greylord

I think you are a fun gamer, and interesting, but when was the last time you sang happy birthday? Do you go to church? Many of those songs (well in Protestant church's) are actually still under copyright. A LOT of people sing those songs (and that's actually a good thing, believe it or not...I think the songwriters wouldn't mind in MOST cases...that's what they want even) on their own without paying rights. In fact modern religious tunes are perhaps one of the most pirated...but not on software...in performances without the express approval of the songwriter and composers (performance being ANYTHING done where A SINGLE CREATURE could actually hear you...). ever post pictures of your games? (those images are actually can be considered under copyright or trademark protection). How about pictures of game characters, movie characters, tv characters, or artwork (crud...I think my avatar is of one from Assassin's creed, so in theory that makes ME guilty)? Congratulations...you too are a pirate. I own my games. I'm one of those wierd ones that prefer hardcopy to digital and legit to something that I burned (and probably has ten thousand trojans). In many cases I've bought several copies of the same game for different computers I have (how many actually go out and buy different copies of games for their computers...yes, I actually do that...I have probably around 6 different copies of Diablo 2, 3 copies of KoTOR 2, and 2 copies of KoTOR 1 (almost had a third, but didn't get it in the mail after ordering, still trying to get a new copy for my current computer). I try to do the legit thing...but with copyright laws it is hard not to be one who breaks the copyrights and in turn who could theoretically be called a pirate. THERE IS A HUGE gap between what the industry wants to call a pirate...and someone who is actually stealing physical items.

Rofl...I didnt even know you were trying to convince me of anything. See, your problem is that youre a weak minded fool who can only debate by being overly aggressive and trying to redirect to random points in history. Im not the only one youve taken this stance with so this isnt some one-off cause "you so angy". Rant on but you just look like a tool. Im really surprise by the attitude of some of you whos opinions I respect take property rights. Its "not really stealing"? What? Whether its the stone tablets of yesteryear, the books / 1 & 0's of today, or the pulses of light tomorrow, property rights dont cease to exist because the medium of distribution changes. Also, you dont deserve something beacause you are a special unique snowflake. Here's an easier take then the Bioware example I gave earlier on why MOST Americans (NOT Russians, not Indians....AMERICANS) have committed Piracy. This is why you may say there is a difference between actually STEALING something and Piracy. Piracy is taking the ideas of something that you didn't come up with and using them...in it's most basic form. AKA...piracy deals more with taking an idea or service rather than stealing a physical object. So you can pirate software, you can pirate music, you can pirate movies (saying you didn't steal physical items of these). So where is my example? There's a popular song sung in the US and Canada on people's birthdays. It's basically the Happy Birthday song. I won't repeat it here or write it down, but the instant I said it, you probably recognize it. Have you ever sung that song? Congratulations...you pirated it. That's right...that song is still under copyright and unless you paid the studio for it's use...you pirated.

The entire digital piracy thing is an interesting item. Who here has ever played a Bioware game. Congratulations, you participated in piracy. Wha...What? you say? That's right. Some of the items used in the BG series were used WITHOUT the original author's authorizations. T$R claimed full rights to those items, but depending on how you view copyrights...it's impossible for them to say they actually OWN some of the stuff that they have in the FR. Now I love bioware, and I love the FR, and I even loved TSR...but saying that piracy equals theivery or robbery is plain stupid. If I go steal your car, you cannot use your car anymore. If I go steal your food, you don't have it anymore. If a piece of software wasn't even available in a location and someone pirated it, that company LOSES NOTHING in that transaction. They can't even say they lost a sale really, because that person had no real way to actually BUY the dang thing in the first place. Now I have backed up some of my games...something which some companies and a few nations try to bill as piracy as well...EXCEPT IN SOME PLACES WHERE I LIVE A BACKUP COPY IS ALLOWED BY LAW AND TRYING TO PREVENT THAT CAN BE SEEN AS BREAKING THE LAW...aka...in many instances the companies have broken the law themselves in this anti-piracy fit. Over time they've gotten some of those laws overturned, or at least ignored in their favor...but this entire piracy bit on the part of software companies goes a little overboard. Their only recourse is to try to convince you that you aren't buying a physical product, but merely renting a license to use a product. AKA...instead of selling you a product they are now trying to turn it into a service industry. So they are selling a service instead of a product. Now when you get to thievery in a service, they actually have to GIVE you the service and DO the service for you with your acceptance prior to anything else if they think that they are going to be stiffed. However...in the case of a nation where they didn't offer the service in the first place...aka...the game rental...there's NO theivery, robbing, or anything else since there was NO service to be taken. Anyways, I have my games legal...but with the unending ridiculous loopholes that the companies keep putting on legit customers like me...I'll probably always side on the way with the Piracy campaign simply because they aren't the ones who are actively trying to constantly rob me in my book. I leave that up to the big wigs in the software industry currently like EA and Activision (always on DRM...bah...stupid things like that). Most of the time their "service" is more of a pain in the rear to legit customers like me rather than anything else. I mean, just to install ME3 I have to remember which email account I made origin under. Just for clarification: Those who wonder why I'd accuse the game publishers of trying to steal from me, many times it seems that they are just HOPING AND PRAYING they made the game installation soooo complicated that you won't actually be able to use the product you legally purchased!!! Why should I, a PAYING customer have to jump through hoops to get to use their product? It's like they dont' want me to use it. So just return it...someone suggests...EXCEPT all the stores I know of have a no returns on open computer software, once opened it's not accepted back. So basically the publishers want me to open it, try to use it, fail...and they get my money without having to provide ANY service or goods whatsoever.... In just about every place I know of...that's considered stealing...REAL...TRUE...stealing....and yet people always accuse the pirates of this stupidity when ignoring the REAL thieves in the business...the companies that are installing these safeguards that actually prevent LEGITIMATE buyers from actually using their products or services. What makes it worse is there doesn't seem to be anyone to actually take these theives down and make laws that are ENFORCED that say...if a company doesn't provide what it says...it WILL get punished for criminal acts...just like these companies want done to the people who don't actually pay for thier stuff (but typically have an easier time using the software since they don't have to jump through hoops like us legit buyers).

Xbox 360 banned along with MS Win 7 http://www.gamespot.com/news/xbox-360-banned-in-germany-says-judge-6374678

I am leaning STRONGLY against getting it until it falls drastically in price. To me every character is cookie cutter, aka...every Demon Hunter will be like every other Demon Hunter. I think this Diablo 3 actually has less skills overall. They try to say it has more because you can have 6 icons showing on your screen at the same time and by pressing a button...you can enable that skill. Furthermore, since every skill will eventually unlock, they say you have more customization. That's BS. First, each skill in Diablo 2 had different levels. Level 20 of Zeal for a Paladin was FAR different than level 1. If you even count every 5 levels, which is still a big jump typically, that's a larger amount of choice, just the choices are frontloaded rather than rearended like Diablo 3. Furthermore...yes, I didn't have 6 icons showing on my screen at a time...but I had up to 9 skills instantly available to me, and typically MUCH faster at utilizing than in Diablo 3. That's why you had hotkeys. Just as quickly as you could press keys you could enable skills...so in Diablo 3 you have the skills on icon with cooldowns which makes them inaccessible...in D2 I had hotkeys which made them just as accessible... AND I had more. Just that alone, would indicate D2 had the same thing as D3, with more options avaiable right from the get go...AND you still could customize your stats and everything else. When you account that every skill was a 20 level tier, that's a LOT of customization right there. But, that's just the start of the problems I see with the Diablo 3 arguments that people toss around with customization excuses and the whole shebang. So, when it hits $20 is when I'll probably start looking at it, unless I have a bunch of friends who buy in before and then convince me. I'm doubting that I'm going to have that many who do that at this point though.

Yes, that's what elective mode does from what I can tell. You can choose the skills from the same arena...or assign skills to different then the default slots from what I can tell.

Probably because EA has been going to the dumps (at least in the stock market) over the past 2-4 years, and over the past year except for a slight bump right around when ME3 was released the stocks have continued on a downward trend. I would say EA may actually be tackling financial difficulties or will soon if they haven't already. However, not certain how they would respond to Nexon's offer. In some ways it has to feel like a slap in the face to EA...on the otherhand, it depends on if EA thinks they'll break out of their rut soon or not on how seriously they decide to take it. Edit: Oops, sorry, didn't answer your question. They are an Asian company that make video games. Their most popular and famous is almost an anti-EA type game, being the cutsey and adorable Maple Story MMO, very popular in Korea and parts of Asia.

I don't have an Xbox...but what are they going to do with that? Have 9 separate disks?

I tried something different with my character. I tried to avoid their linear path progression and make a melee witch doctor. Did pretty good to tell the truth until the Skeleton King. I should have run a little more than trying to go toe to toe with him. Trying various things to see how viable and fun they are in d3. It was a blast just to do suboptimal builds and just fool around in D2...there's not quite as much freedom to do that in D3...most of it is using weapons or equipment that aren't ideal for your class. Still giving it a go while the beta lasts however.

Stealth? STEALTH? I just hijacked vehicles in Crysis 1 and gunned everyone and everything down!!!

Witch Hunter has some stealth built in. You'll still get noticed but with the right selection you can stealth away quick enough that only a few of the most persistent will continue following.

Purposefully being able to do hardcore hell with a build that some would call gimped is the difference between someone who is actually GOOD at Diablo 2 and those that simply are hacks. I like to create characters that are different then the norm...and defy the reasonings that some say that you can't do something. Then again, at one point I was ranked for some classes in the top 10 and later the top 25...so maybe that just doesn't work for some. So what if you have a Singing Barb, or a melee Sorceress...many times that was a decision of the player to make on purpose. Even if they are only in Nightmare, if they are having fun, and have made it that far with a build they can call their own...THAT's not a mistake...that's called trying different things and trying to figure out new strategies. Of course such builds would die in PvP...but then...I have a particular dislike of PvP players in Diablo (especially the ones that try to do it when you have no interest in it...). Oh well...I still would buy D3...just not for the full price. I can wait...it's worth MAYBE a $20 game...definately worth a $5 sale via steam or some other d/l service (though doubt it will ever go to Steam).

Well, they shut down the server, don't know when it's coming back up, probably will give it some more stressing tomorrow. Got folks coming over though, luckily got a lot of the playing for the Beta done today if they take up much of my time.

Look for a Guido, saying I can get on soon and not a code 37

Thought I'd add another item for innovation, but can't find where to edit the post above. Another area are the apparant random health globe drops. Other games have health globe drops, but they aren't as fluid as in Diablo 3 (Marvel Ultimate alliance games operate on health globe drops). It's been seen before, so not quite innovative, but multiple levels on the same level is a nice addition. The Witch Hunter has a unique way of casting specials in that they have two mana pools (or whatever you want to call it) with two different ways of filling them up, and two different applications. Once again, innovative doesn't equate fun however. FOR ME, currently the game feels more like a chore than fun. First, access is a pain. I'll wait to see if they clear up logging on with the full release...if they don't get more servers and streamline them, then I don't have to put up with repeatedly trying to log into a network for a SP game. Second, everything points that it should be fun, but like Titanquest was for me (desperately tried to like that game, many said it was like a suped up Diablo...but to me it was utterly and completely BORING), it's really boring. I simply get tired of the game rather quickly and want to do something else!

hmmm, such as? are you crazy? that was one of the pillars on which the whole gameplay stood Innovations would be the idea of ONLY having one skill unlocked per level...and yet obviously they have enough skills to be unlocked for a rather long time. So instead of a skill tree, or levelled skills, you only have a flat skill, but a lot of them. Furthermore that you are allowed immediate access at any time for those skills via one of at least 6 buttons that show on your keyboard at anyone time. Similar in many ways to WoW...but without any scaling. Also, the closest to the tech tree is what I call a Rune tree. You automatically get these bonuses that can alter the skill. My catch is this however. It still doesn't make up for the variability and unique characterizations you could have in Diablo 2...or other diablo clones even. EVERY character gets the same skills and the same runes. Even in Diablo 2 you had access to tons of skills which you could switch between if you wanted...it may have taken a bit longer...but you could do it. Further, you could have skills FAR more powerful than other players which would make you character unique rather than the simple cookie cutter that Diablo 3 has. THIS uniqueness was one of the big attractions for me to Diablo 2, and even Diablo 1 (with it's spells and stats). Another innovation is they way you can level your merchants and Stash. It's not just hirelings or yourself, you can actually level merchants with gold. This is an idea that's seen somewhat in JRPGs, especially those which have you mix ingredients to improve weapons, much like how Diablo 3 institutes it, but most of the time you are looking for some book, or have to purchase some book in order to advance the shopkeeper's knowledge. In Diablo 3 it is streamlined, along with the disassembling and assembling components into a much faster and smoother action based primarily on how much gold you have. Taking a cue from MMORPGs...so not as innovative...but innovative in that it's applied to ARPGs...is the idea of using your abilities and skills as the PRIMARY attack form. Your basic attack lasts all of 1 level, and then you almost always use your class skill as the main attacks. It makes each class unique. However, even with the innovations, innovations alone don't make me enjoy the game. I actually find it boring. I was playing the Witch Hunter today, and found it even worse then the Barbarian and Wizard. Witch Hunter is WAAAAAY overpowered, I didn't even have to worry about health most of the time. The game truly became a breeze...and sometimes that can be boring as well. So, yes, I see innovations...maybe not GOOD innovations in ever respect, but innovative and a different appraoch to how they do and did things. I for one, particularly with the cookie cutter characters where EVERYEONE get's the same skills at the same level and the same stats as they advance rather boring and hope that this is ONE innovation that is NOT picked up in the industry.

Catwoman has to be bought. In otherwords, they finished her, but didn't put her in the game so that you would have to pay for her and then download it to a single computer. GAMESTOP had enough complaints apparantly in the US that they did have flyers and gave away such items for free to appease customers. I didn't use Gamestop, but that's the rumor I heard, I have not validated it. YOu may have one of those copies. It's also possible that you didn't get a brand new copy, and if it had the code it was used already?

AWESOME! Thanks for posting the link!!!

The relief on D2 though was that you could still play SP off line, and I think you could connect via other methods as well if you didn't care about hackers/cheaters on the server. D3 won't have that luxury. I will say though, with persistence I got on. Basically I copied and pasted my password, and everytime got a code 37 hit enter, paste, enter...so a total of like one try every 5 seconds and finally got in that way. Hopefully if they simply didn't buy enough server space, it's a wake up call and they'll be prepared for the Full on release. Hopefully. They have some work arounds for the updating...you have to check their tech and support forums however for it.

I've been playing for the past 5 hours, and I have to say I'm even less impressed than I thought I was going to be. I thought D3 wasn't going to really be for me, but I'm torn. It has some interesting innovations, problem is that I'm actually bored with the game, and that's only with the Demo. I was trying to figure out why, and decided it must be because it's like the many Diablo clones that have come out. They can have some innovations but ultimately except for a few, they are all boring. I had a LOT more fun with Dungeon siege 3, and even that game wasn't the top of my praise list. I think it might be worth a 20 dollar game or a cheap 5 dollar game sale on steam...if it ever was released that way. Don't think it's worth the full price for me though that it's going to be selling for. However, I'll continue with the Beta to at least give Blizzard it's stress test. Some diablo clones are actually almost if not as good as Diablo 2 itself or at least rank up there (Dungeon Siege 2 was great, Torchlight has been okay, at least as nice as the original diablo without multiplayer...champions of Norrath on the console, the Xmen Legends series and Marvel ultimate alliance...and...that's actually about it for the good diablo clones). Sadly Diablo 3 doesn't feel like a good Diablo or Diablo 2 clone, it feels more like the Heart of Darkness, Zak, Fantastic Four rise of the Silver surfer type clone, which may have some innovations, but ultimately are boring and don't really give you that fun feeling. As I said, I'll give the server it's stress test, as long as I can stand the boredom. I know 5 hours isn't a fair shot yet...so I'll give it the weekend, but my enthusiasm isn't all that great right now. Played a Barbarian and Wizard thus far...probably will try the Demon Hunter next.

I had error 12 here. The limiting of the numbers on the servers simply means they didn't buy enough computers and are having to rush out and buy more as we speak and make servers out of them because they were ill prepared. Even if they handle the beta crowds, this bodes badly for release day. If they don't have enough servers for a beta within an hour, they'll be in bigger trouble with the full on release. Probably because they made it so everything HAS to be server side... Error 12 is more understandable though. That's an actual type of bug that they should be looking for and will directly relate to some problems that could have propped up with the full release of D3. One is just bad planning on their part and really has nothing to do with a beta other than they didn't even anticipate the demand of an open beta much less a full release. The other, error 12 falls more in line with what a beta would be for. We'll see if they get enough server computers up before the weekend is up or not, and the error 12's hopefuly they find a quicker way of authentication of new accounts or battletags

I'll give it a shot.... And immediately reminded of why I dislike the always online idea... 15.1 gigs.... And probably large downloads whenever it decides you need to update...

Switch to easy? Made him easy enough for me Did the same with the following Jedi, though she fell easier. Haven't had such annoying fights since... let's hope it stays that way. Though the glitchiness reached mass level on the plant planet... * For no reason what-so-ever the camera gets stuck. How much I want to rotate it doesn't. Very annoying for just walking about... or when someone pummels you in the back. Had a few times afterwards but never so often as here on that planet again. * dissapearing enemies, when crossing an invisible border between zones apparently. * Invisible enemies. Always fun when you think you're save and get attacked by an empty enemy box... * AI exploits. Worst with the rancors, but also very usable for a hefty sith fight on the empirical ship. They don't cross afore-mentioned invisible border, so just standing on the other side of it, I can just hide without risk, recharge force bar, hit, repeat until enemy is dead. * The rancors had it worst. By standing after the line, the rocks they threw at me dissolved into nothing. Easiest fight ever. I could just stand there, throw stuff at it till dead, and it couldn't do a thing to me... Atleast aforementioned Sith gave me a rocket to the face if I was standing still in plain sight like that... But as I said, now that the Empire side is over, things look better. Let's see if it lasts... No, it had some cheesy force exploit that was particularly effective against him with the timing...I think it had to do with when he went and destroyed one of his own creations as long as you were patient, and then you did something. There was a fight later on in it that was MUCH more aggravating to me...and then the end fight was also particularly hard to win for me, though you might not get the same ending.

That's... Paratus on the junk planet right? He's known as THE HARDEST boss in the game. There was some trick that I used that beat that guy...can't recall exactly what it was though, made him a LOT easier than another later boss. Can't remember what the actual trick was though...sorry. Currently stopped my Agarest playthrough as I took a break which turned into basically switching games. Started on FFX just for fun diversion for an hour or two...now playing FFX instead of Agarest.

That's because the Force unleashed WAS a PS2 game. I played it on the PS3 though. I liked it. I liked 2 as well. 2 had better gameplay, but the story was waaaay to short. Loved 1, but it's gameplay could have used some help at points.