Diablo III --Impressions start on page 36 --

[ibdoomed]

Blizzard has started sending out beta invites.  There's no NDA, so people are doing video streams.  Anyone here get in the beta yet?

it's friends and family

Yep here's Bashiok's quote

FYI, we’re getting very close to starting the closed public beta test for Diablo III. You might start seeing some new reports about the beta client as we’ve begun limited external testing with employees and their families, and there is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for that. We look forward to sharing more info about the beta test in the near future. Stay tuned.

If you have a beta license, you are free to show, share, or talk about any portion of the beta content to which you have access, as this beta test is not confidential.

Wow that's a big departure from when we had to fax blizz our drivers license. Although what's the saying "no such thing as bad press" ?

[Crabbs]

Blizzard has started sending out beta invites.  There's no NDA, so people are doing video streams.  Anyone here get in the beta yet?

it's friends and family

Yep here's Bashiok's quote

FYI, we’re getting very close to starting the closed public beta test for Diablo III. You might start seeing some new reports about the beta client as we’ve begun limited external testing with employees and their families, and there is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for that. We look forward to sharing more info about the beta test in the near future. Stay tuned.

If you have a beta license, you are free to show, share, or talk about any portion of the beta content to which you have access, as this beta test is not confidential.

Wow that's a big departure from when we had to fax blizz our drivers license. Although what's the saying "no such thing as bad press" ?

I remember doing that for the WoW F&F Alpha. Good time... Good times

[Cortilian]

I had forgotten about that.  Yeah that was a fun time.  So excited about D3

[Vidiot]

I remember that to.  Did you need to register your IP on the website before you logged in as well?

[ibdoomed]

I remember that to.  Did you need to register your IP on the website before you logged in as well?

It's hard to remember, that was our christmas present for... 2003?

I remember the faxing because I had to go to the library to do it and I NEVER go to the library (ok, I do now only because I work in one).

[Purge]

All I can say is BETA = RELEASE!!!

 

[Crabbs]

All I can say is BETA = RELEASE!!!

 

and we don't expect the 8 month + Beta that WoW had... lol

[Purge]

All I can say is BETA = RELEASE!!!

 

and we don't expect the 8 month + Beta that WoW had... lol

I would expect something similar to Starcraft2 beta. They had a ~15 week closed beta (Feb 17 - June 7), which D3 is starting now, and then a two week open beta (July7-19 IIRC) to test load on servers.

The game came out on July 23, 2010, five days after beta closed.

There was an extension on the closed beta as it blew past its 3 month target. If they have a tighter testing schedule, we could see it this year.

[jersoc]

I don't think it's going to release this year, but I hope I'm wrong. Unless they do a really short beta to get a late nov release. They are going to have to press a lot of dvds.

[ibdoomed]

I don't think it's going to release this year, but I hope I'm wrong. Unless they do a really short beta to get a late nov release. They are going to have to press a lot of dvds.

It won't be a mostly digital release?! They offer everything else as a download don't they? Or maybe not SC2?

[leo8877]

I don't think it's going to release this year, but I hope I'm wrong. Unless they do a really short beta to get a late nov release. They are going to have to press a lot of dvds.

It won't be a mostly digital release?! They offer everything else as a download don't they? Or maybe not SC2?

They do and SC2 was day and date digital release with the retail.

[CeeKay]

Don't forget they need to wait until the console versions are done 

[Blackjack]

I don't think it's going to release this year, but I hope I'm wrong. Unless they do a really short beta to get a late nov release. They are going to have to press a lot of dvds.

It won't be a mostly digital release?! They offer everything else as a download don't they? Or maybe not SC2?

Blizzard is one of the few remaining PC game-only companies, and presumably they'll still flood the shelves with discs even if you can buy their stuff off their digital store and others. I was pleased with my SC2 digital purchase from them so I'll probably go that route with this. Whatever decade it finally comes out.  

[Crabbs]

I don't think it's going to release this year, but I hope I'm wrong. Unless they do a really short beta to get a late nov release. They are going to have to press a lot of dvds.

In some earlier interviews about the Beta Rob Pardo insinuated that it would be a 'short beta,' mainly to test Bnet 2.0 functionality with D3 and not a full fledged Beta to test the game. That's why they are only testing a small part of Act 1 in the Beta. They think they've got most of the other functionality testing covered internally rather than through this Beta. If it follows the SC2 beta format, this is still on target for a Dec '11 release.

We know they've got the cover artwork done, all they will have to do is go gold by Nov and then patch any last things in when people log-on to play for the first time.


I'm still pretty confident for Dec release so don't burst my bubble

Edit: I'll dig up the quotes later, right now work is too busy 

[tiktokman]

IT'S GO TIME!

http://kotaku.com/5842245/the-diablo-iii-beta-is-a-go-says-blizzard


And no, apparently I'm not in the first wave.

[Isgrimnur]

No joy here.

[leo8877]

Nothing for me.

[Crabbs]

Damn, I saw a Diablo 3 heading in my inbox... only to realize it was my daily Google News collection on D3.... Boooooo

[rittchard]

I need my D3 and I will do whatever and whoever it takes to get in.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Damn, no Diablo III for me either.   I downloaded the client though, so I'm ready to go.    Tick tock tick tock tick tock.......

[leo8877]

Damn, no Diablo III for me either.   I downloaded the client though, so I'm ready to go.    Tick tock tick tock tick tock.......

How did you get the client?

[Vidiot]

Nada for me so far.

[Crabbs]

Damn, no Diablo III for me either.   I downloaded the client though, so I'm ready to go.    Tick tock tick tock tick tock.......

How did you get the client?

Here's the leaked URL from a couple weeks ago. I DL'd and installed w/o issues & it's updating correctly. But again use at your own risk.

Here's the original source Diablofans.com

[Knightshade Dragon]

Oh, strike that.  Key has arrived.  Good luck to the rest of you guys! 

[Zarkon]

We won't be seeing Ron for a while.

[Knightshade Dragon]

We won't be seeing Ron for a while.

Between this and Star Wars TOR, it's a good time to be off from work for a week....

[Zarkon]

I can wait until its done.

[jersoc]

where's my blizzcon invite, blizzard?!

[Soulchilde]

sadly another beta that I have missed...   

[Blackjack]

We won't be seeing Ron for a while.

Between this and Star Wars TOR, it's a good time to be off from work for a week....

We hate you.  Nah, we love you for GT. We hate you for being in both betas. It's a love-hate relationship. 

[leo8877]

sadly another beta that I have missed...   

It just started soul, you should have plenty of chances to still get in future waves.

[Purge]

I wouldn't bet on it. I think this will be a short beta in time for a late November release.

[CeeKay]

man, you guys are behind the times:

[rittchard]

man, you guys are behind the times:

Sweet, CK!!!  Did someone bring that back from the future?  Does this mean we don't have to worry about the apocalypse next year?  Because this would imply the world will last at least another.... 20 years to get to D5, right?

[leo8877]

Rumor has it the invites sent out yesterday were media only. 

[CeeKay]

man, you guys are behind the times:

Sweet, CK!!!  Did someone bring that back from the future?  Does this mean we don't have to worry about the apocalypse next year?  Because this would imply the world will last at least another.... 20 years to get to D5, right?

If you look close it's an expansion pack, so it's more like 23 years.

[ibdoomed]

man, you guys are behind the times:

Sweet, CK!!!  Did someone bring that back from the future?  Does this mean we don't have to worry about the apocalypse next year?  Because this would imply the world will last at least another.... 20 years to get to D5, right?

If you look close it's an expansion pack, so it's more like 23 years.

And it's on DVD-9 ! Wow, what version do we have now?

[Sparhawk]

I'll do a cartwheel off a flaming school bus for a beta key. 

[Hotfreak]

I'll do a cartwheel off a flaming school bus for a beta key. 

I'll set that school bus on fire for a beta key.

[CeeKay]

I'll do a cartwheel off a flaming school bus for a beta key. 

I'll set that school bus on fire for a beta key.

I'd lock the schoolbus doors and windows to steal his beta key and then eBay it