As we’re counting down the days until we’re ready to announce a release date for Diablo III, we’ve come to realize that the PvP game and systems aren’t yet living up to our standards. Today, we wanted to let you know that we’ve made the difficult decision to hold back the PvP Arena system and release it in a patch following the game’s launch. After a lot of consideration and discussion, we ultimately felt that delaying the whole game purely for PvP would just be punishing to everyone who’s waiting to enjoy the campaign and core solo/co-op content, all of which is just about complete.
Looks like due to crunch time, Blizzard will not be implementing the Arena (PvP) system until the following content patch. This does sadden me a bit, but not too big of a deal. We are will be leveling up, going through the acts, trying to get better gear. Arena would be nice, but most probably would not have played it in the beginning (although maybe tried it out).
I think it all depends on how long it will take for the patch to be released. If it is not too long (sounds like they have the patch in the works as is), than I do not see an issue. This is similar to the Mystic and removing her until can hopefully be patched in later.
The quote I posted is not in its entirety. There is still more to the blog than what I posted.
Edit: What do you guys think, is it a big deal? Or rather, does this really effect you? I myself was not going to play the PvP for a while, until I get gear and leveled up several classes. So this is not such a big deal. I am glad to see though that they are keeping it out so the release is not delayed. And sounds like they [Blizzard] do have an idea on how it will play it. They just need to mess with it until ready.
Another neat bit of information. If you look at the tags for the blog, there is one is particular people will like. Sign of Release
It's going to be the same as the great marketplace add-on that they implemented in SC2 after release, as promised.
I can't believe it's got to the point at which Blizzard after 5+ years of development cuts such a crucial (at least for me) component from the game.
Either they got sloppy and 'it's done when it's done' is thing of the past as they iterate too much and wander astray with some of their ideas, or Activision has tighten the reigns and the game has to be shipped soon at all costs
If the game isn't considered complete by Blizzard's (and mine) standard then I'm no longer purchasing it at its release. I have to wonder what the fuck Blizzard has been doing all these with regards to the PvP system. Furthermore, it might not even be free--who knows what strings Activi$ion is pulling behind the curtain.
I wouldn't read it as Blizzard being sloppy, their rational is perfectly fine. The PvE is great and they feel happy with it. If they release it now, then all the people who want to play PvE get to play it sooner. If they wait until the PvP is done, it still won't come sooner than the patch would otherwise have come. Let us say that the game other than PvP is X days from completion and PvP is Y days from completion, where X>Y. They can either release in X days or Y days. If they release in X days, PvP will be out in Y days.
So apparently I suck at communicating what I'm trying to say, but the TLDR is: there is no downside to this move. PvE players get to play earlier, and PvP players get their PvP at the same time.
On March 10 2012 09:00 setzer wrote: If the game isn't considered complete by Blizzard's (and mine) standard then I'm no longer purchasing it at its release. I have to wonder what the fuck Blizzard has been doing all these with regards to the PvP system. Furthermore, it might not even be free--who knows what strings Activi$ion is pulling behind the curtain.
Yes, it will be free. and you aren't going to want to PVP until you are geared anyway so this is crzy good news. see you at launch. To me it seems like you're jumping on the minority bandwagon of "everything blizzard announces is a slap to the face" when you don't even take time to actually analyze what they have done.
On March 10 2012 09:01 TheTurk wrote: T_T This sucks. PvP has always been the main attraction to me in these kind of games.
Arena (PvP) will be in Diablo III. You wont be doing arena right off the back; I am sure it wont be too long until the patch comes out post-release. Blizzard will probably have some time to work on it before the level range for arena begins to become more common.
On March 10 2012 09:00 setzer wrote: If the game isn't considered complete by Blizzard's (and mine) standard then I'm no longer purchasing it at its release. I have to wonder what the fuck Blizzard has been doing all these with regards to the PvP system. Furthermore, it might not even be free--who knows what strings Activi$ion is pulling behind the curtain.
Yes, it will be free. and you aren't going to want to PVP until you are geared anyway so this is crzy good news. see you at launch. To me it seems like you're jumping on the minority bandwagon of "everything blizzard announces is a slap to the face" when you don't even take time to actually analyze what they have done.
"minority bandwagon"? rofl.
You don't even know when they will release the patch for PvP but I see you already assume it will be when you are already leveled and geared up. Take a hint from everything Blizzard has ever done: it could be 1 month or 1 year. They are releasing a game without features everybody was anticipating. I won't be buying until I will be satisfied with the contents of the product, and unfortunately I can't be until PvP is implemented.
On March 10 2012 09:00 setzer wrote: If the game isn't considered complete by Blizzard's (and mine) standard then I'm no longer purchasing it at its release. I have to wonder what the fuck Blizzard has been doing all these with regards to the PvP system. Furthermore, it might not even be free--who knows what strings Activi$ion is pulling behind the curtain.
Yes, it will be free. and you aren't going to want to PVP until you are geared anyway so this is crzy good news. see you at launch. To me it seems like you're jumping on the minority bandwagon of "everything blizzard announces is a slap to the face" when you don't even take time to actually analyze what they have done.
"minority bandwagon"? rofl.
You don't even know when they will release the patch for PvP but I see you already assume it will be when you are already leveled and geared up. Take a hint from everything Blizzard has ever done: it could be 1 month or 1 year. They are releasing a game without features everybody was anticipating. I won't be buying until I will be satisfied with the contents of the product, and unfortunately I can't be until PvP is implemented.
see you at launch.
edit: also yes, you are the minority, you being 1 out of ten people who have said they hate this update out of thousands who have already said they love it.
On March 10 2012 09:00 setzer wrote: If the game isn't considered complete by Blizzard's (and mine) standard then I'm no longer purchasing it at its release. I have to wonder what the fuck Blizzard has been doing all these with regards to the PvP system. Furthermore, it might not even be free--who knows what strings Activi$ion is pulling behind the curtain.
Yes, it will be free. and you aren't going to want to PVP until you are geared anyway so this is crzy good news. see you at launch. To me it seems like you're jumping on the minority bandwagon of "everything blizzard announces is a slap to the face" when you don't even take time to actually analyze what they have done.
"minority bandwagon"? rofl.
You don't even know when they will release the patch for PvP but I see you already assume it will be when you are already leveled and geared up. Take a hint from everything Blizzard has ever done: it could be 1 month or 1 year. They are releasing a game without features everybody was anticipating. I won't be buying until I will be satisfied with the contents of the product, and unfortunately I can't be until PvP is implemented.
So, knocking on him for assuming it will be a timely release, while assuming it will not. Clearly, your assumption is far more justified than his. Keep this in mind though, the patch is not being developed from the bottom up. It is content that was already there, it will be adding onto it. So the time-frame is dependent on what issues they have with PvP that is keeping them from releasing. Not the idea of developing the PvP from the ground up.
I understand the reasons but I can't help to wonder where went this 5 year + development time really ? I'm getting more and more skeptical for this game, there is still hope since it's blizzard and I'll play it but hey I'm pissed by that.
Next time you hear about pvp they will tell you'll need an expansion to play PvP, just like the fricking mystic (1st exp having both). Oh yeah expansion aren't free by the way !
On March 10 2012 09:20 FinestHour wrote: Youre not going to pvp youre gonna want to lvl first...no big deal.
just hope it isn't take too long.
That is pretty much what will make or break the removal of PvP. Boils down to, just how long it will take. They could possibly get away with two weeks, but three weeks would be pushing it. We just do not know what they were unhappy with, what portion of it, or how long it will take to fix. So sadly, it is one of those scenarios where we cannot truly, justly be upset simply due to how little we know.
Although unlikely, imagine if it was implemented two days after release.
this should not be a surprise for anyone who is a little bit informed. blizzard does not care at all about pvp (at least any competitive pvp) in d3.
here is an interview with jay wilson from the d3 press event some months ago.
altough this things were said some while ago, those general statements about pvp will VERY likely still stand.
* they want pvp to be only casual. * you probably wont get more than achievements and titles. * making this an esport is exactly what they DO NOT want to do (8:40) * they want the pve aspect to rule the game, only "over his dead body", pvp aspects will dominate balancing (9:00)
(9:30): a quite heartbreaking statement, for a pvp-enthusiast like me: " whenever we run into a case of "this would be really awesome for pve" and then the pvp guy goes up "this kind of screws pvp", the answer is always: "shut up pvp guy". "
at about 10:00 he explains why esports for d3 just wont work.