Diablo III Cinematics and Site Updates

Update #2 - Achievements are live
Update #1 - 3D Model viewer is now working for everything in the database, check out Imperius' and Azmodan's models for reference. It's a little glitchy with some monsters but we're working on it.

First of all, major spoiler warning. If you don't want the game spoiled, don't watch the videos. If you don't mind then prepare to have your brains melted by the always impressive talent of Blizzard's cinematic team. Click the thumbnails below to watch the 4 in-game cinematics for Diablo III.

Database Updates & Ongoing Maintenance

We are still in the process of importing the retail patch data into our website. This resulted in a lengthy maintenance window to iron out some nasty bugs. We're finally at a place where we can soft launch some of the data though. There are disabled sections, and some data isn't final, but we expect to have everything ready to go in the coming hours.

The following sections are currently unavailable:
- Zones
- Achievements

There are also these points of note:
- 3D model viewer is currently unavailable for a number of NPCs and items while we process the data.
- Legendary and Set items are still being adjusted. Set bonuses aren't up but they will be soon.
- Legendary and Set items are not available for use on the character planner while we work on the previous point.
- Quest data and conversations are mostly ready to go, but we're still verifying some of it.

Launch Day's Eve - Site Updates & What to Expect

The culmination of the anticipation from millions of fans has brought us here. We're now on the cusp of Diablo III's worldwide launch so I'm writing this post for general information on what to expect throughout the day on North America's May 14th, which will spill over into Europe and Asia's May 15th launch.

Database Updates

Diablo III's retail client unlocks around 8am PST, which means it's open for datamining. We will be taking the website offline for maintenance for what I hope will be a short period of time to update all of the sections with retail data. When the website comes back online, it will be spoiler city. We will keep any news we post protected with spoiler warnings, but if you decide to venture into quest, bestiary or zone sections, be forewarned that there will be spoilers.

Certain areas of the website may take a bit longer to update due to the processes we must undertake to make the data presentable. This includes NPC to Zone connections, hit points on NPCs, 3D models, and Zone maps. We are hoping to have the site 100% functional and accurate before the midnight launch in North America and will be working throughout the day to ensure we meet that goal.

Irvine Launch Party

One of our administrators, Sardis, will be flying down to crash Blizzard & Gamestop's launch party in Irvine, California. He'll be giving away free copies of the Book of Cain and chatting up anybody that wants to talk Diablo or to learn more about our website.

The Great Comment Purge of May 13th

As an unintended side-effect of a beta key contest we ran, many of you probably noticed the high amounts of less-than-helpful comments throughout the database sections. We spent the weekend filtering through and purging a large number of comments to prepare for launch. We apologize if any of your good comments were flagged as false positives and removed, but we felt this action was best to promote a healthy Diablo III community moving forward.

We have also reset the ratings on any comments in the Skill and Item sections. If a comment was rated higher than 1 it has been set to 1, if a comment was rated under -1 it has been set to -1. Due to the volume of new members during the contest that indiscriminately rated comments, it created a situation where it would be almost impossible for the community to self-moderate. We expect this decision will greatly assist our community in promoting helpful, informative comments and burying redundant ones.

New Site Achievements

With the addition of our forum, many were wondering if we'd add a few new site achievements for activity there. I'm pleased to report that we enabled 4 new forum related achievements that are attainable on the 1st, 100th, 500th and 1000th post milestone. We've also added new achievements for submitting screenshots & videos on database sections.

If you visit D3DB on May 15th you will receive the exclusive avatar seen here to commemorate the occasion!

New Downloaders for EU English and German & RMAH One-Week Delay

There appears to have been an issue with the EU English and German versions of the retail installer. If you downloaded it before May 12, you can download a 50MB fix that will allow you to properly install the game come May 15.

RMAH One-Week Delay Reminder

Choose Your Correct Region & Developer's Class of Choice

Update #1: Blizzard has released another promotional video titled "What is Diablo III". Added it below.

Choose Your Correct Region

A reminder that global play will not be enabled until all regions are live. You will not be able to login to the game unless your correct region is selected.

Developer's Class of Choice

There have been a number of polls to find out which class fans are drawn to, but what about the minds behind the game? Jay Wilson, Wyatt Cheng and a handful of other developers share which class they will be playing and the reasons behind their choice. Click here to find out.

What is Diablo III?

IGN's Diablo in 5 Minutes

Whether you're new to the Diablo franchise or are just in need of a refresher, IGN has released a good summary of the story leading up to Diablo III. There's an article which is very well done and possibly the best I've ever seen on IGN, as well as a video titled "Diablo in 5 Minutes". You can read the entire article or view the video below.

D3DB's Exclusive Interview With Christina Sims, the Female Monk

Everyone at D3DB has always appreciated people in the gaming community expressing their passion for the games they love. Heck, it's why we built this site!

We love seeing people really get passionate about gaming franchises, and the characters in those games. Cosplaying is a prime example of that. Whether it's just slapping on some blood elf ears, or going all out and spending every second of your spare time on a costume for over a year; expressing yourself in anything you love gets a big thumbs up from us.

That's why we wanted to reach out to the community and talk to some of these people, because without you Barbs / Zards / Hunts / Monks and Docs D3DB wouldn't be the most bad@$$ diablo site on the internet.

We first met Christina personally at Blizzcon last year during the ZAM party, and ever since then we've wanted to interview her.
(P.S. We're so bummed about there not being a Blizzcon this year too)

So without further delay, Christina Sims!

D3DB: You've gotten quite the fan following for your amazing cosplay abilities. You're known in many circles for your creations, Blizzard themed ones and others; where did it all start? Was it a switch that just clicked on one day, or was it something you always had aspirations to do?

CS:  I was initially inspired by the cosplayers I saw at the first Blizzcon I had ever attended: Blizzcon 2007. I had no idea that people went to conventions in costume and it was extremely interesting to me to see people walking around as blood elves, naga and other iconic Blizzard characters. I had asked a few cosplayers there how they created their costumes. After talking with them and seeing their excitement and pride in their work, I decided that I would try it for Blizzcon 2008.

D3DB:  Was / is there anyone in the cosplay community who inspired or motivated you?

CS:  Back then I didn't know many other cosplayers. I didn't even know there was such a large community for it. I would surf the internet for pictures of other Blizzard cosplayers and see if they had blogs or tutorials online. There were so many people that inspired me (and keep inspiring me!) through the costumes they created alone. One of them is currently my roommate. :) I feel like I've gone from knowing absolutely no one to knowing this fantastic cosplay community where everyone has a different style or technique. Many of my friends are constant sources of  inspiration to me.

D3DB:  What was your very first costume, and how did it turn out?

CS:  My very first costume was a Sunwell Paladin for Blizzcon 2008. It was a bit over my current crafting skill level (which was 0). I used very basic and inexpensive materials which exploded after multiple wears.  Through the process of creating that costume I learned so much about the basics of construction, so even if the costume didn't last, what I learned from creating it did. I ended up being a finalist in the Blizzcon costume contest that year.

 

D3DB:  How long have you been a cosplayer for?

CS:  Since Blizzcon 2008. I've been hooked since then.

D3DB:  The amount of detail in your creations is amazing. How much time would you say you invested into the Monk outfit?

CS:  Too much. /laugh. I don't even know how many hours I spent on that costume. That costume contained a lot of "firsts" for me. First time doing a serious sewing project. First time learning leather working. It took about 8 months to finish, but a lot of that was trial and error. Small chunks of time invested over a long period of time combined with a steep learning curve dotted with frustration.

D3DB:  Your Monk outfit has become world famous, and must be extremely exciting for you. Has all the fame and success caught you totally off guard?

CS:  I don't really consider myself famous by any means, or even well known. I'm a pretty quiet, chill person (you may even say ... zen) and I keep to myself for the most part. I am greatly appreciative of the people that enjoy my costumes and I do my best to share my experiences with others. I've been recognized on the street and at conventions, and that is a bit strange to me. Answering questions people may have is an enjoyable experience; I remember that I was once that person coming up to cosplayers at Blizzcon 2007 and asking a flurry of inquiries. You never know when you can inspire someone. 


(ZEN - Photo by Thomas L Hicks)

D3DB:  Has anyone every recognized you (out of costume) as the "Monk girl from Blizzcon?" Do you have to carry around a pen for autographs.

CS:  It's happened a couple times on the street, but recognition happens more often at conventions. Usually at Cryptozoic's Darkmoon Faire events (where I am portraying a World of Warcraft character) I get requests to sign cards of the character I am currently dressed as or I am asked to sign play mats. I'm happy to oblige. I usually don't carry around a pen though.

D3DB:  Can I have an autograph? It's… for my friend.

CS:  Haha, of course.

(She thought I was joking...)

D3DB:  When you decide to start a project, what inspires you to choose that character. Is it usually an attachment to the character personally, an aesthetic thing, or you're just drawn to them?

CS:  A character's design is one of the most important thing I take into consideration when I choose a cosplay project. You have to keep in mind that you will be looking at every little detail of that design for the next *extended and variable* period of time, so you can't get sick of looking at it or you lose motivation to finish. I play Paladin in World of Warcraft and I LOVE Monks and martial arts so I'm usually drawn to those particular classes first.

D3DB:  Was there an outfit that presented more predominant challenges than the rest?

CS:  Mother Shahraz was one of the most challenging, since I had to figure out how to attach multiple arms to a corset that had an open front. I ended up carving them out of foam with articulated joints in the elbows and fingers and attaching them via fishing line to my bracers so they moved when I moved my arms. The Monk was a challenge since it was first time working with leather. The Tier 12 Paladin was my first time working with fiberglass and bondo.

D3DB:  I'm personally going to be starting my own project soon, but have zero experience. It seems like a major task. I already have a character picked out (at least I think I do. I was going to do that guard from D3 in new Tristram. You know,… guard #4. (The "Move along" guy), but where does a complete nub like me start, and are there any common mistakes that could easily be avoided.


 

CS:  The internet is a wealth of information. For my first costume, all I did was pour over online tutorials and tried small projects until I felt more confidant in my abilities. A common mistake is deciding on a costume before deciding how much time, effort and money you want to put into it. People who pick an elaborate costume and don't plan a budget find themselves with a 40% finished costume with no more money to spend on it. People who try to speed through a costume due to time constraints sometimes end up disappointed in the outcome. I do encourage people to challenge themselves, but at the same time I warn them that they better have the time and budget available so they can properly learn from their experience.

D3DB:  All of your outfits have been stunning, but personally the Monk one is my favourite. I'm sure your fans are excited to see what's next. Can you give us a hint as to what's currently cooking in the cosplay kitchen?

CS:  My next costume will be Iron Solari Leona from League of Legends.

D3DB:  You founded Zerina Cosplay to showcase some of your work. What's the goal behind Zerina Cosplay, in the community and towards its fans.

CS:  The main goal behind my cosplay page was to provide cosplay pictures to the public and be able to answer crafting questions without having to add strangers on my personal Facebook. I prefer to keep my personal life and my hobbies separate. Not everyone I have on my personal Facebook cares to hear about cosplay all the time, and not everyone on my Facebook Page cares about my non-cosplay related opinions. It's been a good decision so far.

D3DB:  You're currently the brand ambassador at Cryptozoic Entertainment, and I saw your Vanessa Vancleef costume at a WoW TCG event. Is this a dream come true; having your professional career and your personal passion so intertwined?

CS:  I love portraying these iconic World of Warcraft characters at Cryptozoic's Darkmoon Faires, but it is just a small part of what I do at Cryptozoic. On a day to day basis, I am also the Volunteer and WoW TCG Judge Manager at Cryptozoic. It is great to be able to combine a hobby you love and a job you love into one place at these events, though.

D3DB:  I've seen you really get into your character. What sort of mentality do you have when you're cosplaying? Is it mainly just for fun, or do you sometimes "become" the Monk.

CS:  Your mindset will really affect your poses and expressions to the camera and everyone around you. In costume I do my best to reflect a character's personality as much as possible without actually delving too much into the role-playing aspect of it. I would imagine the Monk to be serious and balanced, zen-like and confidant. Vanessa VanCleef is a bit more violent and sneaky, and maybe just a bit "off". Alexstrasza is warm, serene and caring. In general, I don't walk around as the character or speak as the character would speak. I just try to have the personality I envision the character to have come out in poses.

D3DB:  Have you ever accidentally "Fists of Thundered" someone. (Or maybe on purpose?)

CS:  I have a black belt in Taekwondo, so there have been many instances of Fists of Thunder, and maybe a few Seven Sided Strikes. 

D3DB:  Tell me if this is a legitimate fear or just paranoia. You spend enough time playing the Monk role. You put the costume on and get into character. But eventually you're playing Monk more than you're being Christina. You start a "Monk Club" with your new Monk friend and take turns duelling each other within a system of rules ( #1 and #2 are the same, no talking about "Monk Club"). You find that for some reason you're sleeping less and less each night; waking up to find that you were doing "Monk things" instead of sleeping, but you don't remember. Next thing you know you're super confused because as it turns out the "Monk friend" you were duelling with is actually YOU, and you don't know what's going on so you have to lookup "Tyler Durden" on wikipedia for someone to explain it to you.

CS:  You don't talk about Monk Club. 

 

D3DB:  Did you play any of the other Diablo series? If so what were your favourite classes?

CS:  I also played Diablo 2, and I really had a lot of fun playing Amazon. It's been so long ... I should probably play through Diablo 2 again.

D3DB:  With the release of Diablo 3 right around the corner, I'm sure you're just as pumped as the rest of us to dive right in. I'm going to use my awesome powers of the obvious here and assume you'll be playing the Monk as your first main?

CS:  Absolutely!

D3DB:  What is it about the Monk that entices you so much?

CS:  I love martial arts, so I generally like playing classes that use martial arts as their primary form of DPS. I also love classes that have buffing abilities, so I'm looking forward to mantras and heals and being able to be a support-type Monk.

D3DB:  What's the second most tempting class for you, and why?

CS:  Witch Doctor, because their abilities are so crazy looking and entertaining! It's also been a long time since I've played a caster class.

D3DB:  I'm sure you've gotten your hands on the beta. What was your favourite ability, and which ability are you most looking forward to trying out.

CS:  I really like Lashing Tail Kick, since I like the knockback part of it. I'm looking forward to all of the high level mantras so I can buff my party!

D3DB:  If you could see absolutely any monk ability introduced to the game, what would it be?

CS:  Hmm, good question! I'm actually not sure. :)

D3DB:  Halloween… is it essentially just "Cosplay Candy Day" ™ for you , or is it all that much more awesome because you get to cosplay with everyone at the same time?

CS:  Halloween ... haha. Halloween is strange. It's acceptable to be in a costume, but then the typical crowd doesn't know what you are. I've had conversations that go something like, "Hey, what are you?" "A Paladin." "A what?" "...I'm a Knight." "Oh." Then they wander off looking confused. Halloween isn't like one big convention to me. If I want to go out, I have to be aware of things I don't have to watch out for as much at a convention: People that have had too much to drink, crowded venues where you are constantly being bumped and brushed against, getting in and out of transportation repeatedly ... TLDR: Don't bar or club hop during Halloween in an outrageous cosplay costume. Keep it simple.

D3DB:  What will you be going as this year?

CS:  I actually haven't thought about it. I just moved back to California from Colorado. Colorado Halloween costumes are "anything you can throw a parka over". I may do something more fun this year since the weather is much nicer in California.

D3DB:  For everyone out there who's currently a cosplayer, or people like me who are interested but haven't dived right in yet; do you have any words of wisdom for us?

CS:  Practice is key! Research and plan out your costume budget and time before even starting. Have a good idea of how you would like to construct your costume. Pattern out everything first. Invest in a mannequin or dress form and a basic sewing machine. Don't dive into the expensive materials first. Practice with the cheap stuff and go from there. Most of all, love the design you are creating and have fun with it!


D3DB.com would like to give a big thank you to Christina Sims for taking the time in giving us this interview. We can't wait to see what new creations you come up with next, and I'm sure we'll run into you at the next Blizzcon. (2013?)

Diablo III Database Unveils Major Site Upgrades

It's indescribable how happy I am to finally push up some of these changes, many of them which have been in development since last November. What started as wanting to improve our item database quickly evolved into one of the most complex projects I've ever been a part of. The more we decoded and understood the game's data, the more features we just had to create. Those familiar with the website may find all the new stuff a bit overwhelming to navigate, so I've created the following video tour to help introduce the changes.


If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions on the new features - you can post them in the comments area or on our brand new forum! Special thanks to Muaziz from D3Inferno for brainstorming with me whenever I got stuck.