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Blizzard apologizes for Diablo III errors, delays launch of real-money auction house
By
Laura Parker, Associate Editor
Developer offers apology for server issues on the game's launch, says it will continue to monitor and improve services; real-money auction house delayed as a result.
Blizzard has issued an apology to Diablo III players affected by the game's technical issues, including the discovery of a game-breaking bug.
Posting on the Diablo III forums, Blizzard said that its preparations for the launch of the game "did not go far enough."
"As many of you are aware, technical issues occurring within hours after the game's launch led to players experiencing error messages and difficulty logging in. These issues cropped up again last night for the Americas and Europe servers. Despite very aggressive projections, our preparations for the launch of the game did not go far enough.
"To that end, we'd also like to say that we've been humbled by your enthusiasm--and we sincerely regret that your crusade to bring down the Lord of Terror was thwarted not by mobs of demons, but by mortal infrastructure."
Blizzard announced that it has been monitoring the game around the clock and said it has applied several optimizations to help the servers deal with the global rush. According to the publisher, all systems are now back online and "running relatively smoothly." The company said that it is also investigating a fix for a service issue linked to the achievement system, which saw achievements not being earned properly or not being saved between multiple log-ins.
As a result of the technical difficulties, Blizzard has decided to push back the target launch for Diablo III's real-money auction house, originally estimated for May 22. The company said it will post further information about this in the near future.
The publisher stated that it would continue to monitor global performance of the servers and will be taking further measures as needed, including maintenance to improve each region.
By
Laura Parker, Associate Editor
Laura Parker is the Associate Editor of GameSpot Australia. She loves adventure games, sparkly stuff, Trivial Pursuit, cake, Master Chief, earthworms, and rhetorical questions. She once stole a sandwich from Peter Molyneux.
570 comments
1 Like i'm glad that there are people playing this game without havign any issues. Too bad we can't say the same for everybody... which of course, could've been avoided completely, if it weren't for that "aways online" bull****...
1 Like I have lots of friends who bought this game and all of them had connection issues. It is likely a myth that there are people playing this game without having any issues.
1 Like Over a week after launch and over three days after I purchased the game - still cannot get it installed correctly. Technical support is slow and not helpful. Worst experience in over 20 years of gaming as an adult.
6 Like I think the most obvious contributing factor is the need for an on-line connection, even for the single player part of the game. If this wasn't needed then there wouldn't of been such a demand on the servers and people could at least play the single player part of the game.
1 Like Nah, not likely. Demand on the servers shouldn't be a problem for a company like Blizzard, plus on this age.
Just look at WoW.
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Blizzard makes great games, every game will have issues, give it time, they cannot test the game on every kind of system in the world, or perfectly forecast the server load issues before going live, bugs will appear, but I am sure they will fix them ASAP.
I am playing the game with no issues, and its great.
2 Like Rent the extra hardware or use a third party could of solved the issue no? Maybe not the ideal situation but there are alternatives. Just pure initial laziness and disrespect to the consumer.
1 Like
I think they made a conscious decision to not pay for the hardware and load balancing required for a launch-night explosion of users, knowing that that hardware/software purchase would then sit around unused as the logins spread out over the next day or two.
The backlash probably didn't hurt sales, and they didn't have to spend a ton of extra money on one-time-use hardware.
2 Like what world do we live in where even Blizzard can't make a good game out of the box.... last being warcraft 3 over 10 years ago
Opinions of the game itself aside... I wonder what percentage of those screaming about the 'online DRM' are those who are used to pirating the latest game instead of paying for it?
5 Like 12 of my Friend and including me buy Diablo III... 9 Hate it.. me and 2 others say Average.. 1 say Good Game but not great =). We all disagree and kinda don't understand to why with the Auto Stat =_=' not manually distribute the stat like D1 D2... kinda feel Its so unDIABLO like. We all hate the need 24h internet for SP. Imagine Open a Chest.. 1sec.. 1.5sec.. then the item pops up.. Even SP got Multiplayer lag =_='. The Campaign kinda very Short.. Me and my friend all agree Blizzard do that on purpose for Expansion =). Lastly 2 of my Friend kinda Stop playing after day 5.. The End~
@PixelAddict @Eraldus @Shanks_D_Chop @guoital @dwringer I was gone for a bit, but I just totally fapped off to this comment section, sooo hot. Nothing like a bunch of self-loathing gamers acting as free defense attorneys for getting phucked by a sub-standard release by what was thought to be a top-notch company. Keep on defending and flaming your fellow gamers who are pissed at this lackluster release, it will only perpetuate more mediocre releases, of which I'm sure you all can't WAIT to buy and tell everyone who has problems or doesn't like the mantra to kiss off. Fire up those keyboards! Tell everyone to "suck it bro, don't buy if you don't like it". Yea, don't worry, I won't buy it, I'll acquire it other ways. A$$holes. Half of the gamers is what's wrong with gaming. A bunch of self-righteous jerks telling everyone else they should bend over and take everything from what's become a Hollywood-proxy, corporate conglomerate dominated industry. I'll still play, buy, and/or acquire what I want, when I want, so thanks! I don't need permission from anyone. I will also continue to call out crappy releases and BS, "Patriot Actish" DRM policies as the day is long, ESPECIALLY from reputable companies; much to the chagrin of the little zealots who defend it. "You don't like my comment, don't read it bro." Happy gaming :) I'm going to go play Maniac Mansion, on my quad core.
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@Senco666 Wow, you kiss your mother with that mouth?
Yep, it was sold and I bought it. I seem to like it. There are some changes I don't care for. If you don't like the game, DON'T BUY IT, as there are MANY other options out there.
We are in the golden age of gaming. How about you go PLAY a game you like, rather than complaining on some comments section.
Oh, and take a class on how to act around others. You seem to need it. Badly.
3 Like @PixelAddict @res0i39c NO, considering the online BS, the crappy server load, and the auction house BS. I think Res is right. I'm not usually for the "me want freebie!" crowd, but this time it's just. Blizzard and Activision should know better.
@RoadStar1602 I completely agree with your final paragraph. Blizzard is dead wrong on this always online requirement to play the game.
@Shanks_D_Chop what, like when a new car comes out but the dealerships are too crowded with demanding patrons and there aren't enough cars to go around, then a few people get into accidents trying to back their new cars out of the dealer lot at the same time? if that happened, would you really blame the car company?
2 Like @guoital @Shanks_D_Chop I could not play for pretty much the entire first day, in spite of the fact that I drove to Gamestop and waited in line until midnight to get the game, then waited another 3 hours (for unknown reasons) until it was midnight in California so I was allowed to play. Then I attempted to log in for 2 hours in order to play a single player game. From what I understand, the servers were up several hours later in the day but I wouldn't know since I was at work. When I got home from work, they were down again. All I wanted to do was play the SINGLE PLAYER GAME I just paid $60 for.
Since then I experienced lag fairly frequently, and been booted once. My buddy has had worse luck, being booted several times per game session. Mind you, he's playing single player while this is happening. The alway-on DRM is a ridiculous power-grab and should not be taken lightly. It causes the game to perform much more poorly than it otherwise would. When I'm visiting my parents, who live in a rural area and only have dial-up access, I can't even play the game at all. I can't play the single player game I paid $60 for because of the stupid always-on DRM.
I have some tolerance for a modest amount of server hiccups for multiplayer. That is normal. However, to require an internet connection to an unreliable server in order to play single player is ridiculous. I'm sorry if some people pirate your games Blizzard, but don't punish the people who give you their money for something a handful of pirates do. That is wrong, wrong, wrong. This coming from a guy who has purchased every title you have released since you've been called Blizzard.
@guoital I also had some trouble initially. Not sure whether it was a result of my frantic 'fixing' or Blizzard's team working things out but I was eventually able to play... Ten hours after buying the game and it was officially the 16th by then but still... Had minor issues since, I've had to leave and re-enter the game a few times because some lag-related bug is rooting my character to the spot. Not world-ending but definitely loses it some marks.
Didn't play ME3 but I did hear about the hoo-haa re the ending... It does seem silly. Even if the ending is really bad that's, well, that's the ending that the writers chose. If you don't like it... too bad? Don't play it again. =P
Getting a re-written ending is quite funny but sad from a creative perspective. Funny because I'm now considering starting a petition to get all the Transformers movies remade 'cos they suck but sad because it might create a precedent for it to happen again and then where does it end? Though being frank, I stopped playing Mass Effect 1 roughly halfway through because the story... well, I just didn't care about it.
As for the 'Gimme Generation', I can only think it must be linked to parents spoiling their children. Something earned is always appreciated more. I guess if you've never earned anything you just expect without ever appreciating. But, as you say, that's not a discussion for here.
True. I only had trouble getting in for 30 minutes at launch and then it was good. I agree, it's like with ME3. People didn't like the ending and they complained enough to get more DLC? When did this new generation of gimme gimme start? I know what the problem is, but thats not for a gaming site to be discussed on.
3 Like @guoital You do realise that the video gaming industry seems to be the ONLY industry where a company can release a product, a faulty product, and then be able to act fairly casual about it?
All I'm saying is were any other industry to encounter this issue they wouldn't be able to say "There were some problems, get over it". I don't care for free stuff personally, I'd rather they just fixed it so I don't get game-halting lag while playing solo.
But you can't call them hiccups, they were full on road-blocks. Blizzard shouldn't have to give everyone a little free something to say sorry but they should just get on with fixing it without releasing patronising public statements.
As to those who think maybe Blizzard does owe them more than the working product they paid for... well, what did you have in mind? Everyone gets a free, random rare item in their stash? Fine. But if you're thinking anything higher than that, dream on. I don't think you're entitled so Blizzard definitely won't.
2 Like So, because I enjoy playing a game, I am a fanboy? There were hiccups, just like with any online-connected game when it's released. So, because there were some problems, they should give us something? Gimme gimme gimme? They already GAVE us a game that we pay for ONCE and that we waited for for 10 years. If you wanted more, than buy the fucking Collector's Edition.
@guoital @xDeadP00lx Funny... that is not what the fanboys used to proudly say untill a few months ago.
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@Mr_Mark_Legion Hard to say but my answer is MUCH less people would be playing it, if any at all. The gameplay is super linear more often than not, there is little character customization (most skills are useless), and generates very little desire to be replayed again with the same class... there's just no point. The intricately design to the game operatees just like a pokie / slot machine - every now and then it throws you a bone just to keep you investing your money.. but in this case, your time. It's actually pretty amazig that there haven't been any enquiries or investigations made into games like these.
To me the game is more about grinding for loot more than anything else. It's kind of like a more elaborate iOS game. Though I guess it depends on how you view it.
I ran in to a problem during the install, had to disable my firewall to get it to actually finish. After that the only issues I see are lag here and there.
2 Like ZERO problems here. LOVE the game. in hell mode and love every second. HATERS gonna HATE
2 Like He he he, no log in, no play, despite paying such a premium price.
I so told you so...
1 Like @InquisitorCrox u told who? i have over 40+ hours logged and i haven't gotten kicked since launch. get off your tower troll
1 Like @InquisitorCrox there's been no problem since launch night. Servers have been online and very reliable. In fact, I just ran a character solo to level 10 in hardcore with "green" latency and (clearly) no deaths. :)
@PixelAddict serbers have been mostly reliable and getting to level 10 does not take much time
@FTB_Screamer Ok, maybe I communicated poorly. My point was it would be impossible to make it to even level 10 in HC mode if there were any latency at all (which is measurable in D3, just as ping/lag was in D2).
Other than launch night, there has been no lag to speak of, and the latency gauge reads a constant green for me,
@PixelAddict "..bad latency.." I thought there where no problems, and lets quote again "since launch night" ?
@RTHKI True, 10 levels doesn't take long, but then again, try making it to level 10 in HC mode with bad latency.
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