Torchlight 2 Catch-All

The BF3/MW3 comparison always amuses me, because it's not an either/or, "and" is an option too. Some people who just like (insert genre here) will buy all of them, because they like playing that type of game.

I made the decision months ago to not buy Diablo 3, whereas I've always intended to buy TL2, mainly based on principle but also because I expect to enjoy TL2 more (I played through the D3 beta multiple times, so I'm not just talking out of my ass ).

That said, it's easy to say that it would have been much better for Runic to release TL2 significantly earlier than D3 (such as 3 months prior or earlier), and I doubt that they expected D3 to release as early as May. I bet they assumed they had plenty more time to finish their game and still release before D3.

Regardless, I think Runic can still "win" (in a sense) over D3 by executing a marketing campaign (ASAP) that not only showcases TL2's improvements over TL1, but also brings plenty of attention to how TL2 is more consumer-friendly (for a lack of better term) than D3: a true single-player mode, no always-online DRM, no RMAH, mod support, LAN support ... oh, and it's one-third the price. For people who pay attention, there are some very significant aspects of TL2 that make it more appealing. Runic needs to make as many people as possible aware of these beneficial differences compared to D3. And they need to start now.

In the end it's very simple, making something that will make people happy and making people aware you're selling it.

I played some Torchlight 2 at PAX this weekend with Pyroman, Elysium and a couple friends on the LAN. It has a fast, beautiful flow that makes Diablo 3 feel slow and ponderous. It's so different, it's nearly apples and oranges. I think you could pretty happily jump between the two and not feel like you're repeating yourself overly much.

Very encouraged by the gameplay session.

Scratched wrote:

In the end it's very simple, making something that will make people happy and making people aware you're selling it.

Certis wrote:

I played some Torchlight 2 at PAX this weekend with Pyroman, Elysium and a couple friends on the LAN. It has a fast, beautiful flow that makes Diablo 3 feel slow and ponderous. It's so different, it's nearly apples and oranges. I think you could pretty happily jump between the two and not feel like you're repeating yourself overly much.

Very encouraged by the gameplay session.

Bam ba lamb bam! I agree with all that stuff. It's hard (for me) to judge how one game's sales affect the sales of another game. Maybe D3 got people pumped about this genre so more people got interested in TL2.

Either way I'm still pumped for its release.

Certis wrote:

I played some Torchlight 2 at PAX this weekend with Pyroman, Elysium and a couple friends on the LAN. It has a fast, beautiful flow that makes Diablo 3 feel slow and ponderous.

Nice! Thanks for the report.

That's great to hear. I will be very interested to see how TL2 sells. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to both TL2 and D3.

Dyni wrote:

That's great to hear. I will be very interested to see how TL2 sells. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to both TL2 and D3.

Me too. Certis, where was Torchlight II demoed? I don't think we saw a Runic booth on our sweep through the Expo Hall on Friday

Thanks for the update Certis!

shoptroll wrote:
Dyni wrote:

That's great to hear. I will be very interested to see how TL2 sells. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to both TL2 and D3.

Me too. Certis, where was Torchlight II demoed? I don't think we saw a Runic booth on our sweep through the Expo Hall on Friday :(

Right by the stairs I think (I can't believe I missed it too). I managed to check it out on Sunday and it was fantastic.

Motleyai wrote:

Right by the stairs I think (I can't believe I missed it too). I managed to check it out on Sunday and it was fantastic.

Near The Behemoth and Supergiant?

Thanks for the update Certis.

But now you've got me really really curious about Torchlight 2. I can't imagine D3 gameplay being slow and ponderous, so now I'm suddenly jazzed about trying Torchlight2.

Certis wrote:

I played some Torchlight 2 at PAX this weekend with Pyroman, Elysium and a couple friends on the LAN. It has a fast, beautiful flow that makes Diablo 3 feel slow and ponderous. It's so different, it's nearly apples and oranges. I think you could pretty happily jump between the two and not feel like you're repeating yourself overly much.

Very encouraged by the gameplay session.

Oh uh. How does the speed compare to Path of Exile? I like PoE's pace and while I have not played D3, people have said that D3 is much faster. So if TL2 is even faster than D3... I'm having trouble fathoming how one maintains control. I took D3 off my list thinking I'm just too old to keep up and had high hopes for TL2 now that we know it's not vaporware.

Eh. It's going to appeal to people who don't care for the Diablo III skill changes, who don't want deal with battle.net always-on connection, and who want modding.

Something like Diablo 3, but without being bent over the counter? I'm in.

Malor wrote:

Something like Diablo 3, but without being bent over the counter? I'm in.

+1

D3 is off my buy list, and TL2 added to it.

I'll buy whichever has the most rainbows and unicorns!

That should be Torchlight 2. And if there aren't enough of them on release date, there are mod tools and the possibilities are endless!

There's always NyanCat for UT3.

And don't forget Ponycorn Adventure

Those are no Mr. Toots.

IMAGE(http://www.pu.nl/sites/pu.nl/files/dump/5657mr_toots_vs_ravager.jpg)

A 7-minute video narrated by Max at PAX: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pa...

MeatMan wrote:

A 7-minute video narrated by Max at PAX: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pa...

I'm not understanding what people mean by it being faster than D3/PoE/etc... do they mean character advancement? I got a marauder to 30ish in about 10 hours of PoE.

Side rant: How stupid do these gaming sites thing the public is? No one actually sits through ads waiting for on-demand content, you just go do other other things and come back later to rewind the content.

ibdoomed wrote:

Side rant: How stupid do these gaming sites thing the public is? No one actually sits through ads waiting for on-demand content, you just go do other other things and come back later to rewind the content.

You see ads? :p

ibdoomed wrote:

I'm not understanding what people mean by it being faster than D3/PoE/etc... do they mean character advancement? I got a marauder to 30ish in about 10 hours of PoE.

Look at the video. The moving and fighting is faster. I've been playing some PoE, and seeing TL2 in action, I was like "Wait, did they give the character some boots of uber speed or something for the demo?"

MeatMan wrote:

A 7-minute video narrated by Max at PAX: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pa...

Despite never finishing TL1, the secound outing has been a must buy for me from day 1. In fact, I payed for TL1 twice for them to be able to make the second game. The video above has me very hopeful, that they used their time and money well.

Hypatian wrote:
ibdoomed wrote:

I'm not understanding what people mean by it being faster than D3/PoE/etc... do they mean character advancement? I got a marauder to 30ish in about 10 hours of PoE.

Look at the video. The moving and fighting is faster. I've been playing some PoE, and seeing TL2 in action, I was like "Wait, did they give the character some boots of uber speed or something for the demo?"

Ok, yes, I see the running animation makes the character look faster. Is that how everyone is gauging the 'pace' of a game? Not time between mobs? I guess I'm not being critical enough of a game I believed to be vaporware until a just a while ago...

ibdoomed wrote:
Hypatian wrote:
ibdoomed wrote:

I'm not understanding what people mean by it being faster than D3/PoE/etc... do they mean character advancement? I got a marauder to 30ish in about 10 hours of PoE.

Look at the video. The moving and fighting is faster. I've been playing some PoE, and seeing TL2 in action, I was like "Wait, did they give the character some boots of uber speed or something for the demo?"

Ok, yes, I see the running animation makes the character look faster. Is that how everyone is gauging the 'pace' of a game? Not time between mobs? I guess I'm not being critical enough of a game I believed to be vaporware until a just a while ago...

Nah, D3 was never really vaporware. Blizzard just beat their own record in the "when it's done" category.

Are we really getting worked up about a subjective measure/comparison between two games that aren't even out yet?

I'm actually a little concerned that the game is going to be too long. I saw something that said by the time you are 2/3rds through the first of three chapters in Torchlight II, you will have seen as much content as the original game.

Honestly, I don't want that much content. It just means I'll never finish Torchlight II. Took me forever to beat the original.

That's assuming all other things are equal, that you're getting three times TL1 (or whatever it is) and it'll be just three times the same slog for you. I'm sure there'll be a demo at some point to decide if it's for you, and better or worse than TL1.