14 DAY TRIAL // Just as the closed beta for Diablo III is being rolled out, Blizzard has revealed a few interesting details about its ongoing tests with the role playing dungeon crawler on consoles, and how their controllers are much better suited to its type of gameplay.
Blizzard has been mainly a computer-based developer, as many of its games were released only on such platforms, like the PC or Mac, and the upcoming Diablo III is no exception, even if the company admitted that it's been running tests with it on current consoles like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
Now, after deploying yesterday the closed beta for Diablo III onto its Battle.net online service, Blizzard has revealed an interesting detail about its ongoing console tests, and how at least its game director, Jay Wilson, believes the controllers make for a better input method than the traditional mouse and keyboard from the PC or Mac.
"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 told PC Gamer. "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.'"
Wilson is quick to point out that a decision concerning Diablo III on consoles has yet to be made, but, if it does happen, then controller support for the PC and Mac editions will certainly appear to even things outs.
"I can pretty much guarantee that if we decide to do a console version that we will look to support a pad on the PC," said Wilson. "But initially with release I don't think we'll be ready."
Seeing as how Diablo III's closed beta has just kicked off, it's safe to presume that the game will be released in the first half of 2012, for the PC and Mac platforms, at least.