Blizzard tend to do a good job maintaining even their oldest games, releasing patches sometimes decades after their original release. I therefore assumed that 1994's Warcraft: Orcs And Humans and 1997's Diablo were available via the studio's store and launcher, Battle.net.
Not so, it turns out, because Blizzard have just announced they've added them today, and with working multiplayer for both.
]]>Last time, you decided that seeing your outfit in cutscenes is better than telefragging. I understand the yearning for fashion, absolutely I do, but I'm not convinced you fully thought it through. I will point you to a comment by reader 'moderately sized grundus', who asked, "What could be more cosmetic than wearing the literal skin of your very recently slain enemies?" A strong question. But we move on. This week, I ask you to pick between explosive reaction and emotive composition. What's better: chain explosions or Diablo's Tristram theme?
]]>Surprise! Diablo 4 only came out a few months ago, but there’s already a brand new Diablo game in the works. Two, in fact! The twist? These will be tabletop adaptations of Blizzard’s action-RPG series, taking Diablo into the realm occupied by Dungeons & Dragons and Catan.
]]>Before Diablo 4 came out, Blizzard had concerns that their latest ARPG would tank the popularity of their most recent entry in the series, Diablo Immortal, Blizzard's franchise general manager Rod Fergusson tells RPS. Immortal, which launched last year as a free-to-play MMO game, left quite a bad taste in our mouths when it launched on PC, especially when it came to the prohibitively high cost of its various microtransactions. Despite this, though, the game's continued to enjoy great success over on mobile, but even Blizzard weren't sure whether its popularity would last once Diablo 4 arrived.
"One of the things that we were kind of nervous about initially was that when Diablo 4 landed it would sort of cannibalise Immortal, and that everyone was just going to be, 'Oh we're just playing Immortal until Diablo 4 comes out'," Fergusson told me at Gamescom. As it turns out, they needn't have been so apprehensive. "In fact, it was the opposite," he says.
]]>David Brevik, now the president of Skystone Games, did not expect to encounter a doppelganger when he arrived at Chicago’s Consumer Electronic Show in the summer of 1994. He’d come to the tech expo with Condor, a studio he’d co-founded only a few months prior, to show off Justice League: Task Force. A humble fighting game in the vein of Street Fighter, it was given a small demo booth and placed next to another game that featured a cast of superheroes, a strikingly similar visual style and, much to Brevik’s surprise, the very same name.
Without their knowing, Condor were one of two studios hired to develop the DC Comics tie-in: their Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version set to release alongside a SNES title made by another recently formed team, Silicon & Synapse. “We'd never talked to them,” Brevik says. “We'd never interacted with them. We didn't know there was even another version, and then we show up at the booth and they're side by side, and we're like, this is really weird.” They didn't know it yet, but these Justice League sort-of clones were the first paving stones on the road to the Diablo series.
]]>An appeal made by Activision Blizzard that blocked Blizzard Albany’s QA staff from unionising has been rejected by the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). GIbiz report the publisher tried to argue that the entire staff of Blizzard Albany should vote on the unionisation effort rather than just the development studio’s QA team, but the NLRB disagree.
]]>Further investigation of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard is needed by the UK’s competition regulator, a statement on the government’s website confirmed today. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began the preliminary stage of their investigation at the beginning of July, with a deadline set for September 1st. That initial stage of investigation found that the deal could “substantially lessen competition in gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services, and cloud gaming services”.
]]>Whenever a game like Lost Ark comes out, it shows the public is still hungry for something that looks and sounds and plays even a tiny bit like Diablo. Lost Ark does provide what is the crudest part of the appeal of something like Diablo - i.e. a thousand chittering enemies flying at you at once as you vaporise them with minimal clicking - but I wouldn't say it's a lovingly crafted version of it. Like the difference between the Wicked Witch in Snow White and a Halloween costume in a plastic bag labelled Legally Distinct Evil Magic Stepmother. But there are also things I appreciate about Lost Ark in general, and its version of [flaps hands] whatever this is.
In the spirit of Lost Ark's slightly older (one might even say dated?) sensibilities, I'm going to break it down like I'm reviewing the game in a 90s game mag, separating the game into its constituent parts - just as one can remove the egg from a cake after baking it. Although I should make it clear I'm not doing our proper Lost Ark review. That honour falls to Ed, who is more plugged in to modern MMORPGs than I am. I'm just here to talk about how Lost Ark does and does not compare to Diablo - specifically Diablo II, because that's the best one.
]]>When I held that monkey's paw and wished for more games to appear on Game Pass, I didn't mean like this! I don't know if anyone has been brave enough to come out and say this, but Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard is... problematic. Even before you consider the serious and unresolved allegations of workplace misconduct at ActiBlizz, there's no easy "this is good, actually" point of view to have here.
]]>Diablo was never supposed to be in real-time. As it was originally conceived by Condor, later known as Blizzard North, Diablo was intended to be a turn-based RPG that borrowed heavily from the tradition of roguelikes. It was Blizzard, flush with the success of WarCraft II: The Tides of Darkness, that suggested Condor make it into a real-time point-and-click dungeon crawler.
"We fought that transition for a long time," Condor founder Max Schaefer told GameSpot in a 2002 retrospective. “The amount of time we argued about it was totally ridiculous, considering it only took us about three hours to mock the game up in real time.”
]]>The game event cancellations are pushing even deeper into the year now, as Blizzard have announced BlizzCon 2020 is a no-go. The event usually takes right at the beginning of November, but due to ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic they've made the decision to cancel it.
"We've talked about different paths we could take, and how each one could be complicated by fluctuations in national and local health guidelines in the months ahead," they said. "Ultimately, after considering our options, we've come to the very difficult decision to not have BlizzCon this year."
]]>In homage to one of the all-time action-RPG greats, Minecraft Dungeons has a secret level where you can fight herds of murderous cattle. Mojang's own action-RPG launched this morning, and folks have already discovered a nod to Diablo's infamous cow level, where wizards will be sent to mow down hordes of mooing mobs sprouting mushrooms. Killing cows: a cornerstone of the genre.
]]>We all done tossing coins at mutant sellswords yet? Word on the street is there's an Overwatch animated series and Diablo anime in the pipeline over at ActiBlizzion HQ. Look, there's a rumour about a game series floating about every other month (what's up, Halo?), so take all this with a pinch of salt. But if this one's true? Then yeah, I can see those franchises working on the telly.
'Course, I also liked the Warcraft movie, so what the hell do I know?
]]>Rod Fergusson has worked on every Gears Of War game over the last 15 years, from starting the original Gears Of War with Epic, to helping establish The Coalition studio to work on the rest of the series. But now he's heading to pastures new, joining Blizzard to oversee all things Diablo.
"Leaving is bittersweet as I love our Gears family, the fans, and everyone at The Coalition and Xbox," he tweeted. "Thank you, it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you all."
]]>So here I am, ctrl-f’ing my way through the 1,200-deep list of games we’ve covered in this column, beginning to feel like this is the real dungeon crawl, when I find the treasure at the bottom of the crypt: nobody’s written about Diablo. Bloody Diablo. As I realise it’s free for me to write about, the memories spring back like a set of enchanted rags, whooshing and flapping their way out of a prised-open casket.
]]>Blizzard's seminal 1997 action-RPG Diablo has risen again, this time with a re-release on GOG. Diablo had so far only been sold in boxes, coming as actual physical items you need to touch rather than pure electricity coursing through your taps, and Blizzard stopped manufacturing it long ago so finding the game has been difficult/expensive/of dubious legality. Now here it is, up on GOG, in both a "vanilla" version with fixed Battle.net multiplayer and a fancified edition with resolution upscaling. Some classic Warcraft will follow too.
]]>There's still a little oil left to be thrown onto the burning inferno of Diablo Immortal hot takes. According to Kotaku's sources - "two people familiar with Blizzard's plans" - there were plans to quietly announce Diablo 4 at the show, but the studio opted not to as there wasn't much to show so soon into production. For whatever reason, Blizzard decided to run purely with the NetEase co-developed mobile spinoff Diablo Immortal, which I think looks decent, but judging by the internet's general response is now apparently the worst thing since sliced plague.
Update: Kotaku have clarified that while a video announcing a new Diablo video was produced, Blizzard deny that they planned to show it at BlizzCon.
]]>Ahead of BlizzCon, Blizzard had hinted that they were announcing something Diablo-related but clarified it would not be "what many of you are hoping for". Yeah, but they would say it wasn't Diablo 4 even if it was going to be Diablo 4, wouldn't they? Reader, it was not Diablo 4. Blizzard last night announced Diablo Immortal, a new entry in the action-RPG series... for pocket telephones. Hey, they did make clear it wouldn't be what you wanted.
]]>The hit hot the hittie the hittie to the hit hit hot rumour going around again is that an animated series based on Diablo is likely coming streaming film-o-TV service Netflix. This latest action-RPG rumourburp is based on a now-deleted tweet by an aspiring showrunner but look, I don't care if this rumour is true or not. Let's hijack the attention it's raised and bend that towards persuading Blizzard and Netflix to make what we really need: one of those hour-long fireplace videos, with Deckard Cain hanging around the embers and greeting us "Stay awhile, and listen."
]]>Something new is brewing deep in Blizzard's secret research labs, at least according to a slew of Blizzard Careers job-postings spotted by MMORPG's eagle-eyed goblin-botherers earlier this week. In amidst the usual job stuff (including a slew of Diablo-related gubbins) is talk of an unannounced project, currently hiring for major roles including Senior Level Designer. Blizzard are asking for such skills as "world building from conception to the final stages of polish", implying that whatever it is they've got cooking, it's going to be fresh.
]]>Spin that unsubstantiated rumour wheel! What's it gonna be? Red 18 for Warcraft 4, black 29 for Starcraft 3, red 6 for WOW2, or how about black 7 for Unannounced Diablo Project? Blizzard, generally speaking, are damned good at controlling information until they want information to be known, which means we very rarely have any real clue what their next move will be.
Until yesterday, when they went right out there and told the world that they're working on a new Diablo project.
]]>Back in 2016, Blizzard started hiring for a new first person game, by grabbing a couple of artists and moving Dustin Browder (the director of StarCraft 2) from his role on Heroes of the Storm to work as the director for the unannounced project. A new job post on Blizzard's career site shines more light on what is probably not Overwatch 2. The listing says that Blizzard are “looking for a talented and experienced Senior or Principal Designer” to develop weapons and abilities “in action or first-person shooter games.” They also want a hire that has a passion for playing and creating PvP game experiences. So strap in for StarCraft: Galaxy Royale. Or not. But we can all speculate wildly. And we will!
]]>The next Overwatch map will launch on January 23rd, Blizzard World have confirmed. It's taking the gang to the magical kingdom of Blizzard World, a theme park based on Blizzard's other games, from the StarCraft rollercoaster 'Journey to Aiur' to the 'Snaxxramas' restaurant. Us, nah we're not having fun, we're going there to shove a payload around. After a stretch on the test servers, Blizzard are now confident that they've jacked the saltiness of fries high enough that people will become parched and need to buy a drink but not high enough to vomit, so they'll set the map live on the main servers next Tuesday. New costumes based on characters from other Blizzard games are coming too.
]]>Check your expectations. The Darkening Of Tristam, the free, time-limited new mini-campaign recently added to Diablo 3 [official site], is most certainly not the full-on Diablo 1 (number added merely for clarity) we hoped for. Nor is it a meaningful bolt-on for those D3 die-hards who crave another hit of over-statted loot. If, however, you are a filthy casual, it's a refreshingly straightforward, aesthetically-tweaked way to return to an otherwise bloated game.
]]>While every day is satanday chez Alice, Blizzard are a little more reserved. They've waited until the 20th anniversary of Diablo's launch to unleash a torrent of satans and skellingtons, and even remake the first game inside Diablo III. We mentioned that before, and now it's live. But! Beyond that, Blizzard have also put D3 on sale, sent the Dark Wanderer into Hearthstone, and unleashed hell's herd upon World of Warcraft. Yes, WoW now has a secret Cow Level with special loooot. That's an elongated 'oo' like in 'moooo' (which is the noise a cow makes) but with 'loot'.
]]>It is the future, the year 1996. The age of serially abusing the left mouse button has begun - for Diablo is born. Soon, you will be able to transport your haggard soul back to that more innocent age of mass slaughter, blasphemous themes and venal kleptomania. Diablo 3 [official site]'s 20th Anniversary event/patch kicks off later this month, and they've only gone and remade the first game inside their latest demonic pinata - right down to the UI, animations and tinnier sound. Take a look below.
]]>After twenty years, Blizzard plan to step away from the name Battle.net for their online platform and services. The Diablords and Warcrafteers today announced that they'll be "transitioning away" from the name Battle.net, which they've been using since the first Diablo way back in 1996. No, Blizzard now want to name elements boring things like Blizzard Streaming and Blizzard Voice. Ah, the end of an era. Another icon falls.
Look, let's be honest: names which are also domain names had become daggy by ooh we'll generously say 1999. But don't you see, Blizzard? A '90s revival is going on - for the first time in yonks, the name Battle.net currently sounds cool.
]]>Auriel's time has come, as she officially makes her debut in Heroes of the Storm [official site] in early August.
The archangel from Diablo III will join the public test realm next week before entering the Nexus the week of August 8th. Auriel's a Support character, and possesses a number of healing and damage-dealing abilities. Here's a video introducing her:
]]>Jay Wilson, the designer perhaps best known as Diablo III's [official site] game director, has announced that he will be leaving Blizzard and the games industry after almost two decades. He broke the news on twitter last night and has been replying to well-wishers ever since. Along the way, he's provided some insight as to what comes next.
"I'm moving back to the Pacific Northwest, where I used to live. Going to pursue writing, see if I'm any good at it."
Don't accidentally turn into Alan Wake, Mr Wilson! Though Diablo III is the giant bookend to his career, Wilson's work at Relic should not be forgotten, nor should his work as a level designer on Blood. Work on Blood, you get a free pass for life from me.
]]>Do you like coffee without cream? What about consumerism without guilt? Very well then, could I perhaps interest you in some nostalgia without disappointments, frustrations and huge time investments?
Because that's the ambitious goal of Book of Demons, [official site] at once a parody and a tribute to the original Diablo, made in cute paper cut-out graphics. It's the first of the "Return 2 Games" series, 7 titles that will each aim to capture the feeling of a classic from the 90s while modernizing their mechanics and making them accessible even to casual players. I don't know if it'll work; but I'm sure Slavoj Zizek would be all over the concept.
]]>The omnipresence of the Internet, together with the ease of modern control schemes, has all but eradicated the need for game manuals. Who needs a glossy paper booklet when they have Reddit and GameFAQs and YouTube? Who has time to read with such a gluttony of entertainment options available at their fingertips?
But game manuals and owner’s guides aren’t just about information. The best ones can be beautiful: cornucopias of concept art and comic panels, hives of witty one-liners, knots of clever prose intertwined with moments of weird. I want to talk about, if not the best, then at least my favourite manuals - and then I want to know about yours.
]]>We knew Diablo's Butcher was coming to Heroes of the Storm [official site] with its Diablo-y Eternal Conflict expansion, but Blizzard had saved up a little secret or two. They don't let you even into Los Angeles this week unless you have something new to show off, you know.
The Monk and dear old King Leoric the Skeleton King are also making his way to the free-to-play Dote 'em up, Blizzard showed off last night in a new trailer.
]]>Diablo games become like obsessions, and like any obsessive-compulsive knows, slight changes to routine can cause you to lose your shit. That means that you might like or loathe Diablo 3, but if the first game was your first love, you'll likely long to return. The Diablo 1 HD mod makes that much easier by increasing the game's resolution, introducing support for widescreen displays, improving the interface and making it work better on modern copies of Windows.
It also goes a step further - for better or worse, I'm not sure - by adding extra content to the game alongside the graphical upgrade, including Barbarian and Assassin classes, new items and crafting recipes, and new locations, bosses, spells, skills and more. There's a trailer below showing the destructive scale of the thing.
]]>That headline might be confusing for some of you, so allow me to elaborate: Rob Pardo's been one of Blizzard's top designers for 17 years, making him - among many other things - one of Diablo's many daddies. So when I say the devil cries, I'm mostly referring to that. I'm sure he's blowing his 666 nostrils into a +44 WIS Hanky Of Wretched Despondency as we speak, the poor primeval force.
That, however, is only the beginning of Pardo's legendary ledger, which spans everything from the original StarCraft to Warcraft III to World of Warcraft to Diablo III. He's been everywhere (as lead designer or chief creative officer for a lot of it), worked on projects great and not-so-great. And now he's leaving.
]]>Stay Awhile And Listen: How Two Blizzards Unleashed Diablo And Forged A Videogame Empire is David L. Craddock's ebook unofficial biography of... well, it's in the title, isn't it? Consisting of reminisces from Blizzard staff, design insight and a document of how the then-games industry worked, it's the tale of how plucky start-up Condor Inc became Blizzard North and created the grandaddy of action RPGs.
]]>Oh. Oh my. That is the second post I've introduced with those words today, but that does not (necessarily!) mean I'm creatively bankrupt. Rather, it's been a very good time for brilliantly impressive games that just sort of appear out of nowhere. First Eden Star took me entirely by surprise with its runleaping Minecraft's Edge antics, and now Hyper Light Drifter is dazzling me with glorious grimdarkpink art and music provided by Fez chiptune maestro Disasterpeace. Oh, and then there is this: "It plays like the best parts of A Link to the Past and Diablo, evolved: lightning fast combat, more mobility, an array of tactical options, more numerous and intelligent enemies, and a larger world with a twisted past to do it all in." Mmmmmmmm, yes. Good. Goooooooood.
Isn't this just like Marvel? DC puts the weight of an entire movie on one hero, and Marvel fires back with six (seven, if you count Hulk twice - which you should). Then DC shows off an excellent-looking Lego beat 'em up with 50 heroes, and Marvel rains on its superpowered parade with 8,000 of its own. That's Marvel Heroes in a nutshell. Actually, no it's not. Marvel Heroes in a nutshell is "Diablo II - not Diablo III - slipping into spandex and fighting crime after being bitten by a radioactive MMO." Also, you're not playing as some lawsuit-baiting Wolverine wannabe. Rather, you can swap between big names and lesser-known defenders of, er, whatever Squirrel Girl defends on the fly. Get it? Fly. That's a thing superheroes do.
]]>And still no Diablo III on my hard-drive! It's close though, so close we can smell it. It smells of 200 developers having sat in the same office for five years. Mmm, unmistakable. Anyway, there are interviews with Jay Wilson and Chris Metzen (as well as an "extended retrospective") on Blizzard's 15th anniversary site, and Wilson says that Blizzard are "almost done" with the third game. So that's exciting. I would like to be "almost starting" to play it, now please.
]]>It's a love story for the ages: two of most important names in PC gaming history have finally admitted their feelings for each other, and after a whirlwind romance they have a beautiful bouncing baby. Yes, Doom and Diablo now have a child to call their own, and of course it's as gloriously moronic as its parents.
]]>Look, I don't know. I DON'T KNOW. This could all be a terrible trick, a plea for attention, and I'm very sorry for adding to the rumour mill.
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