Diablo III locks digital buyers into Starter Edition for limited time

Consumer protection my big white ass. Blizzard does not care about the customer.

Posted:11 months ago

So if one has to wait 3 days, what's the advantage of ordering a digital copy instead of a physical disk?
From what I read this Diablo is more trouble than anything. I don't regret I didn't buy it.

Posted:11 months ago

How does gimping the digital version prevent fraud? Couldn't the would be criminals just buy a bunch of boxed copies then? If it was about protecting the consumer's experience, and that this was an absolutely necessary step, then they would require ALL copies and accounts to have a review period, no matter how they bought the game.

Posted:11 months ago

As I predicted. And of course it's a problem, as digital is supposed to be LESS of a hassle, correct? When you make it harder to get something and play it when you want to, but STILL call selling it as fast as someone can type in a credit card number a "convenience"... there's something wrong with that picture. They're trying to make this as normal an issue as possible using security as a cover mechanic, that's all. Nothing to see here, folks. Or: "Get over it!"

Edited 1 times. Last edit by Greg Wilcox on 22nd June 2012 5:45am

Posted:11 months ago

Paying Customer: 0
Dirty Pirates: 79

When is the industry going to learn to respect its customers and treat them right?

I hate to say it but, if there was an offline single player mode then they could have unlocked that fully in this scenario... but I guess that's just not what people want - they don't want to play the games they pay for.

[edit]

You know, I just thought of another (un)intended consequence to this (now that Blizzard are saying that locking the SP aspect is unintentional): If I or anyone else were suddenly convinced to get the game and come along and play with a group of friends then they would most likely be unable to do so for the reason they chose to get the game.

I could buy the game today with the intention of playing with friends over the weekend with the likely outcome being that I waste my time and my money for this weekend...

That's a huge disincentive to get the game for newbies.

Edited 1 times. Last edit by James Prendergast on 22nd June 2012 2:20pm

Posted:11 months ago

This is doing a great dis service to the digital cloud online only model. C'mon Blizzard , up your game!

Posted:11 months ago

Now we need to play full price for a demo... How nice!?

Posted:11 months ago

Diablo 3 was the most disappointing game of 2012, the best part of the demo was when it ended.

Posted:11 months ago

So...i have completed the starter edition and are considering buying the full game digitally - so I pay full price and have to come back 3 days later? Unbelievable.

Posted:11 months ago

Despite the game itself being pretty good, I'm disappointed with lots of what Blizz have done with Diablo, not least to their image. I mean if any studio ever had reason to trust that by making great stuff, paying customers will come, it's these guys. They've been taught that lesson twenty different ways, in zillions of dollars, a counter lesson to the data-mining dullards trying to force their in-app-purchasing asses onto gamings creative throne. Principles really matter (be quiet, Bruce) and customers take note. And yet it seems like Blizzard now assume that their job is now to choke their public for every penny - 'cos that what serious business guys do, okay? Treat your fans as addicts, really, who will complain?

Edited 2 times. Last edit by Barry Meade on 25th June 2012 2:37am

Posted:11 months ago

This is utterly ridiculous. The digital version sells for £45 and does not include any of the guest passes that are included in the retail version (which I bought in Tesco for £32.71) and now they want to restrict people who pay more for less with this waiting nonsense?!!

Sorry blizzard, but this is NOT ok.

Posted:11 months ago

Blizzard appear to be losing it in all sorts of ways, and the above is just one of more bizarre. Anyone seen the Forbes online article about the guy who sold an item for $100 in the RMAH and Blizzard essentially losing his money and ignoring him?

Posted:11 months ago

As I noted in my review, how Blizzard went from disapproving of the black market for Diablo II rares and such sold through third parties to running two auction houses that have basically turned the game into a commerce system with a dungeon hack attached to it is beyond me. Hell, I'm not the only one who thinks people who are too damn lazy to play a game as it should be played and just throw money at a service to get the best stuff are kind of jerks with more disposable income than more honest players.

Eh, whatever... if that's the consumer they want, that's the one they'll get. Which would be fine and dandy if all those dupes didn't start popping up online... WTF? I thought this auction stuff was supposed to end that particular nonsense as well. Yeesh.

Posted:10 months ago