Integration of Online Social components in traditionally solitary RPG

Since its inception, Role playing type of games like Final Fantasy and Diablo have traditionally been an offline based game. In the case of the Diablo franchise; you create a champion and assume the role of that character as you battle through hordes of undead and vanquish legions of demons in your aim to rid sanctuary from the clutches of the Prime Evils. Prior to the release of Diablo 3, the interactions of your avatar were mostly limited to NPCs(Non-Player Characters) that either drive the story forward or provide some form of service like selling enchanted weapons and armors or replenishing potions and scrolls. The option for multi-player already existed as early as Diablo 2 but it was neither compelling nor user friendly.

  

When Blizzard Entertainment released Diablo 3 in May of 2012 it established a new era wherein human interaction with other gamers are front and center. Social aspects such as Public chats, Clan forums and even an auction house where players can buy and sell their stuff are deeply entrenched in the gameplay. These elements added a new dimension to the game; through public chats you can quickly ask a wide range of queries ranging from the value of an item, the usefulness of a skill or ability, tips on how to beat a certain monster etc. or you can even talk about your day in a similar way how one does in real life. The Clan function allows players to group themselves into factions and discuss strategies or organize speed runs. Finally, the auction house which was touted as a revolutionary feature at that time, allowed players to offload valuable items that they do not use in exchange for gold (the in game currency) or even fiat currency (U.S. dollars).

 

It is interesting to note that none of these features are cardinal to the core mechanic of the game which is to basically hunt for gear and slowly grind your way up in levels of power. Blizzard needed a way to ensure that the inconsequential becomes essential. In order to achieve this the developers utilized an "always online" requirement, without an internet connection the game does not run. Secondly, the developers also made certain facets of the game more rewarding if played along with other peers; for example, a multi-player game has incremental gains in bonus experience multipliers for every additional player beyond the first up to a maximum of four; another is the increased frequency and quality of item drop rates which includes Legendary and Class-set items.

This mandatory online requirement and push for more social interaction among its players was not without its detractors, some argue that Diablo 3 was heavily tailored to favor cooperative game-play and in essence alienated a huge portion of its fan base who preferred the isolated type of play-style of its predecessors Diablo and Diablo 2. The perks or bonuses of co-op play created a lot of resentment among players who wish to play alone and at their own pace. Whether this push for social integration pays off in the long run is still up for debate, ultimately the customers will decide with their wallets if future Diablo releases are worthy of their hard earned cash.

--

By: Brendon Martin Borgonia

Source:

http://www.pcgamesn.com/diablo/blizzard-why-diablo-3-pc-will-always-be-always-online-co-op-not-value-added-feature-it-ideal

http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/10747034860

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723328/diablo-3-auction-houses-the-top-10-things-you-need-to-know/