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Hello, my name is Sibcoe, welcome to another episode of "General Chat," the show where
we consider everything from sexiest gamer girls to the most horrid of gaming design
faux pas.
The game in the background is Diablo 3 from Blizzard Entertainment. Let's dive into today's
topic - Diablo 3 might actually be fun again.
So, as most of you are no doubt aware, if you have been following my channel, Diablo
3 just went into patch 1.0.7, and with it came a selection of new crafting recipes,
brawling, class updates and a slew of other small items. There may even have been some
quiet changes to Uber bosses. So, as with any major patch for a game I am playing, I
was excited to dive into the live version, even though I have been exploring the patch
on the Public Test Realm for some time.
I didn't really expect to find much difference, but, in reality, I have not stopped playing
since it went live. Now, as many of you also know, I have been a vocal critic of this patch,
and of the game direction in general. Even though, I have pointed out many positive features
of the game, and I have maintained in many of my shows and comments that Diablo 3 will
improve, I have still swung to the side of criticism.
Imagine my surprise when I found myself really having a ton of fun in the live version of
the new patch. I never saw it coming, and yet, even as I make this show for you guys,
my mind is wandering back to Diablo 3.
I just finished the footage in the background, Uber runs on MP10 for a Hellfire Ring for
my new Witch Doctor. Yes, my Witch Doctor currently sucks and is getting ROFL Stomped
in MP 10. I grabbed a few guys from the RTG Community and we knocked it out from start
to finish and had a ton of fun.
While not doing Ubers, we have also been farming materials for crafting the new items. I have
to say, where the Blizzard development team said that only a small portion of the player
base are going to utilize crafting, I say they are wrong. This stuff is awesome. The
upgrades are insane if you get lucky. But it is about much more than the upgrades directly.
I want to come out and clearly say that the existence of the crafting recipes and the
materials to make them has given the game a new direction and a new life. It is crazy
fun to go farm up Demonic Essence, and all the other materials. You also have a use for
Blue items again, by salvaging them and using the lower tier materials to make higher tier
ones. You have a use for all Rares again, to break them down and craft with. It does
take a fairly large number of crafting attempts to get a really good item that can be Best
in Slot, but you can do it, and it is not prohibitive.
In essence, no pun intended, this has given Diablo 3 a new end game focus, and something
of extreme value to farm for. This is exactly what Diablo 3 has been missing, and the hunt
is once again on. It felt for probably the first time since beta that there was a real
item hunt on, and fun crafting. I literally can't wait to get back at it.
What is great is that this will be fun for players of all advancement, and you get the
materials from doing the same runs you were doing before, but now they have a wider purpose.
It has been a real lesson to me that what you see on paper, and in limited testing,
is simply not the same as playing in the live game, especially with friends, and enjoying
the thrill of the hunt. The crafting itself reminds me a lot of gambling in Diablo 2.
it is fun, and addicting. I can't keep any Demonic Essence in my stash for crafting them
all as soon as I get them.
Now, Diablo 3 still has many, many issues, it still has a long way to go, but this is
absolutely a step in the right direction, and one I am enjoying the hell out of.
Where to go from here? More Blizzard, more. Give us 20 crafting recipes, give us legendary
recipes, give us more to hunt for, and keep it coming. Continue to solve problems, add
depth, and seek out fixes. If you play Diablo 3 solo all day and do nothing else except
grind MP 0 for paragon, in my opinion, you are doing it wrong. There is fun to be had,
and as someone guilty of perhaps too much cynicism about this game, it may be time to
sing a different song, at least some of the time.
While I will unequivocally analyze all games, including this one with a critical eye, meaning
with fair and balanced analysis of both good and bad, I think it is time to focus on what
good there is in Diablo 3, and what more may come. I am equally confident that Diablo 3
will offer much more to criticize, but in fairness, this is fun, and it should not be
called what it is not.
If you ever liked Diablo 3, I enourage you to get in the game, check it out, and maybe,
just maybe, you will have fun again.
This has been Sibcoe sharing my honest feelings on Diablo 3 craftring, Ubers, and item hunt
systems. Until next time, stay drama free General Chat.
Cheers 0/