Captive/addicted customer base

And this is exactly what I posted about in another thread (Blizzard having a captive/addicted customer base; some who aren’t pleased with the direction the game has taken including the expansion, but for some reason, are still thinking of buying it).

The original two games in the franchise cultivated a huge legacy following.  That’s a sizable piece of baggage that they’ve been trying to placate but that (DI and DII) was a different time and different development team with different design philosophies (the entire team of Blizzard North is what created and shaped the first two games; not the individual principals like Max Schaefer, David Brevik, or Bill Roper).  It’s also why once individuals go off in their own direction, doesn’t necessarily translate into greatness in terms of the new projects they work on.

A completely new team not comprised of the majority of those who made up the above, was tasked to follow up Lord of Destruction.  We expected one thing, and got something totally different.  The current development team has their own vision going forward in terms of addressing the deficiencies from their original design, and it’s my belief based on some of the decisions they are making in the pre-expansion system changes and Reaper of Souls, that they are going to move forward.  Players can go along for the ride and part willingly with their cash, or exit stage left by voting with their wallet.

By that, I’m specifically referring to the soul binding furor that has been going on.  I understand why they are doing it even though for many, it goes against what they believe the Diablo franchise is about.  But it’s my belief this development team is moving on, regardless of whether some players, like it or not.  Again, from the RPS interview; Kevin Martens:

Source: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/13/blizzard-talks-diablo-iiis-new-path-defends-online-req/

While that response was in relation to no offline mode, the rationale basically covers everything else.  They are literally drawing a line in the sand in terms of moving forward with designs and systems they feel will at least put the game on better footing.

There are times when you cannot please everyone or be everything to everyone (that usually results in failure more than anything else) and the feeling that I’m getting is they’ve reached that point in trying to please those who want Diablo III to be like Diablo I or II:LoD.  By that, I mean they are going to stick to their current, “want us to find our loot by killing monsters”.  And they are willing to sacrifice the ability to trade everything freely, by soul binding the best items that will drop.

I know there are many players who are completely against this philosophy, and are furious because the D3 development team is dictating how they want the player base to play.  It’s time to face up to the reality that this is their IP to make or break.  And it is my feeling they are telegraphing that they will live by the sword, and die by the sword with some of the changes they plan to implement.  Again, complaining for the sake of complaining is basically going to fall on deaf ears at this juncture.  Well reasoned feedback might make a difference in terms of making some systems better (but won’t effect a 180 on some key decisions like soul binding).  If the outcome isn’t to ones liking, no one is forcing anyone to lay out money to buy the expansion.  That aspect is fully within everyones own individual power.

While I have my own mixed feelings on some designs, there’s a lot of things I’m liking in terms of the system changes and Reaper of Souls.  I personally never expected them to try and fix the game to turn it into LoD II.  What I do expect with the pre-expansion changes and RoS is a much more fun, challenging, and rewarding game play experience over what currently exists, where I don’t find myself playing maybe 8 hours for one week, and then taking ever longer breaks from playing (like how its been for me since 1.0.4).

I’m still on the fence regarding purchasing the expansion since I’d like to see how the pre-expansion system changes affect the game play experience in the vanilla version of the game first, but at this juncture, I like what I’m seeing (Adventure mode and Rifts).  And so for those features that I’m liking, I’m providing constructive feedback since I’d like to see them hit the mark (and not over iterate and under deliver by release).