Diablo 3 News & Changes

You only beat Diablo thrice...

Ah, Diablo III... such a common word these days. I've yet to see one Diablo II fan that is pleased with all of the changes to the gameplay, Blizzard's marketing and monetizing moves.

It seems that whenever you see a YouTube video or a blog post on Diablo 3, it's always a rant. Be it about the new graphics style, the gameplay changes, the interface and - most recently - the cash shop, also known as the Auction House.

If haven't got at least a decade of experience in gaming, you may think: "So much negative feedback. This game can't possibly be good. I'll probably pass." And this, my friend, would be a big mistake! You see, nerds simply wouldn't be nerds if they wouldn't complain at every change (or lack of change, as it happened with Call of Duty).

I will tackle the three most often complaints about the game, explain to you what needs be explained, and leave you to decide whether these are deal-breakers for you.

Diablo 3's Online-Authenticating System

DRM systems have been a popular copy-protection option for quite a while now, replacing CD-keys and all that nonsense (the nonsense that did absolutely nothing to stop piracy). These usually check whether your computer is running a drive emulator, whether the main ".exe" file of the game was changed and so on.

The problem with DRM is that it has the potential of being quite annoying. Some DRM systems force a user to close certain programs while they're playing the game, some monitor every process running on your system, some - this is the most disturbing form they take - can literally scan every folder and see every file on your computer.

In the case Diablo III, the system is similar to those found in World of Warcraft and StarCraft II and is account-based. The DLC system simply checks whether your account really has a copy of the game attached to it and then let's you play freely, without scanning any files and forcing you to shut down any programs.

"So, if the system does just that - why does it attract so much rage?" you might ask. Let's say you're traveling with your laptop and get stuck somewhere where you don't have access to the internet. This makes you unable to play the game at all. Not even the Single Player portion of it. Here's a quick question for you: "How do you piss off a gamer?" Answer: "You make him unable to play the game he legally owns."

Diablo 3's The Auction House

Ever heard of "gold farmers?" They're the shady people you can buy gold/items from in MMOs like World of Warcraft, Rift, Aion, etc. In essence, when you sell a player a powerful item you basically sell him power, an advantage. This is why, in most games, this practice is illegal, and those using such services are usually banned.

In Diablo III, however, a cash market will be present and very much legal. The problem here is that Diablo is, and always has been, a loot driven game, in which the difference between a strong player and a weak one is in the items they wield. That's it! That's the PvP (Player versus Player) aspect of Diablo, always has been.

There isn't as much skill involved as in other RPG games. It's all about the items. The items you can legally buy, inside the game, now also with PayPal^®, without spending a second of your own time (see what I'm pointing at?). No more struggling to beat Diablo!

Diablo 3's Overall Atmosphere

While this may seem the less important point of our *long* three points list, we shouldn't forget that it's the atmosphere that made Diablo so engaging in the first place. The two original games were dark and gritty, this one - not as much.

Subjectively speaking, "Diablo" isn't even the first thing that hits my head when I see gameplay footage of the game. Then again, it's just me and I'm sure there will be many players who will find the bright and colorful palette to be easier on the eyes. But, if I were Blizzard, I would really "stay awhile and listen" to the myriad of fans out there...