EVIL Returns and EVIL is MINE!

May 15, 2012 Wednesday saw the release of Diablo III, one of the most eagerly awaited games of the year (if not the decade which, if you think about it, was how long most of us was waiting). Before its release, the game broke several pre-sale records and became the most pre-ordered PC game of all time on Amazon.com.

I had mine reserved just to ensure I would have a copy (read about it here).

I headed off to DataBlitz at Greenbelt 1 to get my copy around 1:00 PM and while I was expecting the game to be in demand I certainly did not expect the long line at the store.

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I dutifully got in line and waited my turn to purchase the game. While waiting I noticed a "no Diablo III Collector's Edition" sign placed at various locations within the DataBlitz store (I guess they got tired of telling people).

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After waiting for almost 2 hours outside, I finally got inside the store only to find that there's another line inside!

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After waiting another 15 minutes or so, I finally the cashier to claim my reserved copy.

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They informed me that there were two prices: the cheaper Php 2,550.00 and the more expensive Php 3,150.00 which comes with a raffle stub to join an online contest from the folks at e-Games and a free t-shirt. Frankly, I just wanted the game so I opted to go for the cheaper option (I did get a free poster though which was enough for me).

And at last! The game is mine!

The only bummer was that I manage to rip part of the box skin up top when I was removing some piece of tape.

I didn't break out the CD and install it right away (apparently there is still a lot of bugs according to several accounts that reached me from the web). I decided to wait a bit and savor (as well as document) each part of the process including the un-boxing.

Check it out!

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Aside from the CD there were also a lot of nifty things that came with it.

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Inside you'll get the CD, the Diablo III Quick Start Guide, 3 Diablo III Guest Pass, 1 World of WarCraft Guest Pass, and a stationery.

As much as I'm excited to get hacking and slashing I still got some stuff I need to finish this week so I figure I'll wait until the weekend before I install and play the game lest it wreaks havoc with my production schedule and other important matters that require my attention.

Until then, I'll see you guys in hell!

DIABLO 3 OUT TODAY!!

YEAH! Diablo 3 comes out today!

Brochiere at Robinson's Galleria sent me a message telling me I can already pick my copy up. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go to Manila until tomorrow and I probably won't be able to play it until Thursday evening.

I'm not in a hurry though.

Part of me wishes I could have just bought the digital copy straight from Blizzard. I could have been playing it today. But the old fashioned me wanted the CD (or is it DVD?) and I've already paid my downpayment.

Today, millions upon millions of people around the world will literally disappear and never heard of again.

I might be one of them!

Diablo III: Wrath

Blizzard Entertainment teamed up with renowned director Peter Chung and acclaimed animation studio Titmouse to create this unique vision of a fundamental moment in the battle between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells.

Peter Cheung is best known for his unique style of animation, as the creator and director of Aeon Flux, which ran as shorts on MTV's Liquid Television before launching as its own half-hour television series.

Following are some behind the scenes of Wrath stuff. Find out more about this short-length film and what it took to bring its story to life, from concept to creation.

Just a few more days!

Avoiding All The Spoilers

I know there's a bunch of trailers out there of Diablo III, including official trailer videos as well as player made videos of gameplay from the Beta. I also know (via Jonas), that there was a Free Open Beta weekend (Public Server Stress Test) a couple of weekends ago.

But I've been trying to avoid all of that because, come May 15, I want to experience the game for the first time without any previous knowledge of what to expect.

How do I manage to keep the insane urge under control?

Well, outside of work, I'm preoccupying myself with playing stuff like Drakensang-Online as well as Path of Exile, Diablo-type games of varying quality. I know that, come May 15, I will most likely drop these games like a hot potato but let's see. I've been playing Drakensang for quite a while now and I'm nearly at the level cap. I've played pretty much 99% of the game as it is now so it would be pretty easy to drop.

Path of Exile though, would be tougher for me to drop. It's actually a pretty awesome game with some spectacular graphics. I love it so much that I've even started a whole new blog about it.

But then, Diablo III is Diablo III.

I fully expect to be fully engrossed in it when the time comes. I can't wait to suit up as a Barbarian and just start killing monsters! And I will definitely write a blow by blow account of the experience of playing the game from the ground up!

15 days to go!!!

Whattup, Philippine Gaming Fans?

I've been visiting the Blizzard site in anticipation of the May 15 release of the game, and I noticed that many places across the world will be having launch events, including several places in Asia.

There's one in Taiwan, another in Singapore, and another in Bangkok.

None in the Philippines? Come on guys! I don't pretend to be a hardcover Pinoy gamer (because I'm not). I'm just a casual gamer who play at most an hour a day to relieve stress.

Outside of Diablo I really don't play any other big games like WOW or Counterstrike (wow, so 90s huh?). Sometimes I'd play something like Bejewelled Blitz or Angry Birds or the random shooter or hidden object game but that's it.

But I'm sure there's a huge audience out there of hardcore Pinoy gamers who are waiting for this game with insane anticipation. So much so that it should may very well warrant some kind of launch event. I'm kind of disappointed there isn't. Perhaps I'm mistaken? That there aren't enough gamers here to warrant it?

Or worse, there aren't enough *ahem* LEGAL users to make it worth Blizzard's while?

Play DIABLO III for FREE!

This weekend, everyone can play Diablo III for FREE!

Yes. That's right. FREE!

The good folks at Blizzard Entertainment is announcing the Diablo III open beta weekend which offers open access with a valid Battle.net account! It's a three day event as they put the Diablo III servers through a stress test as we get closer and closer to the May 15, 2012 release date.

Okay, some of you out there are probably wondering if one can still play even though you don't have a Battle.net account. The answer is "abso*fucking*lutely"!

"Just visit http://www.battle.net to create a free Battle.net account. Next, download the client from https://us.battle.net/account/download/index.xml and install it. Create your BattleTag and then log in to the game using your Battle.net account name (email address) and password to begin slaughtering the demonic hellspawn that dare stand in your way."

Download the Diablo III client right now! Click here.

"From Friday, April 20 at 12:01 p.m. PDT (noon), until Monday, April 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT you'll be able to log in, team up with friends, and play each of the five heroic classes to level 13 as you fight to save the world from the impending demonic invasion."

Click here for more details.

Komikero: The Barbarian Trailer

Holleeee crap! I gotta play this game! Now na!

Reserved a Copy at DataBlitz

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I passed by a DataBlitz outlet in Greenbelt 1 while hanging out with Ysa Arce earlier today and I thought I'd come in and have a copy of Diablo III reserved.

The sales lady informed me that, unfortunately, they will not be carrying the Collector's Item Edition and she's not sure when it's coming in (or if they'll be coming in at all). Looks like I'll have to find some other way to get the Art of Diablo III book which is included in the Collector's Edition, of course.

She assured me however, that the regular edition will be arriving on May 15, 2012.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the reservation fee is only Php 200.00 (honestly I was expecting to shell out around Php 1,000.00). So I forked the cash over and I'll be returning to the outlet twelve days from now.

You guys out there had yours reserved yet?

What’s your Diablo III Character of Choice?

Diablo III is an upcoming dark fantasy/horror-themed action role-playing game in development by Blizzard, making it the third installment in the Diablo franchise.

In other words, evil is back!

“The game takes place in Sanctuary, the dark fantasy world of the Diablo series. This world was saved twenty years prior by a handful of unnamed heroes in Diablo II, heroes who, having survived the onslaught brought by the armies of the Burning Hells, have gone mad from their ordeals. It is up to a new generation of heroes to face the forces of evil threatening the world of Sanctuary.”

There will be five available character classes this time around, some familiar but mostly new ones.

The Barbarian

The Barbarian is the staple of the Diablo franchise and will have a variety of revamped skills.

This human tank will be able to whirlwind through crowds of enemies, cleave through swarms, leap across crags, and crush opponents upon landing. Fury is the fuel that powers the Barbarian’s skills which is generated through getting attacked by enemies, attacking enemies, and through certain other abilities.

Fury is used for certain strong abilities and degenerates over time which means the Barbarian has to keep fighting or lose steam.

The Witch Doctor

A new character reminiscent of the necromancer from Diablo II, the witch doctor has skills more traditionally associated with shamanism and voodoo.

The doc can summon monsters, cast spells and curses, and has great proficiency throwing poisons and explosives. Contrary to ongoing opinion among fans, the Witch Doctor is not another version of the necromancer (who, speaking of which, may or may not see a comeback with future expansion in the third installment of the franchise).

To power spells the Witch Doctor uses mana which regenerates slowly.

The Wizard

The Wizard is a new version of the Sorcerer from previous Diablo releases.

This master of magic’s abilities range from shooting lightning, generating fire and ice, slowing time (reminds of Neo in The Matrix Movies and his famous bullet time), and teleporting (around enemies, through walls, etc.).

The wizard fuels their spells with arcane power which is a fast regenerating power source which is probably a very good thing since they need to be dishing out a lot damage before the enemies can get close which is when a wizard is often most vulnerable.

The Monk

The Monk is a melee attacker, sort of like those Shaolin monks in those kung-fu movies (okay…a lot like those Shaolin monks in those old kung-fu movies).

These monks use martial arts to cripple foes (see what I mean?), resist damage, deflect projectiles, attack with blinding speed, and land explosive killing blows. It combines the melee elements of Diablo II's assassin class with the holy warrior role of the Paladin.

The monk is fueled by spirit, which has defensive purposes and is slowly generated through attacking, though it does not degenerate.

The Demon Hunter

The Demon Hunter combines elements of Diablo II's Amazon and Assassin classes (which I guess makes this class a sort of Ranger-type character).

Demon hunters use crossbows as their main weapon but can also throw small bombs at enemies. Some of their skills have been revealed and among them are arrow skills such as Chain Arrow. The demon hunter is fueled by discipline and hatred (which is kinda weird since hatred tends to have a negative light to it).

Hatred is a fast regenerating resource that is used for attacks.

So, which class are you going to play as?