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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Not So Massively: Hero spotlights and Diablo III confirms PvP arenas in 2012]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/not-so-massively/" rel="tag">Not So Massively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/moba/" rel="tag">MOBA</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/league-of-legends/" rel="tag">League of Legends</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/"><img alt="Not So Massively title image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/netheurgist-title.jpg" style="border-bottom: 0px solid; border-left: 0px solid; margin: 4px; border-top: 0px solid; border-right: 0px solid" /></a></div>
This week, <a href="http://leagueoflegends.com/"><em>League of Legends</em></a> revealed plans to buff support tanks in the Varus patch and change several ability power items. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/riot-games">Riot</a> also plans to buff Master Yi and nerf Ryze's ability to tank and deal damage at the same time. <a href="http://dota2.com/"><em>Dota 2</em></a> released an updated user interface designed to take all the pain out of using the courier, and <a href="http://bloodlinechampions.com/"><em>Bloodline Champions</em></a> revealed its massive $10,000 DreamHack Summer 2012 tournament.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://diablo3.com/"><em>Diablo III</em></a> revealed the Witch Doctor this week, giving <a href="http://diablo2.com/"><em>Diablo II</em></a> necromancer fans a peek at the closest replacement they'll get in the upcoming title. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard</a>'s Jay Wilson also confirmed that PvP arenas will be released long before the end of the year. <a href="http://heroesofnewerth.com/"><em>Heroes of Newerth</em></a> released its new support hero Ellonia, an ice mage whose abilities focus around a stacking slow debuff. <a href="http://riseofimmortals.com/"><em>Rise of Immortals</em></a> released a new immortal spotlight video on popular area-effect damage-dealer Netheurgist and encouraged players to start guilds with a contest to win 1,000 prestige points for every guild member.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Not So Massively: Hero spotlights and Diablo III confirms PvP arenas in 2012</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/">Not So Massively: Hero spotlights and Diablo III confirms PvP arenas in 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20226703/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/not-so-massively-hero-spotlights-and-diablo-iii-confirms-pvp-ar/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>Alistar</category><category>Amumu</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>bloodline-champions</category><category>buff</category><category>competitive-gaming</category><category>courier</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>dota</category><category>dreamhack</category><category>dreamhack-2012</category><category>dreamhack-summer</category><category>dreamhack-summer-2012</category><category>e-sport</category><category>e-sports</category><category>Ellonia</category><category>esport</category><category>esports</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>guilds</category><category>heroes-of-newerth</category><category>hon</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>league-of-legends</category><category>Leona</category><category>lol</category><category>master-yi</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>nerf</category><category>Netheurgist</category><category>news</category><category>not-so-massively</category><category>nsm</category><category>Nunu</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>patch</category><category>petroglyph</category><category>petroglyph-games</category><category>pvp</category><category>pvp-arenas</category><category>riot</category><category>riot-games</category><category>rise-of-immortals</category><category>roi</category><category>round-up</category><category>roundup</category><category>rpg</category><category>runic-games</category><category>ryze</category><category>s2</category><category>s2-games</category><category>stunlock</category><category>stunlock-studios</category><category>Taric</category><category>torchlight-2</category><category>torchlight-ii</category><category>valve</category><category>varus</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/not-so-massively/" rel="tag">Not So Massively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/moba/" rel="tag">MOBA</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/league-of-legends/" rel="tag">League of Legends</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/"><img alt="Not So Massively title image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/d3-title.jpg" style="border-bottom: 0px solid; border-left: 0px solid; margin: 4px; border-top: 0px solid; border-right: 0px solid" /></a></div>
<a href="http://diablo3.com/"><em>Diablo III</em></a> saw its clearest signs of release ever this week after a succinct tweet from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Jay-Wilson/">Jay Wilson</a> and the announcement that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/diablo-iii-shelves-pvp-to-make-launch/">PvP is being cut from release</a> in favour of getting the game out sooner. <a href="http://firefallthegame.com/"><em>Firefall</em></a> revealed its plans for attending events and trade shows this year and showed off its world-building tools and talent in an awesome new video devblog. <a href="http://blacklight.perfectworld.com/"><em>Blacklight: Retribution</em></a> continued its open beta with the release of a new map set in a laboratory during a virus outbreak. Developers also revealed the game's newest hero, Grendel the heavy weapons and explosives specialist.<br />
<br />
It's been a slow week for news in the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/MOBA/">MOBA</a> world, with developers pulling out all the stops for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/GDC-2012/">GDC 2012</a> and planning for upcoming events at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/PAX-East-2012/">PAX East 2012</a> and beyond. This week <a href="http://leagueoflegends.com/"><em>League of Legends</em></a> announced that several of the game's classic skins will soon be retired and are available temporarily for a 75% discount. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/riot-games">Riot Games</a> detailed plans for its upcoming events at PAX East, and the IntelEM tournament finals went off without a hitch. The latest <a href="http://dota2.com/"><em>Dota 2</em></a> patch added a new passive bot difficulty mode that forces bots to stay in their lanes and introduced a series of balance tweaks.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Not So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/">Not So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20190715/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>ai</category><category>battlenet</category><category>beta</category><category>blacklight</category><category>blacklight-retribution</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>bots</category><category>competitive-gaming</category><category>containment</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>dota</category><category>e-sport</category><category>e-sports</category><category>esport</category><category>esports</category><category>event</category><category>events</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>grendel</category><category>heavy-weapons</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>league-of-legends</category><category>lol</category><category>map</category><category>matt-daniel</category><category>matt-dewald</category><category>mmofps</category><category>moba</category><category>morgan-romine</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>news</category><category>not-so-massively</category><category>nsm</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2012</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>red-5-studios</category><category>riot</category><category>riot-games</category><category>round-up</category><category>roundup</category><category>rpg</category><category>sign-of-release</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rumor: Diablo III releasing April 17th]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/"><img alt="Diablo III" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/witch.jpg" /></a></div>
The rumor mill is churning fast and furious today as heavy speculation is swirling about a possible release date for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Diablo-III/"><em>Diablo III</em></a>: April 17th. This comes from Italian website <a href="http://www.mmorpgitalia.it/site/content.php?3417-Diablo-III-Fuori-il-17-Aprile!">mmorpgitalia</a>, which reports that retailers are clearing space for their shelves on the 17th after a tip from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/activision-blizzard/">Activision Italy</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/blizzard/">Blizzard</a>, of course, is declining to comment on the rumor, although Game Director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Jay-Wilson/">Jay Wilson </a>says that an "all-important announcement" -- most likely the release date -- is imminent. When asked on Twitter how soon the announcement would arrive (on a scale of 1-10), Wilson replied with a simple "9."<br />
<br />
Tomorrow begins the <a href="http://www.cebit.de/home">CeBIT 2012</a> trade show in Europe, and Blizzard will be present to show off the <em>Diablo III</em> beta. If an announcement is to be made, this event might make a good a platform as any from which to tell the gaming world which day it's going to need to take off from work.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/">Rumor: Diablo III releasing April 17th</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20186177/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/rumor-diablo-iii-releasing-april-17th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>CeBIT-2012</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>fantasy</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>Jay-Wilson</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>release-date</category><category>release-date-rumor</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>rumor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/"><img alt="When I said 'you will not pass,' that was really more of a strongly worded suggestion." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/d3-joking-epl-224.jpg" /></a></div>
The most recent tempest in a <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Diablo-III/">Diablo III</a>-</em>shaped teapot has been community manager <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Bashiok/">Bashiok</a> making a statement to fans <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/">urging them to lower their expectations for the game</a>. Director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Jay-Wilson/">Jay Wilson</a> decided that this was worth a direct reply and stated <a href="http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/4079872821">in a recent open letter to the community</a> that Bashiok's statements were "obviously sarcastic" and that the team does want fan expectations to remain high. The letter stresses that the development staff is quite happy with the game as it continues development and the current internally tested build in a better state than the beta.<br />
<br />
Wilson goes on to claim that fans can expect a release date announcement in the near future, avoiding the dreaded <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Blizzard/">Blizzard</a> incarnation of "soon." Given his appraisal of the beta state, we suspect that the game will be heading for a retail edition before too long, at which point players will be able to decide for themselves whether or not their expectations were met.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/">Blizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20179258/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>bashiok</category><category>beta</category><category>betas</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>community</category><category>culture</category><category>d3</category><category>development</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>diii</category><category>expectations</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>launch</category><category>news</category><category>what-is-this-i-cant-even</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/"><img alt="In the next patch, perhaps these will all be bunnies." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/d3-coresystems-epl-119.jpg" /></a></div>
While there's still no release date set for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Diablo-III/">Diablo III</a></em>, it seems the release may be further off than some players were guessing, judging by <a href="http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/4325959/Systems_Changes-1_19_2012#blog">the latest round of sweeping system overhauls</a>. A new post by game director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Jay-Wilson/">Jay Wilson</a> goes over several major changes being made to the game, starting with the fact that Scrolls of Identify are gone. You have a short casting time to identify and item and that's it, with no need to carry around a separate item.<br />
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The latest changes also remove the Mystic artisan, the Cauldron of Jordan, and the Nephalem Cube. The latter two were removed due to the inclusion of a Town Portal button, making trips back and forth far easier, while the Mystic artisan lacked a sufficiently defined role amidst other item modifications. There's also a major stat overhaul, which reduces the core attributes to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Vitality. They're far-reaching changes, and only time will tell how much their impact might slow the game's release as <a href="http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/4325959/Systems_Changes-1_19_2012#blog">the team tests the altered systems</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/">Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20152437/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>game-testing</category><category>game-updates</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>news</category><category>system-changes</category><category>system-overhauls</category><category>systems</category><category>testing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blizzard's Jay Wilson discusses the creation of Diablo III]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Diablo III " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/11/d2.jpg" /></a></div>
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	The big title on <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/not-so-massively">Not So Massively</a>'s current waiting list is, of course, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/diablo-iii"><em>Diablo III</em></a>. It may be a bit before we get a solid release date out of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard "Soon" Entertainment</a>, but in the meantime, the company is keeping the hype training running steadily. Today we have a new interview from the folks over at PC Gamer, during which <em>Diablo III</em>'s game director, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/jay-wilson">Jay Wilson</a>, talks about the challenges of building a new game based on the <em>Diablo</em> pedigree while also ensuring that the title has a soul of its own.<br />
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	For example, while many have decried the game's "more colorful" environments, Wilson states that "if you make something, you can't just copy. You have to infuse it with your own personality, your own interests, your own opinions, your own desires. If you don't, then it will be soulless." For the full interview, just click on through to PC Gamer.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/">Blizzard's Jay Wilson discusses the creation of Diablo III</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20117068/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/blizzards-jay-wilson-discusses-the-creation-of-diablo-iii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>interview</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>not-so-massively</category><category>nsm</category><category>pc-gamer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blizzcast #5 takes care of post-Worldwide Invitational 2008 business]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode5.xml"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/wwi_425.jpg" /></a></div>
The latest <a href="http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode5.xml">Blizzcast</a> is live! This fifth outing is the post-<a href="http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/">Worldwide Invitational</a> episode. The bulk of its running time is dedicated to <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/"><em>Diablo 3</em>.</a> If you're interested in that pseudo-MMO, action-RPG goodness, then there is a <em>ton</em> of information in there. <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/diablo-3"><em>Diablo 3</em></a> Community Manager Bashiok interviews Lead Designer Jay Wilson about the game. It's detailed stuff (e.g., several minutes dedicated to Blizzard's reasons for abandoning the grid-like inventory management of the earlier <em>Diablo</em> games), so Blizzard fans should check it out.<br /><br />Of course, here at Massively we have a special interest in <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em>.</a> We're sad to report that Blizzcast #5 is a little light on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>WoW</em></a> or <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> discussion. Community Manager Nethaera participates in the first half of the podcast, and she talks a little bit about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/wrath-of-the-lich-king"><em>WotLK</em></a>, but she mostly shares in the post-<em>Diablo 3</em> announcement glee.<hr />
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            <td><em>One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a>, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/wrath-of-the-lich-king/">all your Lich King needs!</a></em> </td>
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</table><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/">Blizzcast #5 takes care of post-Worldwide Invitational 2008 business</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode5.xml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1299814/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bashiok</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcast</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>expansion</category><category>jay-wilson</category><category>nethaera</category><category>podcast</category><category>starcraft-2</category><category>starcraft-ii</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wotlk</category><category>wow</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><category>wwi08</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
