User:Varquynne
Interest in the Diablo series
Diablo
Back in early 1997, I had just gotten a new computer for Christmas and was looking for PC games to spend my allowance on. As I was browsing the titles on the shelf, an older kid (15 or 16, I think) who was doing the same decided to strike up a conversation and asked me what kind of games I was interested in.
"Action games and RPGs," I had responded, mostly drawing from my experience with console games.
"You should try out Diablo," he offered. "Do you play online games?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, if you've got a decent modem, you should try it out."
I picked up the Diablo box (back then, they were the size of a textbook - impractical, but great for looking at the screenshots/artwork) and opened the cover flap. I looked over the system requirements. Pentium 60 MHz - check. 16 MB ram - check. 14.4k BPS modem - check. "FREE access to Blizzard's Battle.net gaming service," was printed as a prominent bullet point. I looked at the screenshots and remember being particularly drawn to the example multi-player screenshot (the one where the characters are in the caves, the rogue is standing by a town portal, and one of the warriors is bringing down a two-handed axe onto an illusion weaver).
I turned to my new acquaintance, "Yeah, I think I'll try it out."
"Well, if you decide to play on Battle.net, let me know," he reached into his pocket, took out a piece of paper, and started to write down his number. "My name's Brad." (Note: I can't clearly recall if that was his actual name and I've long since lost the information.)
I remember being a bit surprised, but took the piece of paper and went on my way. Being 11 at the time, I went to ask my mom if I could give her the money to buy the M-rated game for me.
A couple weeks after playing the single player, I decided to try out the multi-player. I fished up Brad's number and gave him a call. A girl answered (his sister, I assumed).
"Hi, can I talk to Brad?"
"Who's calling?" she asked.
"John. We met at the base exchange."
As I was waiting, I heard her say, "Brad, there's some little kid calling for you." I winced, still of the mind to feel insulted by being called a "little kid".
When he got on the phone, I reminded him of where we had met and that he said to call him if I was up for some Diablo multi-player. He told me he couldn't find his Diablo CD, so we wouldn't be able to play (whether this was true or not, I don't know - seemed like bologna to me at the time).
Regardless, I have to thank him for suggesting Diablo to me. I might not have otherwise gotten interested in the series that I've grown to like so much.
