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

[btarunr]

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[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.

 

[CJCerny]

I think Blizzard is very wise to do this. It is just a game, after all.

 

[hurrakan]

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?

 

[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.

 

[Frick]

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.

 

[ironwolf]

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.

 

[AsRock]

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.

 

[Frick]

Seems 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.

 

[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 !

 

[Frick]

But 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?

 

[mrw1986]

People who judge a game before playing it baffle me...

 

[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.

 

[1Kurgan1]

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.

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

 

[Frick]

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

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.

 

[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!

 

[1Kurgan1]

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.

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.

 

[Frick]

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.

Oh that. You're totally right there.

 

[Animalpak]

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?

No luckily...

 

[Gjohnst4]

Writing this after announcing a game FOUR YEARS before release seems pathetic......like sorry, we couldnt pull it off like we thought.

 

[Inceptor]

This 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

 

[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....

 

[btarunr]

In 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.

 

[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.

 

[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.