Diablo III Wild Speculation and Rumor Mongering Abounds

[FieryBalrog]

Gamestop IS Impulse. They bought it last year. They are even going to stop handling Stardock software soon.

Yeah, that's why I asked. I really doubt Blizzard let Gamestop sell digital copies of their game...

In semi related news I walked into a Gamestop today for the first time in a long time and there was basically no mention of D3. There were giant Max Payne 3 posters all over the display window, and in unsurprising but still pathetic news there were giant CoD Blops 2 preorder posters everywhere in the whole store.

The Gamestop where I went with my brother to buy Starcraft 2 had a huge splash for it, so I find this kind of weird. That's a different store though.

[Ghambit]

The Gamestop I went to had D3 shwag all over the place.  Then when I inquired about digital DLs, Impulse cloud, emailed keys, etc. their eyes rolled back into their heads and projectile vomit spewed forth unto the wall as they floundered in that blessed binder-book they so commonly rely on.  So I ended up goin battle.net.    

And oy, anyone plan on linking up through steam?  We can just use steamchat voip via the f13 group... simplest way imo.  Make a steamlink for d3 to make it easier.

[luckton]

I don't know if this has been asked or not.  Can the stress theta weekend client be used for live launch, or am I redownloading?

You are redownloading.

Oh good.  Between the Diablo beta, MoP beta, and some other 'special interest' downloads, my ISP is going to me this month 

[Fabricated]

Why in god's name would you use anything but Battle.net to buy the game digitally?

[Ghambit]

Why in god's name would you use anything but Battle.net to buy the game digitally?

a) gift certs.
b) gift certificates

[Merusk]

So. I might have bought the wrong key for this. Anybody knows if I can download any language even if I got a German key ? German translations really set my teeth on edge.

Chances are pretty good. All their old games allow you choose the language of the download and I think the D3 beta did too.

Yes, you can choose to download whatever language you want.  On your battle.net client download page it shows you what language you're currently set to DL and then a "Change" link.  I'm able to DL in 12 different languages, should be the same for you, Helm.

[Der Helm]

Yay! Time to start the download when I get home.

Since this machine is located at work and my access to gaming sites is limited, does this game unlock at midnight and if yes, which time zone.

[Rokal]

If it follows the same pattern as WoW expansions and SC2, it'll be 12am PST.

[Segoris]

I saw one blue post on their forums saying it's a global release, but then many more blue posts and Blizzard's midnight launch event page saying it's 12am <insert your local time zone here>

[Hawkbit]

Why in god's name would you use anything but Battle.net to buy the game digitally?

a) gift certs.
b) gift certificates

Me too.  Between gift certificates and textbook tradeins, I've got D3 for free and Dragon's Dogma coming for about $3.00. 

[Azazel]

Pre-download still not open. Their servers are going to be truly hammered tomorrow.

[Ruvaldt]

I've got the a download going now.  Maybe that's an Australian thing?

[caladein]

Pre-download of the retail client has been up for ages actually.  I've had it sitting on my HDD for two months.

Will need to patch it post-install (which unlocks in 12? hours), so remember to do that before the rush happens tomorrow night if you can.

[Register]

Pre-download still not open. Their servers are going to be truly hammered tomorrow.

How about :
http://eu.media.battle.net.edgesuite.net/downloads/d3-installers/589acdb4-c660-318a-b993-01528fad7da6/Diablo-III-8370-enGB-Installer-downloader.exe

The link comes from the EU d3 forums....

Also, for those who have the D3 CD key already (e.g. on the 1 year wow sub), D3 is already downloadable via bnet account.

[Ingmar]

I've had it downloaded for weeks, what it won't let you do is install.

[Azazel]

Whups - didnt see it in the bnet account when I posted before. 2mins left on the installer now though.

[Der Helm]

Downloading the full english (EU) version right now. 

[Sion Verdox]

I am confused by the thread, my friendly local game shop sold me the game today (boxed copy) - why all the downloads??

[calapine]

I am confused by the thread, my friendly local game shop sold me the game today (boxed copy) - why all the downloads??

Can (obviously) only speak for myself, but:

Because it's less hassle to buy online than bothering with a boxed copy.
Because I tend to scratch my CDs.
Because I tend to lose/misplace my CDs.
Because I want an english language version, rather than the german one from the local shop.
Because I don't want to be seen buying games in public.

[Merusk]

I am confused by the thread, my friendly local game shop sold me the game today (boxed copy) - why all the downloads??

Your local game shop also broke the street date. Which, considering you can download the full client and just not install it, is pretty amusing.

As for digital, several folks got it with the WOW annual pass. That's digital distro only.

[Kageru]

A lot of people who pre-ordered from GAME in Australia got an SMS this afternoon telling them they won't be getting their D3 and can't have their money back either since the company went into administration today. Pretty neat last minute haul for them I guess.

[Sion Verdox]

I know they sold it a day early, but it is a small independent so they try and work with gamers (and break the rules sometimes), I like supporting them, Amazon generates billions in revenue in the UK and pay no tax, my local game shop contributed enough tax to support nearly one NHS nurse last year - they need my money :)  Will I be able to get on today?? I didn't think I would be able to.

[Cyrrex]

Anyone know of any somewhat reliable reviews out there yet?  Having never played a Diablo game, I am trying to determine if this is My Kind Of Game.  I mean, do I really need to add this to my pile of unfinished stuff?

[luckton]

Anyone know of any somewhat reliable reviews out there yet?  Having never played a Diablo game, I am trying to determine if this is My Kind Of Game.  I mean, do I really need to add this to my pile of unfinished stuff?

I'll say this as plainly as I can say.

It's a fucking Blizzard game.  Why would you NOT buy it?   

[amiable]

Anyone know if you have the beta client downloaded if you can use that to update/play?  It seems to include the loader/installer.

[apocrypha]

A lot of people who pre-ordered from GAME in Australia got an SMS this afternoon telling them they won't be getting their D3 and can't have their money back either since the company went into administration today. Pretty neat last minute haul for them I guess.

That's pretty shitty.

I pre-ordered from Amazon UK in Feb 2011. They promised it would be delivered early so that it would be playable on release date. I get an email from them today saying "We thought you should know that we're experiencing a delay with your order. We apologise for any inconvenience."

Cancelled. Digital edition purchased direct from Blizzard, downloaded in 28 minutes. Fuck Amazon, fuck physical copies, fuck pre-ordering more than 24 hours in advance. From now on it's digital distribution only for me. The downside is that if I'd waited for my 14.5 month pre-order it would only have cost me £20 instead of £45 from Blizzard.

[Murgos]

Anyone know of any somewhat reliable reviews out there yet?  Having never played a Diablo game, I am trying to determine if this is My Kind Of Game.  I mean, do I really need to add this to my pile of unfinished stuff?

Blizzard has let no one play the full game yet.  IGN, one of the largest and most influential sites says they won't have a release day review up because their guy has to play it starting at the same time as everyone else.

...fuck physical copies...

Amen, brother.  I haven't bought a (pc game) box in years.  If you could get first release console games off the online store I would never buy a box again.

[apocrypha]

Anyone know if you have the beta client downloaded if you can use that to update/play?  It seems to include the loader/installer.

Should be OK, but check the official forums to be certain. There was a blue post saying that if you had the EU or German version installed that you'd need to download a new launcher:

http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/4008460883#1

[Cyrrex]

Huh, okay.  I guess I just wonder if D3 is trying to re-capture something from a time that we've all moved past.  

Anyone know of any somewhat reliable reviews out there yet?  Having never played a Diablo game, I am trying to determine if this is My Kind Of Game.  I mean, do I really need to add this to my pile of unfinished stuff?

I'll say this as plainly as I can say.

It's a fucking Blizzard game.  Why would you NOT buy it?  

Well I don't like RTS games, because every one ever made is essentially the same as ever other one that came before it.  So that's like half their library that I don't care about.  D1 and D2 were each made back around the Vietnam war before I was born, so those are out as well.  That leaves you with World of Warcraft....3/4s of which I have technically played, but not because it was actually cutting edge wonderfulness, it just happened to be the shiniest turd in the bucket at the time.  

So yeah, I don't automatically hop aboard the Blizztrain.  Am actually legitimately trying to figure out what turns people on so much about the Diablo series.  I'm literally asking, not trying to be a snooty douchebag (mostly).

[Murgos]

...not trying to be a snooty douchebag (mostly).

You're failing horribly.  Why should anyone have to justify your tastes to you?  You've seen the demo footage by now, just as we have, if it's not attractive to you move the fuck along.

[Lucas]

So, Cyrrex, what's your experience with Action RPGs? None, I assume? Torchlight, Titan Quest, Sacred, Dungeon Siege etc. (no matter if they're good or bad compared to the Diablo series) . I have a love/hate relationship with them: I'm for more immersive RPG experiences, but from time to time I like to just acquire loot and more phat loot while slaying monsters: if the ability dynamics and the environment are good enough, I usually stick around, although I still feel they're just glorified coin-op shoot them up :P

[Hutch]

trying to figure out what turns people on so much about the Diablo series

D1 and D2 had atmosphere due to the setting and in great part due to the music.
RPG progression i.e. level up and then customize your character.
Semi-random dungeon layout. D1 might have been the first rogue-like that didn't represent your toon with @.
(to continue the rogue-likeness, D1 and D2 came complete with Identify and Town Portal scrolls)
Random loot. Each monster you kill is a loot pinata.

So it's got the whole rat-in-a-skinner-box addictive quality that works on so many of us. Multiple ways to improve your character.

I haven't actually played D3 yet, but I assume that most of the above are still in play. I read that the ID and TP aren't going to require scrolls in your inventory anymore, so there's been some streamlining done.

[luckton]

Torchlight, Titan Quest, Sacred, Dungeon Siege etc.

I can tell you that as someone who's played all of those, plus Diablo I and II, the Diablo series trumps them all.  Everything's just more fluid, polished, refined, accessible, easy to understand.  If you (Cyrrex) have played any of those in the quote and sorta liked them, you'll enjoy D3.

[Cyrrex]

...not trying to be a snooty douchebag (mostly).

You're failing horribly.  Why should anyone have to justify your tastes to you?  You've seen the demo footage by now, just as we have, if it's not attractive to you move the fuck along.

I've not seen a single piece of said footage, nor do I trust such things to convey the true experience anyway.  My question was more along the lines of what the series is about in general, which a couple of other posters here have just nicely answered.  But extra thanks to you for being completely useless, random internet stranger.

[Cyrrex]

Oh, and to the rest of you...thanks for the info.  I don't usually play those kinds of action RPGs, which partly explains why I've never played Diablo.  Might not be my thing.