Diablo 3 "feels better" with a game pad

By Fred Dutton Published 22 September, 2011

Blizzard discusses console experiments.

Blizzard's much-anticipated PC action RPG Diablo 3 "feels even better" when played with a console-style controller, according to game director Jay Wilson.

Wilson told PC Gamer that Blizzard's experiments with non-mouse inputs have proved enlightening.

"One of the reasons why we're exploring the idea of a console version of Diablo 3 because we feel that the controls and the style of the game lend itself to a console," he explained.

"With some of our early experiments in putting a direct control scheme into the game via a 360-like analogue controller, I've been 'Oh this feels even better, with direct control…'"

Earlier this year, Blizzard started recruiting a team to investigate a console Diablo, though has stopped short of confirming a Diablo 3 port is officially in development.

If a console version does get off the ground, Wilson said he could "pretty much guarantee" that "we will look to support a pad on the PC."

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About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 8 months ago

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  • orpheus #1 8 months ago

    It'd 'feel better' if we didn't have to be online 24/7 to fucking play it.

    Wankers.

  • spekkeh #2 8 months ago

    Begun the fanboy wars has.

  • riceNpea #3 8 months ago

    by that logic masturbation feels better then sex

  • Firvulag #4 8 months ago

    sounds good :D
    i love using my 360 controller on the PC

  • M4RV #5 8 months ago

    Is Blizzard intentionally trying to a alienate their fanbase...?! Just wondering.

  • hosepha #6 8 months ago

    Wow! I know the internet is a place to be angry and unreasonable but really?! A developer says something that, as far as I can tell, can only be interpreted positively. Adding to the game, taking away nothing and some people are straight in with the vitriol!
    Edited by hosepha at 22/09/11 @ 20:10

  • SimonM7 #7 8 months ago

    Maybe they just speak their mind and don't really care one way or another if players dividing themselves into arbitrary camps has people flipping their shit on the internet.

  • Wyrm #8 8 months ago

    This statement will get a load of abuse I'm sure, but Diablo on the PSOne was great with a controller, I find that much more comfortable than constantly holding down the left mouse button.

  • oi #9 8 months ago

    "we will look to support a pad on the PC"

    Do that and I'll start caring about Diablo 3. I spend 99% of my gaming time on PC and whilst I'm perfectly proficient using a keyboard and mouse with gaming, I simply do not enjoy doing so and very much prefer using a pad.

  • Apaar #10 8 months ago

    Awesome, I can see no downside to this. However, to me Diablo=click,click,click, so me and my mouse will again be inseparable. But it is always excellent to have choices.

  • dirtysteve #11 8 months ago

    Blizzard - 'God we love bringing out the troll in our PC fans, seriously, some days we feel like telling them we're going console only, just to see the rage'

  • Scimarad #12 8 months ago

    This is even controversial? A third person action-rpg is better with a controller...It's not exactly a revelation is it?

  • Gearskin #13 8 months ago

    I always get RSI out of moving the character with the mouse, killing things with the mouse, managing the inventory with the mouse, picking up items with the mouse.

    Click Click Click Click.

    Button press. Nice

  • Scimarad #14 8 months ago

    You are aware that a controller had LOTS of buttons? Just saying;)

    I've gotta say, I find it amusing/borderline annoying that every time someone asks a question regarding a gamepad in PC gaming thread you can virtually guarantee that within minutes some idiot will post "What do want to use a pad for?"

    One of the great things about PCs is that you have the CHOICE! Some games I like playing with M+K/B and some I like playing with a gamepad...yes, even some first person ones!
    Edited by Scimarad at 22/09/11 @ 20:33

  • syra #15 8 months ago

    Jay Wilson says stupid shit in the midst of fanboy rage.

    Confirmed.

    Clearly gamepad was the plan all along, and I ACTUALLY AGREE. I got horrible RSI from playing d2, and I'v been resting my wrist for months so i can play d3. Gamepad would be so much better.


    considering they spent like 10 years on it im actually genuinely annoyed they didnt have it supported for gamepad months ago...its the only game on pc i would ever consider gamepad for though
    Edited by syra at 22/09/11 @ 20:36

  • Canyarion #16 8 months ago

    Diablo 3 on Wii U!


    Incredibly unlikely, but a guy can dream right?

  • GAmbrose #17 8 months ago

    360 pad on PC is ace. It's how I played Mafia II, Fallout: NV and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It's also how I plan to play RAGE and Skyrim.

    Infront of a 50" Plasma TV on the sofa, with the benefit of spangly PC graphics and fast loading.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #18 8 months ago

    Nothing wrong with giving players more options. I don't know why people go crazy over Blizz announcing/planning pad support, Diablo 3 is hardly the first action rpg to use a pad - have people already forgotten about the SNES and the absolutely brilliant action rpgs for it? A pad simply works wonderfully in a game like this.

  • robostac #19 8 months ago

    I much preferred playing the 360 version of torchlight, the pad controls were very nice on it. It'd be great if they could support this on diablo3

  • CaptainKid #20 8 months ago

    Duuh.
    Third person feels better/more natural on a console.

    Except on a keyboard you have dozens of extra keys which could come in handy with a rpg.

  • DavoTheDiv #21 8 months ago

    The mouse is dead. Long live the console pad!!

  • kassmageant #22 8 months ago

    after playing sacred and torchlight on xbox, i agree completely - tried them on pc afterwards, and experience seems much less visceral, more like playing rts with only one unit

    and before some pc fanboys will neg me down - my soso was TP'ing way to baal's throne way before most of you knew how to press " power" button on your Pentium III desktop : p

  • yegon #23 8 months ago

    Cue lots of pathetic argument.

    Me, I'm PC all the way on this but choice is good.

    That said, I don't think ranged characters work that well with pads. Inexplicably skipped Torchlight on the PC, loved playing a melee character on the 360, but ranged didn't play as well imo.

  • Ryboy #24 8 months ago

    Stick your control pad up your clacker. Cunts.

  • craziii #25 8 months ago

    who cares? so long as they don't change pc kb & m controls to accommodate the console version like all the other devs. I hope my trust isn't gonna be step on.

  • kassmageant #26 8 months ago

    @yegon

    that's good point. they should try to implement systems from twin stick shooters - if that's possible

  • bratmandu #27 8 months ago

    Diablo 4 is kinnect only.

  • Azilis #28 8 months ago

    The problem with this is that it sounds like (I'm not saying it is, as I haven't played the game) they've developed the game with console controls in mind, which might mean that the mouse/keyboard control scheme is not as good as it could be. See Dungeon Siege 3 as a perfect example of this.

    I don't think even the most die-hard PC gamer actually has a problem with the concept of the game controlling well (or better) with a gamepad. They have a problem with the mouse/keyboard controls not being as good as they could be as a result.
    Edited by Azilis at 22/09/11 @ 21:59

  • dfinit #29 8 months ago

    the title should read "Diablo 3 "sels better" with a game pad" 'cause huge market waiting there...

    If you step back and look at the big picture: ever since the blizzard/activision merged, every important strategic/design decision will somehow eventually involve an even more brilliant way to maximize the income. They’re always adding to it a PR-patch with politically correct speeches and “it’s for the love of you, make you a better, easier life”.

    Don’t get me wrong, I still admire the quality of their products. And finally it is a profit-driven society.

    The issue for me is that, gradually, the blizzard product will become more and more “general-purpose”, “full-range” compatibility to attract everybody. It will lose depth and gain surface. It will still show a good quality, but more superficial and less subtle content wise. And decidedly less originality because the artistic side we admired and enjoyed will be sacrificed for larger audience.

    cheers
    Edited by dfinit at 22/09/11 @ 22:12

  • arcam #30 8 months ago

    If a console version does get off the ground, Wilson said he could "pretty much guarantee" that "we will look to support a pad on the PC."

    If it feels better with a pad, why not support it whether there's a console version or not? Or have I interpreted that wrong, because that statement makes no sense to me.

  • bcxixa10 #31 8 months ago

    @Orpheus Sory men but i have to agree wtih that policy. When im playing WOW i dont want fucking hackers in my game. I dont want people that dont buy subscription in my game. Its a world were the Pc its always hurt because the games alwaeys leak online. So i want the right thing, that i can have fun without some kid come in and fuck everything up.

  • CamberGreber #32 8 months ago

    No offense to Diablo Fans but...

    I hate clicking on enemies to kill them.

  • Freek #33 8 months ago

    The PC elitism is apparently so bad some of the "faithfull collective" forgot they can just hook up a controller to a PC aswell and that for some games that actaully plays better.
    Life is more fun if you do not have a stick up your ass.
    Edited by Freek at 23/09/11 @ 08:19

  • Inmediasress #34 8 months ago

    Well Blizzard goes to chase the console market wonderfull, not that they are a good dev anymore but fanboys tend to disagree. I wouldn't be too surprised if their next game releases will be multiplat from the start (god I hate the game industry).
    From a costumer point of view it sure as hell didn't do any good for Blizzard to sell out to Activision of all publishers.
    Oh well for all it's worth to me, I wouldn't even mind now if the whole Diablo3 was console only.

    The sort of "improvements" they made to it are basically screaming consoles anyway, which isn't exactly bad since I have no problem with consoles, other than that they are influencing my PC gaming hobby, but then again I think by next gen I'm pretty much going to quit gaming altogether.

  • butler` #35 8 months ago

    If they support pad on PC, i'll be the happiest gamer in teh world.

    I use m/kb 8+ hours a day at work

  • 43n1m4 #36 8 months ago

    Have always wondered why Blizzard didn't make a Diablo 2 version for XBLA or PSN. Anybody who has tried Torchlight on the consoles know that gamepads work rather well with the ARPGs. As Diablo 3 doesn't look too demanding, all bets are off.

  • ps3owner #37 8 months ago

    so hang on, a mouse is click click click ...

    what do you do to hit a monster with a pad? hit A A A A A A?! or whatever button it's mapped to.

    god I am old. I am starting to loathe change.

  • Darren #38 8 months ago

    I much prefer playing PC games with a controller myself, a black Xbox S 360 one no less, so I welcome this news. As long as the game also supports purist's keyboard and mouse controls with an appropriately revised HUD then I don't see what people are complaining about. The way some people go on you'd think it isn't possible to support both yet Deus Ex: Human Revolution seemed to manage it just fine as do many other games. :?

  • TheApologist #39 8 months ago

    How is a pad 'direct control'? Weird.

    Anyway, this story reads like Blizzard think people playing on PC don't use gamepads and haven't done since forever. PC is a land of options and choice - they should be looking to add different control methods whether they are porting to console or not.

  • Spekingur #40 8 months ago

    Next up: Diablo 3 - on Kinect.
    Edited by Spekingur at 23/09/11 @ 10:11

  • Gibroon #41 8 months ago

    With a game like Diablo, using an analogue stick for character movement has a far better feel and gives you more control then constantly clicking to move somewhere imo. I can see the point about ranged attacks not being quite so accurate though.

    So long as they don't dumb down the stats and skill trees. Dungeon Seige 3 was quite enjoyable but the lack of skills was obviously aimed too much towards consoles.

  • geeza2020 #42 8 months ago

    They've only just figured this out? I'm pretty sure the devs of Torchlight realised this years ago, thats why they made the fantastic port of Torchlight for the 360. Are Blizzard so bloated and fat now that they dont know/care what their competition has done?

  • Mik3yB #43 8 months ago

    Oh no!!! They've added an additional way to play the game?!!? :D

    I'm playing Dungion Seige 3 on the pc at the moment and I'm loving it with the 360 pad. The RB to pick up loot is very intuitive, weird how more games don't use it for that function.

  • bratmandu #44 8 months ago

    Here's the shocker - the mouse is not the best and most ergonomic form of input - it's an early input device that the industry never bothered to update since the 50s (apart from making them less pointy). Pads were designed for gaming, and comfort over long periods of use. Mice are for clicking on windows and dragging/dropping, not gaming. The longer game devs try to tailor their games to an archaic form of input from the 50s, the worse it is for progress in gaming innovation.

  • Mono_X #45 8 months ago

    I remember playing Diablo 2 and thinking this would be more comfortable with a pad.

    Diablo is Gauntlet but with stats and lots of loot! :p

  • spekkeh #46 8 months ago

    The issue for me is that, gradually, the blizzard product will become more and more “general-purpose”, “full-range” compatibility to attract everybody. It will lose depth and gain surface. It will still show a good quality, but more superficial and less subtle content wise. And decidedly less originality because the artistic side we admired and enjoyed will be sacrificed for larger audience.

    What are you yapping on about. Blizzard games, since Warcraft 1, have always been completely mainstream and designed to pander to a large audience. One of the main reasons why Warcraft was a better game than its contemporary Command & Conquer was because the big colorful sprites and fewer units appealed to archetypes and therefore made the game more accessible. I don't think I even have to mention WoW. Decidedly less originality? Their two main franchises, Warcraft and Starcraft, are completely derivative of Warhammer.

  • Architect_z #47 8 months ago

    Moving characters in game I found is always easier on a gamepad, PC's are still fine, but I reckon Diablo would be good to use on a pad. Although picking up items sounds like a bit of a hassle with a pad.

  • 5h1nj1 #48 8 months ago

    There is stuff connected with this, most of you don't seem to realize at all. It's not just the way you control your character. The whole interface has to be designed for joypads. Everything.
    And I don't remeber even one game of similar genre, where that went well. There are always sacrifices to be made, usually stuff like inventory, shopping and so on. It all becomes absolutely unergonomic compared to well designed mouse controls.
    So, this is not just added value. This can (and probably will) mean a worse user interface overall. Surely there won't be two different ui depending on controller used...
    Oh well, they managed to cut this from my shop list with the always online and real money crap anyway.

  • username84 #49 8 months ago

    @ricenpea

    "by that logic masturbation feels better then sex "

    By THAT logic you have no grasp of logic.

  • GamesConnoisseur #50 8 months ago

    I m bored with the need for Pure PC gaming which MUST be untainted by consoles, we ain't in the world of pure wizards versus Muggles or Mudbloods.

    Yes there are worse example of dumbing down gaming and yet there are also benefits.

    If you are looking for zero contamination, you will have a very much narrow selection. They are developing Diablo III for PC from ground up then port possibly.. What's the crime?! Gamepad? That should be an option and indeed preferred by some PC gamer.

  • GamesConnoisseur #51 8 months ago

    I m bored with the need for Pure PC gaming which MUST be untainted by consoles, we ain't in the world of pure wizards versus Muggles or Mudbloods.

    Yes there are worse example of dumbing down gaming and yet there are also benefits.

    If you are looking for zero contamination, you will have a very much narrow selection. They are developing Diablo III for PC from ground up then port possibly.. What's the crime?! Gamepad? That should be an option and indeed preferred by some PC gamer.

  • Azilis #52 8 months ago

    "I'm playing Dungion Seige 3 on the pc at the moment and I'm loving it with the 360 pad. The RB to pick up loot is very intuitive, weird how more games don't use it for that function."

    I liked DS3 overall, but I can state definitively that in my case, playing the game with a 360 controller was nowhere near as fluid as Diablo II's mouse/keyboard controls. Aiming attacks as a ranged character or magic user is more difficult, and gives the player less control over their abilities.

    A lot of the people who are writing this off as a PC fanboy issue don't seem to realize that "direct control" and "point-and-click" are very different control schemes at a basic level. Supporting a gamepad pretty much requires direct control: using the analog stick to position your character and then aiming attacks based pretty much entirely on your character's position. You can't very easily, say, aim a meteor to land at a specific location on the screen like you can with a point-and-click interface. You also can't easily target a specific enemy at which to fire off a ranged attack.

    Which brings us to why some of us feel a bit concerned about this. If your control scheme can't support accurate aiming, character skills and abilities have to be designed in a way to accommodate this flaw (and yeah, it is a flaw . . . there's no arguing that). Point-and-click may lack some of the visceral feel of a direct control interface, but good animations and sound effects can go a long way towards making up for that.

    If I had my way, I'd have the game be designed for a point-and-click interface for the PC release, and then redesign things as necessary for a console release. Basically what the developers of Sacred 2 did.

  • drhickman1983 #53 8 months ago

    Sounds good to me. Yes controllers are inferior to keyboard/mouse set ups for FPS games, RTS games and point and click games (and text based games too, should any still be around). But it doesn't mean they're inferior for every genre. And it's not like they've threatened to remove the standard keyboard/mouse control system, and nor will they.

  • butler` #54 8 months ago

    How is a pad 'direct control'? Weird.

    It's pretty straight forward. It's 1:1, where mouse isn't. A video of it in action here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J22sIG-W...