Say Hello To DIABLO 3!!!

UPDATE: July 14, 2008

FLAGSHIP STUDIOS HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS

Full Article here

Sad, to see what seemed like such a promising game fall short like this.

Ohh well, I guess with Flagship's doors closing the doors can now open on the real

Diablo 3

That's right Blizzard has confirmed the development of the official Diablo 3






Ok, we knew it was inevitable. Some new game would come along to pull myself and others away from the World of Warcraft we all grew to know and love.

Hellgate: London (HGL)


Huh? I thought the title said Diablo 3? Sorry to get you excited but in all respects this game is basically DIABLO 3

Ok, let me start with a brief history for those playing along at home.

HGL is produced by Flagship Studios

Flagship Studios is a computer game company founded by Bill Roper along with Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, and David Brevik, the original developers of Diablo and former high level Blizzard North executives. The core of Flagship Studios has been collaborating as a team since 1993 when they founded Condor Studios (later bought out and renamed Blizzard North) and in addition to the Diablo franchise were key high level executives in the development of Warcraft, Starcraft, and World of Warcraft. Flagship Studios was formed following the en mass resignation of Blizzard North management following a dispute with Blizzard Entertainment parent company Vivendi. Flagship Studio's primary target platform for their games is the PC.

Make Sense?

Fast Forward to 2005 and you have the beginning of HGL

Hellgate: London

In March 2005, following months of teasing concept art for an unknown game, Flagship Studios' first title named Hellgate: London was announced via an exclusive article in the computer magazine PC Gamer. The developer has so far released only basic information about the game, although it is now known to be an action role-playing game (RPG) in the same vein as the Diablo games, but with the twist of being played in 3D, primarily from a first-person perspective.

Author Note: You can play from multiple perspectives so if FPS games aren't your thing don't panic you can zoom out. If you like FPS then keep the camera close and bingo FPS.

Now onto some game info.

GAMESPOT has a great newbie guide to the game posted HERE


The following is the first few paragraphs from the article.

There’s something to be said for games that foster a sense of addiction in their players. Whether you stay up all night trying to get another level in World of Warcraft, or play Lineage II so long that you die, these games offer up a decidedly unhealthy, yet enthralling gameplay experience.

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft game wasn’t their first exercise in free-time-stealing, however: its Diablo and Diablo II games were arguably the progenitors of the category. Given randomized loot and the opportunity to obtain it quickly and repeatedly, the games encouraged players to make just one more Mephisto run in the hopes of finding that Buriza-Do Kyanon crossbow, to the point where people stayed up all night obsessively clicking on enemies.

The zombification of America’s youth is apparently about to get another game proponent with the release of Hellgate: London, which was put together by a team led by veteran Blizzard developers. It’s a slower gameplay experience than Diablo II was, but it still retains the same addictive qualities. Here’s what to expect from GameSpot’s Game Guide to Hellgate: London.

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My review will follow in another post but the bottom line is go check it out and tell me what YOU think?