Interview with Diablo III Creative Director Jay Wilson from BlizzCon 09

[Mondopest]

GamingShogun (http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/5130/Interview_with_Diablo_III_Game_Director_Jay_Wilson .html) got the chance to interview the Game Director for Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming Diablo III while at the 2009 BlizzCon.

From the interview:
GS) So when you start the game will the different classes begin in the same place or will you start at some sort of origin level to setup your character?

JW) Originally we wanted to do an origin - we wanted to actually have the characters start in their own location but it was a monumental cost for us to do it so we decided that we would have everyone start in the same place. We do try to set the characters up though. We have a little event early on that's going to try to setup where the characters come from and what their mindset is.

GS) Obviously the Barbarian class is a throwback to the previous game. Will the to be announced class also be a throwback to the previous title(s)?

JW) Well, I have to be careful in how I answer that as I don't want to reveal too much. Let's see... No, its not going to be a returning class. That's about all I'll say for that.

GS) How will the new loot system work?

JW) Well its 'instanced loot', which means if you see an item on the ground its for you. Its not for other players, unless its specifically dropped by another player. We have some communication issues with that obviously because most people don't know that's happening.When you kill a boss, that boss will drop items for you and items for me and items for the dude who is in the thick of it and cant loot right now. We did this so that players can actually play together.

[Mephistopheles]

They haven't filled shooter role yet so presumably the last class is going to be some variant of the D1 Rogue and D2 Amazon themes.

[MADxMrMike]

They haven't filled shooter role yet so presumably the last class is going to be some variant of the D1 Rogue and D2 Amazon themes.

Or a badass hunter class. Maybe uses old style/steampunk weapons. That would kickass.

[ubartehbarbarian]

nerds!

.

[Wyrm]

That's a big change to the item system. Why isn't anyone talking about that?

It sounds sort of good, but at the same time, the looting was what made Diablo 2 awesome.

[PopoWRX]

That's a big change to the item system. Why isn't anyone talking about that?

It sounds sort of good, but at the same time, the looting was what made Diablo 2 awesome.

Probably because that info has been out since DIII became a known quantity. It's like the color controversy only there isn't much backlash against not having to have the mouse ready to click away at the loot on the ground after a boss goes down. Basically to foster more coop play and what not.

[Tintivilo]

I am glad they changed the looting system, I must only have played w/ scumbags because they would always take as much as possible while im fighting a boss and then there would be shit when I was done

[Frogleg Special]

The next one should be the Cowboy.

[bean19]

Right. Hateful loot ninjas and cheaters made the multiplayer a friends-only thing for me in Diablo, and that was difficult to setup because when I was a teenager we had to use IRC to "meet up" as Roger Wilco was not as ideal as Ventrillo (mostly due to only about 25% of players having decent internet and people not being online all the time but instead dialing in) and messenger programs were even worse about knocking you out of games than they are now.

Frogleg Special - lol@Cowboy.

[Exodus]

I really hope it's not a stupid ranger who has pets. It's fact, this crowd needs another hot woman who kicks ass. I'm down with a half-human/half-succubus. This has nothing to do with my sexual tastes. And I don't frequent suicidegirls.com. Stop judging me. Stop reading my post. Stop it.

Using distracting tool.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/148661762_4108cfb228.jpg?v=0

[Exodus]

(it's safe for work)

[Frogleg Special]

Ranger or some sort of hooded master archer is actually good. The bad ass Green Arrow/Hawkeye/Kivan of Baldur's Gate variety not the whatzit beastmaster type.

But certainly there's a big chance this is going to be another female character. A female archer is just going to remind people of the past 2 ranged characters. So I have a hunch this is not gonna be another female archer.

[bean19]

Diablo III has female/male versions of every class btw.

[MADxMrMike]

well i just wish they would bring something new to the table. like the witch doctor. never seem anything like that in another game before. yes his moves and play style is similar to others but the lore is going to be different. thats what i want. like a kickass steam user, or an alchemist that uses just potions. something different.

[Mr Rogers]

How about a Ninja? I'm all on board for that. Throwing stars, smoke bombs, poison darts, backstabbing, going invisible...

[bean19]

How about a Ninja? I'm all on board for that. Throwing stars, smoke bombs, poison darts, backstabbing, going invisible...
Summoning frogs for combo attacks. Unleashing your inner Kyuubi for devastatng attacks. Running up trees and dashing through the air.

[lockwoodx]

Not really digging the instanced loot system news. Some times you'd find some great drops from a high level wandering by searching for 1 legendary.

[PopoWRX]

Not really digging the instanced loot system news. Some times you'd find some great drops from a high level wandering by searching for 1 legendary.

And yet so many times you'd be on a Baal run and can't click fast enough so all your hard work equals out to no lewts for you. I think, in this case, the positives outweigh the negatives. But really, this only applies for pugs, as I usually played with my friends so looting was never an issue.

[Exodus]

Not really digging the instanced loot system news. Some times you'd find some great drops from a high level wandering by searching for 1 legendary.

Gotta disagree with you lockwood. As a person who had a great computer back in the day with a great connection(everyone's on the same playing field now of course) I was a profuse pickIT/grabIT user. The 3rd party program let you grab all gold within a 10-30 yard radius as well as instantly pickup anything of set item of higher level and unique item instantly without having to click it. They've removed the need for it. God knows I've done enough runs with my javazon/hammerdin/cbSorcLitSorcBlizzSorc(never did the necromancer thing) and got screwed out of loot that i ended up just joining them until I geared enough to just join random full games and kill bhaal/meph in hell mode on my own.

[bean19]

That sounds like a nice mod anyway Exodus. I like games that have my inventory autopopulate. . . . I'm a member of the NOW DAMMIT generation after all. :)

[Exodus]

That sounds like a nice mod anyway Exodus. I like games that have my inventory autopopulate. . . . I'm a member of the NOW DAMMIT generation after all. :)

yah, mod...right, it sure was. ^_^ kek

[lockwoodx]

It's cool. I don't mind if people disagree. That's the beauty of Evilav.

[Exodus]

It's cool. I don't mind if people disagree. That's the beauty of Evilav.

it's okay i enjoyed stealing your candy while I could :D

[lockwoodx]

it's okay i enjoyed stealing your candy while I could :D

http://i28.tinypic.com/30utrvn.jpg

[Exodus]

you're a good ass hole but...dick's fuck ass holes, not just pussies ;P

[lockwoodx]

Touche!!!!