How the internet and a sense of entitlement has destroyed video games

[Lord_Jaroh]

That's definitely an interesting an opinion. I don't see where this applies to Diablo 3 in that the only "money-making hook" is the real money auction house which hasn't been released yet. The only place where I see that effecting the game is that it will cut back on the endless spam in chat of shady websites that are selling gold by providing people a way to buy gold or items for money securely. Basically they saw a need that people would have and addressed it by adding a secure method that provides a buyer and seller atmosphere. But that's another topic for another thread.

The entire game was designed around needing the auction house. The ability to progress in the game is hampered by neutered drops, neutered because the auction house needs a certain "rarity" of items to be successful. That it hasn't been released yet is besides the point: the entire game was designed around you being able to use it. Therefore, if you do not use the auction house, you are gimping your own gameplay to the point at which it is not fun to play, but instead is a chore.

Blizzard did not see a "need" to address. They saw that people were actually willing to shell out real money for make-believe items and created a game to take advantage of that idea. They created a game that was designed around an auction house, rather than designing a good game where people would choose to use the auction house if they wanted to (you know, like the people chose to use the shady sites to buy items). Now instead of it being a choice, they made design decisions to funnel all players into making it more likely they will use this "feature". By making it online only. By neutering chat channels. By screwing with drop rates. By making progression item based rather than skill based. All of these decisions are made to enhance the likelyhood that you will use the auction house, thereby giving them money.

[EasterEgg]

The entire game was designed around needing the auction house. The ability to progress in the game is hampered by neutered drops, neutered because the auction house needs a certain "rarity" of items to be successful. That it hasn't been released yet is besides the point: the entire game was designed around you being able to use it. Therefore, if you do not use the auction house, you are gimping your own gameplay to the point at which it is not fun to play, but instead is a chore.

Blizzard did not see a "need" to address. They saw that people were actually willing to shell out real money for make-believe items and created a game to take advantage of that idea. They created a game that was designed around an auction house, rather than designing a good game where people would choose to use the auction house if they wanted to (you know, like the people chose to use the shady sites to buy items). Now instead of it being a choice, they made design decisions to funnel all players into making it more likely they will use this "feature". By making it online only. By neutering chat channels. By screwing with drop rates. By making progression item based rather than skill based. All of these decisions are made to enhance the likelyhood that you will use the auction house, thereby giving them money.

We'll have to agree to disagree then because I think that is a fundamental difference in interpretation of the game and it's purpose. The game is designed around loot and loot drops. If you have the best gear fall the majority of the time then what would be the point of playing after a month? You would have all the loot that you would need and the game would be pointless. In D2 you could either farm for long periods or trade with other players. In D3 they took out the archaic barter system and replaced it with a gold standard, just like commerce today is based on. If the real money auction house were the only mechanic in the game for getting items then I would agree with you, however that's not the case. I know that as far as myself and my friends we have all agreed that spending real money in the game is something we are not interested in, and that doesn't effect our enjoyment of the game or remove any feature from us. All of the items that sell in the auction house, whether in the gold or real money version, had to drop at some point for some player, meaning that there is just as likely of a chance for you to get it as anyone else.

[jean valjean]

I have nothing against a company making profit. The issue for me is whether the rmah is good for the GAME. Does it make the game more or less fun? That's the only thing that matters to me (the consumer). I think the rmah lowers the overall quality of the game. Maybe Blizzard will make more profit, good for them. But its at the expense of the quality of their product. It's up for Blizzard to decide whether they would make more money with the rmah in the long run; whether the amount of quality they're giving up does not outweigh the financial benefits of the rmah. That's a business decision, and they chose to give up some quality for profit. That's good for them but I, as a consumer, am disappointed because I had my heart set on another great diablo gaming experience which I will now not have.

[rockoffire]

op strikes me as someone who never really played the other games in the Diablo Series.

[menk]

People deal with this false sense of entitlement and are spoiled. They don't use rational thought and just flame everyone because they react emotionally and without fully developed thoughts or reason. Not to mention that the amount of complaints being thrown about are meaningless. Blizzard made a product, the product was sold to you. You purchased the item and you are using it. It's yours. Either you like it or don't. If you like it great, if you don't then let it effect your future purchases and buy with caution from them in the future, but please stop acting like you are owed something.

The product didnt meet my expectations. So you are saying that I should STFU, because of... what?

Blizzard built expectations based in an older product and reputation. I bought the new product based on that. The new product didnt deliver. Should I be silent for your convenience?

Blizzard used the internet to hype and publicise their product, but I can not use the internet for making my opinion heard? Again, man, what is your problem?

And again, this is all just my opinion. It's no better than your opinion, if you agree with it great, if you disagree that's fine too. We just have different builds as it were. But can we all just be a tad bit more civil, a little more realistic in our expectations, and a just a touch more respectful to the people that made the game and to the other posters out there please?

In my opinion people is being VERY civil comenting upon the steaming pile of crap that Blizzard released. And certainly, I WILL tone down my expectations in the future, thanks for your suggestion.

[wrugoin]

They do if they want money and support.

Obligated does not equal "Best Interest" Blizzard is not obligated to adjust it's game for you. It doesn't owe you anything outside of access to the product they already delivered. NOTHING ELSE, AT ALL!

[Kiroptus]

Yeah blizzard doesnt have to do anything, noone is FORCING blizzard to change the product for themselves, infact I already accepted that its probably beyond change at this point, everything was designed to be exactly like this, the game that D3 turned out to be isnt a product of some design mistakes here and there, the game was deliberately made like this so there isnt anything to change. Is it going to hook people as much as D2 did and have people care for their loot with this dull MMo itemzation ? Probably not, which is against what blizzard wanted to achieve with the RMAH, I cant see people throwing money there just so they can get +120 dex instead of +100, so no, Blizzard doesnt need to adjust the product but the issues the people are pointing out are indeed troublesome for the game's lifespan and even for blizzard's planned profits on the RMAH but we can label it as "entitled whinning" if that make everyone feel better.

Even so, its too late at this point, Its quite sad to see people pointing the problem and suggesting solutions on the official forums, thats some really dedicated fanbase there but it wont take long to see that there is no return at this point.

[Dacar92]

To the OP, and other legions of fanboys;

Why is anyone who likes the game a fanboy?

[Dassembre]

This. If a company doesn't listen to it's customers complaints and wishes(not all of them of course), that company will be gone very soon. No, they don't have an obligation, but it would be self destructive to be arrogant.

it would be self destructive to listen to every complaint people have, most of the hate against the game is people just jumping on a bandwagon.

nothing wrong with stating issues like the level of hardness of inferno, but then people keep on about it even after Blizzard had already stated they are looking at the balancing of it.

1/2 the time they have listened but people dont seem to notice and just carry on complaining

[lazylink]

Gamer entitlement is a term invented by EA/Activision to shift the blame of ****ty products onto the consumer. There is nothing entitled about wanting a game to be great, balanced, stable or immersing. Statements made by the OP are examples of why the gaming industry is producing so many horrible games every year, because they can get away with it, they appeal to the casual gamer, they are simple, bland, and easy to understand. There is no difficulty curve or interesting features. The itemization in D3 is perfect example of this. It is such a simplification that it eliminates what little customization is left after taking away skill points and attribute points. There is no depth in D3, none. I thought D2 was as generic and standard as an ARPG could get, but it still had some depth, you still had to think and plan. In D3 there is no thought, no consequences and little reward (see horrible itemization).

And it's not just the itemization, the gameplay itself is bland. When you get jailed it's not because you weren't skilled enough to avoid it, it just happens. When you get charged by 3 offscreen angels in Act 4 and die instantly there's no skill or forethought involved that could have helped. When there's lag and you die you can't tell yourself "I can always switch to singleplayer." D3 wasn't made by passionate developers for their fans, it was made by producers to make money, easy money to be precise. There are still some developers that care about making good games, and care more about quality rather than money, but they are few and far between. I (and I believe many others) are upset over D3 because it symbolizes what is wrong with the current state of the gaming industry, it is a lightning rod that will fade in time. I could write more but I doubt anybody will read a post longer than two paragraphs so far into a thread.