One of the biggest (if not THE biggest) releases for PC this year is Diablo III. Released on May 15th, analysts predict the game will sell 3 to 4 million units by the end of year. The game takes place after the events of Diablo II, it is first installment in the series in over 10 years, and has been in development since 2001. The game world is set in the familiar realm of Sanctuary, which was saved over 20 years ago by the events in Diablo II.
Unfortunately for Blizzard, delaying the game for additional polish - as well as a significant beta program - did not prevent launch day problems or deter pre-release controversy.
Launch Day Issues
On launch day, servers were unable to handle the capacity of the customers. Soon the internet became full of "Error 37" memes. In fact, at the time of this writing the first item autofilled in Google's search for the word "error" is the number 37. Considering the amount of people trying to get help with all sorts of errors submitted to the popular search engine everyday, having the number one error search in 2 days is pretty significant.
Continuing along the current trend of gaming, Diablo III requires an internet connection even for single player games. Not having enough server capacity to allow a simple login for players to have a solo game has hurt the image of a company that is well known for its commitment to quality games.
Another point of contention for many gamers is the built-in auction system for game items. Learning from what has happened in World of Warcraft and other MMOs, Blizzard decided to institute a trading house for Diablo III. There are two types of trading houses - one that uses gold from the game and another that uses real world money.
In the gold auction house Blizzard will take 15% from the end price of the item. In the real money version of the auction house Blizzard is taking $1 from items like weapons, armor, etc. Further Blizzard will take 15% of all crafting materials sold for real world money. When users withdraw money they earned in the auction house they will be charged another 15%.
Interestingly enough, Blizzard has put an additional restriction on the game to prevent the gold farming found overseas in past games. The gold only auction house is open to anyone, anywhere. The real money auction house is restricted in the form of only being able to sell to players in their home region. This means that someone from China can't sell you anything in Europe or the Americas.
Successful Launch
Despite its initial controversy and launch day problems, Diablo III has been very well received critically, with a respectable 87 metacritic score. The user score is unreliable as many have chosen to take their frusrations about error 37, and others, out on metacritic by giving it a very low score.
It remains to be seen if Diablo III will captivate people in the same way that Diablo II has done. One thing is for certain - the release issues, DRM requirements, and auction house controversies have not been negatively impacted the company financially. Diablo III has broken the record for amount of pre-sales ordered for a game. The Q2 results are right around the corner and many expect Blizzard Activision to have a record profitable quarter.
Earlier this month, VideoGameGeek was at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco -- checking out some games, sitting in on some great talks by industry bigwigs, with a little networking (read: partying) thrown in for good measure!
Below, I've compiled a list of just some of the highlights in which we partook. I'll be updating this post with links to our coverage of most of these events throughout the next several days, so stay tuned!
Monday
- "Folk Games, Festivity and Subversive Game Design" presented by Douglas Wilson - "Ponycorns: Catching Lightning in a Jar" presented by Ryan Henson Creighton - "Indie Game: The Movie" screening and panel
Tuesday
- Met up with Jens "Jeb" Bergensten from Mojang to deliver the VGG Golden Geek Awards for Minecraft - Checked out the History of 3D Games exhibit presented by the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment - Went to Warner Bro's secret lair to check out The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for Xbox 360 and Mortal Kombat for PSVita
Wednesday
- Met up with George Rothrock of Playdek Games to deliver the VGG Golden Geek Awards for Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer - "Reimagining a Classic: The Design Challenges of Deus Ex: Human Revolution" presented by Francois Lapikas - "The Emotional Puppeter: Uncovering the Musical Strings that Tie our Hearts to Games" presented by Marty O'Donnell and Brandi House - "Classic Game Postmortem: Gauntlet" presented by Ed Logg - "Creating a Sequel to a Game that Doesn't Need One" (Portal 2) presented by Chet Faliszek and Erik Wolpaw - Independent Games Festival Awards and Game Developers Choice Awards
Thursday
- "Forgotten Tales Remembered: The Games that Inspired Leading Innovators" presented by Will Wright, John Romero, Cliff Bleszinski and Sid Meier - "Games to Address National Challenges" presented by Constance Steinkuehler Squire of The White House - Met up with Alex Carlyle of Team Bondi to deliver the VGG Golden Geek Awards for L.A. Noire - One-on-one interview with Jakob Porser from Mojang to talk about Scrolls. - "GDC Microtalks: One Hour, Ten Voices, Countless Ideas" presented by Amy Hennig, Alice Taylor, Cliff Bleszinski, Dan Pinchbeck, Heather Kelley, Mary Flanagan, Richard Lemarchand, Dave Sirlin, Erin Robinson and Brandon Sheffield
Friday
- Met up with Thad Wharton from Valve to deliver the VGG Golden Geek Awards for Portal 2 - Interviewed Phil Fish about Fez - Got a demo of Waveform from Ryan Vandendyck of Eden Industries - Demoed Vlambeer's Ridiculous Fishing - Capped of the conference by staying up till the wee hours of the morning with the CA's, playing Johan Sebastian Joust and Witchhunt (aka Werewolf)
Alriiiiight! A very successful art contest, if you ask me!
A huge shout out to Meagan for the great idea of video game motivationals as our theme, and an even bigger thank you to everyone who participated! They all look great to me, I feel like a proud momma. You're all winners in my eyes
OK OK Enough of that. So, how this works. Below is a picture of each submission accompanied by a number and a name. Please consider them all evenly, without discriminating! I want a sense of camaraderie here, and nothing less! Below this post, within a comment, you shall find the poll. Simply vote for the number you like the best!
Voting will start with this post, and continue for seven days, closing at 11:59pm CST on March 10, 2012.
Today I have a Guest Star, Shane Meyer! She is a bonafide, sexy, gamer girl. We talk about what we're playing, reading watching, as well as our thoughts on Bioshock Infinite. However, the most important thing you should take from this vlog, is the tips we offer on dating a gamer girl on Valentines day, or how to score yourself one! Please enjoy and thanks for watching!
The first Humble Bundle was launched on May 4, 2010, with the second iteration going up a little over one year ago (December 14, 2010). Since then there have been seven more Humble Bundles. Here's a quick rundown of the Humble Bundles to date:
Humble Indie Bundle #1 - May 4, 2010 Humble Indie Bundle #2 - December 14, 2010 Humble Frozenbyte Bundle - April 12, 2011 Humble Indie Bundle #3 - July 26, 2011 Humble Frozen Synapse Bundle - September 28, 2011 Humble Voxatron Debut - October 31, 2011 Humble Introversion Bundle - November 22, 2011 Humble Indie Bundle #4 - December 13, 2011 Humble Bundle for Android (and Windows, Mac and Linux!) - January 31, 2012
As you can clearly see, the frequency of Humble Bundles has been increasing. In fact - after 4 bundles in the first 14 months, we are now on a streak of 5 straight months with a new Humble Bundle.
And it's not just the guys from Wolfire Games (Jeffrey Rosen and John Graham - a.k.a. the creators of Humble Bundle) that are using this method to promote the cause of indie gaming. Check out Indie Royale, LittleBigBunch, The Indie Bundle, and Indie Games Pack for other examples/opportunities (...and I am surely missing some others).
The cause of promoting indie games is noble and charitable in and of itself, and many of these bundles take charity to a whole new level. The Humble Bundles allow you the opportunity to decide precisely how your money is directed. You can go with the default setting -- which gives 55% to the game developers, 30% to charity (i.e. Child’s Play and the Electronic Frontier Foundation) and the remaining 15% as a “Humble Tip” (to the guys running the whole thing) -- OR you can decide exactly how much you want to give to each party. Additionally, the latest Humble Bundles have offered extra games and soundtracks to everyone that pays more than the current average purchase (usually in the $5-6 range).
I think it’s fair to say that one of the primary factors of the Humble Bundles’ success is the selectivity of the games offered. As a consumer, there has always been an assurance that, even knowing little to nothing about the games included, I could give my money and support without worrying about the quality I would receive in return.
So maybe you’ll understand a little when I say I’m beginning to be concerned with the number and frequency of these bundles... I would hate to see the the Humble Bundle (and the other indie bundle programs) coming out too often and becoming watered-down in quality. Then again - is that concern of mine valid? Are these indie bundles in danger of losing their importance and mystique?
I think I'm coming to the conclusion that I shouldn't be concerned about dilution (...at least not yet). There are just so damn many great indie games out there that don't get enough exposure. Still, I am anxious to observe the future of the indie bundle phenomenon and this is an issue that will be on my mind as we see more and more bundles... And I can guarantee that as long as I have the chance to name my own price for a selection of great indie titles, my wallet will remain light!
Snippets and Tidbits . . .
Tweet(s) of the Week:
The following chain reaction occurred last week - resulting from an article on RockPaperShotgun about Tim Schafer wanting to make Psychonauts 2, and Notch (creator of Minecraft) offering (via Twitter) to help fund it...
So, here we are, in February. We promised you guys that we would re-open the art contest, and we are keeping that promise! We will be changing the theme... but don't worry, we think this one is easier and more fun!
The prize is still the same: Your choice of any ONE of the following on ONE of the platforms that it is available on.
These were last years' VGG Golden Geek Award Finalists!
Game of the Year Mass Effect 2 Portal 2 Red Dead Redemption
Best Visuals/Artwork L.A. Noire Mass Effect 2 Red Dead Redemption
Best Indie Game Bastion Limbo Minecraft
Best Mobile/Handheld Game Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer Neuroshima Hex! Roll Through the Ages
Most Innovative Game Heavy Rain Minecraft Portal 2
Now, before you get too carried away, we have a few rules that, by entering this contest, you accept and agree to be bound by:
1.For the "Video Game Motivational," only a "Final Submission" post is required. It can be a scan, picture, etc. We just need to be able to recognize that it's your piece. This rule is in place for a variety of reasons, so don't question it!
2. The contest starts on February 2nd at 12:01am CST and runs through February 29th at 11:59pm CST. Please submit your final piece by then, no exceptions! In the event of a dispute, all decisions made by VideoGameGeek are final and binding. Contest rules are subject to modification by VideoGameGeek.
3. Submissions must be uploaded to this thread under the entrants username and clearly defined as the "Final Submission."
4. The prize is as stated above, and it cannot be exchanged or cashed in for any thing else (such as money, other games, etc).
5. If you live in a state, country or region that prohibits contests of this type, then this offer is void and you may not participate. Employees and immediate family members of employees of BoardGameGeek, LLC are not eligible to participate in this contest.
6. Entrants may submit more than one entry under the same username; each labled "Final Submission."
7. Winners will be notified through GeekMail within 5 days of the completion of the contest (defined by the closing of the voting poll). Winners will be solely responsible for any local, state, and Federal taxes.
8. Entrants may use any medium (digital paint, photo, pencil, 3D, collage etc.) but entrants must not include any material in their submission that infringes upon the copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of any other party. Entrants must have the necessary licenses, rights, consents, or permissions to submit for online distribution all of the material in their submission.
9. By entering this contest, each entrant forever discharges and releases BoardGameGeek, LLC and its directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, causes of action, suits, and demands of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest.
10. Winners are selected by popular vote of the registered users of the VideoGameGeek website. A poll will be set up for the submitted pieces after the completion of the contest. Details for the poll will be disclosed later.
11. Most importantly, artistic ability is not required! Just because it's a beautiful piece of art does not mean it will win. It can be silly, serious, or anything in between. Please don't be intimidated and just have fun with it!
Good luck (once more) and I look forward to all of your work! Feel free to ask questions, I will get to them as soon as I can!
For the past several months, there has been a generous amount of speculation about when the next iterations of gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony will be announced and released. Some rumors have reported that developers are already using the next-generation Xbox dev-kits, with an expected release in 2012. Other reports point towards a 2013 release. Still, others say that both Microsoft and Sony are holding off until 2014. Most recently (and despite speculation to the contrary) a Microsoft France executive has said that there will be no news of the next Xbox at E3 this year.
I don’t know about you - but I don’t really feel the need to have the next generation of consoles yet.
With The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still occupying most of my gaming time (and still stunning me with its graphical beauty) - and Mass Effect 3, Bioshock Infinite, and Halo 4 to still look forward to in the next year - I’m quite content to stick with the status quo for at least a couple more years... And that’s before even mentioning the seemingly endless supply of cool indie games coming to XBLA and PSN!
Perhaps way more substantial than the when though is the what - and recent reports that the next Xbox will not play used games have created quite a stir. Clearly it is still too early to know whether this is true. If it is true, I will be very curious to see how this will be accomplished - and what other features the system will have.
Not that I don’t understand why Microsoft would want to limit the console to only playing games that were bought new - because I think it is quite easy to see why this would benefit them. Rather, the question I’m currently weighing internally is how I should feel about this proposition... Should I adamantly oppose it, ardently support it, or apathetically acquiesce to it...?
I am inclined to say it’s not that big a deal - and perhaps even support it. I feel strongly that the people (and companies) that develop and publish the games we love should be able to fully reap the rewards of their creation. In the past several years, I have probably purchased about half of my console games second-hand at GameStop. But it’s hard to deny the unfortunate truth that the developers and publishers get no benefit from my used game purchases.
I have been very intrigued in following your discussions on this issue and I am anxious to hear your comments below. I am still pondering the potential pros and cons of having my next console be designed to only play games I purchased new. Perhaps there aren’t really any pros - but the cons might not be that big a deal either...
Parting thought: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author." -- Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
My SECOND vlog! Woooo! This time I brought toys to share while I talk about my awesome January. I'll ramble about what I have been reading, watching and playing. Not to mention I'll fill you in on what I ended up getting at Christmas and how my February is shaping up. Please enjoy!
As I started working on this column last week, it was going to be a summary of H.R. 3261 and S. 968 - more commonly known as SOPA and PIPA. I was going to fill you with plenty of informative links and a call to action. But as the week went on, opponents of the bills won some minor victories... and then some major victories!
As it stands now, both SOPA and PIPA are shelved. The bills’ upcoming votes have been cancelled and even some legislators who were recently supporters of the bills are calling for substantial discussions and revisions before letting the bills get back to the table.
The internet-wide blackouts were obviously very influential and successful. Following the blackouts (by websites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and many others) no less than 19 senators voiced their opposition to PIPA, 7 of whom were formerly co-sponsors of the bill. Check out this impressive image from ProPublica that gives a pretty good impression of just what can be accomplished when people (along with prominent companies) take a stance.
Hollywood got a little pissed. Chris Dodd (former U.S. Senator and current lobbyist/head of the Motion Picture Association of America) released a statement calling the blackouts an irresponsible, dangerous gimmick and an abuse of power. On the bright side, Mr. Dodd’s statement inspired the entertaining ‘Tweet of the Week’ below!
One of the most disheartening aspects of this issue for me has been the fact that the Entertainment Software Association was one of the bills’ sponsors, despite the fact that many of its member organizations had voiced opposition. Penny Arcade took a pretty strong stance against the ESA for their position, and I especially appreciated last Friday’s comic:
Extra Credits, which is broadcast on Penny Arcade’s PATV, even posted a video urging the gaming community to boycott E3 unless the ESA changes its stance. It worked! (at least to some degree) -- The ESA released the following statement on Friday:
the Entertainment Software Association wrote:
From the beginning, ESA has been committed to the passage of balanced legislation to address the illegal theft of intellectual property found on foreign rogue sites. Although the need to address this pervasive threat to our industry's creative investment remains, concerns have been expressed about unintended consequences stemming from the current legislative proposals.
Accordingly, we call upon Congress, the Obama Administration, and stakeholders to refocus their energies on producing a solution that effectively balances both creative and technology interests. As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection and are committed to working with all parties to encourage a balanced solution.
It isn’t exactly a total change of stance... The ESA clearly still wants some sort of legislation to be passed (once some revisions have been made). We can claim some victorious battles, but the war still isn’t over. Both bills still have support in Congress. If SOPA and PIPA do not survive, there is still a high possibility - if not probability - that they will be resurrected under different names.
So the call to action is still necessary. If you are in the United States, you can contact your representatives at one of the following links:
If you are not in the U.S., you can contact companies that support SOPA and PIPA and voice your concerns -- and keep in mind that many other countries are considering similar legislation!
We’ve got time to catch our breath, but the fight isn’t over yet...
So it's no secret that the VGG December Art Contest wasn't exactly an overwhelming success... Even though we had a great prize set up, we didn't do a whole lot of promotion from our end. Additionally, there were a number of people that said they were working on something but forgot to submit in time or hadn't finished their entries. Perhaps the holiday season wasn't the best time to kick it off...
In the end, we're going to take a strict interpretation of the rules we set out and declare that there were no official/final entries. Even though a few of the images posted appeared to be final, none of them were marked as such -- so we're going to take advantage of that to reopen the contest and hope for a larger turnout. We will still be offering the winner their choice of one of the VGG Golden Geek Finalists as a prize. The contest theme will likely be tweaked slightly to center around Winter - so go ahead and start brainstorming some ideas!
On a completely unrelated note -- after only two weeks, I have decided to start publishing my "Weekend Gamer" columns on Tuesday mornings instead of Monday mornings. Working on the column over the weekend was cutting too much into my precious weekend gaming time!
