The game is a month in and players are talking about a lack of end game content, that does not bode well. Also we have players talking about a lack of direction at top (ish) level.
Maybe I'm confused or something but I've always looked at the Diablo games as "do it for the story and then you are done ANNNNND here's some extra content for those who want to just fool around in game."
We have this idea that games need to go on and on and on. While it's great that some can do this, I don't think all of them need to. People rushed and finished and now they can wait until an expansion. if they want to have some fun with what's offered that's great but this isn't going to be a steady stream of continual non-stop content.
That is a fair point, but do you accept that what players may think is the norm for a Diablo game is overridden by what players expect today from any game? I don't blame Blizzard as much as my post might have suggested, it is not easy to keep the locusts who want to eat never ending content happy.
But I do think games are designed these days after the studio asks themselves this question..."so how many online games were played for more than three months over the last few years?". The answer to that is that players bail on nearly every game out there, so why bother to put in a ton of stuff when so many are going to go regardless of what you do?
If the idea is that players only come back for each expansion, that will suit the casuals, but many players seem to think the time invested will mean they are "not-so-casuals". Maybe that is the way forward now, giving up on the idea of a strong player base and accepting you can only have a seasonal player base. But as someone who wants the game to be as MMO like as possible, that's a bit sad.
Incidentally, I don't think the problems in the article are that serious, they don't strike me as unsolvable given even half a year.
That's hard to say. I sometimes think there is a contingent of vocal gamers who are just big babies. They expect so much and feel they are entitled.
IT's true that many game companies are trying to create "games as a service" but I think the reality of that will always be that content will always ebb and flow. The hardcore players will never be satisfied.
I wonder what percentage of players are hardcore? On one hand I can see game companies loving the idea of a player base who is always willing to buy more. On the other hand, maybe creating that content at breakneck speed isn't financially feasible because the vocal minority hardcore players aren't enough to fund that much continual development?
While Diablo 4 is more mmorpg like it still isn't an mmorpg. At least from what I've read. It has mmorpg features. Perhaps Diablo 5 will be the true mmorpg?
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
The game is a month in and players are talking about a lack of end game content, that does not bode well. Also we have players talking about a lack of direction at top (ish) level.
In the scheme of things this was to be expected, today multiplayer games are made with only enough content for one to three months of play. The lack of focus is down to the studio trying to appeal to all our favourite playstyles from starting the game to end game. In a sense this is like having certain maps only some players can play, it splits the player-base up, always a bad idea. But with huge player levels, that side effect is at least drowned out.
So I feel validated that I waited and now it is a question of how long? Some are talking of a year+, that may be too long for me, but concerns like this may put brakes on the guild I am thinking of joining, so personally that may make my decision for me.
I think it is highly unlikely the focus issue will be solved for two reasons; firstly it is built in and studios seem to think it is better to have a potpourri of gameplay than a herbal infusion, this was not an unintended design error, secondly I think many casual gamers prefer this lack of focus and that's who games are now made for.
I have a few friends I've tried to play with 1 especially loves to blast through the game find any means possible to get to max level repeating the same content over and over STATIC GAMEPLAY. Meanwhile, the rest of trying to enjoy the various content as much as possible mixing it up barley hitting T4. FYI, this cat does this with every game we tried to play with together, then claims its to help us power level, GTFO.
So I find it hard to believe that there is a lack end game content or lack of focus. Many players make the choice of how they want to play and we have folks who influence Power Leveling through content, this is become the norm. Scale the levels or dial back the XP then folks complain that it's a GRIND taking forever to get to max level. Provide healthy amount of XP then it turns into there isn't enough content or I am bored.
The game is a month in and players are talking about a lack of end game content, that does not bode well. Also we have players talking about a lack of direction at top (ish) level.
Maybe I'm confused or something but I've always looked at the Diablo games as "do it for the story and then you are done ANNNNND here's some extra content for those who want to just fool around in game."
We have this idea that games need to go on and on and on. While it's great that some can do this, I don't think all of them need to. People rushed and finished and now they can wait until an expansion. if they want to have some fun with what's offered that's great but this isn't going to be a steady stream of continual non-stop content.
Indeed which is why I didn't buy it, I just felt it was far too expensive for a couple runs through the game and then move on.
Maybe people that like grinding this same stuff over n over n over for slightly better gear and/or new builds it's fine but for how I play arpg's so not worth the price atm for me.
Brenics ~ Just to point out I do believe Chris Roberts is going down as the man who cheated backers and took down crowdfunding for gaming.
The game is a month in and players are talking about a lack of end game content, that does not bode well. Also we have players talking about a lack of direction at top (ish) level.
In the scheme of things this was to be expected, today multiplayer games are made with only enough content for one to three months of play. The lack of focus is down to the studio trying to appeal to all our favourite playstyles from starting the game to end game. In a sense this is like having certain maps only some players can play, it splits the player-base up, always a bad idea. But with huge player levels, that side effect is at least drowned out.
So I feel validated that I waited and now it is a question of how long? Some are talking of a year+, that may be too long for me, but concerns like this may put brakes on the guild I am thinking of joining, so personally that may make my decision for me.
I think it is highly unlikely the focus issue will be solved for two reasons; firstly it is built in and studios seem to think it is better to have a potpourri of gameplay than a herbal infusion, this was not an unintended design error, secondly I think many casual gamers prefer this lack of focus and that's who games are now made for.
I have a few friends I've tried to play with 1 especially loves to blast through the game find any means possible to get to max level repeating the same content over and over STATIC GAMEPLAY. Meanwhile, the rest of trying to enjoy the various content as much as possible mixing it up barley hitting T4. FYI, this cat does this with every game we tried to play with together, then claims its to help us power level, GTFO.
So I find it hard to believe that there is a lack end game content or lack of focus. Many players make the choice of how they want to play and we have folks who influence Power Leveling through content, this is become the norm. Scale the levels or dial back the XP then folks complain that it's a GRIND taking forever to get to max level. Provide healthy amount of XP then it turns into there isn't enough content or I am bored.
Once again, blame the Player not the Devs!
Agreed.
I think I get what you're saying in the last sentence that this isn't an issue created by the developers, however I'm not going to blame anyone. If hardercore players want to push and play hard, then I'm good with that. I hate the label "content locust".
In my opinion people who push really hard to complain about a lack of stuff, are a small group of loud attention seekers, maybe youtubers looking for clicks, dunno. I think most people who push hard know what they're doing and why. You don't do that and get there without intent and a lot of effort.
I think most people who push hard know what they're doing and why. You don't do that and get there without intent and a lot of effort.
Exactly. And some of us do some pushing and know when to stop and put it down until next season.
Starfield launches around Sept 1st so the D4 Season 1 will get about 6 weeks out of me
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Diablo 3 had an at best average story, the game was in essence at least for me, getting to the end game and trying to perfect a number of different builds, seasons etc.
Diablo 4 has a great story, which as the reviewer on this site said, really makes you question the morality of your choices (or lack thereof, if I had been given the choice I would most likely have sided with Lilith) and the map is huge so after exploring all the nooks and crannies and doing the optional dungeons, I was lvl 53 before I completed the storyline.
So personally I will now await further content and play some other titles (FFXVI, Baldur's Gate 3 to name but two) in the meantime, before I push on and play the end game, saying that I am more than happy I have got my monies worth from the game thus far.
The game is a month in and players are talking about a lack of end game content, that does not bode well. Also we have players talking about a lack of direction at top (ish) level.
In the scheme of things this was to be expected, today multiplayer games are made with only enough content for one to three months of play. The lack of focus is down to the studio trying to appeal to all our favourite playstyles from starting the game to end game. In a sense this is like having certain maps only some players can play, it splits the player-base up, always a bad idea. But with huge player levels, that side effect is at least drowned out.
So I feel validated that I waited and now it is a question of how long? Some are talking of a year+, that may be too long for me, but concerns like this may put brakes on the guild I am thinking of joining, so personally that may make my decision for me.
I think it is highly unlikely the focus issue will be solved for two reasons; firstly it is built in and studios seem to think it is better to have a potpourri of gameplay than a herbal infusion, this was not an unintended design error, secondly I think many casual gamers prefer this lack of focus and that's who games are now made for.
I have a few friends I've tried to play with 1 especially loves to blast through the game find any means possible to get to max level repeating the same content over and over STATIC GAMEPLAY. Meanwhile, the rest of trying to enjoy the various content as much as possible mixing it up barley hitting T4. FYI, this cat does this with every game we tried to play with together, then claims its to help us power level, GTFO.
So I find it hard to believe that there is a lack end game content or lack of focus. Many players make the choice of how they want to play and we have folks who influence Power Leveling through content, this is become the norm. Scale the levels or dial back the XP then folks complain that it's a GRIND taking forever to get to max level. Provide healthy amount of XP then it turns into there isn't enough content or I am bored.
Once again, blame the Player not the Devs!
Well what we are hearing is not anything like we heard about NW a month in, these things are relative. I see that I was putting my own need for something really MMO-like in my post. But that does not mean D4 is not for me, just not the MMO I was looking for. Having a chat with the guild confirms if they jump in they will be doing so on a "Diablo Basis", in other words pick it up, play it to death and drop it and wait for the next season.
Oh and I always think it is best to blame the player and the devs, it takes two to tango.
As far as palette swaps go, it is corner-cutting, but I also wouldn't go as far as to call them without merit. In the same way that I like scaling because it preserves good content in perpetuity, palette swaps allows them to keep using enemies that people may have grown attached to, while also distinguishing their level at a glance. If you like fighting something, it would feel bad if it stopped appearing later on just for the sake of the game feeling different.
I think it only becomes an issue if the game also lacks sufficient new enemies alongside them.
Comments
IT's true that many game companies are trying to create "games as a service" but I think the reality of that will always be that content will always ebb and flow. The hardcore players will never be satisfied.
I wonder what percentage of players are hardcore? On one hand I can see game companies loving the idea of a player base who is always willing to buy more. On the other hand, maybe creating that content at breakneck speed isn't financially feasible because the vocal minority hardcore players aren't enough to fund that much continual development?
While Diablo 4 is more mmorpg like it still isn't an mmorpg. At least from what I've read. It has mmorpg features. Perhaps Diablo 5 will be the true mmorpg?
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
So I find it hard to believe that there is a lack end game content or lack of focus. Many players make the choice of how they want to play and we have folks who influence Power Leveling through content, this is become the norm. Scale the levels or dial back the XP then folks complain that it's a GRIND taking forever to get to max level. Provide healthy amount of XP then it turns into there isn't enough content or I am bored.
Once again, blame the Player not the Devs!
Brenics ~ Just to point out I do believe Chris Roberts is going down as the man who cheated backers and took down crowdfunding for gaming.
Starfield launches around Sept 1st so the D4 Season 1 will get about 6 weeks out of me
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Oh and I always think it is best to blame the player and the devs, it takes two to tango.
I think it only becomes an issue if the game also lacks sufficient new enemies alongside them.