[friendlypeg]

I have been playing and enjoying the game for the past few days. The P2W gem system can be ignore entirely by most players unless you want to become the best in leaderboard. Overall the monetization is on par with other mobile games. The only reason this gets so much attention is because Blizzard is a easy target to generate outrages and clicks these days.

[xmprt]

I think the problem is that you've only been playing for a few days. Usually these kinds of games are actually fun for the first few days or weeks. It only gets back once you've already invested a lot of time and effort into the game and are hooked onto it.

Of course you may have the self control to pull out when you notice it becoming less fun but that's not easy for everyone which is why this model is quite predatory.

[Ruthalas]

Several of the reports I've read indicate some p2w mechanics don't even unlock until higher levels, and so are not immediately apparent. How far in are you?

[friendlypeg]

Granted I am 15 or so levels away from max level and haven't touched any endgame activities. Still I am not denying the game is not P2W.

[rng_civ]

If the game's endgame monetization issues are as bad as I've heard, then this is a classic example of luring players in and then suddenly smacking them with a paywall.

Not to bash you in particular, but it always amazes me that people can judge a game's pacing and monetization without including the endgame (if it even had a start or middle in the first place; endgame can be a nebulous concept). As the game ages, that is what the majority of players will be doing for the majority of the time and that's where the game will reveal it's true colors.

In my most recent memory, this happened with New World and its lack of endgame content at release. People defended the game as fun then most apparently quit in the levels 20-30 range because they realized the game was nothing but the same anemic game loop.

Now it's down from 900k peak players to 22k peak players, which may be a nice number for some games, but it is already deader than some older MMOs with no signs of player growth (according to Steam Charts).

[calibas]

> on par with other mobile games

That bad, eh?

[BlueTemplar]

Are you saying that "pay not to grind" games should not get negative attention ?

[friendlypeg]

It should, but the negative attention this game is getting is not proportional to the degree of awfulness of the monetisation. I am just jaded by the misinformation and double standard the Internet have these days, when you see some content creators even proclaiming this game the greediest game ever made! [0] which is objectively not true. Will these creators dare to critize other mobile games like Genshin Impact and Clash of Clans? No, because these games have ten times bigger fanbase than Diablo Immortal and Blizzard is a easy target.

[0] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6lAfEanRsQ

[BlueTemplar]

We might not listen to the same people then, Jim Sterling has been criticizing all this crap (including even gachas) for years... (though unless there are bigger news, this weeks' video will probably still be about DI ?)

[BlueTemplar]

lol yeah, only 10 hours later :

*Diablo Immortal: Activision Blizzard's Latest Scam The Jimquisition* :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EES5SZ9t1ho

[devoutsalsa]

Does it get ridiculously hard or monotonous without purchasing add ons?

[heretogetout]

Diablo is the king, or at least a well-placed prince, of monotonous gameplay.

[GekkePrutser]

True, this seems to be Blizzard's thing. I also hated WoW for this reason, I played along with friends but it took me 3 years to teach level 60

[BlueTemplar]

WoW is much worse than Diablo on that front...

[Skunkleton]

Is it though? Diablo 100% grind after the story (which can be completed in a few sittings).

[BlueTemplar]

Yes, but the combat is the core gameplay loop, and it's fun - unlike in WoW having to suffer through one after another fetch quest and the "real game" only starting after you hit max level...