Diablo II 1.10 Patch Finally Released

DudemanX writes "Blizzard have announced: 'Yes, you're reading correctly, the day has finally come for the Diablo II 1.10 patch! This patch is the largest to date in terms of game changes and offers many new things for Diablo II players, including seasonal ladder characters, more-challenging gameplay, enhanced skills, new items, new anti-cheat measures, a new game-world event, and much much more! Simply connect to Battle.net [while playing Diablo II] to download the patch.' The stand-alone patch is also now available on Blizzard's FTP site." This follows Blizzard's 1.10 Beta release all the way back in July.

Re:Is this important?

[BrynM]

This is why nobody is playing it anymore and has lost devoutr fans, such as myself. Blizzard takes forever to patch it and the 1.09 patch borked on a lot of machines (mine included). When the patch that was supposed to fix things specific to me broke more than it fixed, I was done. Since the game follows a direct story line, there isn't a whole lot of re-playability as well. I've always though that Blizzard should open Diablo up to modding to avoid it getting stale, but they seem to be paranoid of letti

Re:Is this important?

[Trillian_1138]

BrynM said, "Since the game follows a direct story line, there isn't a whole lot of re-playability as well."

I agree with some of the other things you said. I know a lot of people had problems with the 1.09 patch, and I think it would have been awesome if Blizzard allowed an open server or whatnot for people to mod however the hell they wanted.

And there are valid complaints about Diabo 2. If you didn't like Diablo, D2 didn't bring anything new to the table. It's graphics are getting outdated. The player economy is shit. People abuse experience runs and whatnot. Half the items out there are dupes. (In theory, some of these issues are addressed in the v1.1 patch.) But to say Diablo 2 doesn't have a whole lot of re-playabliity is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard said about Diablo 2.

The stoy was always weak and, beyond the first time through, never the reason to play the game. Having a blast with friends on multiplayer, leveling for that next skill level, killing monsters to get that next killer item; these are the reasons people play Diablo 2. Saying that it has a bad storyline so it's not fun to play is like saying Mortal Kombat or (insert fighting game here) is stupid because the story sucks. It's like saying no one wants to replay Mario because the story is predictable. It's like saying Tetris isn't fun because it doesn't end. Diablo 2 was never about the story. It was about everything else, and a lot of people think Blizzard did an amazing job with that "everything else." So there are valid reasons not to like Diablo 2. Even just, "I don't enjoy that type of game," is perfectly valid. But complaining about the STORYLINE? That's just avoiding the issue, and making yourself sound like an idiot.

BrynM said, "Diablo and Diablo II are great games that broke a lot of new ground, but Blizzard's support and lack of modding have ruined them for me at least."

How have they had lack of support? The fact that their servers are still even UP shows support for the damn game. Up and FREE. And, obviously, they're still releasing patches (albiet slower than slow). So I would say that, yes, they're still supporting the game.

Lack of modding is a different issue, and the only valid one I think you bring up. They could have opened a server, or allowed others to run private servers, where people could mod the game however the hell they wanted. They could have made cool (and probably relatively simple) tools for new monster creation, or even item creation. Don't let people on the main "closed" network, but let them play however the hell they want anywhere else. So yeah, I think that would have been great. And if without modding, the game isn't enough to still keep you, then so be it. That's your call, and only you can decide if you still have fun playing a game.

(And, without installing the movie files, the game is well under 1 GB. It still has a large system footprint, around 700 MB, if I remember correctly, but don't exagerate. Makes you look like an inflamatory whiner.)

But don't just make up arguments to complain about nothing.

-Trillian

Re:Is this important?

[BrynM]

But to say Diablo 2 doesn't have a whole lot of re-playabliity is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard said about Diablo 2

My main complaint regarding re-playability is the linear nature of the story. I guess I have been a bit spoiled by Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter Nights having quests that branch off of the main story and the ability to become evil if someone really wanted to. After the second time getting through all of D2, the third (hell or nightmare skill if I remember) was really stale and I wan

Re:Is this important?

[captainktainer]

Unfortunately, with a multiplayer game it's difficult to have a varying, multilayered plot. Diablo 2 has, indeed, always been about the combat, the items, and the experience. Some people don't like that kind of game; I think I'm going to start moving away from that sort of game myself.

I have had similar problems with Blizzard tech support, dating back all the way to *Warcraft II*. They're slow to respond, and when they do it's with an FAQ that has nothing to do with your problem. I, too, had a problematic

Re:Is this important?

[jdifool]

What people like in Blizzard games are the choices they made. Blizzard never intended to make its game do anything more than what they were designed to do primarly. No modding, linearity, yeah yeah yeah, this is all true.

But this comes at a price ; you have the best, and totally free, internet gaming service EVER made ; you have the chance to experience a unique (a recurrent word in Blizzard vocabulary, indeed) gameplay, which ties all the players together, creating a deep-rooted community ; you have the c

Re:Is this important?

[captainktainer]

I would argue strongly against any such "deep-rooted community"- the community on the Realms is one of "pwning," "n00b5," and "ITAM PLZ!"

I didn't stick with my first impressions- I played the game for several months until my CDs got damaged again in a move recently; I managed to get my girlfriend hooked on it and we would often play together. My impressions were built over months of gameplay and a years-long relationship with Blizzard products.

Blizzard makes good games- Warcraft, Warcraft II, Starcraft, D

Re:Is this important?

[jdifool]

Actually this is exactly the same problem as with Slashdot ; the more open you allow a network to be, the more lamers you let come in. Sure thing Bnet is plenty of damn fuckers that experience the very same techniques during all their life.

But it's worth exploring the "+2 ranked comment" that can be found in some special areas. And I really would like to hear evidence about exploits, hacking and cheating over close Bnet Realms in Diablo II or in Warcraft III. I've been playing since a very recent time, and

Re:Is this important?

[captainktainer]

I don't know how the 1.10 patch has changed things on the realm- I can't play right now due to my CD situation. However, the closed realms are rife with Maphack users (they see the whole map and the positions and equipment of everyone on it), triggerhack (I don't even want to know what that does), Pindlebot (a program that creates random games and kills Pindleskin, looking for specific unique or set items), password hacks, and item duplication program users. Most unique and set items that one would find tra

Re:Is this important?

[BrynM]

I've bought every game that Blizzard has released for the PC - multiple copies of some, like Warcraft. I've been a long standing fan of them. However, my recent experiences with them have left me bitter. Maybe it's because they've fallen so far in my eyes.

I do admit that Battlenet is their greatest achievement. It has come a long way from the simple meet and greet gaming that it started as. I even thought that Blizzard had a good shot at doing the first massively multiplayer game with immersive graphics, bu

Re:Is this important?

[Trillian_1138]

ByrnM,

I didn't think you were asking for one, but I wanted to appologize. Rereading your origonal post and my reply, I was disproportionately rude. I honestly hadn't thought about 'suport' as response time from Blizzard, and you're right. At an individual level, their support is supposed to be shit. Luckily, I haven't had to deal with it.

I still disagree about lack of re-playability, but I think you should have been more specific with your origonal post because comparisons to Baulders Gate or Neverwinter

Re:Is this important?

[LunchTableGoat]

Can you explain that to the koreans?

Re:Is this important?

[Ondo]

I've always though that Blizzard should open Diablo up to modding to avoid it getting stale, but they seem to be paranoid of letting anyone else use/see code or assets - to their own downfall, IMO.

I disagree with the paranoia comment - people have made mods for Diablo II, and Blizzard knows about them and has done nothing, AFAIK. I made some myself years ago, before 1.03 IIRC.

However, I stopped because they don't support it, and plenty of other companies do. It would be easy for them - all they need is

Re:Is this important?

[arkanes]

Theres actually a comment in the patch (about some back end changes to the way skills work) that "we did this for our own purposes but modders should like it too"

New World Event

[siphoncolder]

I heard some speculation about that, but never found out for sure what it was. Does anyone know 100% what it is?

Re:New World Event

[Win98crash]

According to the 1.10 info here [blizzard.com], they say you should be ready to 'save and exit' quickly.

I'm betting on all monsters turning into MSLEBs or something. Whatever it is, it will probably piss off their userbase.

I didn't see anything specific to single player, but I wonder if they are butchering SP runewords or limiting certain drops/enhancements to battle.net only. Assuming that I even play D2 again, I think I will stick to the Santuary mod [washington.edu] (AKA 3Wave).

Re:New World Event

[UnknownSoldier]

> I'm betting on all monsters turning into MSLEBs or something

MSLEBs are a piece of cake with Zons or Barbs. Thundergod's belt defn helps too.

Re:New World Event

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

They havnt said what it is, but it ends in getting the aniahlus charm. iirc its a small unique charm that gives +1 all skills, faster exp gain, and some other godliness.

Re:New World Event

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously, the new event is Hell freezing over.

Re:New World Event

[lynx8625]

Yes, apparently at this moment they are tracking the SOJs sold to merchants. When enough SOJs are sold to merchants, a world event is sent to all currently running Hell games on that realm saying 'Diablo walks the earth!'

At that point, the next superunique generated in each of those games (i.e. the seal bosses in the Chaos Sanctuary) will become a souped up Diablo, much more powerful than the normal version. Kill him and you're very likely to get an Annihilus, a unique small charm with must-be-seen-to-b

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Custom Sized Cod Pieces?

[Atomizer]

Does it have the most requested feature of adjustable cod pieces?

"Hell has finally frozen over."

[sabNetwork]

Blizzard's homepage [blizzard.com] advertises the patch by saying "HELL HAS FINALLY FROZEN OVER..." Christ, didn't they notice that Apple used the same slogan not two weeks ago? I hope it's a joke/reference to Apple's ad.

Re:"Hell has finally frozen over."

[NaugaHunter]

Given that there are wallpapers and the whole load of crap they've gotten on their own bbs, most likely they've been sitting on this for 4 months waiting for the day of release, and they could either use it or delay further for a new slogan.

Re:"Hell has finally frozen over."

[brkello]

Well, if you think about it, it doesn't make much sense for a bunch of apples to cause hell to freeze over. Maybe hell would apple sauce over, or apple cider over...but freeze? Come on. Now Blizzard on the other hand...that could really put a dent in hell. That being said, they both are probably over stating the case, and hell is probably just partly cloudy with a slight chance of percipitation.

Re:"Hell has finally frozen over."

[Flamerule]

Christ, didn't they notice that Apple used the same slogan not two weeks ago? I hope it's a joke/reference to Apple's ad.

Are you angry or something? Why would you care, or not care, whether the slogan was independently thought-up?

I'm really curious, especially since your comment is sitting at +4, Insightful, as I write this.

Re:"Hell has finally frozen over."

[RobHornick]

Part of Diablo II is set in Hell. This is the joke. I doubt that it's a joke/reference to Apple's ad, as indeed this patch was expected before iTunes for Windows was.

Does v1.10 work with WineX?

[Spoing]

Previous versions were very playable...comments?

Re:Does v1.10 work with WineX?

[/dev/trash]

I think heard that you'll need Windows 2000 or higher to get it to work.

Re:Once again...

[DudemanX]

It reads like a press release because I'm too retarded to make up anything original. Sure there are tons of newer and "better" games out there. This patch is special not just because it's a Blizzard game, but because it's a free patch that adds NEW features to a game that is five years old. Rip on Blizzard all you want, but most games are lucky if they're supported after the first year of being released. Blizzard basically /.ed their own game servers today to release new features for a game that not only do

Re:Once again...

[Trillian_1138]

Slashdot may not post objective, neutral news stories, but at least you're never rude or over-the-top when you reply to people! It's so nice to see a reply that's calm, objective, and doesn't begin, "Read my post, fuckhead," and don't resort to making character judgements like, "You're just some self-righteous jackass."

Oh. Wait...

And wait just a minute. Your origonal post said, "There are thousands of better and newer games than Diablo II, yet one patch for this game makes it onto Slashdot." That sure as

Re:Once again...

[brkello]

I unfortunately did read your post and am tired of people like you constantly whining about every single thing that is posted. There doesn't have to be a well written article or some witty summary for it be something worthy of talking about. You are the self-righteous one criticizing this even though you admit it is news. Not everyone has your "superior" literary and eiditing skills so just give it a rest. You got me on one point though, I certainly didn't know what you submit. But doing a search throu

Re:Once again...

[Romothecus]

Not everyone has your "superior" literary and eiditing skills

Apparently not.

Re:Once again...

[brkello]

That's spell checking ;) I must have made my point if that is your best retort.

Re:Once again...

[August_zero]

Maybe I am a bit slow, but what exactly is your point?

I'm not just talking about this one post about a patch. I play Diablo II myself and I'm glad this patch is out and I understand how long it has been anticipated. But everytime Blizzard takes a piss it gets an incredible level of hype

So you don't have a problem with information of the patch making news, but you think all the other blizzard posts that were about other things such as the repainting the office or perhaps the company cat having kittens

Re:Once again...

[Trillian_1138]

A large portion of games.slashdot.org is some form of "advertising." Posting about the latest multiplayer mod for Grand Theft Auto is advertising. Talking about There, Inc. launching is advertising. The Lord of the Rings pinball machine? Adverstising.

The reason it's not truly "advertising" is because we now get to talk about it here. I'm really looking forward to what people have to say about the mod, if anyone discovers the new world-event, etc, etc. If you don't like the patch, you're more than welcome to voice your opinion here. And I'd be more than happy to read it.

But Diablo 2 is a phenominon. For a developer to acknowledge that their TWO YEAR OLD game is still one of the best multiplayer games around, to continue to support it through a FREE online system (ignoring their treatment of attempts to port battle.net to Linux*, which I would agree Blizzard handled poorly), and STILL patching the damn game? How many games don't get a single patch? For Blizzard delevopers to still be updating and fine-tuning a game this long after its release, and for people to STILL enjoy playing it is fucking incredible.

And I call Bullshit. "There are thousands of better and newer games than Diablo II." Part of the reason this IS a news story is that Diablo 2 is so old, but still updated and played. And while there are undoubtedly thousands of newer games, I'd challenge you to list thousands of better ones that are in the same genre. Battlefield 1942, Super Smash Bros, Grand Theft Auto...sure, you can build a long list of amazing games. I wouldn't nescesarily say Diablo 2 is "better" than any or all of them. And a lot of them will be have multiplayer aspects, either online or by playing with multiple people on the same TV. But there hasn't been a game since Diablo 2 that satisfies the unique hunger D2 players develope. Dungeon Siege didn't do it. It was pretty, but there was something lacking. Neverwinter Nights was aimed at creating a slightly different experience, and while I'm told the multiplayer games can be amazingly fun, still isn't the same thing. In the same way that a desire to play Super Smash Bros can only be quenched by playing Super Smash Bros, Diablo 2 is a sweet, sweet, addictive crack to those who partake in it.

The tagline of Slashdot, as I'm sure you know, is "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters." Well, I'd say the release of what is supposed to be the largest and most significant patch to a game that, like it or not, is one of the largest gaming landmarks ever, qualifies (for me) for both of those things.

(A quick note before I'm flamed: I don't mean Diablo 2's gameplay is revolutionary. It's not. But Blizzard somehow got it "just right" in a way that, I would say, no other game has done since. Just like I STILL think StarCraft is THE comparison when judging RTS games, although others have come close, I would say DIablo 2 is STILL the comparison when judging dungeon hackers.)

As I was saying: Posting about D2 is News for Nerds, and I think it Matters. There are posts on the main page all the time that I don't particularly think matter, but I don't bitch and complain because I understand they might be relevant to other people.

So quit yer bitching. There were long and heated discussions about Blizzard after they shut down the unauthorized Battle.net accessing software. (The name escapes me at the moment.) Many people vowed never to support Blizzard again, and they're more than welcome not to. But for the rest of us, I don't think it's unfair to be allowed some posts concerning WE stil believe to be a damn fine game.

-Trillian

*I know this is an oversimplification of what happened.

Re:Once again...

[Stargoat]

Trillian from Sluggy?

Re:Once again...

[Trillian_1138]

Unfortunatly, no. I was quite surprised to see what is my standard online persona inhabited by someone else at Sluggy.net, I can tell you...

But being the huge sluggy fan that I am, I couldn't imagine having a problem with it.

I've gotten a number of people ask "Trillian like the IM software?" but you're the first to ask if I was the Trillian from Sluggy. =)

The truth is much less exciting. Lifted straight from the Holy Writ, Trillian from Adams' "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy."

Sorry to disapoint!

-Trilli

Re:Once again...

[Stargoat]

Odd enough. Thanks.

Re:Once again...

[Ondo]

How many games don't get a single patch?

If you limit that to computer games made in the last five years or so, virtually none. There are probably a few, but I haven't heard of them.

Re:Once again...

[pezpunk]

this "patch" is virtually an expansion pack. hundreds of new items, new world event, all the skills totally re-balanced, "synergies" introduced, tons of new stuff. you should she the hysteria that is currently engulfing the various Diablo II Forums around the 'net.

yes, this is big news. i fully expect to be up till 2am er, testing this new patch =)

*jumps back in to D2*

1.10 is a pretty big deal

[WapoStyle]

This patch has been 2 years in the making. This patch is up there with Expansion pack amounts of new things added.

It's pretty cool that Blizzard is still supporting Diablo II so far after release. "This game is old" jokes aside, this is pretty cool and I'm glad Blizzard is throwing the Diablo II people a bone.

Re:1.10 is a pretty big deal

[MMaestro]

I think Blizzard shoulda focused on more numerous, although smaller, updates over a period of time. This sort of mass update doesn't really impress me since I know that the next update won't be released for a LONG time now.

Re:1.10 is a pretty big deal

[fireduck]

This sort of mass update doesn't really impress me since I know that the next update won't be released for a LONG time now.

Diablo 2 was released when? 2000 says the copyright on the disc. Expansion 6 mo to 1 year later. So, we're talking about a game 2 years old. And you're unimpressed cause they won't update it anymore? Exactly how many games do you have that the developers are still updating 2 years after release?

Re:1.10 is a pretty big deal

[MMaestro]

Do MMO games count?

If we're not counting MMO games, then The Sims and Counter-Strike (subject to debate).

Re:1.10 is a pretty big deal

[Kris_J]

I'm glad Blizzard is throwing the Diablo II people a bone.

Unfortunately if they hit you with that bone, it does a lot more damage than it used to. Unless someone posts that the final 1.10 is easier than the two betas, I'm not even going to bother downloading it.

Re:1.10 is a pretty big deal

[Rudeboy777]

Are you nuts? Or have you just never progressed beyond nightmare difficulty in the game yet? Chars that were once mighty are far less effective due to the new synergies. Normal and nightmare are still a breeze, but hell is much harder now, I think you will like it

Hell has finally frozen over...?

[Hackie_Chan]

If hell froze over, where the heck is my Duke Nukem Forever? ;-)

Re:Feature question

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't get me wrong, Diablo II was fun for a runthrough or two, but my God, move on to something with some more substance.

No.

Re:Feature question

[xwizbt]

You have a point - the click-click-click - but I stlll enjoy it and so do many others. We should concentrate on the good points; Blizzard are still supporting, even for Mac OS X, and, most importantly, my Sorceress can still cast a bloody good Frost Nova even when expose is doing its thing...

Re:Feature question

[AvantLegion]

I think Diablo with some more DEPTH could be a killer game. But as it stands now, I think it's just "good" but gets treated like it's a lot better than it is. I don't know if Dungeon Siege is necessarily an answer, but it at least takes a stab at answering the question. Certainly the Blizzard guys can do even better.

I do applaud Mac support. If I hadn't played through the game on PC before, I would get it for my new PowerBook.

Re:Feature question

[IM6100]

Not just Mac OS X.

Blizzard is still supporting old MacOS.

I play Diablo 2 on OS 9.2 on an ancient beige G3 box. Because it's fun.

Bloody Duriel

[xwizbt]

I'm still having a right old problem with Duriel. Battle my way through that bastard tomb, get through the gateway and whoomph... dead. Since I figured every Mac Diablo fan in the universe is reading this, what am I doing wrong? Help! [e-mail]

Re:Bloody Duriel

[Rudeboy777]

Join a public game with some other characters - he's tougher than before because he has blocking now. What character are you using? Ranged characters like Amazon and Sorceress were never very good at fighting any boss alone early in their careers.

This is supposed to impress me?

[TJWitz]

Blizzard knowingly pays their employees way below average (roughly half) what another company would pay the same programmer. Blizzard thrives on profiting from the blood sweat and tears of those willing to take half-pay to have a job programming games. I'm not saying Blizzard is a bad place to work, and I'm not saying I wouldn't love to be on the development team for WoW myself.

File that away..

Now, it's been pretty public knowledge that this patch has been worked on by only one or two individuals with

Re:This is supposed to impress me?

[pocopoco]

So I get a huge patch, almost an expansion, and get to play a game I loved a bit more and all I have to pay Blizzard is some PR? I wish more companies would exploit me this way. There are so many games out there that I really like, but they need a decent patch and will never get them.

Thanks Bliz!

[zoward]

This is the game I keep giving up ... and the game I keep going back to when I'm bored with whatever else I'm playing. As a dyed-in-the-wool necromancer, sitting at 1.09 for a year plus was pretty frustrating. I'm looking forward to trying out the new synergies and seeing the new items.

Props to Blizzard for doing the right thing and retooling D2 to balance things out. The extra goodies are just icing on the cake!