When will Diablo 3 come out?
June 29, 2010 8:04 PM Subscribe
When will Diablo 3 come out? Can't wait any more.
it's a blizzard game which means it'll be released when it's done and until it's done, there won't be a release date. i'm sure you know this, though - so what are you asking? this question doesn't seem answerable.
posted by nadawi at 8:08 PM on June 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 8:08 PM on June 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
Seriously? When it's done is the pat answer but if you think about it they haven't even started beta-testing yet so it's at least 2 years away.
posted by Silentgoldfish at 8:10 PM on June 29, 2010
posted by Silentgoldfish at 8:10 PM on June 29, 2010
Before You Ask:
Try using Google or another search engine to try to answer your question.
No release date announced yet. I figured that out in 10 seconds using Google.
posted by ripley_ at 8:10 PM on June 29, 2010
Try using Google or another search engine to try to answer your question.
No release date announced yet. I figured that out in 10 seconds using Google.
posted by ripley_ at 8:10 PM on June 29, 2010
When the political climate is safer for Diablos to speak freely about their sexual preferences.
Seriously, nobody outside the production company can give a true answer to this.
posted by me3dia at 8:11 PM on June 29, 2010
Seriously, nobody outside the production company can give a true answer to this.
posted by me3dia at 8:11 PM on June 29, 2010
wiki on Blizzard clears up their policy, which has been in effect for many years :
The company also has a history of declining to set release dates, choosing to instead take as much time as needed, generally saying a given product is "done when it's done."
posted by radiosilents at 8:12 PM on June 29, 2010
The company also has a history of declining to set release dates, choosing to instead take as much time as needed, generally saying a given product is "done when it's done."
posted by radiosilents at 8:12 PM on June 29, 2010
to be fair, the wiki suggests possibly "2011" sometime
posted by radiosilents at 8:13 PM on June 29, 2010
posted by radiosilents at 8:13 PM on June 29, 2010
As some other people have said already, "when it's done." More helpfully, if you figure that Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm both figure to be released this year, I think 2011 at the earliest is a safe bet.
posted by andrewcilento at 8:21 PM on June 29, 2010
posted by andrewcilento at 8:21 PM on June 29, 2010
Generally in game development you have three things to keep in mind:
1) Doing the game on time
2) Doing the game on budget
3) Making the game good
Typically a development team can only meet two out of three of these points, maybe one out of three.
Due to contracts with publishers dictating points 1) and 2). Point #3, the quality, is the one that's ignored the most. This also leads to something in the game development world known as "Crunch time" which is a protracted period of intense work before the game ships. This can lead to developers burning out from stress, among other things.
So, the "When it's done" model is ideal for everyone. It means that development studios can have a reasonable work/life balance and ship a game that will be good. Ignoring point 1 and (with lots of resources) 2 means that the developers can focus on #3.
Valve does the same thing, they actually close the offices at 6pm and kick everyone out, explicitly avoiding "crunch time." I assume Blizzard is similar.
posted by hellojed at 8:24 PM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
1) Doing the game on time
2) Doing the game on budget
3) Making the game good
Typically a development team can only meet two out of three of these points, maybe one out of three.
Due to contracts with publishers dictating points 1) and 2). Point #3, the quality, is the one that's ignored the most. This also leads to something in the game development world known as "Crunch time" which is a protracted period of intense work before the game ships. This can lead to developers burning out from stress, among other things.
So, the "When it's done" model is ideal for everyone. It means that development studios can have a reasonable work/life balance and ship a game that will be good. Ignoring point 1 and (with lots of resources) 2 means that the developers can focus on #3.
Valve does the same thing, they actually close the offices at 6pm and kick everyone out, explicitly avoiding "crunch time." I assume Blizzard is similar.
posted by hellojed at 8:24 PM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best guess is the end of year holiday season, 2011, or first quarter 2012. My gut says they're going to drop their Starcraft and Warcraft bombs all over us this year and Diablo will be the money maker for them at the end of next year.
posted by Menthol at 1:30 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by Menthol at 1:30 AM on June 30, 2010
This is Blizzard. Furiousxgeorge hit the nail on the head, and possibly out of the ballpark as well. Blizzard has always had the "when it's done" philosophy, just ask anyone who was anxiously awaiting the release of Diablo II!
posted by frmrpreztaft at 4:57 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by frmrpreztaft at 4:57 AM on June 30, 2010
If you really can't wait, have you tried Torchlight? It's a sort of Diablo "2.5" in that it was developed by some of the folks who worked on D2, and it's seen good reviews.
posted by explosion at 5:34 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by explosion at 5:34 AM on June 30, 2010
I enjoyed Torchlight, but I wouldn't describe it as much of a successor to Diablo 2; it's a lot smaller and simpler, and there aren't many meaningful differences in character builds or equipment.
If you haven't tried it already, the Median XL mod should keep you busy for a while while you wait for the real thing.
posted by ook at 8:28 AM on June 30, 2010
If you haven't tried it already, the Median XL mod should keep you busy for a while while you wait for the real thing.
posted by ook at 8:28 AM on June 30, 2010
It is interesting because when adding content to existing games, Blizzard has has, and exercises the opportunity to manage the scope to get regular content updates out. So a content release may not have certain elements that they thought it might.
Also, the buzz machine starts up a few months ahead of time, if you look at SC II, and WoW Cataclysm. I haven't heard peep about D III, so it is probably six months or more out.
posted by jimfl at 5:55 PM on June 30, 2010
Also, the buzz machine starts up a few months ahead of time, if you look at SC II, and WoW Cataclysm. I haven't heard peep about D III, so it is probably six months or more out.
posted by jimfl at 5:55 PM on June 30, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:07 PM on June 29, 2010 [5 favorites]