Even though I don't plan on doing the Digital copy, I wanted to know what the masses thought. I know blizzard is not known for this, but what are the chances of a pre-download for D3? That way at 12:01 in your region you can go straight to getting your fists bloody.
This doesn't mean there are not problems that would arise from doing this.
When I say pre-download I mean 99.90% of the game, when the clock hits midnight in your region download is available and takes a minute to give you the very important file that allows you access to running the game.
I'm curious on what the fan base thinks, and any problems I haven't thought of.
They definitely allowed people to download the client even a day or two early, but you couldn't log in until the digital release time (which was later than the Box release by several hours).
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If that made sense to you, Bravo! I think I even confused myself...
I think that you can't activate the game prior to the release date, thus you can't download it a day or two earlier either. At least that's how it was with Starcraft II. WoW: Cataclysm was a bit different because it was simply an update of the already existing client.
Usually they allow you to download most of the client and then on release give you the last few tidbits that you need to be able to actually run the client. At least, that's what I've seen as of late.
On my way home from class I had a realization, if they do allow pre-download it would relieve some of the stress off the severs once the digital goes live, with everyone trying to do it at once. That would only work if the announcement of the pre-download was there but really quiet so there isn't a mad rush to DL it.
Also had this thought:
Situation #1: Its midnight of release those who have pre-downloaded it downloaded it 2 days prior can play once it goes live. It is a large amount of information on some players internet you might need those 2 days. i.e Mine
Situation #2: My nearest GameStop is 15 minutes away, depending on where I get in line might need to add some more time. Now I need to add another +30 minutes for install so I would not be able to play till about 1:30, and knowing my luck I will have work or whatever the next morning so I will either not sleep and be tired and grumpy all day or I have to wait till I can play which might not be for another 24 hours. Most likely I would go stright to be after work allowing for more time to pass before I can make things die.(I've been waiting for this game for a long time, so to me that is completely out of the question :angry:)
Now, I do intend on adding this to my digital library on my B.net account, so I can install it and keep the box in a safe place. 15 years down the road when my child picks it up and I get to have a jog down memory lane.(of course in 15 years Blizzard would have already released Diablo 666 and would not be relevant to play it anymore, but the memories are nice to have.)
They did this in SC2, you could download the whole game 1-week before the game was out (without even buying the game), but it would only activate after you got to the blizzard store and actually bought the game.
Since the game client is not complete and need the server to play, there is no reason not to do that with D3. You can download the game for free, but it will just play if your account has been activated.
I just thought of something for those that don't get the digital release. You might want to choose where you get it carefully. For example, I have two gamestops. One is in a mall, one is on the outskirts of town. When Wrath of the Lich King was released, there was a good 100+ people in line at the Gamestop in town. Took me a good 45 minutes to get through the line, and I was relatively near the front. When Cataclysm launched, I went to the other one, and there was about 12 people at that one, though we heard them talking to the other gamestop over the phone about the 100+ people (again). It took me about 5 minutes and I was, again, in the middle of the line.
So that being said, you may want to do some research. How popular is Diablo 3 in your area, are there alternative stores to get it at, and how fast could you download the game.
Otherwise, to quote somebody, "You are not prepared!"
I bought SC2 the day it was out and it just made me download the game one week earlier and enter my credit card information while the game installed. It finished even before the installation did.
I preorded mine at gamestop, so if I don't work the night it comes out I'm going to stand in line. If I do work that night I prolly could get my fiance to go stand in line for me haha. I don't really want to digitally download with my crappy internet. Plus I want the CE
So you're saying that SC2 was available for download before the actual release?
If so, that'd be great. Like I said I don't really feel like having to wait for about a 2h download when the game is released.
I'm the one saying that.
And yes, you could download it one week before the actual release and when you tried to install it it said that the game wasn't out yet, so you had to wait to install it.
Of course there were hackers that cracked the game even before the release due to this system, but I don't see this happening with Diablo 3 since the game client is incomplete. Would it also be pirate-free? Did Blizzard finally win the battle with the hackers?
Even though I don't plan on doing the Digital copy, I wanted to know what the masses thought. I know blizzard is not known for this, but what are the chances of a pre-download for D3? That way at 12:01 in your region you can go straight to getting your fists bloody.
This doesn't mean there are not problems that would arise from doing this.
When I say pre-download I mean 99.90% of the game, when the clock hits midnight in your region download is available and takes a minute to give you the very important file that allows you access to running the game.
I'm curious on what the fan base thinks, and any problems I haven't thought of.
You can have 100% of the game and you still cant play until the servers are online,
and why do you say blizzard aren't known for this? they did it with the last wow expansion.
The last WoW expansion didn't count, because you got all(if not most) of the content even if you didn't buy the expansion. All you bought with the expansion was the new 80+ content and the new races, which by buying the game got you was ACCESS to it. Diablo 3 is a completely new game no one other then blizzard had that content on their computer.
Although I came back to WoW about a month after its release I could be mistaken... if i'm wrong someone please correct me.
The last WoW expansion didn't count, because you got all(if not most) of the content even if you didn't buy the expansion. All you bought with the expansion was the new 80+ content and the new races, which by buying the game got you was ACCESS to it. Diablo 3 is a completely new game no one other then blizzard had that content on their computer.
OMG, doesn't anyone read my posts?
Blizzard DID this with SC2, ok? You could download the whole game one week before the release but the installer would only install the game the day it was out. After installed it would only activate if you bought the game (what would also happeon only after the game was out).
I expect exactly the same thing in D3, and I will do it just the same as I did with SC2.
I hope that there will be a Digital Download CE Edition. They send you the box with all the goodies inside. You can Download the client pre-release but cannot do anyhting intill the server gates open meaning you are locked out intill that time or however the DDL's work.
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This doesn't mean there are not problems that would arise from doing this.
When I say pre-download I mean 99.90% of the game, when the clock hits midnight in your region download is available and takes a minute to give you the very important file that allows you access to running the game.
I'm curious on what the fan base thinks, and any problems I haven't thought of.
Also had this thought:
Situation #1: Its midnight of release those who have pre-downloaded it downloaded it 2 days prior can play once it goes live. It is a large amount of information on some players internet you might need those 2 days. i.e Mine
Situation #2: My nearest GameStop is 15 minutes away, depending on where I get in line might need to add some more time. Now I need to add another +30 minutes for install so I would not be able to play till about 1:30, and knowing my luck I will have work or whatever the next morning so I will either not sleep and be tired and grumpy all day or I have to wait till I can play which might not be for another 24 hours. Most likely I would go stright to be after work allowing for more time to pass before I can make things die.(I've been waiting for this game for a long time, so to me that is completely out of the question :angry:)
Now, I do intend on adding this to my digital library on my B.net account, so I can install it and keep the box in a safe place. 15 years down the road when my child picks it up and I get to have a jog down memory lane.(of course in 15 years Blizzard would have already released Diablo 666 and would not be relevant to play it anymore, but the memories are nice to have.)
Heh touche
Since the game client is not complete and need the server to play, there is no reason not to do that with D3. You can download the game for free, but it will just play if your account has been activated.
So that being said, you may want to do some research. How popular is Diablo 3 in your area, are there alternative stores to get it at, and how fast could you download the game.
Otherwise, to quote somebody, "You are not prepared!"
I bought SC2 the day it was out and it just made me download the game one week earlier and enter my credit card information while the game installed. It finished even before the installation did.
Arriving home with my newly bought SC2 and having to still wait for a patch (probably made post production) was one of the worst feelings ever.
I'm the one saying that.
And yes, you could download it one week before the actual release and when you tried to install it it said that the game wasn't out yet, so you had to wait to install it.
Of course there were hackers that cracked the game even before the release due to this system, but I don't see this happening with Diablo 3 since the game client is incomplete. Would it also be pirate-free? Did Blizzard finally win the battle with the hackers?
and why do you say blizzard aren't known for this? they did it with the last wow expansion.
Although I came back to WoW about a month after its release I could be mistaken... if i'm wrong someone please correct me.
OMG, doesn't anyone read my posts?
Blizzard DID this with SC2, ok? You could download the whole game one week before the release but the installer would only install the game the day it was out. After installed it would only activate if you bought the game (what would also happeon only after the game was out).
I expect exactly the same thing in D3, and I will do it just the same as I did with SC2.