Blizzard tells gamers to lower expectations for Diablo III

[hi19hi19]

A Blizzard community manager has told gamers to lower their expectations for the upcoming Diablo III hack and slash RPG, a surprising comment that might cause some fans of the Diablo series considerable concern.


“On a more serious note, I too worry that we won't be able to meet the expectations people have built up for themselves,” wrote community manager Bashiok. “Part of my job is managing people's expectations, so... eh... stop it. Stop thinking about how awesome this game could be. Just imagine it's a new M. Night Shyamalan movie. Sure Sixth Sense was amazing and Unbreakable had it's moments, but this right here is the sequel to The Village ... or The Happening ... or Signs ... or any of the movies besides the two I first mentioned. So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine. K?”

This honesty may come as a shock to many who are used to community managers acting like part of a company's PR team, refusing to accept any blame and constantly twisting a situation so that it reads as positively for the company as possible.

Bashiok makes some good points about the hype surrounding Diablo III. It's been 12 years since the last Diablo game and 11 years since Blizzard began working on Diablo III. An announcement only came in 2008, but it's easy to see why players are expecting great things, given the long development process.

The problem is that if players are being told to expect just a good game rather than a huge improvement over the previous ones, Blizzard could run the risk of losing a lot of its frenzied customers. Given that the release of the game is only months away, that's probably a very unwise thing to do.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/blizzard...iii/14997.html

[Zon Fire]

Reading this made me die juuust a tad inside.

I grew up with D2 back when thoughts of a third where that of an
urban legend. Like the cow level in D1 feel.

Honestly, ill be picking this up regardless..Though if its being held on low regards
even after the long development process I cant say for sure the extent of the forcasted "failure"

I'm just hoping..

[MinaciousGrace]

wtb blizzard north

on that note

buying tl2 first

[-Fallen-]

I didn't realize everyone was still SUPER****INGEXCITEDOMG!!! for Diablo III still where they had to publicly lower the hype themselves. We all know Diablo III looks nothing like Diablo II, will play nothing like Diablo II, will never be able to surpass Diablo II in any way, and that's because Diablo II came out at the right time and had incredible success. Diablo III is going to be a let down, just hope all the whiny kids don't cry and start blogging about it.

[bluguerrilla]

That's some awesome PR.

"This game is not as good as you think it is."

If this game is The Happening of the Diablo series I will punch babies.

[Phynx]

Blizzard pulling a PR stunt? Seems fishy.

[lumphoboextreme]

Meh I've been waiting way too long for D3 to be excited about it anymore.

[who_cares973]

whats diablo and how is there 2 of them already

[MrGiggles]

To be fair, Blizz is just being reasonable. High-anticipation sequels like D3 are subject to unreasonable expectations, and D2 is an incredibly high bar to match. Even if it's right on par with D2, people's perceptions will be so unknowingly biased that it will be 'okay' (at best) by comparison.

An unfortunate reality of sequels.

[Izzy]

Perhaps they are telling everyone to lower their expectations so when they come out with an amazing game it blows everyone way by matching their original expectations thus increasing sales. I don't really believe this, just saying it would be funny.

I will still likely play this game regardless of never playing the original diablos.

[ninjaKIWI]

My expectations have always been pretty low for this game. I'm looking forward to Torchlight 2 more.

[hi19hi19]

Torchlight was awesome, I agree.

[Kagome]

From playing the beta I can say that it does play like Diablo 2 just prettier. Player control is the same, loot explosions are the same, The witch doctor's zombie dogs run around like mad just like a necro's skeletons. Everything I've seen in the beta feels like diablo 2 with updated graphics and better/updated mechanics.

Bashiok was just telling people to lower their expectations because people swear this game is going to be the best thing to ever happen to mankind. The hype on the official forums is ridiculous. People expect D3 to be the greatest game in history, which is something Blizzard are quite sure they can't deliver. Everyone is taking what he said way out of context.

[All_That_Chaz]

I never got to play Diablo II because I grew up using a potato that could barely run Word. I've been looking forward to this game for years. Everyone I originally planned to play this game with has moved to another state since then, including me. I don't care if it isn't the best game ever made. I just want it to be an excellent hack n slash rpg that I can play with my friends and isn't an MMO.

My only real wish is that it's playable, fun, and that my friends like it too.

[Kagome]

Even though the beta is 1/3 of act 1 and the level cap is 13 I still find myself replaying it over and over because it is just that much fun.

[Oni-Paranoia]

Originally Posted by Kagome

From playing the beta I can say that it does play like Diablo 2 just prettier. Player control is the same, loot explosions are the same, The witch doctor's zombie dogs run around like mad just like a necro's skeletons. Everything I've seen in the beta feels like diablo 2 with updated graphics and better/updated mechanics.

Inb4 Diablo 2.5

[Reincarnate]

The whole thing is obvious sarcasm. They wouldn't release the game if they weren't satisfied with it.

The same can't be said for delayed bukkake-fests like DNF, Battlecruiser 3000AD, Quake4, Daikatana, Haze, etc.

[All_That_Chaz]

It's PR. It doesn't matter what he says. People will talk about the game more than they already were before. He could be trolling. Or he could just not give ****s and say what he actually feels, which is that he thinks it's bull**** that his success will inevitably be compared to the success of D2.

[andy-o24]

Originally Posted by Reincarnate

Haze

In all honesty, Haze wasn't that bad of a game. Yeah, sure, the campaign felt like the French were purposely making fun of the Americans, and the graphics were typical (except for one explosion near the end of the game, it was amazing), and they squandered what had the potential to be a great idea for a game, but for the five dollars I spent, it was well worth the experience. And I hear the online was SUPER competitive.

On topic: You really expect Diablo 3 to be that great when Blizzard spent a lot of that time working on Starcraft 2 which turned out to be everything people were expecting and more? Cut Blizzard some slack, in this time they've been producing other products as well.

Also, honesty isn't the best policy for a PR.

-o24

[dAnceguy117]

The quote is a blatant joke. If Blizz were satisfied with releasing a ho-hum sequel, Diablo III would have been released in 2003.

So just like, lower those expectations, but still definitely buy the game please, and everything will be just fine. K?

Kind of a funny joke, but also kind of just disrespectful toward customers. :/

Originally Posted by All_That_Chaz

Everyone I originally planned to play this game with has moved to another state since then, including me. I don't care if it isn't the best game ever made. I just want it to be an excellent hack n slash rpg that I can play with my friends and isn't an MMO.

Complete ditto.