Diablo III --Impressions start on page 36 --

[Soulchilde]

Cancelled my Amazon order and decided to go digital download from Blizzard.  I blame Penny Arcade..


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[Turtle]

Yeah, I feel that.

But, I really want the collector's edition art book, which are hard to come by in the after market.

Thus I'm buying the collector's still, but selling or trading all the other stuff in it away.

[CeeKay]

Even though I'm waiting for my CE from EBGames, I had signed into battle.net and saw that they let me preload the game - before I own it!

That's because it phones home to a server to check if you can even install it (which you can't right now) and even if you could, you have to sign in with Battle.net to play Diablo 3, so they will just not let people sign in until the day and even then you will need your account code from the box.  So, you'll be able to get it installed starting the day before release, but you won't be able to play until you get that CE, if I understand things correctly.

Yep that sounds correct.

it'd be nice if they gave a grace period like some MMO's do, like until the end of the 15th to input the code.

[Purge]

Even though I'm waiting for my CE from EBGames, I had signed into battle.net and saw that they let me preload the game - before I own it!

That's because it phones home to a server to check if you can even install it (which you can't right now) and even if you could, you have to sign in with Battle.net to play Diablo 3, so they will just not let people sign in until the day and even then you will need your account code from the box.  So, you'll be able to get it installed starting the day before release, but you won't be able to play until you get that CE, if I understand things correctly.

Yep that sounds correct.

it'd be nice if they gave a grace period like some MMO's do, like until the end of the 15th to input the code.

It's like you're speaking english, but not quite.

You mean a 24hour free trial?

[CeeKay]

like this.  of course it's for early access players who had a pre-order code so Blizard would either have to take people at their word or have planned ahead and given some kind of code as well.

comme celui-ci. bien sûr, c'est pour les joueurs d'accès précoce qui avaient un code de pré-commande afin Blizard devra soit prendre les gens au mot ou ont planifié à l'avance et donné une sorte de code ainsi.

[Arclight]

Isn't it illegal to catch babel-fish this time of year?

[Teggy]

So I finished watching the Diablo storyline.  I noticed that enemies turned blue and red while fighting. Is this the same as in Enslaved where it gives an indication of whether they are attacking or defending? Something else? Regardless, is this feature in Diablo 3?

[Turtle]

Looks like those were just spell effects like freezing and fire. I remember no such attack indicators.

[Blackjack]

Some login clarifications:
Choose Your Correct Region: (Explained)
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/4917621943#1

As Global Play will be disabled until after the game launches in all regions, it's important that you choose your account's correct region when attempting to play the game. If you do not select your correct region, your login attempt will be denied, and you will not be able to connect.

To choose your correct region:
At the log in screen click on Options
Choose the Account tab
Select your correct region in the Region drop down

Ensuring your correct region is selected, attempt logging in again, and watch the breaking news window for additional service information.

Choose Your Correct Region: (Americas)
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/4917621943?page=4#67

For the Americas region, comprising the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia, the game servers will go live at 12:01 a.m. PDT on May 15. [3:01 am Eastern US]

Once the game unlocks at 12:01 a.m. PDT on May 15 and after you install, launch the game, and before logging in ensure you have The Americas region selected.

If someone has a Korean or Taiwan Battle.net account they'll need to select the Asia region, if someone has an EU Battle.net account, they'll need to select Europe.

Other regions:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/4917621943#16

Each region is launching in their own determined 'midnight' launch time. So for example, the Korea/Taiwan midnight launch is at 8:00 a.m. PDT

[Purge]

Phew .... I was afraid we wouldn't be able to ninja-loot Razgon.

[CeeKay]

Looks like those were just spell effects like freezing and fire. I remember no such attack indicators.

same here.

[Harpua3]

Grrr. I really want this now... And max Payne 3... And...

[Harkonis]

getting both MP3 and D3 at midnight, gonna be good times

[CeeKay]

getting both MP3 and D3 at midnight, gonna be good times

plus Game of Thrones and then Future Soldier and Dragon's Dogma the week after.  the PC version of Max Payne 3 is coming out 2 weeks after D3, but if I get the 360 version I get a $10 credit that can go along with the game of Thrones $10 credit for $20 off of Future Soldier, which then will add up with the $10 credits from both Future Soldier and Dragon's Dogma to $20 off something else.....

[TiLT]

Received the game box in the mail today. Can't install it yet, but I was able to activate my copy on Battle.net so that I can download the game client in addition to my game discs. The disc version was considerably cheaper than the download version. This is what happens when only one party controls the online sales for a popular game franchise with no chance of competition.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Received the game box in the mail today. Can't install it yet, but I was able to activate my copy on Battle.net so that I can download the game client in addition to my game discs. The disc version was considerably cheaper than the download version. This is what happens when only one party controls the online sales for a popular game franchise with no chance of competition.

Lots of folks in Europe getting their copies early.  Crazy that we all have to wait though....

[Vinda-Lou]

I'm really hoping my plan of just walking into Best Buy at lunch to grab the CE works...  Getting nervous now!

[Blackjack]

I'm really hoping my plan of just walking into Best Buy at lunch to grab the CE works...  Getting nervous now!

I don't know about your area, but at the BB's in my area (Va.), nobody buys PC games anymore (even Starcraft 2 in 2010 didn't particularly fly off the shelves). Period. You can literally see dust gathering on the PC game cases at most of their locations.

While I won't guarantee it, chances are, there'll be a stack of CEs waiting for you.   And perhaps there'll still be there about a year from now, with a thick coating of dust on them... I still like visiting Best Buy, but I fully expect at some point they're going the way of Circuit City (BB's closing 50 of its, basically, "less popular/profitable" store locations).

Here's PC Gamer's take on possible Diablo 3 builds:
http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/12/diablo-3-build-guide-barbarian-demon-hunter-monk-witch-doctor-and-wizard/
*While I like the animation of cluster grenades, I found the repetitive explosion sound annoying, and using the skill requires either bashing a mouse button or hotkey with a frequency that was tiresome (I realize you can say that bout EVERYthing, but I just found it more so with that skill in beta). So I suspect my DH won't go down that route much -- I just know mine will be centered around Chakram (not even mentioned in PC Gamer's guide). 

[Harkonis]

put me in the camp that says I will be surprised if anyone gets a CE edition that wasn't preordered except in extremely out of the way locations.

[msduncan]

I also predict total CE unavailability.

I tell ya... it's going to be tempting to dump mine on ebay and make an instant 100+ dollar profit.  The only thing stopping me is the knowledge that retail copies of games are slowly going the way of the dodo.

[Turtle]

I recently got a CE pre-order in at Amazon after seeing it was unavailable just a week before.

So it's possible to find.

In fact, I think the big shops will actually have CE editions on shelves, but how fast they go is up to the crowd. Go to any big box place like Fry's and they'll probably have it say one.

[Vinda-Lou]

Gamestop near me is sold out on CEs.  They are opening at midnight Monday too, so I doubt there would have been any copies anyway.  If Bestbuy doesn't do a midnight opening there could be a good chance of having the CE in stock.  There is also a Microcenter near where I work, and I wouldn't be too surprised if they have a CE in stock.

Side note: The local Gamestop near me sold out of Starcraft II CEs, and a few months later I was able to snag one cheaper than original asking price.  I've also seen copies of WoW CEs lingering at Bestbuy months after they were released.  Arguably, Diablo 3 is a bigger title...

[EngineNo9]

I don't understand why you wouldn't just preorder a CE if you're really that interested in it. 

[Vinda-Lou]

By the time I finally came across the CE contents and developed an interest, it was too late to preorder.  I've been under a rock for a while, at least for Diablo.

[Turtle]

Well, the only thing I want is the art book, if you're interested in all the other stuff (Assuming it all can be transferred) then we can trade.

[Lee]

According to the Blizzard Launch Day Prep Guide the CE is already sold out in most places that take preorders. Of course that's probably not true.

[Purge]

Mikagami couldn't find one.

[Zarkon]

The Fry's in Austin didn't start taking preorders until a week or so back, and said they were getting 150 CEs.

[CeeKay]

less than 24 hours......

[Turtle]

Ugh, to wait for the CE coming in, or not.

[wonderpug]

Buying this "Diablo", playing all of 10 minutes of it, then going, I don't know, antiquing or something with the houseguests.

[Asharak]

less than 24 hours......

Installer unlocks in less than one...

- Ash

[stimpy]

Well, the only thing I want is the art book, if you're interested in all the other stuff (Assuming it all can be transferred) then we can trade.

Put me down as wanting the usb thingy.
Willing to pay or trade for it.

[Harkonis]

I want the dyes, but likely that's included with the game key.

[Qantaga]

8:03 am PST (11:03 EST) and the fire from the sky still falls.

[leo8877]

8:03 am PST (11:03 EST) and the fire from the sky still falls.

Yep.  So much for that early install.

[Teggy]

Worst launch ever!

[CeeKay]

let slip the drama llamas of war and cry FAIL!

[Covenant]

Install will start now, but I get hit with an internet streaming error right off the bat.

[leo8877]

Worst launch ever!

Nerd rage!