Diablo III Interview Leads to Unexpected Facebook Bitching

What should have been a harmless little interview with a video games website has turned into something of an internet Diablo soap opera after David Brevik, the co-founder of Blizzard North and one of the key men involved with the creation of Diablo, said some unkind things about Diablo III.

After claiming that Diablo III was “a very different game than I would have created” – Brevik no longer works at Blizzard, and Blizzard North was closed down during Diablo III’s development – he goes on to say:

I have very mixed emotions about it (laughs). On one hand I am sad that people haven’t enjoyed Diablo because it’s a love, a passion, and its obvious people still have a giant love and passion for Diablo and they are speaking out about it because they have such love for it. That makes me feel great.

I am sad because people are outraged and, you know, some of the decision they have made are not the decisions I would make and there have been changes in philosophy and that hasn’t gone over very well. I think in that way I am a little sad.

I am also a little happy, which I hate to say, it shows that the people that were involved in Diablo really did matter, and so I am happy that it has come to light that how talented that group was and how unique and special that group was. I am hoping that, as this happens very often in the industry, you see it with Call of Duty and things like that , when the people leave the game changes and it shows how critical people are in this industry.

Understandably, some of those involved in the creation of Diablo III were upset by the comments. Unusually, though, they took to the public forum of Facebook to voice their displeasure, with Diablo III lead designer Jay Wilson reportedly saying “fuck that loser” on this comments thread, while other Blizzard developers chime in with similar, if less colourful sentiments.

Interestingly, by the time I visited the thread Wilson’s comment wasn’t there. So there’s no proof he even said this. But seeing as Blizzard’s Jill Harrington is directly referencing his comment, and her comment is still there (it was visible in the “original” image below that’s been circulating all evening), it does seem likely. Nevertheless, because I didn’t get a chance to see Wilson’s post there myself, I’ve contacted Blizzard for comment, and will update if we hear back.

The original interview on IncGamers is at time of posting inaccessible, but you can check out a cached version here

[thanks everyone!]