... It's a game, and is suppose to be played for fun an enjoyment. Instead, a large portion of the people you play with will likely now be taking it way too seriously and just wanting to do stuff that profits them the most. Not only that, but now I'd imagine it will be more about who's willing to blow the most money on the game that makes you good, not who is actually skilled at it.

I disagree. See my post above. What you're describing is exactly how D2 turned out to be, and there was no real money auction house. People ended up spending real money on in-game items anyways. It just wasn't legitimate. Not to mention duped items. I personally feel having the real money auction house will reduce illegitimate trading (if not eliminate it) and potentially reduce the development of duped or hacked items.

Plus, like Cactus mentions, it really only affects you if you get into that part of the game. The only place I see it affecting anything is PvP. I personally spent most of my time dungeon crawling with friends. Having a friend who wants to blow some bucks on in-game items will only benefit you.

I'm pretty excited for the game, though I'm a bit nervous for Blizzard with their decision to make the game require a constant internet connection in order to play - even for single player. I know my brother would love the game, but seeing as he is overseas (and will still be when it comes out), it doesn't look like there is much hope.

I feel like this is something that people tend to make a big deal about, but in the end it generally doesn't really matter. Sure, if you are somewhere that you can't get an internet connection it sucks, but for the most part everyone has an internet connection. It only really affects a small percentage of people. I always played on Battle.net anyways, so I could really care less that they're doing this.

[11clock]

I never heard of it either.

[Cactuscat222]

I'm pretty excited for the game, though I'm a bit nervous for Blizzard with their decision to make the game require a constant internet connection in order to play - even for single player. I know my brother would love the game, but seeing as he is overseas (and will still be when it comes out), it doesn't look like there is much hope.

I feel like this is something that people tend to make a big deal about, but in the end it generally doesn't really matter. Sure, if you are somewhere that you can't get an internet connection it sucks, but for the most part everyone has an internet connection. It only really affects a small percentage of people. I always played on Battle.net anyways, so I could really care less that they're doing this.

That is exactly how I feel. Shortly after the news about it requiring an internet connection came out, I saw all over the web people in a panic and people claiming they were done with Blizzard, had cancelled their preorders, and were never buying another product from them. I understand that it definitely adds a hindrance to players seeking solo game play in the first place, but like you said, I would believe the majority who are buying this game have a constant internet connection in the first place.

I still feel though it'd be cool if they could provide an option for those people - it seems like it would be simple to make it so you could have "singleplayer" only characters that cannot interact or deal with any part of the multiplayer experience or auction house.

[king]

what king of game is this?  ???  :-\

and how much is it?

[Cactuscat222]

I'm actually kind of sad that there are multiple members who haven't even heard of Diablo...

That, or I'm getting trolled really hard.