At this point the diablo community seems pretty firmly divided into a couple categories, each with their own skeptics and starry eyed hopefuls. The Diablo 2 crew, searching for all the things that made them go rabid at the game all those years ago and the Diablo 3 crew, still looking forward to the game they can pick up and put down without much thought.
Ignoring all the little subcultures that have developed in between games (Looking at you offline players, pvpers and real money auction peops) it seems pretty clear to me that Blizz needs to fully divide these groups and just make different games for each.
Being firmly locked into the Diablo 2 party, I honestly feel that there is no way to change the game that Diablo has become into something that would make both groups happy. The things we want are too different, one group wants depth, complexity and difficulty and the other wants to cut right to the action with as little waiting as possible.
Regardless I’m not here to cut anyone down for their opinion, you have a right to want the things you want, my question is: Why can’t we all get what we want? Do the right thing Blizzard, I don’t mind if Diablo 3 fans get to keep the Diablo name, just give the Diablo 2 players something we can actually get excited for and enjoy (and I’m not talking about a remake that you’ll abandon before adding any meaningful new content to).
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If you’re after more D2 then you’re always going to be disappointed with D4. They’re not going to step backwards in an attempt at resuscitating a peaked game, especially for the sake of nostalgia. The fanbase for D2 is too small and there’s far less money in it. Only as a passion project would D2 II make sense, but not as an investment, which is what games are for big developers. So let’s be honest, D4 isn’t going to be the game for you. Its additional live service content is only going to solidify it as so very clearly not like D2. If you want to be let down and lament how Blizzard went the wrong way with the franchise, I guess that’s your choice but it doesn’t sound like fun. If I felt that way, I’d try to let go.
Well, you’re certainly right about D4 not being the game for me. But the things that brought the D2 community together are just waiting to be discovered all over again by a completely new and undiscovered fanbase, much in the way that D3 gained a completely new fanbase by being a different game. I don’t think telling people to “let go” is really constructive though.
Blizzard cares about money. They are going to target the game to mass appeal. Either you like it or don’t. They aren’t going to make special versions as it’s not cost effective.
I think it’s healthier to let go than to feel awful about a game, and then to harbour expectations that will never come into fruition. I think letting go of things is super constructive. Make space for other projects that more match your style.
edit: unless you want to be persuaded into liking D4. That’s fine. In fact if you’re open to it and wait until a few months after launch to try it again, maybe you’ll come around and see what a lot of us see in it.
We all know that, but unless people talk about how the game industry is being driven negatively by money there will be no hope for an innovative and interesting gaming market in 10 years.
Personally I love the mixture of elements from Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, and as an ex WoW player I love the WoW elements that have been included in the game also.
For me this beta has been a greatly enjoyable experience (not including the disconnects on Friday open beta.)
Multiple quest lines, areas to reveal and unlock… these things I love. The game still feels very much Diablo to me though.
I’d like to be able to choose not to see other players in my world though but thats something I can live with as it’s a common feature on games these days.
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It’s not as though my lament of Diablo 2 is actually preventing me from enjoying anything new. I didn’t like Diablo 3, not because “it wasn’t diablo 2” but because I legitimately disliked it. Diablo 4 feels a lot like 3 and that’s a big reason I’m not really liking it.
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