Interesting video about the developement of Diablo at GDC 2016.

link

Definitely worth the time to watch, if you like this game (or, albeit for different reasons, the more recent games in the series).

One thing of note is that David talks, at the end, about releasing the original design proposal document for Diablo. And a quick search (his own blog is "Greybeard Games") allowed me to find it. There are some fascinating things to draw from that document, of course. The document opens with the following text:

"The following is Condor, Inc.'s proposal for a role-play8ing game, playable on PC-compatible computers. Diablo captures familiar fantasy elements within a unique structure designed for maximum replayability, expandability, and versatility. Diablo fills a neglected niche in the computer game market. As games today substitute gameplay with multimedia extravaganzas, and strive toward needless scale and complexity, we seek to reinvigorate the hack and slash, feel good gaming audience. Emphasis will be on exploration, conflict and character development in a dark quest for justice."

A number of people who are questioning the need to have Diablo (odd... if they don't want it, that's fine, but why post specifically to say "I don't want this" as if no one else should, either... ) have commented on why it's "inferior" because you don't get a vast, massive, world and thousands upon thousands of characters. And yet, that's actually BY DESIGN. "As games today substitute gameplay with multimedia extravaganzas, and strive toward needless scale and complexity, we seek to reinvigorate the hack and slash, feel good gaming audience."

And yes, THIS is why Diablo still stands up. It is NOT full of "multimedia extravaganzas." It is NOT "needlessly huge" (with dozens of essentially identical "towns" over vast regions) nor "needlessly complex" (you can start playing in literally seconds, rather than needing to spend a half-an-hour just creating your character before you can begin actual gameplay).

It was, and is, a classical "hack and slash" dungeon crawl game... and it's there for the gaming audience who does NOT want to have to re-slog through the same level dozens of times, killing minor enemies, in order to "level up" to be able to play the next level easily... nor the type who want to have to learn "secret recipes" for crafting, nor "Rune-words" to create powerful weapons, or the like. It's SIMPLE TO PLAY... and, as said, " designed for maximum replayability."

This, more than anything else, explains why Diablo (1) is still so remarkably popular, even given its older pedigree and (by modern standards) less-than-stellar graphical presentation.

Since GoG's release, I've already played through twice (with the same character). I left the first playthrough with my warrior character at level 26, and after the second playthrough, he's at 28. The second time was less of a challenge, sure, even given the "upscaling" of enemy capabilities to match my own... because I have a VERY well-crafted hero, with just the right mix of upgrades... and with a powerful melee combat loadout, and a second set of magically-strong equipment JUST for opening spell books which would otherwise be beyond my character's capabilities (as a warrior). I think I'm ready to play through as another character now, though... maybe as a rogue?

The only part I dislike is not really about this game, per-se... and per the video you linked to, NOT the intention of the original guy behind the game... the fact that Diablo II's ultimate villain is actually the hero I just played as, and two of the other two "big bads" in the second game are actually the other two heroes from the first game. It seems Blizzard (South) really likes to do this sort of thing... while I would have preferred having my character go off to live on a beach somewhere. :) Blizzard does this with EVERY character you play as, though... something I am only aware of being done ONE other time, that being with J.C. Denton in "Deux Ex" (and that being equally... unhappy...for me!)

If the game had stuck to the pitch it would be more like Diablo: The Gathering, i.e. you'd constantly be paying for "expansions" to get better weapons and EXP. Otherwise known as loot boxes.

Thanks for sharing, good read. I have spent so much time playing this game... odd info. Like this is cool.