[AsheMan]

This last week I got invited into both Dota 2 and Diablo 3 betas. I'm in beta heaven!

I got into the Dota 2 beta a week ago and I've already got 50 hours of playtime. The game is top-notch fantastic. If you've ever been a fan of the original Defense of the Ancients WC3 mod or any other MOBA style game like League of Legends or Heroes of Newerth, then you will absolutely love Valve's Dota 2.

I never played the original Dota, but I put many hours into League of Legends. Dota 2 beats it in quality in every way possible. Apparently this new iteration is as close as you can come to the original Dota, but with updated graphics and networking. It is so easy to jump in the game, invite friends off your Steam list and start playing. You can even spectate anyone's games in progress.

There's still no word on Valve's plans for monetizing the game. My guess is that they may go to a free-to-play model while selling skins and other vanity items like they've done with Team Fortress 2. Only time will tell. Whether it's free or if it costs money, I'm definitely playing it.

Last night I closed down Dota 2 and go to check my e-mail before heading off to bed and there's a Diablo 3 beta invitation! I've got it downloaded and I logged in to see the menu, but that's about it. I'll give it some play this weekend and possibly update this post with impressions.

[mmorpeegee]

Omg nice, you lucker!

What's the community like in DOTA2? The only game liked that I played was Heroes of Newerth and it was by far the worst group of scumbags I've ever had the displeasure of playing with. It was one of the main reasons I quit.

[Fozzik]

I wish I liked those types of games... because I'm sure Valve does a fantastic job.

I wish they would get off their butts and get Half-Life 3 on the shelf so I can play.

[AsheMan]

Originally Posted by mmorpeegee

Omg nice, you lucker!

What's the community like in DOTA2? The only game liked that I played was Heroes of Newerth and it was by far the worst group of scumbags I've ever had the displeasure of playing with. It was one of the main reasons I quit.

My experience so far has been that this community is better than HoN or LoL, but there are absolutely truly competitive jerks who belittle you when you make errors or don't know exactly what you're doing. It just doesn't seem to happen as much in Dota 2 as it does in those other games. That's probably just because this is still a beta and not open to the public.

There's something about these team-based competitive games that makes people so angry when they are losing or someone on their team isn't the best.

[mmorpeegee]

Lol yeah people go ape, and it attracts such nasty people. If it's good though I will still play it anyway and just have to ignore the chat. Looking forward to it.

[AsheMan]

I fired up Diablo 3 and played for 30 minutes or so. It definitely has the look, feel, and sound of the Diablo series. Overall, I wasn't sucked into it like I had been with the first couple games. I don't fault the game itself. I think I'm just not as entertained by hack-and-slash gameplay as I used to be.

Dota 2 has been really addicting. In the last few weeks I've played 120 hours!

[mmorpeegee]

Cool Exactly what I was expecting to hear too. I never played the original Diablo 1/2 for more than an hour or so. I just have never really been one for hack n slashers and mass loot whorage (excluding EQ). I am kind of interested to see how it turns out though anyway.

DOTA2 though, I am pretty sure I'll buy that!