Ahh, you sadly make a lot of assumptions that do you no justice. When my in-laws are around and not out doing the farm work, we generally do have very nice conversations. Yes, there are moments when I do not agree with their culture and way-of-life and they do not appreciate mine. The real issue is when they're not home, I generally have very little to occupy my time. This is where my gaming addiction (that's one assumption you made that I will shamefully admit) comes in handy, allowing me to pass the time while I wait for their return.

You may ask why don't I go out and help them. Well, I'm not familiar enough with riding horses to be useful with the cattle. I cannot run the heavy equipment they use to harvest their grain. Really, I am simply the chauffeur for my family so they can visit with Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa. Once I'm there, I'm as useful as a bicycle to a fish.

Perhaps they can provide a farm equipment simulator so that I can be more useful to my in-laws. I probably wouldn't buy it anyway, as I don't usually play the sim games. Besides, learning to drive a tractor via a sim game is much like learning to be a rock star by playing Guitar Hero. No one would take me seriously.

Perhaps because sometimes that human contact is not present, or because my very nature is to be socially inept and I have a very hard time overcoming that nature. As weak as they are, I have my excuses and I plan to stick to them.

Again, you assume I find my in-law reprehensible. My level of respect for them exceed most people as they spend most of their lives out in the fields tending to their livelihood, plus they can serve a family meal that would feed a small nation. I would never avoid social contact during one of their meals. When I am around them we tend to argue politics and culture, but I understand them and they tolerate me. At times I need to step away from a conflict and cool down, which is one of the reasons I have Plants vs. Zombies on my tablet. Great diversionary tactic.

I'm sure you have a wonderful relationship with your in-laws. I just find you're overly defensive attitude a poor quality in a person.

I believe the developers actually want to make a good product. This would include an auction system where everyone is treated fairly. This also includes a character system that cannot be abused and where the honest players do not have to live in fear of encountering overbearing cheaters.

Now, you seem to be speaking of the marketeers. Sure, they see customers as money factories and not as people who want to play a nice game. Perhaps I am naive to think the developers might get the upper hand. As I am a developer I'd like to imagine that someone in the world is able to write a bit of code that the customer wants to use.

Most developers I know want to write a game that they would play. Most marketeers simply want enough money to buy that Ferrari they have their eye on. I'm on the side of the devs.

DNRTFA

Now the developer for Torchlight 2 has given a clear and measured response that I can literally buy in to. Blizzard simply believes they are protecting the customer. For most customers this may work just fine, but I apparently am not like "most customers." Regularly I make trips to the in-laws up in the most remote part of Idaho. My father-in-law still uses dialup for his infrequent E-bay purchases and cattle futures report. When I travel to my in-laws, this is precisely the environment where I need a long single-player campaign that does not need a constant on-line connection. The original Torchlight kept me sane and entertained for hours while I avoided conflict with "the other side" of the family. It seems this will also be true for Torchlight 2, thus I will very likely buy the game - simply to preserve what's left of my sanity.

Diablo 3, not so much. I'm not one to spend money on a second game when the first still needs to be thoroughly played.

Now, I'm pretty certain Blizzard does not care about my lonely little circumstance. That's fine by me, I don't care much about their game if it appears to be unusable to me. I just hope developers like Torchlight continue to provide an awesome alternative, otherwise my money will go unspent - at least until I am committed to the asylum. Then it will be spent for white coats and medication. O_o

H0ek