I know of a way to keep Diablo 3’s online integrity without required online connectivity. Just have a separate offline mode that doesn’t interact with Battle.net. This means no access to the auction house, no multiplayer, no achievements, and all maps, monsters, and loot are generated on the client. If you want to play online you’ll need to create an online character. If offline characters and offline gear can’t interact with Battle.net, there’s no problem.
The various Blizzard comments I’ve read give me the impression that their social vision led them to not bother with this type of mode. If Starcraft 2’s campaign had seamless co-op like Diablo 3, it probably wouldn’t have an offline option either.
It would split the community. And the inevitable problem would be someone playing offline and then suddenly wants to take that character (which they have worked long and hard for) online but cannot.
I know people don’t have a vivid imagination, but the Diablo 3 issues aren’t really here. If there was item duping like in Diablo 2, that would be a serious problem. Servers being down every now and then isn’t going to destroy the game in the long term.
One thing I like is how Diablo 3 being isometric allows it to total license to be violent. No one will be offended by little demons getting killed horribly. But a moving and close up camera could depict the gore in an offensive way.
For example, in various computer role playing games, children could be killed. All children were was little stick figures or little characters. Think of Spark (a party member) from Ultima VII. When he dies, it shows his body and blood draining from it. But since Ultima VII is isometric and scaled out, it doesn’t offend anyone. Everyone wouldn’t even THINK it being offensive if they had not just read it now. (Spark is a good example because he was annoying and we would kill him on purpose. “Little boy burning!” my brother would say as Spark’s corpse lay over a fire.)
Above: I always enjoy killing him in my Ultima 7 games.
Today, no game may be released with children being killed in the United States under the rules of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Due to the graphical increase and being no reason to kill children for a video game, the ESRB has said “It will not be done.” I understand where the ESRB is coming from and agree with that decision.
But my point is to show that 3d, with moving cameras, LIMITS FREEDOM of game content. Content that was acceptable, with controversial elements not even being noticed, is not acceptable today. I’m pointing this out that Nintendo’s “Manifest 3d Destiny” has serious flaws and certainly isn’t the path of more freedom for either the developer or the gamer. 3d is not inherently ‘better’ than 2d. Yet, Nintendo acts like 2d is a plague that must be wiped out from the face of the Earth.