Diablo 3

Diablo III is the definitive action role-playing game, and a continuation of the Diablo series. Players can create a hero from one of five distinct classes, such as barbarian or the new character - the witch doctor. Each character is equipped with an array of spells and abilities. As these heroes adventure through varied settings, they unravel an epic story and engage in battle with hordes of monsters and challenging level bosses. The characters grow in experience and ability and acquire items of incredible power.

The game takes place on Sanctuary, a Diablo world of dark fantasy. Unbeknownst to most of the inhabitants, Sanctuary was saved twenty years ago from the demonic forces of the underworld by a few brave and fearless heroes. Most of the warriors directly faced the armies of the Burning Hells and were fortunate enough to survive, although they went mad from their experiences. Most of the others have buried their haunted memories and pushed the horrors from their minds. In Diablo III, players return to Sanctuary to confront evil in its many forms once again.

Diablo III is a natural sequel to Diablo II, with the easy interface, fast-paced action, and intense gameplay that Diablo players have come to expect. It also includes many new features that takes the Diablo action-RPG experience to the next level. Stay tuned for much more details on Diablo III as development on the game progresses.

When Diablo® was released in 1997, it was a huge success and reached number one on NPD INTELECT during its first month in stores. The game has since sold in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide and is honored as the number-one selling computer role-playing game in 1997, as well as being named Game of the Year by Computer Gaming World. Today, the game continues to sell.

In June, 2000 Diablo® II dominated PC game charts with sales of 4 million copies worldwide according to NPD INTELECT, and key retail accounts around the world. The game was awarded several accolades including the prestigious Computer Game of the Year, Computer Role Playing Game of the Year and Game of the Year for 2001 by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. The critically acclaimed expansion set, Diablo® II: Lord of DestructionTM, released in 2001, became the fastest selling expansion set in PC game history. In its first week alone, it surpassed the 1 million units sold marker and captured a record 17.7% of total U.S. PC game market share, also according to NPD INTELECT.

Diablo is a dark fantasy themed action role-playing game developed by Blizzard Entertainment (North) and was on January 2, 1997.

Set in the fictional Kingdom of Khanduras (located in the Diablo series fantasy world of Sanctuary), Diablo has the player take control of a lone hero into battle to rid the world of the Lord of Terror. Beneath the town of Tristram, the player journeys through sixteen dungeon levels to ultimately come face to face with Diablo and his demon minions.

Diablo was a best-seller and following the first game's popularity an expansion pack, entitled Diablo: Hellfire, was released in 1997, although it was not created by Blizzard Entertainment. This was followed by a true sequel, Diablo II, in 2000.

The story of Diablo is based on the premise of war between Heaven and Hell. The town of Tristram has come under attack by demons, and you must save the town and the world by ridding it of the Diablo - the Lord of Terror. As the player explores the underworld, some of the history behind the war between Heaven and Hell, as well as knowledge about Diablo himself are revealed throughout the challenges and missions found throughout the many levels.

Diablo is the Lord of Terror and one of the Three Prime Evils of Hell. Long before the events of the game, he was captured by a secretive order of mortal magi known as the Horadrim. The Horadrim imprisoned each of the Prime Evils in a Soulstone; Diablo's red soulstone was buried in caverns deep beneath the town of Tristram, and as the generations passed, it was forgotten. Though his imprisonment was meant to be eternal, the power of the Soulstone weakened over centuries, eventually allowing Diablo to use limited power from within the stone. He telepathically turned an inhabitant of Tristram, the Archbishop Lazarus, into his pawn. In order for Diablo to actually leave the Soulstone, Diablo needed to possess a host. Through his minion Lazarus, he initially tried to gain control of King Leoric, the local ruler, but Diablo, in his weakened state, was unable to overpower Leoric. Abandoning the idea, he caused Lazarus to kidnap King Leoric's son, Prince Albrecht. He inspired such terror in the child that the boundaries between the realms were broken and parts of Hell appeared in the mortal world, taking root in the labyrinth beneath Tristram. Diablo then chose to bide his time and wait for the opportune moment to strike.

Soon afterwards King Leoric was driven to madness by the loss of his son. With Lazarus whispering in his ear, he ordered a foolhardy attack on a far stronger neighboring realm - a campaign to which Lazarus made sure to send all of the King's most loyal and good-hearted heroes. The campaign proved a suicide mission, and soon the King had only the lies of Lazarus for counsel. Leoric began brutally executing the subjects he once protected, suspecting everyone of the kidnapping of his son. Lazarus led groups of townsfolk into the labyrinth in supposed pursuit of the missing prince - but Lazarus's only purpose was to deliver the innocents up to death at the hands of the demons. At length, the few survivors of the army returned home, led by the noble Sir Lachdanan. Leoric immediately ordered their execution, and, seeing the King for the tortured soul he was, Lachdanan killed his King with a mercy stroke. Upon his dying breath, Leoric cursed those who were close to him that they should serve him in the underworld for all of eternity, creating the horrific undead knights of the labyrinth.

Shortly after, the time period of the game begins as the player's character arrives. He or she has to fight their way through sixteen levels to face Diablo, encountering various monsters and quests to challenge them. The labyrinth descends from a simple dungeon to dark caves and catacombs and finally the fiery pits of Hell. The player finds a portal to Archbishop Lazarus' lair, slays him, and makes his way to Diablo. At the end of the game, the player character has killed Diablo's mortal form, and left Diablo once more with just a soulstone to inhabit. Now in hopes of retaining the Lord of Terror, the hero pierces his or her head with the soulstone, attempting to contain the Lord of Terror within his or herself. This was exactly what Diablo had planned all along, as the hero would be a much better host than the prince. Diablo II later confirms that Diablo indeed possessed the hero who slew him. Diablo 3 is expected to be announced June 29, 2008.