Poll: Diablo III and the pitfalls of Online-Only

[TheMagicLemur]

So launch day here in North America has been somewhat of a fiasco. Personally, I figured something like this was going to happen. In my opinion, online-only for single-player games is a really crappy prospect for exactly these reasons. I'd rather deal with the risk of hacking than not be able to play a game solo because of server-side issues.

I'm just curious what everyone else's thoughts on the matter are. So what do you think?

 

[distortedreality]

Same thing would of happened with authentication servers and a release this big, so even without the always online thing, gamers would of had the same issue.

Meanwhile, everyone is able to log in and play now, problem solved.

 

[Catalyst6]

The auction house would not be possible if there was an offline component. Servers will stabilize, just be patient.

 

[WoW Killer]

I'd vote for "other" if it were there. I think always online was a bad idea. Always online is not about hacked items, or not in the way you think it is. Simply separating online and offline characters would suffice for that. It's there for the DRM first and foremost. It's also there to promote the RMAH. Say you're someone that always plays single player and would have used an offline mode had it been available. You'd then have no interest in buying from a RMAH because you could hack items in offline mode. That's why it's there.

On the other hand, it was not a deal breaker for me personally, and I have purchased the game.

As an aside: is Diablo 3 the new Mass Effect 3? Must we really devote Gaming Discussion to the discussion of one controversial title for the next few weeks?

 

[DoPo]

How are the hacked items in any way relevant? I mean in SP, you wouldn't really care, now would you. If somebody else edits his character or dupes or whatever how is that even your concern? It's like being angry that somebody else uses godmode or whatever in a different game. If you're playing multiplayer, again, how is that even relevant? D2 did that with the online characters on Battle.net. Hacked/duped items were there but it's not like being online stopped them. Well, OK, it did to an extent. But the fact is that they Rust Stormed a lot of them out. At any rate, if playing online and if Blizzard are able to do it, they'll stop it - requiring the game to only be playable online accomplishes nothing on top of that. So again, why are the items relevant?

 

[Iwata]

I played the first two Diablo games for the single player, even though I dabbled in the MP now and then. This whole "permanent internet connection" bullshit was one of the main reasons I'll only, maybe, pick D3 when (if) it hits a bargain bin.

 

[synobal]

I thought they solved the whole hacked item thing back with Diablo 2, you have online and offline characters, and then you have the option to start a game where you use offline characters online and if you get characters who are maxed out twinked or plain out hacked then you knew what you were getting into. So why do you, need always on, online DRM for Diablo 3? Simple Blizzard was concerned that there wasn't enough draw for online play, and their RMAH so they opted for the DRM as a means to trying to secure more sales. It's DRM and thats all there is to it.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I would like to have seen an option of "I am not inconvenienced enough to make it change my opinion"

Ninja'd.

Seriously though, pretty much that. I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

Granted, I played WoW since that game launched, and I've learned quite well that the first few hours after launch when the massive tidal wave of players clog the servers are always sketchy - so I just don't play during that brief time. Problem solved.

Having fun with the game, no substantial complaints (yet).