Diablo III Wild Speculation and Rumor Mongering Abounds

[Yegolev]

[Bunk]

Um, what the hell was that woman doing? 

[rattran]

She heard there was a release date rumor for Diablo III and was running to get to the internets.

[Paelos]

The butt-mouse pic always gets me.

[Ingmar]

Brak's dad 

[Velorath]

Diablo 3 "on the home stretch"

Blizzard has also not announced a release date — or year — for Diablo III. But as Mr. Wilson put it: “We’re definitely in the home stretch. We’re crunching. This is when the magic happens.”

Wonder if we'll start to see beta rumors here before too long...

Not really rumors so much.  During the Activision Blizzard financial conference call today, they stated that they are targeting Q3 for external beta testing, and are trying to get the game out this year but don't have anything set for a release window yet.

[Yegolev]

Smells like March 2012.  After this, the world will end before I can get ranked.

[Malakili]

Smells like March 2012.  After this, the world will end before I can get ranked.

I'm interested to see how they manage the releases of Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm.  I don't expect Diablo 3 this year, but I'm also sort of expecting Heart of the Swarm Q2ish next year (speculationy).   

[Paelos]

Diablo 3 first, plz.

Not a Starcraft person.

[Malakili]

Diablo 3 first, plz.

Not a Starcraft person.

Despite my propensity for SC2 rage, I like both series.   I'd MUCH prefer Diablo 3 first though.  I've been waiting for this game for a long, long time, and we've already got a Starcraft 2 out for Starcraft fans.

[K9]

Nao!

[Yegolev]

Eh, Torchlight II comes out soon, so I'm good.

[Velorath]

Eh, Torchlight II comes out soon, so I'm good.

Supposedly.  Info on Torchlight II has been surprisingly sparse.  The last we heard about a release date was back in Feb, when it was announced that the game was delayed from Spring until sometime in July.  Aside from a tiny amount of gameplay footage that was released last year at GamesCom and PAX, I don't think I've seen anything other than concept art released.  They're supposed to show the game off at E3 I think, but right now this doesn't look like a game that's about to ramp up to release in a couple months.

[Malakili]

Eh, Torchlight II comes out soon, so I'm good.

Supposedly.  Info on Torchlight II has been surprisingly sparse.  The last we heard about a release date was back in Feb, when it was announced that the game was delayed from Spring until sometime in July.  Aside from a tiny amount of gameplay footage that was released last year at GamesCom and PAX, I don't think I've seen anything other than concept art released.  They're supposed to show the game off at E3 I think, but right now this doesn't look like a game that's about to ramp up to release in a couple months.

There is a fair amount of info floating around, check out this thread, there is quite a bit of consolidated info: http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=14770

[Velorath]

Eh, Torchlight II comes out soon, so I'm good.

Supposedly.  Info on Torchlight II has been surprisingly sparse.  The last we heard about a release date was back in Feb, when it was announced that the game was delayed from Spring until sometime in July.  Aside from a tiny amount of gameplay footage that was released last year at GamesCom and PAX, I don't think I've seen anything other than concept art released.  They're supposed to show the game off at E3 I think, but right now this doesn't look like a game that's about to ramp up to release in a couple months.

There is a fair amount of info floating around, check out this thread, there is quite a bit of consolidated info: http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=14770

Under visual media, virtually all the links are listed as being from PAX and GamesCom.  The two links listed for the official site (the only two non PAX or GC links) are for concept art.  All the preview articles are from around Sept. 2010.  I think there are two interviews that are from this year and one podcast I think.  I'm not saying that there isn't info out there.  I'm saying they've pretty much gone dark from October 2010 until presumably E3.  There's no marketing and promotional ramp up in recent months that would suggest the game is close to releasing.

[Ragnoros]

While I feel the same way, was there much for the first Torchlight? These guys don't exactly have multi million dollar marketing budgets.

[Yegolev]

I don't know what their advertising plan is, but I want to feel good about it.

[Draegan]

Beta:

The 3rd quarter reference in the earning's call today was a calendar quarter, meaning that we're aiming to launch the Diablo III beta between July 1st and September 30th. Keep in mind that it's our current goal, and of course that can change as development continues.

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=27808130648&sid=3000&pageNo=1#9

[Yegolev]

I'm confused as to whether I am supposed to be excited about this.  Is this hand-holding, or kissing?

[Malakili]

I don't know if I want to beta this or not.  On the one hand DIABLO MOTHER FUCKIN' THREE.  On the other hand, I don't want the release to be an arbitrary point where I pay 60 bucks to keep playing the same game, that would make it kind of anti climactic.

[Fordel]

Don't worry, you'll pay 80 instead. 

[Paelos]

Don't worry, you'll pay 80 instead. 

We'd pay it. We're sluts.

[Ingmar]

I'd totally pay it, I'm sure.

[Rasix]

Sssshhhh.  Rokal might be listening.

[Paelos]

Sssshhhh.  Rokal might be listening.

He doesn't leave that forum, who are you kidding?

[Malakili]

Also - who am I kidding, if I get a beta invite, I'll be installing it faster than you can say "Stay a while, and listen"

[Merusk]

I'm confused as to whether I am supposed to be excited about this.  Is this hand-holding, or kissing?

It's hand on the boob, over shirt over bra, but promising that maybe, if mom and dad leave, the bra will come off.

[Ingmar]

I was thinking more along the lines of "my parents might go out of town for a week next month and leave me here with just grandpa, and you know how deaf he is."

[tazelbain]

FLCL!

[Ratman_tf]

I was thinking more along the lines of "my parents might go out of town for a week next month and leave me here with just grandpa, and you know how deaf he is."

Tell grandpa to keep his hands to himself! 

[Amaron]

Blizzard should just come out and say that D3 will come out roughly the same time as SW:TOR  .

[K9]

Preview of the follower system

Edit by Trippy: video blocked by Blizzard

[Malakili]

So, looks like a bit better version of the old henchmen system.  I like that the paladin has been relegated to sidekick.

[Paelos]

Gee, I wonder how many people will be running around with hawt enchantresses following them?

[Ironwood]

That does, in fact, look awful.