D3 is "Technically Finished," Probable 2011 Release Date

[Malak]

If the game is "technically finished" now, then unless testing reveals the game is fundamentally flawed and needs a major redesign/rewrite, it's not going to delay the game until next year. Final testing takes time, but if it takes a year something is seriously wrong. It's morely likely to get delayed for release scheduling reasons, but even that's very unlikely.

There could also be balance concerns. For instance, during testing of several RPG's I was in some classes had entire skill trees disappear or change as balancing progressed. Some things sound good on paper and are found as flawed in practice. So while a game is "technically finished" there can still be tons of changes and additions done depending on the outcome of testing. It is also dependent on how large the game is.

 

[Maximilian]

Wonder if there will still be a ton of oddball useless items Anyone remember the "military pick" or the guns, think they were called blunderbuss or something and lastly the original azurewrath, how tyrael hoped to win vs diablo doing 10-30 damage ill never know

http://i41.tinypic.com/2u6ib6s.jpg

 

[RPD]

They didn't have guns in D2, just crossbows and bows. You are thinking of Torchlight maybe?

 

[DVad3r]

Nice, I'm taking a year off of work, selling my motorcycle, and getting a toaster oven cause it's healthy.

 

[Ross Ridge]

There could also be balance concerns. For instance, during testing of several RPG's I was in some classes had entire skill trees disappear or change as balancing progressed. Some things sound good on paper and are found as flawed in practice. So while a game is "technically finished" there can still be tons of changes and additions done depending on the outcome of testing. It is also dependent on how large the game is.

Sure. But like I said, if it takes a year to do then something is seriously wrong and needed a major redesign/rewrite. Having entire skill trees disappear and replaced would be pretty close to just that. They're certainly going to have to do a lot reblancing, changing of skills and whatever, but they've got the better part of a year to do that in and still have a Christmas 2011 release.

 

[Redshirt 24]

Yeah...the holidays, absolute earliest. I can't see A/B wasting the biggest unreleased title in their arsenal on any lesser time period.

 

[skuzzie]

Wonder if there will still be a ton of oddball useless items Anyone remember the "military pick" or the guns, think they were called blunderbuss or something and lastly the original azurewrath, how tyrael hoped to win vs diablo doing 10-30 damage ill never know

http://i41.tinypic.com/2u6ib6s.jpg

That weapon has a purpose though, 50% DS.

 

[Malak]

Wonder if there will still be a ton of oddball useless items Anyone remember the "military pick" or the guns, think they were called blunderbuss or something and lastly the original azurewrath, how tyrael hoped to win vs diablo doing 10-30 damage ill never know

http://i41.tinypic.com/2u6ib6s.jpg

It isn't just 10-30. It is 18-46 with a 50% chance to double that. At lvl 13 that is a pretty awesome sword.

 

[boozie]

It isn't just 10-30. It is 18-46 with a 50% chance to double that. At lvl 13 that is a pretty awesome sword.

I think you're missing the point that it wouldn't touch Diablo?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I think you're missing the point that it wouldn't touch Diablo?

I missed the part where tyreal defeats diablo?

 

[Rhezuss]

I missed the part where tyreal defeats diablo?

I missed the part where I missed the part.

OT: Would be effing awesome to have D3 for Christmas...but I doubt it.

Anyone would sell his soul for a GREAT ARPG?!?!?!

 

[zebano]

That weapon has a purpose though, 50% DS.

That sword always pissed me off. I was weird in that after a couple of characters I started playing hardcore with minimal twinking so I always found that sword too late for it to be useful.

 

[lsv]

Very hot, I've been waiting for this game for years! Just hope my wife doesn't kick me out of the house...

If she does just go to a net cafe. That's my plan B with my wife and D3.

 

[Malak]

I think you're missing the point that it wouldn't touch Diablo?

Why wouldn't it? I beat Diablo last night with a worse sword.

 

[Kabob]

I didn't really start playing tons of D2 until LoD came out so I missed most of the D2C drama. But lo, the 1.09 "Every melee character must have 'Fury'" build I was greatly familiar with...

Then 1.10 came out and my beloved zealot Paladins went "poof."

 

[tedrodai]

Sure. But like I said, if it takes a year to do then something is seriously wrong and needed a major redesign/rewrite. Having entire skill trees disappear and replaced would be pretty close to just that. They're certainly going to have to do a lot reblancing, changing of skills and whatever, but they've got the better part of a year to do that in and still have a Christmas 2011 release.

Yeah I agree with you on that point. I meant that I feel "something is seriously wrong" has a better chance of delaying it until next year over considerations of a console port. =D That's how much I doubt a console port factors into the equation. But I have no control over it anywho, so all I can do is wait to see.

Lookin' forward to it though.

 

[Josh123]

It will be here in time for the holiday season.

 

[Maximilian]

They didn't have guns in D2, just crossbows and bows. You are thinking of Torchlight maybe?

Hmm yeah i think you're right, i could've sworn i saw a gun in D2. Oh well.

 

[boozie]

I missed the part where tyreal defeats diablo?

You also missed the part where we weren't discussing him defeating Diablo, we were discussing how he hoped to ever win vs Diablo with that crap sword.

Why wouldn't it? I beat Diablo last night with a worse sword.

Right but the sword itself didn't pave the way. I'm sure you were either casting crap to do your dirty work, or the rest of your gear was way higher than lvl 13. Or you were over-leveled.

This is the sword that shatters the Worldstone, I think I have a right to be a little disappointed in it.

 

[chorb]

Everyone knows "The Diggler" was the best item in the game

 

[Occ]

I thought it was Wirt's Leg with 3 sockets.

 

[lord_emperor]

Will be released when people get tired of the new WoW expansion and subscriptions start dropping.

 

[SolidSnake42]

Release it by the end of the year and watch PC sales skyrocket.

 

[boozie]

Will be released when people get tired of the new WoW expansion and subscriptions start dropping.

Haha, that is already happening.

 

[Martimus]

You also missed the part where we weren't discussing him defeating Diablo, we were discussing how he hoped to ever win vs Diablo with that crap sword.



Right but the sword itself didn't pave the way. I'm sure you were either casting crap to do your dirty work, or the rest of your gear was way higher than lvl 13. Or you were over-leveled.

This is the sword that shatters the Worldstone, I think I have a right to be a little disappointed in it.

I think you are mixing up Azurewrath (http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Azurewrath) with the Shadowfang (http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Shadowfang)

Azurewrath is a level 85 sword. It is Shadowfang that is a level 12 sword.