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GAMING NEWS

Diablo III Has Real Money Auction House, Is Online-Only, Hates Mods

Posted on Monday, August 1 @ 02:04:15 Eastern by


Blizzard invited several members of the press earlier on Tuesday to their headquarters in Irvine, California, revealing two controversial features: a constant Internet connection (that is, no offline mode) and an auction house that uses real money (click above image to enlarge), along with one that uses in-game gold.

Though the auction house is completely player-driven, the catch is that Blizzard, much like eBay or TD Waterhouse, will charge players a fee to list an item and another fee for a complete transaction. It can be seen as measurements to prevent spam on the boards, but if I might borrow Eddie Murphy for a second: "Sounds to me like you guys a couple of bookies."

My hope is that the fee will be at best a break-even venture for Blizzard, earning enough money to run the auction house and maybe a little profit along the way. However, I don't see how this prevents players from just doing trading the old-fashioned way on a third-party site.

This also gives a huge incentive the gold farmers, though they can't join a player's game without permission. Still, don't be surprised to find the most valuable items in the game just chilling in the auction house for pennies on the dollar posted by some guy in America who got in from a prisoner another guy in China. Since the Diablo franchise is essentially a lootfest, this just might ruin the "fest" part. Sure, you have the same chance of finding an item as any other person, but against a million gold farmers, chances are that your rare item isn't special at all.

But perhaps the more pressing matter is the constant online connection, which effectively removes any and all mods whatsoever. And since there is no offline mode, there will be essentially no modding work whatsoever. That's a large sacrifice and measure to prevent cheating.
Related Games:   Diablo III


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Comments
  • Josh_Laddin
    Josh_Laddin

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 2:41 am
    Reeks of Activision all over. I'm glad I don't play this series, cause I'd hate to be putting time and investment into playing only to get **** on by some rich mofo who's able to buy better gear.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 3:25 am
    Josh your right (this time). This online only DRM is just another reason to HATE Activision! As Nick pointed out this auction house is Blizzard getting into something that has always happened on third-party sites anyway. Maybe because it will be easier to use from the game Blizzard’s will be successful and third-party sites won’t be. Time will tell.

    @Nick_Tan: How come when I borrow your name I get yelled at, but it’s perfect ok for you to borrow Eddie Murphy’s?
  • Josh_Laddin
    Josh_Laddin

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:15 pm
    I'm glad that I earned your approval for once in my miserable life, tiny!
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 2:14 pm
    Do I detect a small trace of sarcasm in your voice, young man?
  • cyberjim2000
    cyberjim2000

    Joined: Feb 2010
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 3:02 am
    I wonder if "no offline mode" equates to "no singleplayer" or not. Like you would have to log on to b.net then start a singleplayer game from there. I don't know about the modding part though. I don't know any Diablo mods out there. I suppose the item auctions wouldn't affect you if you privately hosts your games but I guess I'd be pissed if I'm leveling a hardcore character and a guy popped in and kills me.

    Man, remembered when Blizzard used to be cool like you could "spawn" games on to other computers then you and your friends could play together even though you guys only have one copy? What happ- oh, wait. Nevermind.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 3:29 am
    I think we found out who is to blame for the online only DRM. ;-)
  • Daddio
    Daddio

    Joined: Nov 2008
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 5:54 am
    Diablo III, meet Duke Nuken Forever. You better be good Duke, Diablo is going down Shit Creek with ya! What's that?? No, Diablo doesn't have a paddle.
  • De-Ting
    De-Ting

    Joined: Nov 2006
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 11:43 am
    This, and I feel that these decisions were all very much influenced by WoW. I hate WoW...
  • Josh_Laddin
    Josh_Laddin

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
    WoW's auction house is entirely based on the in-game economy. The only micro-transactions in WoW are to the Blizzard store for vanity items, which I'm ok with. The moment it all turns to ****, like it is with this, is when your real-world money can buy items that actually affect gameplay in a significant way. That's when you can get a leg up on other players simply by being willing to spend more, rather than getting better or spending more time on the game.

    The only way I can really say this was influenced by WoW is that Blizzard could read the writing on the wall with all the third-parties selling gold and power-leveling, and decided they wanted a piece of the action. But you could also say the same thing about Diablo 2.
  • thedarkstar
    thedarkstar

    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 7:32 am
    Well, I guess there is always Torchlight 2 to look forward to now.
  • gonzar09
    gonzar09

    Joined: Jun 2007
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 9:14 am
    May the virtual dust bowl creation begin!
  • fix42o
    fix42o

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 10:54 am
    Greedy ****s as always... Im still playing it tho ;)
  • 213EDD
    213EDD

    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 11:24 am
    Activision you *******s. You either make it FTP and make it terrible pay for good **** or make them pay for it. Not both you ****ing dick-heads.
  • sandineyes
    sandineyes

    Joined: May 2008
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 12:32 pm
    Wait, so people can sell their loot for money? So like, if you are a cheap bastard like me, you could eventually break even playing this game by selling **** to those crazy bastards who pay for horse armor dlc and such?
  • Josh_Laddin
    Josh_Laddin

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:08 pm
    Not just that, but it should be viable for any enterprising individual with enough free time to make a living on it.
  • Ananymous
    Ananymous

    Joined: Apr 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 12:45 pm
    Hmm, I'll wait till there is more information. Diablo is something me and my cousin usually just play co-op and didn't really get into playing with random people, I wonder how the PvE part will work out?

    Apparently Blizzard was quoted saying they don't care about how PvP will play out they are more worried about PvE so PvP will remain unbalanced.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 2:21 pm
    I never played Diablo II PvP only PvE didn't have the internet back then.
  • OdiousLupous
    OdiousLupous

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:51 pm
    I bought a mount for WoW (dont judge me, the bible says not to) due to the fact every toon I ever make will have one. But I cant see spending real money on a rare weapon for a toon in a game like Diablo no matter how cool it looks. As for no offline mode, **** you with a *********** in a ****** with a rusty ***** in the *****.
  • Greywolfe1982
    Greywolfe1982

    Joined: Jan 2008
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
    I'll be buying a copy so I can play online day 1 for sure (been waiting for this game for far too long not too) but you can be damn sure I'll be downloading the pirated and, more importantly, cracked version as well. If only I could buy a used copy so I didn't support bullshit like this...
  • drathbone
    drathbone

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
    Looks like I'm quitting my day job. Thanks Blizzard! You truly are the epitome of American free enterprise. Just wait you guys, I'll be the next big thing on gaming news - "Diablo III player becomes Millionaire"
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 10:55 pm
    Ok, just to be a prick, I nominate drathbone to The People Speak.
  • Bismarck
    Bismarck

    Joined: Oct 2008
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 9:46 pm
    As someone who has been eagerly anticipating the release of this game, I feel betrayed by both of these announcements. For one, I certainly do not always have an internet connection, and two, as Nick discussed, the potential for loot distortions is greatly expounded by the presence of a Blizzard sanctioned auction. While the presence of an Auction House is a great addition to the game, it should not involve real dollars exchanging hands and my hope is that this component will be subverted as most players opt to use the game's money. While the DRM I expected given SC2, the auction is truly shocking.
  • Bismarck
    Bismarck

    Joined: Oct 2008
    Posted: Aug 1st, 2011 at 10:09 pm
    But on this flip-side, I have to say, this announcement is the best thing that could have happened for Torchlight 2. Instead of a primer for Diablo III, I can see it becoming an alternative for many people as it: 1. Entirely lacks DRM and can be played offline, LAN, etc. 2. Is going to be much less expensive and with no auction distortions. 3. Actively supports modding and is even releasing a toolset.
  • UpAndAtThem
    UpAndAtThem

    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 4:17 am
    There's is an offline mode, it's called Torchlight :)
  • Ranim
    Ranim

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 4:45 am
    This really just makes an item farmers job easier. Making a bot that can't be detected on Battle.net isn't impossible. Once that code spreads out, this will just intensify the amount of it. I don't see how a monetary solution is going to solve the economic black market when every character gets their own loot, it fundamentally makes this game a pay to win and a farmers game. Its game breaking to say the least. I smell a Kotick.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 am
    What’s up with the triplets?
  • drathbone
    drathbone

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 7:51 pm
    This whole thing just makes me think Blizzard is all about the Benjamins, instead of investing money in anti-gold farming why not get their cut of the inevitable? Torchlight 2 is just looking better and better, that is as a game to play when I'm not selling items/making it rain on D3 as my ft job.
  • Ranim
    Ranim

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 4:45 am
    This really just makes an item farmers job easier. Making a bot that can't be detected on Battle.net isn't impossible. Once that code spreads out, this will just intensify the amount of it. I don't see how a monetary solution is going to solve the economic black market when every character gets their own loot, it fundamentally makes this game a pay to win and a farmers game. Its game breaking to say the least. I smell a Kotick.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 am
    What’s up with the triplets?
  • Ranim
    Ranim

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
    My cat perched itself upon my enter key
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 9:01 pm
    Bad kitty. =^.^= *meow*
  • Ranim
    Ranim

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 4:46 am
    This really just makes an item farmers job easier. Making a bot that can't be detected on Battle.net isn't impossible. Once that code spreads out, this will just intensify the amount of it. I don't see how a monetary solution is going to solve the economic black market when every character gets their own loot, it fundamentally makes this game a pay to win and a farmers game. Its game breaking to say the least. I smell a Kotick.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 8:01 am
    What’s up with the triplets?
  • SweetHat
    SweetHat

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Aug 2nd, 2011 at 8:14 am
    i might not buy diablo 3 now. blizzard, you ****ed up

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