Diablo 3 has had a rocky first year. Between the ‘Error 37’ problems on launch with overtaxed servers, legal threats due to refusing refunds, and numerous scandals involving problems with people being unable to access the money on their accounts or transactions on the cash auction house resulting in money simply disappearing, and people complaining about the mandatory item-grind at end-game, the game has been in the news a great many times for all the wrong reasons.
Potential
One of the main features that was discussed before the game released was the PvP game modes that Blizzard intended to put into the game, modes that were even hinted at being able to host tournaments, applying e-sports potential to the action-RPG. Despite those e-sport dreams being quickly squelched by more realistic consideration of Diablo 3’s capabilities, there has still been a huge amount of wonder as to when, exactly, the PvP game modes would finally be available.
Reality
One such mode, at least, never will be. The team deathmatch PvP mode that Blizzard has been working on has officially been shelved. According to director Jay Wilson,
… most of our testers didn’t feel like it was something they’d want to do beyond a few hours. Without more varied objectives, or very lucrative rewards, few saw our current iteration as something they’d want spend a lot of time in.
While it’s implied that they are working on alternative game modes to capture the experience they were aiming for there are no specifics yet as to how exactly they intend to do so. Wilson states that they are starting over entirely to try and devise different ways of emphasizing the different class’s strengths and weaknesses and possibly new forms of objectives aside from out-killing the other team.
This seems like a step in the right direction for Diablo 3, but still seems that it will place the same emphasis on gear that previous PvP mode ideas would have, so you’ll still need to gear up.
The good news: you’ve got more time to grind those Inferno items you need to be competitive!
