Who says educational games have to be boring? I’ve learned a lot more than I expected this week from Blizzard Entertainment’s release of Diablo III. Here are the top five tidbits…
1. PC gaming is alive and well
There’s a lot to complain about regarding how Diablo III‘s launch was handled (ahem, see the next item), but one thing it proves is that reports of the PC’s death as an original gaming platform remain greatly exaggerated. One reason so many people get down on running games on computers is because of how many games aren’t designed to actually run on them. They’re designed to run on consoles and computers, which isn’t remotely the same thing and, at least to me, isn’t remotely as much fun. (I “love” games like DiRT 3 that don’t have basic mouse support, or Batman: Arkham City, which gives you no way to change graphics detail settings in-game.)But when a game like Diablo, which makes no attempt to hide its pro-PC bias, it’s always gratifying to see it become a success. It reinforces what, on some level, we all already know: Because everyone already has a PC of some sort, there’s no better way for everyone to play everything. This means that most (if not all) console gamers aren’t left out in the cold, either, they’ll just need to put down their specialized controllers for a while. That’s okay: Given what I’ve had to endure from bad console-to-computer translations over the years, I think they can swallow a taste of their own medicine. And who knows? They might even discover that PC gaming isn’t so bad after all.
2. Requiring an internet connection is doing the devil’s work
When a game has the kind of relationship between single- and multiplayer modes that Diablo III has, some problems are naturally going to arise. But is forcing the player to have a persistent internet connection the only way to solve them? I’m not convinced. Blizzard’s servers’ launch-day woes were well documented and criticized (as they should have been), but the problems don’t end there. A couple of days ago, I spent upwards of an hour mapping and clearing out an area only to unceremoniously booted because of some server problem. When I was finally able to get back into the game 15 or so minutes later, all my progress had been erased and I had to start over from scratch.In the grand scale of tech tragedies, this is pretty far down there, I admit. But having your single-player experience ruined or, worse, denied because of something beyond your control is not fun — and not least because you’ve already paid for the game, and don’t you deserve to be able to play it whenever you want? I understand that Blizzard needs some method to protect gamers from griefers, but there must be a better way than this. How tough would it be to include a mode that lets people play just by themselves and not worry about the grander network? You could even still require them to log in while loading the game, and most people aren’t going to complain too much. But the idea that any hiccup anywhere along the line can cause you to lose progress and patience isn’t going to be most people’s idea of a good time. Forcing players to stay online all the time may solve some problems, but if it creates more — and engenders bad will along the way — how good a solution is it really?
3. You don’t always need an expensive video card
This is something I know instinctively, but a reminder is always useful (especially given how much I’ve been writing about video cards around here lately). Although first-person shooters and titles with intense full-screen action will always benefit from first-rank discrete hardware, you don’t always need it — and, in fact, major titles let you get by with a lot less. Diablo III is an excellent example, with exceedingly modest system requirements (and only slightly more severe recommended components). On lesser hardware, the game might struggle just the tiniest bit during attacks by particularly large zombie hordes, I saw well-above-average performance regardless of the video hardware I used, without having to futz with the detail settings that much.A lot of developers could learn from Blizzard’s example, both on World of Warcraft and here: A big part of why their games are so popular is because pretty much anyone can play them. That’s smart thinking, from both a business and a technological standpoint.
Two good rights from Froch and the place erupts.
Chants for Bute as the Canadian dominates the centre of the ring, but Froch rebounds with a right left flurry that forces the champion into the ropes.
Froch is then forced into the corner himself, and his prominent nose is already starting to redden.
The round ends with the pair exchanging punches, which bodes well for Froch.
He's looking to throw punches to the body, and whenever Froch is able to land Bute counters.
These left uppercuts to the chest of Froch look ominously powerful.
But Froch starts to unload, and gets a decent combination away which the home support adore. Froch has started well, and that was always the game plan.
Bute is measuring his jabs, but two excellent shots are landed by Froch, and the bell ands a great round for The Cobra.
But The Cobra is not letting the champion settle and Bute is not allowed to settle.
Froch is landing combinations and the Bute doesn't like it. A big right hand has Bute wobbling, and Froch has him just where he wants him. Bute hasn't been hit with combinations like this since October 2008.
Froch hits uppercuts and body shots and Bute is on wobbling legs. It's all Froch in this third round, and Bute is trying to hold on.
He looks out on his feet. Bute is hanging on ad the bell sounds. What a round for Froch.
However, as the seconds tick on Bute's mind is clearing.
But now The Cobra unloads, though Bute counters well and perhaps Froch is hurt.
It's The Cobra doing the stalking and Bute is guessing. A jab and a big left from Froch then a big right has Bute in trouble again. Bute is lying against the ropes and he's hurt.
He leans on the ropes and is saved by the bell for the second time in the fight.
The referee is having a look. The fight hasn't been stopped.
The referee is counting.
Bute's corner have waved it off! For the third time Carl Froch is a super-middleweight champion of the world!
Carl Froch, at 34 years of age and fighting in front of his home crowd, is the new IBF super-middleweight champion of the world.
The place exploded at the climax, and Bute is now on his stool receiving liquid. Now he's back on his feet, and is applauding all four sides of the arena. His head is clear, and that's good to see.
"Your winner, and new and three-time champion of the world: The Cobra, Carl Froch!"