Op Ed

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Why The Problem With Diablo Isn’t Diablo.
We have to demand a standard of quality and dedication from these things. If we try to paint complaints about Diablo III’s loudly reverberating server-side-down bellyflop as entirely immature, wrong, and entitled, we’re basically saying, “Look, everyone else! We’re totally OK with this.” I mean, Diablo III’s almost assuredly sold millions of units by this point. If widespread rage then proves relatively short-lived, I have to imagine that looks like pretty much all upside to, say, Tim Willits or even devs/pubs whose intentions aren’t quite so benevolent or design-focused. Piggy banks are happy, and customers are happy. What more do you need?

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Re: Op Ed
May 18, 2012, 12:41
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Re: Op Ed May 18, 2012, 12:41
May 18, 2012, 12:41
 
Creston wrote on May 18, 2012, 11:47:
Bhruic wrote on May 18, 2012, 11:40:
Well, we accepted it for Diablo. But when the next game requires us to be always online, then we should get really angry, and tell them we won't accept it!

Unless it's something shiny we really want to play. Then it's okay.

That's actually a good thing, although I know it doesn't seem like it. Look, for a game that people really, really want, they could wrap it in a shit-sandwich, and people would still buy it. That's a given. What matters is whether the lesser games can play off of the features that the big guys create. In this case, the backlash over the server problems aren't going to hurt Diablo 3 - very much anyway, but they may make other companies that were watching this launch think twice about trying it for their games.

And in my books, that's a success.

I think you're ignoring that asshats like Tim Willits are already salivating over the idea that they can just make their games always online. And he said that at a point when id was probably at its utter lowest point, right after the fucking debacle that was Rage.

What Diablo 3 proves is that if it's shiny enough, gamers will happily eat that shit sandwich in order to get it. So all publishers need to do is put something (proverbially) shiny in there, and then hide it with a bunch of bullshit marketing talk about how these are "features" designed to "make the game richer."

Case in point: The upcoming Sim City. I can guarantee you that there will be plenty of people going "But... it's Sim City! But the NEXT game, I'll be vocally opposed to it again!"

It's the exact same thing they did with the initial DRM. Everyone fucking HATED the Securom bullshit with limited activations and having to talk to a server etc etc. And now when a game has that, it's considered "mild DRM."

Why? Because the large majority simply accepted it.

Hey, again, it's fine. If people want to play Diablo 3 and eat the shit sandwich, it's no shirt off my back. But don't complain three years down the road when a large number of games has this kind of bullshit attached to it. Because you (not you personally, just the people who put up with it) are the ones who enabled the industry to go that way by buying all the shiny things wrapped in shit.

Creston
I understand where you guys are coming from, but I have also been in board rooms when similar decisions are made. Hell, "everyone" is on facebook, and that is online, so I can see how they would make in online all the time. People are online damn near all the time - I don't agree with it, but that is the way it is. I currently have 2 computers at home, and only when I went on vacation did the laptop get taken offline....

It is probably the direction gaming is headed - just try and support other developers who don't do it....I dunno. I am really hoping for great success with TL2 and Grim Dawn.
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