Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II

Today is the 20th anniversary Diablo II, as Blizzard's action/RPG sequel was first released on June 29, 2000. This post discusses what they are doing to celebrate the occasion, which includes a new video from your best friend Carbot, a retrospective article, a Lord of Terror bust, a wings giveaway in Diablo III, and more:
In the process, we’ve dreamed up some cool stuff, and we hope you’ll check it out and celebrate with us.

  • To start, watch Baal Runz 101, a video developed by animation sorcerer Carbot Studios that we think is among his funniest work yet—and maybe the truest depiction of battling the Lord of Destruction.
  • Read our Diablo II retrospective, with comments from Blizzard employees who’ve grown up developing, playing, and hanging out in the world of Sanctuary.
  • Follow speedrun record-setter MrLlamaSC on a day-long live speedrun through Diablo II beginning at 9 am PT today. He’ll be playing through the entire game up to and including the Pandemonium event and conquering the “Uber” bosses.
  • Bear witness to the unspeakable evil that is this limited-edition Lord of Terror bust. It looms 9” wide by 7-1/8” deep by 10-1/2” tall–the perfect size to desecrate your computer desk. Diablo’s never looked more terrifying (or more enthusiastic).
  • Log in to Diablo III any time after June 29 to unlock your own tendinous Prime Evil Wings and represent the legacy you forged on Arreat Summit. Baal—as we saw in him in Diablo II—did not have wings, but try to imagine what they would’ve looked like if he did, and if you could’ve fastened them to your hero’s shoulders.
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24.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 30, 2020, 18:34
24.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 30, 2020, 18:34
Jun 30, 2020, 18:34
 
MoreLuckThanSkill wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 12:39:
Man, I wish Blizzard had made a D2 remastered version, just to see people bitch about it looking wrong or the unchanged gameplay being terrible, as their nostalgia glasses shatter.

That animation sums up online late stage D2/LoD perfectly. Sly reference to loot grabbing programs as well. Should have had an obvious bot player too though.

*EDIT* Typo.

I would be happy with a low effort patch for d1 and d2 that makes them work properly on modern os' and allows client game hosting.

-scheherazade
23.
 
Re: 20?!
Jun 30, 2020, 01:35
23.
Re: 20?! Jun 30, 2020, 01:35
Jun 30, 2020, 01:35
 
Ant wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 23:03:
Geez. I'm old. I remember trying to buy the game from a local Electronic Boutique store, but sold out. I had to wait a few days.

I had the collectors edition preordered from probably the summer before, if not longer. I think it still the single largest box any game I ever bought came in. Sadly it wasn't that neat of a CE as far as contents went, though not bad either really. Soundtrack, cinematic DVD, some dice and instructions for a pen and paper game (the dice were actually really nice, but I have never used them as I am not really a tabletop gamer), and I think that may have been it.

It was still better than the StarCraft CE though, that was literally just a "COLLECTORS EDITION" sticker on the box. To be fair, I don't think it cost any extra you just had to preorder or just get lucky and be there early. I think, at that time, Westwood usually had the best boxed CEs. Foil box, individually numbered, pewter unit statues, posters, as well as all the usual stuff like soundtracks.
”Not many people know I owned the first radio in Springfield. Weren’t much on the air then. Just Edison reciting the alphabet over and over. “A,” he’d say. Then “B.” “C” would usually follow."
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22.
 
20?!
Jun 29, 2020, 23:03
Ant
 
22.
20?! Jun 29, 2020, 23:03
Jun 29, 2020, 23:03
 Ant
 
Geez. I'm old. I remember trying to buy the game from a local Electronic Boutique store, but sold out. I had to wait a few days.
Avatar 1957
21.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 21:53
21.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 21:53
Jun 29, 2020, 21:53
 
Carcifier wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 18:41:


I can't imagine even considering buying that Diablo bust. Let me reward Blizzard by giving them $150 for ruining the Diablo franchise! Where's Disney at, I'll buy a Rey "Skywalker" bust next for $1138?

Make sure to ask for the version with the Dolby THX speakers.

I wish game companies would quit trying to monetize nostalgia without bothering to understand said nostalgia. It's like trying to sell me a zombie version of a beloved pet.
Avatar 59054
20.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 21:37
20.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 21:37
Jun 29, 2020, 21:37
 
Same here, I loved Blizz up until a few years ago. Every single game that they produced was polished, fun and had tons of content for both single-player and multiplayer. Then the expansions would come out and offer up tons of new stuff worth getting. Those days are gone and now what we have is more akin to a BlizZynga.
19.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 19:58
Jivaro
 
19.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 19:58
Jun 29, 2020, 19:58
 Jivaro
 
Just the other day I was commenting that I thought Blizzard was on to something with D4 and that they seemed more connected with their Diablo community then in recent years.

I was wrong. My bad. I apologize. This is some disconnected bullshit.
Avatar 55841
18.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 19:43
18.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 19:43
Jun 29, 2020, 19:43
 
Carcifier wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 18:41:
Primalchrome wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 13:56:
A $150 Diablo bust and a set of wings marks the 20th anniversary? Wow... Maybe they'll do something interesting for the 25th or perhaps Activision is just illustrating that they have lost all connection to their target market? Remember when Blizzard was a company that made games for gamers rather than lootboxes for addicts?

I'm old enough to remember a time when Blizzard released a game, it was an auto-purchase because the chances of it being good were almost guaranteed. Now, they could announce a Diablo II remake and I wouldn't even consider buying it. Even though I've been waiting for "Diablo III" for over 20 years.

I can't imagine even considering buying that Diablo bust. Let me reward Blizzard by giving them $150 for ruining the Diablo franchise! Where's Disney at, I'll buy a Rey "Skywalker" bust next for $1138?

It's 219€ over here, around 250$ if it makes you feel any better
Avatar 11122
17.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 18:41
17.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 18:41
Jun 29, 2020, 18:41
 
Primalchrome wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 13:56:
A $150 Diablo bust and a set of wings marks the 20th anniversary? Wow... Maybe they'll do something interesting for the 25th or perhaps Activision is just illustrating that they have lost all connection to their target market? Remember when Blizzard was a company that made games for gamers rather than lootboxes for addicts?

I'm old enough to remember a time when Blizzard released a game, it was an auto-purchase because the chances of it being good were almost guaranteed. Now, they could announce a Diablo II remake and I wouldn't even consider buying it. Even though I've been waiting for "Diablo III" for over 20 years.

I can't imagine even considering buying that Diablo bust. Let me reward Blizzard by giving them $150 for ruining the Diablo franchise! Where's Disney at, I'll buy a Rey "Skywalker" bust next for $1138?
16.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 18:28
16.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 18:28
Jun 29, 2020, 18:28
 
eRe4s3r wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 15:33:
The funny thing is that the "funny" Carbot video isn't at all funny when you know what it is about. More like makes you remember why you stopped playing D2 online.

Agreed.
15.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 18:27
15.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 18:27
Jun 29, 2020, 18:27
 
I am/was hoping for a Diablo II remaster--now I doubt it'll ever happen.
Oh well, I played a lot of Diablo II with friends. No hacks, no mods, just the plain game (well with the expansion).
I still play it from time to time these days but I wouldn't play it online with out some QOL improvements.
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14.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 17:16
14.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 17:16
Jun 29, 2020, 17:16
 
Worst. wings. ever.
”Not many people know I owned the first radio in Springfield. Weren’t much on the air then. Just Edison reciting the alphabet over and over. “A,” he’d say. Then “B.” “C” would usually follow."
Avatar 39012
13.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 16:19
13.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 16:19
Jun 29, 2020, 16:19
 
Remastered? Listen to this interview.
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12.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 15:47
12.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 15:47
Jun 29, 2020, 15:47
 
Thankfully we didn't all have phones back then, or else...
Avatar 12787
11.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 15:46
11.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 15:46
Jun 29, 2020, 15:46
 
Ya'll really think they could pull off a D2 remaster even if they tried? Ha ha ha
10.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 15:33
10.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 15:33
Jun 29, 2020, 15:33
 
The funny thing is that the "funny" Carbot video isn't at all funny when you know what it is about. More like makes you remember why you stopped playing D2 online.
Avatar 54727
9.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 15:00
9.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 15:00
Jun 29, 2020, 15:00
 
Darks wrote on Jun 29, 2020, 12:02:
Its to bad Blizz is to stupid that they lacked the foresight to of had a 20 year Remastered edition released today. But, this is typical of Blizz.

When I saw the article, I had the same exact thought. Glad I wasn't the only one.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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8.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 14:05
8.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 14:05
Jun 29, 2020, 14:05
 
Diablo 2 Remastered has been renamed to Diablo 4. It's more fun to charge full price anyway.
-=Threadcrappeur Extraordinaire=-
7.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 13:56
7.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 13:56
Jun 29, 2020, 13:56
 
A $150 Diablo bust and a set of wings marks the 20th anniversary? Wow... Maybe they'll do something interesting for the 25th or perhaps Activision is just illustrating that they have lost all connection to their target market? Remember when Blizzard was a company that made games for gamers rather than lootboxes for addicts?
Avatar 56308
6.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 12:47
6.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 12:47
Jun 29, 2020, 12:47
 
Blizzard missing the ball again.

edit: went way off topic.
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5.
 
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II
Jun 29, 2020, 12:39
5.
Re: Blizzard Celebrates 20 Years of Diablo II Jun 29, 2020, 12:39
Jun 29, 2020, 12:39
 
Man, I wish Blizzard had made a D2 remastered version, just to see people bitch about it looking wrong or the unchanged gameplay being terrible, as their nostalgia glasses shatter.

That animation sums up online late stage D2/LoD perfectly. Sly reference to loot grabbing programs as well. Should have had an obvious bot player too though.

*EDIT* Typo.

This comment was edited on Jun 29, 2020, 13:23.
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