What's so special about the music in Diablo 3?

The charm of the dark and dangerous dungeons of Diablo 3 cannot be described. It can only be felt. Adding intensity to the atmosphere is the splendid music of Diablo 3. Few people – apart from regular gamers – would know that music can break or make the popularity of a game. It's the soundtrack that brings the environment alive in a game. The entire Diablo series – rather all of Blizzard's creations – have fantastic sound effects and a dedicated soundtrack. Matt Uelman is the guy behind all the music that makes Blizzard games so fantastic. Blizzard put together a brand new team for the music of Diablo 3. These people had worked on other Blizzard projects but never together as a team. They had plenty of experience including that of giving the world the much-loved soundtrack of World of Warcraft. Incidentally, all of Blizzard soundtracks and music elements from all their games can are on sale at their online store.

The Diablo 3 Audio Team included Russell Brower who holds the title of director for Audio and Video at Blizzard Entertainment. Brower gets the credit for composing much of the music that has gone into Diablo 3. Lead Sound Designer Joseph Lawrence is to be praised for much of the sound effects and contribution to the main score.

Blizzard has taken the classical route with its orchestral main track rather than the pop or rock genre. The full orchestral score that surely wow gamers and non-gamers alike is the Diablo 3 Overture.

Several fans have written to Blizzard about the music seeking details. Brower has given extensive replies to questions from fans including a statement that the Diablo 3 music is nothing like the music Blizzard has created ever before. Brower says the music was created with the idea that it should make the game appealing to both new gamers and professionals. Apart from that, said Brower, extra effort was made to explore new concepts in the sound for Diablo 3. Blizzard has state-of-the-art sound studios at its head office in Irvine, California. Community manager Bashiok says, Diablo 3 music has much more emphasis on the mood of the environment and situation in the game unlike ever before.

What is BattleTag in Diablo 3?

Blizzard is introducing BattleTag™ - a new system of identification of players – in Diablo 3. Players can use a handle or nickname as their BattleTag™ which will identify them across the entire Battle.net in all the games created by Blizzard Entertainment, their official websites, and in community forums.

BattleTag™ will be the new system for managing profiles, chatting with friends, creating groups and teams to play the player-versus-player mode, etc. The idea is to allow players to stay connected across multiple games with the same identity.

Gamers can choose their unique BattleTag™ through the Battle.net Account Management. There is one difference between regular handles and BattleTag™. Player would also be able to use their BattleTag™ to post in forums and communities on the official websites.

Blizzard has said that they would integrate BattleTag™ into their other games like World of Warcraft® and StarCraft® II and all the websites and forums to make sharing of information easier.

The best part is that BattleTag™ is not going to be unique so gamers don't have to worry that their BattleTag™ is already picked by someone else. The only regulation to this is that gamers would have to follow the guidelines of the BattleTag Naming Policy. Only one BattleTag™ would be linked to one Battle.net account.

Every BattleTag™ gets a 4-digit BattleTag™ code which makes the full chosen name unique. The BattleTag™ and code is viewable as soon as the gamer logs in. BattleTag™ can be added to friends' lists.
You need to go to the BattleTag™ creation page to create your identity. BattleTag™ will not affect the Armory Profiles. BattleTag™ will surely be a new way to make friends and communicate with friends across games. Meanwhile, the gamer's Real ID friendships would continue to function with all its features.

BattleTag™ will only be another method to connect online apart from the Real ID. For example, even if two players are not friends via the Real ID, they can become friends through BattleTag™. BattleTag™ is an interesting feature that would expand the social-networking aspect of the Blizzard games. It would also give players a dual-identity option in a way when combined with Real ID!

Are online transactions going to be safe in Diablo 3?

The most-talked about new aspects of Diablo 3 is the dual- money auction house system. Gamers can use both in-game money and real-world cash to buy items in the third edition of the Sanctuary War against the Armies from Hell. Blizzard has chosen not to regulate the money system in the game and would not sell any of its own products through the game. The dual-money system would apply to the Diablo 3 gamers only.

Without any Blizzard control, the Diablo 3 economy is going to be extremely volatile with tremendous fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Blizzard has put in place elaborate security arrangements to ensure that gamers do not put their credit card and monetary-transaction details to risk.

A special tab titled the Blizzard Battle.net Balance would allow gamers to add real-world cash to their gaming account in Diablo 3. The Balance tab would work with popular international online money transaction services like PayPal, acceptance of credit cards, etc. Players can store their cash in the Auction House through the Balance tab.

However, the withdrawal of real-world money from Diablo 3 would work only in some regions where the local laws allow it. All online transactions for withdrawal of real-world money would also attract a small fee. Players can, of course, use the real-world cash to buy items in the game. So, even if the in- game gold is low, players can simply use credit cards and PayPal to stock up their arsenal.

There will also be a limit on the amount of cash players can keep in their Diablo 3 account. Blizzard would only access and withdraw the cash – depending upon local laws – if an account is not used for more than three years.

There are gamers who have openly criticized this system in gaming forums. Some players say this dual-money system is going to encourage gambling. Others fear that hackers would find another platform in the gaming world as amateurs get duped. Overall, most gamers feel that the dual-money system is only going to raise the stakes and increase the excitement. In any case, the dual-money system works in some regions only depending upon security regulations and locals laws.

D3S shows the way to dominate Diablo 3

It is a horrible experience when someone tries to tell you what to do all the time. My elder brother is one such bully character. Over the years I have mastered the technique to switch on my zombie state when my brother starts talking. He can give instructions and advice without being asked on every subject under the sun.

Therefore, when he started off with Diablo 3, I just didn't pay attention. He continued to follow me around for days before giving up. I had no intentions of hearing his views on Diablo 3 as I had my own ideas about how to play the game.

But then, something happened this Sunday. I found one of my classmates talking intensely to my brother. I also found out later that my brother had actually leveled up in Diablo 3 within a week and was now going around teaching others how to do it.

For once, I went out of my way to talk to my brother. He behaved rudely at first but then told me about the ultimate guide to Diablo 3 - the Diablo 3 Secrets. All  I can say is that my gaming life has never been the same again!

Diablo 3 - Does Peng Joon know best?

Can you level up 1-60 in six day with 23 hours of playing time and have all the five level 60 characters in Diablo 3? Yes, you can with the most comprehensive Diablo 3 Guide out there.

I have been following Peng Joon since Diablo 3 Beta was released. This surely is the most comprehensive guide on Diablo 3. The Guide comes with free updates. You would be surprised to know that I have maintained my lead over all the gamers in my college only because of this guide.

I am amazed at what PJ has covered. There is a complete information in the guide about walkthrough, details of quest requirements, quick breakdown of items required, full item viewer and analysis, etc. PJ's Guide answers every single question about Diablo 3. The guide can benefit both the amateur and the professional.

The detailed maps are worth their weight in gold considering that you are never going to get lost in Sanctuary again. That should reduce your playing time by more than half. I give full marks to PJ.

How does Diablo 3 recreate old magic?

One of the best parts about Diablo 3 is that despite all its new design, style, and playing system, it maintains the old storyline of Diablo series. It’s the traditional theme of saving Sanctuary from Armies of Hell which is a huge hit with fans. The 'looting items and killing monsters' fun continues in Diablo 3.

The graphics are brand new and more exciting. The basic game play continues in the third edition with greater emphasis on strategy as compared to skills. So, if you've played Diablo games before, you won't have any problems getting into the action right away. The problems would arise in leveling up! All the old fun – crushing, exploding, decimating demons, burning, slashing, etc – is there with new difficulty levels.

The atmosphere, the nostalgia, the mood, and the colors are very impressive. Diablo 3 has its own style quotient. To add to the charm of the traditional storyline is the return of Deckard Cain, Tristram and its Cathedral, Natalya, return to Adria's Hut (from Diablo 1), Den of Evil (Diablo 2), Cemetery of the Forsaken (similar to one in Diablo 2), and more.

Some gamers say Blizzard has overdone the effort to keep the old essence alive from previous Diablo editions. However, overall, fans are going crazy about Diablo 3 as for the previous editions.

The Diablo 3 music too builds on the old traditions of sound effects. But they have brought in a fantastic new music score and sound-effects pack for Diablo 3. The mood of the game is much more intense than before because of the special combination of color and sound. The typical guitar sounds that Diablo fans love are all there as is Deckard Cain's unique voice and speaking style. Blizzard put in special effort to have all the music recorded at its in-house facilities. Attention was paid to the combination of sound and color throughout the development of Diablo 3.

A special orchestral theme makes Diablo 3 magical even in audio. Top gamers are suggesting that the special branded Diablo 3 headphones are absolutely essential for players to get a full feel of the fantastic music that has been created for Diablo 3.

Leveling Like Lightning for More Fun in Diablo III

Now that the Lord of Terror has returned to haunt the world of Sanctuary, filling the lands with his murderous, gibbering demonic minions, there is plenty of opportunity to be a hero. However, it's hard to feel like your character is a legend of the land when they're low level. There are many advantages to leveling your character up to at least the mid levels as fast as you can.

One reason is just that it's more interesting to play a character at higher levels. Characters don't have many powers at low levels, and hitting one or two buttons every time, in every encounter, doesn't give you the feeling that your character is moving through the game like a well-honed whirlwind of righteous destruction – they feel more like a beginner chopping wood.

You can learn how to advance your character fast up the level ladder in the Diablo 3 Secrets guide, which shows you how to level your hero fast and make plenty of gold while doing it, too. As you build your character up, you'll also be able to buy much more exciting armor and weapons on the auction house, using the gleaming trove of gold that the guide teaches you how to earn.

You can also participate more fully with your friends. If you trail them in leveling, then you're never going to be able to smite the forces of darkness at their side. However, with powerful leveling system that you'll find in the Diablo 3 Secrets guide, you'll have the choice of keeping pace with them, or speeding on ahead and making them play the catch-up game while you're going toe to toe with Diablo's most dreadful minions and winning!

Leveling with the greatest efficiency always varies from class to class, so generic leveling information won't serve you as well as a more detailed, in-depth guide.

That's why the Diablo 3 Secrets guide is one of the best you can make use of to boost your character swiftly to the levels where they become not merely another hero wannabe, but one of the avenging swords of the High Heavens – a powerful, deadly hero wielding many powers and bristling with the most potent magic armor and weapons.