Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

[Krugar]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I'm no programmer, but how hard would it really be to implement a LAN feature in a game like this? It doesn't seem like it would require too much to do it.

Easy.
In the context of a SP game with battle.net support, implementing LAN is relatively easy. Most of the code is similar to what needs to be implemented for Battle.net.

Piracy.
The above is also the reason why LAN will most probably exist in D3 regardless of Blizzard deciding to not implement it. Any SP game with online capabilities will always be open to a LAN hack. The only thing needed is enough demand from the community for hackers to start working on it. And because the LAN feature is being controlled by hackers, it won't have licensing control or any other copy protection features. Many interested gamers will see no reason to buy the game and will go with hacked copies to play on a hacked LAN (my prediction). So, instead of reducing piracy, assuming hackers build a LAN hack, Blizzard decision to not include LAN will promote piracy.

Merchandising.
The absence of LAN promotes Battle.net. With B.Net 2, it is expected for ads and any other marketing mechanisms to be a good source of revenue and Blizzard promotion. This is my guess why there is little desire this time around to include LAN. It's not because of piracy (it always backfires) and not because it's hard (it's not).

 

[Firvagor]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Other than playing with a couple friends in private games, I think I'll ultimately end up in SP just to explore on my own. If I find out that there are Realms (if that's what they'll be called) exclusive items, I might play online just to take a gander at them, except if the chance of getting it/them is too low to be worth trying.

 

[phool]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Depends on a few things but it mostly comes down to massive lag on bnet vs no trading between my chars. Either of which may or may not be the case at release but most probably the latter. Also, whether I can pull together some friends to lanparty together.

 

[Risingred]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Jay Wilson said that there is a shared stash. I don't know if those were his exact words, but it's pretty much a given from the way they've talked in panels.

 

[Needlecraft]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Playing through and experiencing a game with friends always provided me with much enjoyment. I don't think D3 will be any different for me in this regard.

 

[Akse]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I will jump right on bnet the day it comes out, i will play the game with one charecter by myself and me and 3 of my freinds are going to make a second charecter to play with eachother. I can accomplish the ability to complete the game on my own, with out wasting the time offline. That way i have something to work with after i play through the story.

Damn, that sounds like a good plan.

I already had in mind that I will go straight to battle.net. People might think that it is so rushed etc. but when D3 comes, it will be so new experience for so many people that many of us will take the first weeks quite slowly.

I will make char to bnet mostly because I know my friends will be there and I also know that most multiplayer games are the best when you get to play it from the release. Over time those multiplayer games and the community gets a lot worse and at that point there is no going back to the early days

Even if my first character goes a bit fast through the game I can always make and alt character and play the game really slowly alone.

Many interested gamers will see no reason to buy the game and will go with hacked copies to play on a hacked LAN (my prediction). So, instead of reducing piracy, assuming hackers build a LAN hack, Blizzard decision to not include LAN will promote piracy

Also what I think is that many "new generation" gamers who are used to play in big multiplayer communities and who also really only seek games with good multiplayer experience will buy the game and play in battle.net 2.

 

[blikst]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Easy.
In the context of a SP game with battle.net support, implementing LAN is relatively easy. Most of the code is similar to what needs to be implemented for Battle.net.

Piracy.
The above is also the reason why LAN will most probably exist in D3 regardless of Blizzard deciding to not implement it. Any SP game with online capabilities will always be open to a LAN hack. The only thing needed is enough demand from the community for hackers to start working on it. And because the LAN feature is being controlled by hackers, it won't have licensing control or any other copy protection features. Many interested gamers will see no reason to buy the game and will go with hacked copies to play on a hacked LAN (my prediction). So, instead of reducing piracy, assuming hackers build a LAN hack, Blizzard decision to not include LAN will promote piracy.

Merchandising.
The absence of LAN promotes Battle.net. With B.Net 2, it is expected for ads and any other marketing mechanisms to be a good source of revenue and Blizzard promotion. This is my guess why there is little desire this time around to include LAN. It's not because of piracy (it always backfires) and not because it's hard (it's not).

Ah, I see. I just find it strange that they would not implement a feature that many people support if it isn't some struggle to implement it. If it's like you said I seriously hope the rethink their decision. It's not like they won't get huge revenue from the game anyway.

 

[Ishtor]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I'm not really that into playing online for the reasons just listed. I like going my own pace and exploring on my own or with my friends. Too bad there's no LAN. ):

I just dont get it. since there is no lan play online you can play you on password protected games, it does not matter. If you are able to play online to me it makes no since not too. Even if you don't like the community, does not mean down the ord you would not change your mind, and wasted all that time.

Lan play is no longer needed with people having high speed internet, it highly more common now to reach the max amount of people playing in a game, without the trouble of everyone packing there stuff up and cramming into someones basement.

I am all for playing through the game in your own pace, and playing online will not change that, unless you want it to yourself. Your logic and reasoning does not make since to me.

 

[GuardianHadriel]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Cair deLune, How about a plain NO? But i think the best experience will be playing it on Bnet with ONLY my friends.

 

[korialstraz]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I will play alone at my own pace on Bnet unless the lag is too bad. That way I get to enjoy the game as well as having a character and some items to get me going on bnet.

 

[blikst]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Lan play is no longer needed with people having high speed internet, it highly more common now to reach the max amount of people playing in a game, without the trouble of everyone packing there stuff up and cramming into someones basement.

I am all for playing through the game in your own pace, and playing online will not change that, unless you want it to yourself. Your logic and reasoning does not make since to me.

Don't you think it's a difference between sitting by yourself at home playing a game with you friends or being in the same room playing with them? And the issue about lag is relevant.

 

[VR Fist]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

You can play single player on b.net with no problem, can't you? ;-)

 

[SlechtWeerBeer]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

You can play single player on b.net with no problem, can't you? ;-)

Unless you lagg like heck because there's millions of other people playing at the same time.
If my connection to BNet is fine, I'll start on BNet.

 

[DWS]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I do nothing but SP.

I just don't feel like playing with ~~Azzmazta~~ and his buddy Pimple-Skweeze.

I find the game difficulty is more suited for SP. If I can beat the game on hell diff solo then let's be honest 8 players does not offer any kind of difficulty factor.

And as for the story - I agree it makes a better experience to take your time through the game.

 

[phool]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I just dont get it. since there is no lan play online you can play you on password protected games, it does not matter. If you are able to play online to me it makes no since not too. Even if you don't like the community, does not mean down the ord you would not change your mind, and wasted all that time.

Lan play is no longer needed with people having high speed internet, it highly more common now to reach the max amount of people playing in a game, without the trouble of everyone packing there stuff up and cramming into someones basement.

I am all for playing through the game in your own pace, and playing online will not change that, unless you want it to yourself. Your logic and reasoning does not make since to me.

Lan avoids lag, realm down etc, potentially immune to ISP troubles, allows players to work on their chars when an internet connection isn't available through SP, gives players more freedom to hack without risking bans and the only way to MP mods legally.

 

[Wolfrun]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I will play alone at my own pace on Bnet unless the lag is too bad. That way I get to enjoy the game as well as having a character and some items to get me going on bnet.

This is exactly the way I have done it in the past and will run the game in the future.:thumbup:

 

[Puckineh]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

i will never go on Bnet. i have no patience for immaturity cheaters and spam and no matter how good Bnet 2.0 is these issues are inevitable

and the biggest plus with SP is my hard work will not disappear if i decide not to play for a few months.. Im free to build characters and collect items for years without ever haveing to start over unless i chose to

The issue with no LAN with be solved one way or another so me and my friends will be playing together as we do now eventualy

 

[Rolland]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

Same

I'll most likely only play SP or if there's a way to connect to an Open Character type mp game I'd do that in order to trade a bit.

But would prefer an ATMA type program in game or 3rd party to do that.

 

[ToonArmy]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I will play alone at my own pace on Bnet unless the lag is too bad. That way I get to enjoy the game as well as having a character and some items to get me going on bnet.

I do the same but also play SP/Lan games at work.
Ghess ill just have to play SP now

 

[Leord]

Re: Am I the only one planning on playing SP first before Bnet?

I think you'll likely be playing single player on battle.net anyway. The point is that all single player achievements etc will be only online, sicne you can hack easier otherwise. The point is if you want to play alone or not, not so much if it's on b.net.

Blizz will make it so you will WANT to be online.

I have spent some time researching this, you can read more in my Battle.net 2.0 article series.