Released on 15-May-2012

• Deep in the Blizzard

  

  After making its name with the puzzle series Lost Vikings, and making an ill-advised detour into console action with limp fighting games like Justice League Task Force, Blizzard finally found its true calling as a developer of rich, deep PC games. That they happened to invent, or reinvent, several genres along the way is just one reason why the Blizzard name is enough to make PC gamers sit up and drool. Like a reclusive rock star dropping a long-awaited new album, the Californian developer has driven fans into a frenzy with not one, not two, but three major titles arriving in the next year or two.

  For many fans StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, out now, is Blizzard's holy grail. Arriving a mere twelve years after the original game, it builds on the real-time strategy bedrock that the developer set in place way back in 1994 with Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.

  On the surface, StarCraft II is much as you'd expect. The three races that form the game's finely balanced power struggle are still present and correct. Terrans are still the default option, exiled humans struggling to survive in a hostile universe. The Zerg are their evil insectoid enemies, hellbent on galactic domination. Lurking mysteriously in the corner is the Protoss empire, technologically advanced and able to use powerful psionic abilities in their quest for glory.

  Wisely, Blizzard has opted to refine and update rather than fix something that was never broken. A non-linear single player campaign is a break with tradition, but in terms of nuts and bolts play, with over 11 million copies of the original sold, and with its multiplayer component still in regular circulation on the professional gaming circuit, it would be foolish to tamper with such a successful formula.

  Instead, StarCraft II takes advantage of the advances in internet and social networking technology, not least in Blizzard's own Battle.net system. Originally incorporated into Diablo in 1997, Blizzard launched the revamped Battle.net 2.0 last year in anticipation of the gaming triple whammy planned for 2010 and 2011. StarCraft II players will be able to utilise more sophisticated matchmaking tools, as well as use cross-game messaging, buy and rate new maps in the Marketplace and progress up a more balanced and subtle leaderboard ladder.

  There's a good chance that the excitement surrounding StarCraft II will be dwarfed (literally) when World of Warcraft: Cataclysm launches later this year. Any new expansion to a game that now boasts a population larger than most real world nations is sure to cause a stir, and after The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, the ominously titled Cataclysm looks set to rock the world of Azeroth to its core.

  At the heart of this new multiplayer campaign is the return of the dragon Deathwing the Destroyer. Clearly, with a name like that he's not going to be popping in for a flagon of mead and a hearty sing-song. Last seen in Warcraft II, this leathery lizard rips his way back into the Warcraft dimension, unleashing all kinds of ruckus in his wake.

  In terms of new features, Cataclysm expands World of Warcraft's boundaries in many directions. New areas with new raids are a given. The level cap has been raised to 85, giving long-term devotees new goals to aim for. And for those starting out, or starting over, there are new playable races - Goblins and Worgen.

  As with any MMORPG, a new expansion is a chance to inject new life and new adventures into a virtual world that can become dulled by routine. Based on previous form, and knowing Blizzard's commitment to excellence, Cataclysm should be more than enough to lure back even the most jaded player.

  Which only leaves Diablo III, the dark horse of Blizzard's upcoming lineup. Almost as overdue as StarCraft II, this direct sequel to the 2000 smash hit refreshes the frantic role-playing action of old with modern twists like real-time physics and a fully 3D gameworld populated by enemies that will actively use the environment to get the upper hand. As with StarCraft II, Battle.net functionality will play a major role, not only in competitive multiplayer, but in drop-in cooperative play, allowing players to work together on a whim. Frustratingly, Diablo III is the furthest from release, with fans left looking at 2011 with hungry, curious eyes.

  Three games, three enormous fanbases to placate. For most developers simply maintaining one enormous franchise is a herculean task, yet Blizzard seems to manage it with ease. After seven years of concentrating on World of Warcraft, this giant is stretching its muscles once more, and that can only be good news for gamers.

• Blizzard unveils final Dibalo III character class

  Blizzard unveils final Dibalo III character class

  This weekend saw World of Warcraft developer Blizzard Entertainment holding its annual BlizzCon convention, and the legendary PC studio used the occasion to unveil the final character class available in its forthcoming dungeon crawler Diablo III.

  It's been a long time coming, then, but the final playable class is Demon Hunter. It slots in alongside Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard and Monk.

  Introduced with a flashy CGI video, the Demon Hunter is a ranged weapon specialist with a great range of gadgets and traps to deploy. Expect bombs, in other words, and a tendency towards doing things in the nastiest and most bloodthirsty way imaginable.

  Diablo III is the developer's long awaited action RPG, which sees players fighting off hordes of enemies and collecting brilliant loot. Blizzard also used its convention to announce the inclusion of PVP battle arenas and team battle support too. It's looking to be a massive game, which will keep you hooked for months and months.

  So when's it out? Blizzard isn't saying just yet. Diablo III is looking like a PC exclusive at the moment, though, and as soon as we have any more news on it, you'll be the first to hear.
  

• Diablo III: Blizzcon Interview

  Blizzcon 2010 Interview with Kevin Martens and Alex Mayberry

  
  

  With no big new game being unveiled at Blizzcon 2010, the main focus of the opening ceremony was on Diablo III's fifth and final character class - the Demon Hunter. It threw Blizzard's darkest franchise into the limelight, and left us looking forward to catching up with two of the key guys responsible for making sure it meets the hype.

  We talked long waits, massive combinations and giant frogs with Kevin Martens and Alex Mayberry...

  Can I get your names and roles on Diablo III please guys?

  KM: Kevin Martens, Lead Content Designer.

  AM: Alex Mayberry, Senior Producer

  KM: Lead Content is quests and levels.

  AM: My job is to make sure he [points to Kevin] gets the game done! [laughs]

  Diablo III, like StarCraft II, is coming of a looong layoff. So why now?

  AM: Why not? [smiles]

  KM: It's not hard to see why we'd want to make another Diablo - it's time, y'know? The great thing is technology is in such a better place now that it lets us do a lot more.

  And yet you've resisted the urge to move the camera behind the character; you've kept it isometric...

  AM: That would change the whole game. I think what we want is for people who haven't played Diablo II for years to sit down with Diablo III and instantly feel like they're home. Changing it would break that feeling.

  How would you define that Diablo experience - what is Diablo?

  KM: A "Blistering Action Experience" is the tagline we're going with, but the actual gameplay is very tactical. It's very second-to-second and you have to be careful with the abilities you're using - so you're aiming your spell and using your movement to get past enemies depending on your character class. So the way that feels with that fierce click-based combat... it could be a good game at any other angle, but it wouldn't be a Diablo game.

  AM: It's also important to point out how much of Diablo III is random; you get so many variations in gameplay - you don't get that many in many other games.

  How would you define the advancements over past games for experienced Diablo players?

  KM: On the content side they'll be meeting a lot of new characters, going to a new, older parts of the world. For example we are going to visit Tristram, where you'll see a lot of what went in to the events of Diablo I. It's goes well past an homage to the first two games; it's a deepening of the entire universe of the world of Sanctuary.

  On the feature end... the skills and rune system is my single favourite thing in the game and adds an unparalleled depth an replayability. I'm not just saying that as a buzzword, it's literally unparalleled - with the runes and skills combinations there's 97 billion combinations per class! That said, not all 97 billion will be good...

  AM: It doesn't mean you're gonna have 97 billion choices you'll have to make, though!

  KM: We've kept one of the classes from Diablo II, the Barbarian, who because Diablo III takes place 20 years later is a fierce, grizzled, honour-bound man who's learned a lot - and if anything he's angrier. But apart from that, the four other classes are all brand new.

  Could you take us on a whirlwind tour of those classes?

  KM: Sure! We have the Barbarian who's your bruiser - face to face nothing and no-one can face him. He has a seven foot long two-handed axe and can hit the ground so hard the earth cracks open; this guy is unstoppable at close range.

  We have the wizard who plays with arcane powers that it's actually forbidden, and they play with it with aplomb: they can slow down time, encase people in ice... all sorts of things.

  We have the Witch Doctor who's on a spiritual quest, and he has a unique ability that the spirits whisper to him, telling him "you must come to Tristram, you must save the world." He's a pet class with a massive twist, like throwing out toads and summoning zombie dogs; he can scare people and spirit walk.

  We have the Monk, fierce religious extremists; harsh men from a harsh country coming to dispense justice on the world from their fists. They're martial artists with an action combo-based tactical system; they're very fast and strong - not as strong as the Barbarian in terms of how much damage they can take, but they use their agility to get around...

  And they win Blizzcon costume competitions...

  KM: Haha, yeah.

  Who judged on yesterday's costume comp, by the way?

  KM: A panel of Blizzard people from all across the company.

  I see. Erm, sorry... anyway... carry on!

  KM: Haha, okay.

  And finally we have the Demon Hunter who is a class based on vengeance. So you take the best elements of a Bounty Hunter and a Ranger and combine it with this epic personal revenge quest and you have the Demon Hunter. She uses magic, gadgets, traps, anything at all to wipe demons from the face of Sanctuary. All Demon Hunters were founded in violence; sole survivors of massacres from demon armies. Whenever a Demon Hunter hears about sole survivors they find them, see if they have some spark in them, recruit and then train them before sending them back out into the world to wipe demons off the face of the Earth.

  All of that said, could you recap where we are with the story come the beginning of Diablo III?

  KM: Twenty years after the events of Diablo II there are two lords of hell left, who have designs on the world of Sanctuary. We're gonna have the most epic war, with the biggest army of demons ever assembled waiting to attack, and you're the only one who believes it can happen and can stop it.

  The first Diablo was based on randomly generated dungeons - is that still the case?

  AM: Yes.

  Does that not throw up a problem with being able to ensure top-quality, enjoyable level design?

  KM: Random's not the only case, that's the thing. We've made a number of changes from Diablo I and II which mean the edges of the maps aren't random. In D2 you had these big square edges with rocks and rivers around them and we didn't think that was a very fun type of randomness, so if you were going to fight a certain villain you'd go back and forth and eventually find him.

  But we did want to keep the fun type of randomness which was all these little scenes within that area, which allows us to bring the world to life a lot more.

  There's also more custom script elements. For example, you could have a dungeon with two random levels, but the third level could be a custom hand-crafted, scripted experiences with the introduction of important characters, or the end of a vital quest chain. Then we go back to more fun dungeon-crawl experiences afterwards.

  In broad strokes Diablo III is an RPG, but then so are Zelda, Final Fantasy, Mass Effect... it's a diverse genre. If people are looking through our site and see Diablo next to any of those titles, what should they keep in mind that makes it stand out?

  KM: Diablo II is an action RPG so it's that type of RPG, and just being in the medieval setting gives it that RPG kind of feel. But you do choose character classes; you've got a lot of customisation; you can change your appearance; you're collecting items and set and levelling up quite a bit; you're choosing sets and creating your own custom character classes... I think what defines role-playing is the story element and we're very much an RPG on that end, and then you've got all that customisation on top.

  Of the three key titles being showcased at Blizzcon this year, would you say Diablo is the company's most accessible title?

  AM: I'd agree with that. Our approach is simple and elegant - not overly complicated. We want the user to sit down and instantly understand what to do. I've seen that; I've seen people sit down with Diablo who've never played a videogame, and within a mere minute they know what to do.

  So Diablo III is very accessible, but at the same time has that depth of complexity to hook you in and keep you entertained for an unlimited amount of time. So it's easy to get in to, difficult to master, but you don't have to master it.

  Speaking of accessibility, the whole 97 billion combinations thing... it doesn't sound accessible. Can you pull the veil back on it a little?

  KM: Yeah absolutely. It's more the math; you've got near 30 skills per character class, five rune types and seven levels of rune, and as you try any level of runes, that comes out at that huge number. However when you're actually making a choice you don't have to think about all the combinations; you start out with one skill, you don't even have a rune yet, so you just learn how to use that skill. Then you get a second skill, then you get a skill point you can put into either of them, and so on, with you building up slowly - so it's the same sort of accessibility that Blizzard games always try to have, where we introduce the complexity over time.

  When you get your first rune its usually when you have about three skills and you're very familiar with how they work, and then you only get one rune to start with, so when you're moving it up and down at the top of the skill system you just have to learn how to use one of your skills differently. Then you get your second rune. Then maybe we give you the second level of the first rune.

  So you're never making a whole bunch of choices at once; you're making one choice that slowly teaches you about the game, but as it gets more complex your knowledge of the game rises with it, so it feels just as simple as the very first choice you made.

  AM: What I find really compelling about the rune system is if I'm playing I get a rune, and there's these skills that I have, the rune will do something entirely different to each of those skills. Say I find another rune and I have to make a decision, "do I keep this one that I've put in, or do I want to swap it out?" You have lots of choices, and when you do finally get more runes, that's when you get to start customising your character.

  I particularly like the giant frog.

  KM & AM: Hahaha!

  AM: Everyone's said that!

  KM: He belches out the treasure... why wouldn't he? [shrugs and smiles]

  AM: It's also a great way to take an ability that you've seen now and you've gotten accustomed to and suddenly it's amped up and different.

  How is Diablo III going to work with the new Battle.net? Obviously StarCraft II and Diablo are being built with the service in mind, whereas WoW is almost having to retrofit an older game into the new service. It must be a different challenge for each franchise...

  KM: We owe a LOT to StarCraft II in taking the bullet and being the first one out with the new version of Battle.net, and seeing them launch, and all the new things they're planning to do. We have a big Battle.net group, and they concentrate on all the games at once and build on each other's knowledge, so it'll be dramatically improved all the time, so the Diablo III transition should be really smooth.

  AM: We also know that SCII's requirements for Battle.net will be different to ours, so we're looking at what they're doing, what's worked for their game, and trying to figure out ours, and where it doesn't apply, figuring out what we need to change. We're in the process of doing that right now.

  KM: We've got dedicated Diablo teams working on Battle.net as well as the larger Battle.net group.

  The opening ceremony talked about 'Geek'. What does 'Geek' mean to you, and how are you tailoring Diablo III to that idea of your core geek consumer?

  AM: It certainly doesn't differ for me - everything that [Chris] Metzen put up there on the screen [at Blizzcon 2010's opening ceremony] I agreed with. [turns to Kevin] What does it mean for you?

  KM: It's something that we're taking back. Games are transcending geekdom at this point, the newer generation that's joining the gamign market is almost all kids; it's not like there's going to be some group of kids with taped-up glasses playing D&D in the corner of the library any more. Those kids will still exist, but likely every other kid is gonna be playing games with them now.

  AM: I think the bigger message is that everybody has some geek in them. That's how Chris showed that. We see Star Wars and we're like "Wow, Star Wars" [grins], or Lord of the Rings... everybody in that audience could identify with something on that screen. It's a reminder that we're still kids inside and we still love games.

  KM: I'd like to take that a step further in that everyone has something that they geek out about. I hear guys talking about cars; polishing it and buying parts online - that's the same as miniatures groups, right? It's just that for whatever reason that became mainstream. Well, games are becoming mainstream. It's been a while now but we've come out of the shadows now and can proudly declare our geekdom.

  It's interesting because I've asked this question to various people and everyone cites a different example; Brian Kindregan said surfers, you said cars. There's also that mainstream side who will look at geek culture though and at an event like Blizzcon will see a negative side to that. What's your take on that?

  KM: I think it's probably just a matter of time before that simply stops happening. You're absolutely right though; I was reading the LA Times website and it said "Blizzcon is happening. Starting today in Anaheim Direct TV will be broadcasting to Moms' basements everywhere." It's a common stereotype - not that California has basements due to Earthquake requirements...

  AM: We really try to make our games accessible to as many people as possible. My whole family plays WoW. My father's 73 and he plays WoW. My sister is six years older than I am and she'd never played a videogame in her life. I started her out. In WoW and just recently she got her Kingslayer title. There was a point where I was playing with her and she was afraid to do anything - she wouldn't walk into Ragefire Chasm when she was level 60 because she was afraid - "oh that's a portal, that's scary!" I talk to her now and she's raiding, number one DPS in her raid group - total geek transformation right there.

  KM: Within the videogame market Blizzard's one of the companies that's on the cutting edge of expanding the market, I think. Now we are a hardcore game company, we make hardcore games, I think, but we make them accessible so people become hardcore without even realising it happened.

  AM: I've always said "just give it a try - you don't like it, don't play.

  PvP Battle Arenas will be in Diablo III as well. Now, it's essentially a PvE game, so how's the PvP element going to work?

  AM: Erm, players are going to go in and kill each other, and have fun doing it!

  KM: Team-based play will be the default mode, but we'll have more than that, and people can definitely duel their buddies.

  AM: Well the thing is you're gonna play PvE, and you're gonna get some awesome axe, and you're gonna want to go and try it on another person, and we're gonna provide. An arena for that and have fun.

  So it drives that grinding experience, playing PvE to get cool loot for PvP.

  AM: Yep!

  Finally, are we going to see Diablo III on consoles? Given how action oriented it is, it could be the best fit of the big three franchises...

  KM: Yeah, it is the most likely one to happen, but at this point we're focusing on PC.

  AM: And Mac.

  Are you guys personally console gamers too? Would you like to see it on console?

  KM: Yeah, I want as many people as possible to have the chance to play it, so yeah I'd love to see that happen.

  Great, thanks guys, good luck launching Diablo III, whenever that may be!

  Interview by: Mark 'Giant Frog Lover' Scott

• Blizzard working on unannounced game?

  You wait years years! for each Blizzard game to arrive, and all of a sudden the legendary PC developer seems to be announcing new titles all the time.

  Well, not quite all the time, but we already know that the Warcraft creators are working on a brand new MMO, codenamed Titan, along with the amazing dungeon-crawler Diablo III, and two further instalments for the dazzling sci fi RTS StarCraft II. Oh, and there are two more World of Warcraft expansions on the way too. And a Diablo III expansion, even though the game isn even out yet.

  Well now there seems to be another game on the way, if a job listing, spotted by Eurogamer, is anything to go by. The job ad in question doesn give too much away, but it is encouraging applicants to come forward to work for an "unannounced game title."

  Digging deeper, it turns out Blizzard after a "software engineer, tools," to join Blizzard's "newest game team". The developer adds that, "this is a key role in a new and exciting project within the company."

  Well, it looks like the developers are going to busy for quite a while, then. More news on this one when we hear it.

• Going, going, gone: Diablo III will have real cash auctions

  Blizzard courted controversy at a recent Diablo III presentation by revealing that the long-awaited RPG sequel will allow players to buy and sell in-game items using real money and an eBay style auction system.

  Critics have said the move simply legitimises the practice of old farming- the black market grinding of RPG games for financial gain while Blizzard argues that such shenanigans will happen anyway, and this is the only way ensure that the game remains fair and secure.

  Blizzard's Rob Pardo gave a presentation on the system at a US preview, and explained further. he item-based nature of Diablo game play has always lent itself to an active trade-based ecosystem, and a significant part of this trade has been conducted through unsecure third-party organisations... Our primary goal with the Diablo III auction house system is for it to serve as the foundation for a player-driven economy that safe, fun, and accessible for everyone./p>

  The auctions will charge a fee for listing, just like existing online auction sites, and will allow players to sell unwanted weapons, armour, items and even characters. Simple in-game player trades will remain free for those who want to keep it old school.

  Diablo III will be available exclusively for PC but has yet to be given a release date. It can't be that far off, however: a beta trial is expected to launch later this year.

• Diablo III will be 'awesome' on console

  While PC players chomp at the bit in anticipation for Diablo III, what of the poor console gamer who wants to join in? Lead designer Josh Mosqueira had good news for those folks during his presentation at Gamescom.

  oday, we're trying to build the best console team at Blizzard. We're looking for programmers, designers, artists who think their dream job would be to bring Diablo to the console. Trust me, it is a dream job he told the assembled crowd, after reiterating that the legendary PC developer was ery, very seriousabout bringing the game to 360 and PS3 players.

  Diablo III is the somewhat overdue follow-up to the classic top-down loot-drop RPG Diablo II, which wowed PC gamers back in 2000.

  Mosqueira offered no details as to how the game will be adapted to fit onto a console, but did leave us with one last promise: ll I can say is it's going to be awesome./p>

  Diablo III on the PC has yet to receive an official release date.

• Diablo 3 inches closer to release with closed beta trial

  Diablo 3, the action RPG that we've only been waiting eleven years for, today took another step closer to being an actual real world thing that people can buy and play. A closed beta trial has gone live, allowing lucky fans to finally get hands-on with the sequel to the 2000 hit, Diablo II.

  The participants were chosen from members of Blizzard's Battle.net system, and with more players still to be added later in the trial there's still time to sign up and try your luck. Those with beta access will get to play through the first act of the game with all five of the character classes, try out the crafting and skill trees as well as explore the gameworld and check out some of the NPCs who will be sending us on goblin-smashing quests when the full game is released.

  And when will the PC exclusive game be released? There's still no fixed date, but 'sooner rather than later' seems to be the subtext of comments posted by top Blizzard man, Mike Morhaime. 'This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on Diablo 3,' he said. 'We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback.'

• Blizzard really is bringing Diablo III to consoles, honest

  RPG super-developer Blizzard has reassured console gamers that it really will bring the upcoming Diablo III to formats other than PC.

  Speaking in an interview with US games magazine Game Informer, Diablo III director Jay Wilson said: 'People don't believe us when we say we're going to make a console game - flat out. I understand why they don't believe us because we've tried this before.'

  He promised, however, that despite aborted attempts to bring other Blizzard titles to home consoles, this time will be different as the studio has 'never invested in it to the degree that we are doing now.'

  An entirely new console development team is being hired, with the aim of creating a console version from scratch rather than porting the PC version across quickly. 'We want to build it for console. There's a key difference. Certainly, a lot of things get brought over, but a port is trying to take a PC game and graft it onto a console. Our goal is to make a game that feels like it's natively made made for a console.'

  Blizzard is famously skittish about committing to release dates, with Diablo III's PC version still aiming at a broad 'early 2012' window. Although the console version is definitely being planned, the company has yet to officially confirm it. 'We like our product announcements to be a big deal,' Wilson confesses.

• Better on PC

  You can pick up a beefy gaming PC for little more than the cost of a console.

  It used to be that PC gaming was for the more masochistic gamer: the constant (and costly) upgrades, having to configure your system every time you bought a new game and the hours spent tweaking settings for optimum performance. Not so any more. While the whole gaming world will be watching E3 in June (where we know we'll see more of the Wii U, possibly the Xbox 360 successor, and perhaps even the PlayStation 4) the truth is that these days you can pick up a beefy gaming PC for little more than the cost of a new console.

  You're no longer reduced to leaning over a desk after a hard day of leaning over a desk either. If you've got an HDTV then you need nothing more than an HDMI cable, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and maybe even treat yourself to a wired Xbox 360 controller - many PC games are now optimised to make use of console controllers.

  So, you've got your powerhouse PC, you've cabled everything together and nothing has blown up - so what was it all for?

  You get to play games the way the developers really want them to be played.

  Well for a start, you get to play games the way the developers really want them to be played. The extra grunt afforded by your brand new rig brings us to Battlefield 3. One of the best shooters we've played in years looks good on the home consoles, plays great with 24 players, but plays even better in a full-on, massively multiplayer 64 player combat battleground.

  It's not just about the sheer horsepower that makes PC gaming such a great experience. Everyone's an armchair critic, but many of those critics have a fair hand for designing game mods and content as well. In the award-winning Skyrim, Bethesda introduced their Radiant Story system to extend the life of the game. The party really starts though when the talented modders get to grips with the engine to bring enhanced graphics and brand new content - not to mention squashing a few bugs along the way.

  Then there are the games that you just can't get anywhere else. Some of the best gaming experiences of the last 20 years have come from Blizzard's acclaimed studios. World of Warcraft taught the world to play MMOs, while Starcraft competitions continue to dominate the real-time strategy gaming scene. Not only is there a huge amount of content to catch up on, one of this year's most anticipated games, Diablo 3, is shaping up to revolutionise the genre.

  Star Wars: The Old Republic is another must-play PC-only title that's thrilling Star Wars fans across the world. This story-heavy take on the MMO is the perfect single-player adventure tied up in the thrill and co-operation of a massively multiplayer world.

  PC games not only look better and play better, but the games themselves cost less.

  There's good news for your wallet as well. PC games not only look better and play better, but the games themselves cost less. Without the big three console manufacturers taking a slice of every game sold, you save money on that rig you treated yourself too every time you pick up the latest blockbuster.
  Just as you'll need to upgrade to a new console in the next few years, it's true that you'll find yourself having to upgrade your PC in the future. But things have definitely changed, and that awesome new graphics card will stand up to the challenge of increasingly high fidelity graphics far longer than it ever would have in the past. Not only that, when the time to upgrade comes you get to make only the changes that you want to make.

  With more and more titles being optimised for PC, there's never been a better time to get stuck into the choice, fidelity, and expanded world of gaming genres that the PC gaming scene provides.

• Diablo 3 release date creeps closer

  Ever the cheeky tease, Blizzard has narrowed the release date for Diablo 3 down to a span of just a few months, but has held back on giving the eagerly anticipated PC RPG an actual firm release date.

  One of the most famous examples of "it's ready when it's ready" game development, Blizzard let the rumours build to fever pitch before announcing in 2008 that the sequel was even in active production. It has since spent over three years being equally coy about when we might see it. At least now we have a more definite timeframe to drool over - Q2 2012, or "sometime in April, May or June" to put it in normal human language.

  The confirmation came as Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime talked about numbers and percentages and maths stuff with investors last night. "We can also confirm that we are targeting a Q2 launch for Diablo 3," were his exact words. "We expect to announce more details about the release schedule in the coming weeks."

  So it looks like PC role-playing enthusiasts won't be getting out much this summer after all. And don't worry that the fun will stop there. A console edition will follow, so we can play the date-guessing game all over again.

• Diablo III release date confirmed - and it's soon!

  After months, even years, of teasing us, Blizzard has finally relented and announced a worldwide date for the launch of the feverishly anticipated RPG Diablo III. It's May 15th, just two months away.

  As well as the standard edition of the game, hardcore fans will also be able to grab a collector's edition, boasting a hefty array of bonus goodies. With an RRP £69.99, the special "alabaster white" package includes the full game on DVD-ROM, a behind-the-scenes Blu-ray/DVD two-disc set, the Diablo III soundtrack CD, a 208-page Art of Diablo III book, and a 4GB USB, shaped like a soulstone with a skull base, and loaded with full versions of Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. The collector's edition will also unlock exclusive in-game content for Diablo III, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Phew.

  "After many years of hard work by our development team and months of beta testing by hundreds of thousands of dedicated players around the world, we're now in the homestretch," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "We look forward to putting the final polish on Diablo III over the next two months and delivering the ultimate action-RPG experience to gamers worldwide starting on May 15."

• May 2012 release date confirmed for Diablo III

  The wait for Blizzard Entertainment's eagerly anticipated dungeon crawler Diablo III is about to come to an end after a May 2012 release date was confirmed.

  Originally announced in 2008, the sequel to 2000's iconic Diablo II will see players once again choosing between different fantastical character classes - including barbarians, witch doctors, wizards and monks - before embarking on epic quests.

  The PC game will feature revolutionary online gameplay options via the Battle.net platform, including the ability to trade in-game items for real-world currency in a secure environment.

  Diablo III will be released in a special collector's edition that includes behind-the-scenes material, a soundtrack CD, a 208-page art book and a 4GB USB soulstone that includes full copies of Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.

  Mike Morhaime, co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, said: "After many years of hard work by our development team and months of beta testing by hundreds of thousands of dedicated players around the world, we're now in the home stretch."

  Fans of Blizzard have grown used to waiting for quality, with the team's most recent blockbuster StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty launching in 2010, 12 years after its predecessor.

  Published: 19/03/2012

• The Games We're Excited About!

  
  

  There are lots and lots of great games heading your way in the next few months, and here at gamestation HQ we're as excited as you lot are to give them a go.

  So, we went round the digital team with a prodding stick to find out just what games the team here are really itching to play...

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  I am looking forward to LEGO Batman 2. My brother and I worked our way through the original LEGO Batman with a considered method of "shoot everything in the room first, think about the situation later" and it was amazing. It's also the only game where if you die you can still enjoy seeing Robin explode which I did on many occasions as Player 2. I can't wait to see what LEGO Batman 2 has in store!

  
  

  

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, Max Payne 3.

  After playing through 1 and 2 - which gripped me to the very end - I cannot honestly wait for 3.

  Max Payne's method of storytelling is awesome. The comic book cut scenes are stylish and effective, and are not afraid to poke fun at other, outrageous works of fiction (as well as itself). The noir style and twists and turns throughout provide a flourish of love which even the most dedicated of storytellers fail to keep up with. The ingredients are simple, but it's a recipe which works.

  The gameplay might not necessarily be innovative, but it will be intuitive. It might not change the way we think about games, but I know it's going to be a game through and through; fun, accessible and welcoming to noobs and veterans alike. Max Payne 3 is going to rock. Add online multiplayer to the mix, and I can safely say that I'm looking forward to blasting my way into June!

  (My second choice would be Aliens: Colonial Marines, but that's almost too far away to get excited about yet!)

  Kate - Affiliate Assassin

  Bioshock Infinite - Because of the amazing animation and design of the game. Oh, and Limbo 2 - if/when it comes!

  

  Jamie - Builder of Digital Dreamscapes

  I am looking forward to...

  Grand Theft Auto V: Obviously no one really knows exactly when this game is coming out but I cant wait! Seriously excited about a new GTA! Although I hope it is all of San Andreas and not just Los Santos.

  Madden 13: I always get Madden, and it was pretty much the game that made me buy my first proper games console (the SEGA Mega Drive). I'm particularly looking forward to this year's one as I'm hoping they have taken more of the good stuff out of NCAA12... and also because I can't wait for Madden on the PS Vita.

  Retro City Rampage: This is an indie game that just looks AMAZING! Kind of like a funny GTA but all totally 80s styled. It's gonna be on Xbox LIVE and PSN and I like the fact it looks like you might be able to get this digitally to play on your PS Vita too; it seems like the kind of game you could just lose hours in messing about!

  

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Halo 4. Why? Because it's the best freaking game there is! I'm a massive Halo fan and I'm really looking forward to the next instalment. And really looking forward to seeing Master Chief again. And now we know the release date i know what week to book off work!

  
  

  Aaron - Social Butterfly

  I almost squealed for joy when Luigi's Mansion 2 was announced (Okay, I actually did squeal...). The original Luigi's Mansion was the first game I got on launch day with my Gamecube. It was ALL about Luigi, sucking up ghosts with his Poltergust 3000. The sequel has me itching to play, it will have multiple mansions, a new Poltergust, new ghosts, new story AND it will all be in beautiful 3D. The Nintendo savvy amongst us will know that Nintendo originally planned to release Luigi's Mansion in 3D on the Gamecube but decided the 3D panel was ahead of its time!

  Who ya gonna call? Ghostb-- No, no wait, let's just get the Green hat-wearing Italian plumber from the Mushroom Kingdom instead. No danger of crossing the streams.

  

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  I'm actually really looking forward to Lollipop Chainsaw. I'm a big Buffy fan, so the concept of a blonde cheerleader fighting supernatural beasties is one that very much appeals to me. It just looks like it's gonna be oodles of OTT fun. Plus, y'know, the boyfriend's head just kicking around. What's not to like?

  As a stark contrast, I'm also a bit excited by Spec Ops: The Line. I don't usually get on with shooters, but having seen the trailer with the bodies-on-poles imagery, plus the obvious Heart of Darkness influence and the sense of "killing people may actually affect you", I really want to try this one out. I mean, who isn't at least intrigued by what appears to be an anti-war third-person shooter?

  

  James - Captain Category

  Diablo III.

   

   

  Because I've been waiting twelve years for it!

  
  

  So there we have it. These are the games we want to play - what about you? What forthcoming titles have got you so pant-wettingly excited to pre-order and play?

• Bring On the Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he is a massive #@+! and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

• Diablo III beaten on Inferno with hardcore characters

  It's taken around a month, but one dedicated player has managed to pull off one of the most impressive feats of gaming skill you're likely to see this - or any - year.

  Diablo III player Kripparrian not only completed the game on the ruthlessly tough Inferno difficulty setting, he did it using hardcore characters. For those who have yet to sample Blizzard's astonishing action RPG, hardcore characters only get one life. Once they die, they're gone forever. Making this feat even more impressive, it was done before the game received patch 1.03, which makes things slightly easier by offering more powerful loot drops.

  The character used was Kripp, a barbarian, with a little assistance from a wizard character called Krippi.

  News of this world first spread quickly through the Diablo community, but Blizzard itself was skeptical at first. After checking their data, community manager Bashiok confirmed the achievement via Twitter. "My apologies Kripp and Krippi, looks like you were 1st HC Inferno clear," read the tweet, "(my spreadsheet deciphering isn't what it used to be) Congrats!"

  Diablo III is out now for PC.

• Bring On The Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he's massive and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

  Published: 22/04/2012

• Rule of the Dice - The Games That Made Role-Playing Cool

  
  

  If you wanted to paint a portrait of the stereotypical geek, you'd have to include a nod to role-playing games in there somewhere. Along with Star Trek, the stat-based fantasies of the RPG form the basis of society's clichéd view of 'sad geek stuff'. And yet to look at the games charts today, you'd swear that role-playing was the hottest ticket in town.

  

  The Skyrim's The Limit

  The massive success of Skyrim last year was perhaps the most obvious indicator that RPGs were cool again. Bethesda's vast time-sucking epic is about as nerdy as role-playing gets, filled with magical weapons, skill tree management and all the trolls and dragons you could shake an enchanted mace at, yet it still thundered to the top of the charts and stayed there. Millions bought it, and the acclaim was unanimous from the critical community as well. As 2011 came to a close, Skyrim was over-encumbered and could not run, so full was its backpack with Game of the Year trophies.

  

  But Skyrim wasn't alone. Vying for hardcore affection at the same time was Dark Souls, the punishingly brilliant third-person RPG by Japanese developer From Software. As foreboding and claustrophobic as Skyrim was empowering and liberating, Dark Souls showed that the genre could take console players to terrifying new places, simply by slowing down the pace, ratcheting up the difficulty and making every swing of your sword count. Few will manage to excavate all of Dark Souls' depths, but for those who make it out the other side alive, the experience will be transforming.

  

  Royal Flush

  Had the RPG bandwagon ground to a halt there, it could be written off as a freak occurrence, brought about by anticipation stoked by the five-year wait between Elder Scrolls sequels. But then along came Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, another massive open world fantasy game, stocked with elves and magic and dwarves, and that too raced up the charts.

  With a story by acclaimed fantasy author R.A. Salvatore, and design work from legendary comic artist Todd McFarlane, Kingdoms of Amalur wore its geek credentials on its extravagantly embroidered wizard's sleeve. It may not have achieved the same ubiquity as Skyrim, but the fact it was so successful, so soon after Bethesda's monster smash should have exhausted the available pool of role-playing enthusiasts suggested that the genre could be on the upswing.

  So where will this renaissance take us next? Onwards and upwards seems to be the answer.

  

  Dungeons and Dragons and Monsters and Pirates and Demons and...

  April sees the Xbox 360 release of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, a console remake of the critically acclaimed PC adult role player. Cast as a monster hunter in a complex world governed by prejudice and fear, it's a far cry from the whimsical fare people commonly associate with fantasy gaming.

  Had Polish developer CD Projekt simply shunted the Witcher 2 code into an Xbox shape and hurried it to shelves, it wouldn't be a surprise. That it's instead opted to completely rebuild the game for console players, with additional content and a lavish collector's edition, proves that there's a mature market beyond the usual dice-rolling hobbyists for this kind of long-term in-depth gaming experience.

  

  Then in May we'll get Risen 2: Dark Waters, another sequel but one that trades the generic swords and sorcery realms of its predecessor for a saltier tale of pirate folk. Developed by Piranha Bytes, the studio behind hit RPG series Gothic, it promises to be more than a cult hit.

  

  We've just learned that May will also be the month that we'll finally get our hands on Diablo 3 from World of Warcraft developer Blizzard. A mere twelve years in the making, this top-down loot-dropping hack and slash RPG dungeon crawl is arguably the most eagerly anticipated PC game of the year.

  So what has caused this surge in role-playing fever? Are gamers simply burned out on militaristic first-person shooters and hungry for change? Or is it just that with their lengthy playing times and flexible character progression, RPGs offer more value for money and greater opportunities to define your own gaming experience?

  Whatever the reason, role-playing is firmly entrenched as the games industry's next big thing. These may be the games that have made it cool to roll the dice, but they certainly won't be the last.

  Published: 15/03/2012

• The Games We're Excited About!

  
  

  There are lots and lots of great games heading your way in the next few months, and here at GAME HQ we're as excited as you lot are to give them a go.

  So, we went round the digital team with a prodding stick to find out just what games the team here are really itching to play...

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  I am looking forward to LEGO Batman 2. My brother and I worked our way through the original LEGO Batman with a considered method of "shoot everything in the room first, think about the situation later" and it was amazing. It's also the only game where if you die you can still enjoy seeing Robin explode which I did on many occasions as Player 2. I can't wait to see what LEGO Batman 2 has in store!

  
  

  

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, Max Payne 3.

  After playing through 1 and 2 - which gripped me to the very end - I cannot honestly wait for 3.

  Max Payne's method of storytelling is awesome. The comic book cut scenes are stylish and effective, and are not afraid to poke fun at other, outrageous works of fiction (as well as itself). The noir style and twists and turns throughout provide a flourish of love which even the most dedicated of storytellers fail to keep up with. The ingredients are simple, but it's a recipe which works.

  The gameplay might not necessarily be innovative, but it will be intuitive. It might not change the way we think about games, but I know it's going to be a game through and through; fun, accessible and welcoming to noobs and veterans alike. Max Payne 3 is going to rock. Add online multiplayer to the mix, and I can safely say that I'm looking forward to blasting my way into June!

  (My second choice would be Aliens: Colonial Marines, but that's almost too far away to get excited about yet!)

  Kate - Affiliate Assassin

  Bioshock Infinite - Because of the amazing animation and design of the game. Oh, and Limbo 2 - if/when it comes!

  

  Jamie - Builder of Digital Dreamscapes

  I am looking forward to...

  Grand Theft Auto V: Obviously no one really knows exactly when this game is coming out but I cant wait! Seriously excited about a new GTA! Although I hope it is all of San Andreas and not just Los Santos.

  Madden 13: I always get Madden, and it was pretty much the game that made me buy my first proper games console (the SEGA Mega Drive). I'm particularly looking forward to this year's one as I'm hoping they have taken more of the good stuff out of NCAA12.

  Retro City Rampage: This is an indie game that just looks AMAZING! Kind of like a funny GTA but all totally 80s styled. It's gonna be on Xbox LIVE and PSN and I like the fact it looks like you might be able to get this digitally to play on your PS Vita too; it seems like the kind of game you could just lose hours in messing about!

  

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Halo 4. Why? Because it's the best freaking game there is! I'm a massive Halo fan and I'm really looking forward to the next instalment. And really looking forward to seeing Master Chief again. And now we know the release date I know what week to book off work!

  
  

  Aaron - Social Butterfly

  I almost squealed for joy when Luigi's Mansion 2 was announced (Okay, I actually did squeal...). The original Luigi's Mansion was the first game I got on launch day with my Gamecube. It was ALL about Luigi, sucking up ghosts with his Poltergust 3000. The sequel has me itching to play, it will have multiple mansions, a new Poltergust, new ghosts, new story AND it will all be in beautiful 3D. The Nintendo savvy amongst us will know that Nintendo originally planned to release Luigi's Mansion in 3D on the Gamecube but decided the 3D panel was ahead of its time!

  Who ya gonna call? Ghostb-- No, no wait, let's just get the Green hat-wearing Italian plumber from the Mushroom Kingdom instead. No danger of crossing the streams.

  

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  I'm actually really looking forward to Lollipop Chainsaw. I'm a big Buffy fan, so the concept of a blonde cheerleader fighting supernatural beasties is one that very much appeals to me. It just looks like it's gonna be oodles of OTT fun. Plus, y'know, the boyfriend's head just kicking around. What's not to like?

  As a stark contrast, I'm also a bit excited by Spec Ops: The Line. I don't usually get on with shooters, but having seen the trailer with the bodies-on-poles imagery, plus the obvious Heart of Darkness influence and the sense of "killing people may actually affect you", I really want to try this one out. I mean, who isn't at least intrigued by what appears to be an anti-war third-person shooter?

  

  James - Captain Category

  Diablo III.

   

   

  Because I've been waiting twelve years for it!

  
  

  So there we have it. These are the games we want to play - what about you? What forthcoming titles have got you so pant-wettingly excited to pre-order and play?

  Published: 17/04/2012

• Diablo III may still come to consoles, Blizzard says

  Smash hit role-playing game Diablo III is still being planned for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 despite not being officially announced, developer Blizzard has confirmed.

  Talking to Polygon, chief creative officer Rob Pardo revealed that the acclaimed studio even has a version of the game working for consoles, but they won't pull the trigger on the conversion until they're convinced it will be as good as possible.

  "We're still kind of exploring it," Pardo said. "We've got builds up and running on it. We're hoping to get it far enough along where we can make it an official project, but we're not quite ready to release stuff about it, but it's looking pretty cool."

  Lead designer Jay Wilson also confirmed that the developer is "exploring console options" but also has plans to "expand and add onto the game" for PC owners. "The whole team is essentially working on the next big Diablo thing," said Wilson. "A lot of that stuff will show up next year at some point." In November, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime confirmed that a PC expansion was in the pipeline.

  Blizzard has never been a studio to rush a project - Diablo III was in development in some form for eleven years - but the result is always worth the wait. Diablo III is out now for PC and Mac.
  

  Published: 11/12/2012

• The Best of 2012: PC

  
  

  If 2012 deserves to be remembered for anything - apart from the imminent Mayan apocalypse of course - it's as the year when people finally stopped bleating about the PC being a dying games platform. The past twelve months saw an astonishing run of top quality games for PC, as indie studios turned out fresh ideas by the dozen while mainstream developers fell back in love with the idea of pushing the flexible hardware a PC offers to the absolute limit. Here's our round up of the top PC titles that helped define the year.

  

  What's perhaps most noticeable is that some of 2012's biggest releases were PC exclusive, not just PC versions of hit console games. Blizzard's Diablo 3, for example, was arguably one of the most important games of the year, yet talk of a console version is still shrouded in rumour. Arriving a mere 12 years after the release of Diablo 2, it's fair to say that fans were absolutely desperate to get their hands on Blizzard's fast-paced tactical action RPG. Always a series driven by frantic combat and furious loot-grabbing, Diablo 3 streamlined many of the processes involved without making the gameplay itself shallow. Whether playing online with friends, or hacking your way through the horde alone, it's still one of the year's most frighteningly addictive games. If you get it for Christmas, be careful - you may emerge from your first session to discover you've missed New Year's Eve.

  

  But then this was a year for great RPG revivals on the PC. Fans of NCSoft's massive online role-player Guild Wars didn't have to wait quite as long as the Diablo faithful - a mere seven years separates Guild Wars 2 from its 2005 original - but the wait was still more than worth it. A rare MMO that requires no monthly subscription, Guild Wars 2 innovated in other areas as well, not least the fresh approach to quest design which allowed more fluid storylines to emerge based on player actions rather than strictly define dungeon encounters. With 400,000 players filling out its rich fantasy world, it's an excellent choice for anyone looking to try out an online RPG.

  

  Or, of course, you could turn to the top dog of the genre. World of Warcraft continued to dominate in 2012, with the release of the latest expansion, Mists of Pandaria. This not only introduces a whole new land to explore, it adds a deeper pet battling system, a new character class and a new playable race - the Pandaren, a monastic order of martial arts mammals that look suspiciously like a certain popular animated movie character. Don't mention that though. The fans get very upset.

  

  The best games of 2012 weren't only exclusive to PC, of course, but many of them were clearly designed with the platform in mind. Dishonored, the astonishing and compelling stealth adventure from the co-creator of Deus Ex, was a hit on consoles but a more perfect fit for PC. A game of painstaking plotting and careful progression, its dark and deliberate pace feels right at home on a keyboard and mouse, as you take control of supernatural assassin Corvus and set about unravelling a conspiracy in a steampunk world filled with detail and story.

  

  Similarly indebted to the PC was the superb strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown, in which you manage a global agency tasked with investigating and repelling alien invasions. A remake of the 1991 classic, it retained the methodical turn-based structure but brought it bang up to date with nailbiting extra-terrestrial encounters and a satisfying web of upgrades and abilities with which to arm your brave, loyal and very often horribly doomed soldiers.

  

  In certain cases, this shift back towards more PC-flavoured gameplay was especially useful. Far Cry 3 was great on consoles, but it pushed their fixed hardware to the limit. On PC, the tropical island setting is in full bloom, stretching into the distance in extraordinary beautiful detail even as you're prowling its open world, stealth-killing murderous bandits and trying not to be mauled by leopards.

  An excellent year for PC players then, and a trend that will only continue in 2013. It might be a good idea to put some of those Christmas spends towards that new graphics card you've been promising yourself...
  

  Published: 20/12/2012

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