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==Randomized vs. Pre-designed==
One big change in Diablo 3 vs. Diablo 2 is the fact that most surface areas in Diablo 3 will be non-random in their general layout. There will still be randomized elements on the surface; but the general shapes of the levels will not vary from game to game. This concept was explained by Diablo 3 Community Manager Bashiok in July 2009. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/bashiok-on-random-dungeon-levels/]
::Randomized levels can indeed create a very generic feeling if not done well. We’re working really hard to ensure that doesn’t happen though. It’s actually one of the reasons why our exterior layouts aren’t randomized. It’s extremely difficult to have wide open areas be randomized as well as interesting. Instead we have static exterior zones where the roads, towns, and edges are always in the same place. To keep some bits of random in there though we have a bunch of small, medium, and large pieces cut out of them. In those cut out pieces the game can then place the randomized “adventure” sets. They could be artistic in nature (a fountain, an abandoned cart), they could spawn extra enemies, or they could spawn quests.
::Our interiors are randomized, but we do some things differently that help make them more interesting. I think we accomplish this mostly by using our interior jigsaw pieces more intelligently, building more and different types of jigsaw pieces, and also because our artists are amazing. I don’t think anywhere in Diablo III are you going to think “This place is <u>not</u> visually interesting”. The types of interior pieces do make an enormous difference, and I think we’re pretty good at it now. In Diablo II for example you pretty much had a few standard square set pieces, and then a bunch of hallways. We still have those in Diablo III but we’re mixing it up a lot more with more intricate and interesting ‘showcase’ pieces that make it seem like they’re not even randomized levels.
Players who were able to explore the same areas in multiple games, especially the desert surface areas of Act 2, found the outlines repeating every game, but didn't mind the approach. The borders of levels were always the same, but they were much more interesting in their art design and layout than the largely square, right-angles at the edges of outdoor levels in Diablo 2. There were also a number of chests placed around the outer borders of the Diablo 3 surface levels, rewarding players who explored the entire area.
Contained within the surface areas were numerous sections where semi-random objects appeared; in different games a player might find empty space, a small, ruined town, an NPC with a quest, or a big pack of boss monsters, and this kept the exploration and exploration fun. That said, it remains to be seen how well this non-randomization will hold up long term, once players have raced through the same levels dozens or hundreds of times.
