eventhorizon525 said:
More to the point; simply because a group may not be the majority (and I would actually like to see the sources you have, curious to see the specific numbers) doesn't mean it shouldn't raise its concerns (rationally). Dismissing a group because "oh you guys are the minority" is not a good precedent. To be fair, your earlier posts weren't doing this, but the more recent ones were starting to stray toward an area that wouldn't do your position justice. There are people who don't have a strong enough standard internet connection, but also people whose home internet is good, but when traveling or away they don't have anything reliable meaning the always online factor still comes up as an issue.
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0703/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6741959/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/broadband-use-tops-dial-up-us-homes/
http://www.nasrecruitment.com/docs/white_papers/Internet_Usage_United_States.pdf
The main 3 I found, Ive seen more but those are just the ones I remembered.To be honest, I dont play the game, nor do I plan to. I have no idea whether or not their online only thing will be effective or not in whatever reasons they are doing it, but thats not really my point. My point and my main problem is a lot of peoples constant argument for this being that "but we dont have very good internet/most people have bad internet" etc etc.
Broadband last I checked was incredibly common, my grandmother has broadband. Its becoming so popular that I suspect within the next 5-10 years dialup will dissapear and close on every home will have always on internet access.
And no, disregarding a minority isn't exactly a great thing, but for them its simply practicality. A vast majority of their target audience has boradband, and they wanted a DRM system(for whatever reason), so this option had has no negative affect on a vast proportion of gamers, so they used it.
Also I dispute that it is actually removing any of the would-be cheaters. Instead it is making the game directly support what they wanted to do, eg: buy items for real money. Only difference is the money now moves through Blizzard's hands. This is like a school seeing they have some problem with people buying essays online. Rather than do their best to block and stop this behavior, the school instead starts letting students sell essays to each other through the school. While obviously Diablo 3 isn't an educational institution, the point remains.
Except the point of a school is to learn, so that you can actually be a useful member of society. The point of a game is to have fun, and that can be done in a huge number of ways. The reason they included the auction house is to avoid a black market/outside market, and make it safer for item buyers and sellers.
yes they do get a cut and clearly theres a huge moneymaking opportunity for them, but for the gamers it means you can easily sell of excess items, buy other items all without the risk of being ripped off. Or if you dont like it, ignore it completely, its simply an additional feature.
Ill agree that no the situation isnt perfect, but the problem isnt as big as people make it out to be. Give it a few years and msot games will be doing something similar, and this will be a non issue.
R It sucks yes, but if you have bad internet, deal with it, your the minority.