The following are e-mails sent between me and a Blizzard staff:

me:infestedterran7@hotmail.com
Blizzard Staff:petern.support@blizzard.com


This is an outrage. Is it recommended not to use certain features of the game then? I mean, after all, when I used to do this back when the game version was 1.10, I had no problems with the uber runs. What's going on with the game nowadays? This is a complete waste of time if I cannot do what I want to enjoy the game; getting disconnected every 5 minutes because of the massive repetitive casting of spells of monsters.

> From: petern.support@blizzard.com
> To: infestedterran7@hotmail.com
> CC:
> Subject: Re: RE: [en]Diablo II -- Connection Issues
> Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:40:46 -0800
>
> Hi again,
>
> Unfortunately that may be the case but I have no way to change the game itself. The best thing I can suggest in regards to such issues is to post your problems to our suggestions forum, I highly encourage you to log on to our Suggestions Forum at http://forums.battle.net/board.html?forumId=12016&sid=3000 and post your thoughts there.
>
> This forum provides a valuable opportunity for Blizzard staff members to collect feedback from those who know our games best. While I cannot guarantee you will receive a response, I can assure you the Forum is regularly read and the suggestions posted there do make an impact on our game designs.
>
>
> Regards,
> Peter N.
> Technical support
> Blizzard Entertainment
>
> http://www.blizzard.com/support
>
> If you reply, please include all previous text and files related to this e-mail. Please note the Tech support email system does not support read receipts.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: infestedterran7@hotmail.com andrew chen
> To: petern.support@blizzard.com
> Sent: 12/26/2008 6:19:40 PM
> Subject: RE: [en]Diablo II -- Connection Issues
>
> There isn't any spells being casted by me. All I have been doing is using my Paladin with the smite skill. If it's the monsters, you guys should do something about it. I spend lots of time trading for these organ sets, and it's a waste when I end up getting disconnected after using them.
>
> Andrew> From: petern.support@blizzard.com> To: infestedterran7@hotmail.com> CC: > Subject: Re: [en]Diablo II -- Connection Issues> Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:35:21 -0800> > Greetings Andrew,> > There have been some issues with some spells recently and if there is a spell that ends up lagging the game it can cause you to disconnect. This is known and at the moment all I can suggest in regards to this is to try to avoid spamming spells or skills that can cause the game to slow to prevent disconnections.> > This is being investigated but I do not know when or if it may be resolved unfortunately.> > > Regards,> Peter N.> Technical support> Blizzard Entertainment> > http://www.blizzard.com/support> > If you reply, please include all previous text and files related to this e-mail. Please note the Tech support email system does not support read receipts.> > -----Original Message-----> From: infestedterran7@hotmail.com > To: web.support@blizzard.com> Sent: 12/23/2008 5:15:24 PM> Subject: [en]Diablo II -- Connection Issues> > Contact Information -----------------------> Name: Andrew Chen > Email: infestedterran7@hotmail.com > > Account Information -----------------------> Realm: East> > System Information ------------------------> IP: 24.45.168.148 > Cpu Model: PC Intel Pentium (I-IV) > Cpu Speed: 3.0 GHz or more> Operating System: Windows XP > Ram: 2048 MB or more> Sound Card: SoundMax> "")> Video Card: Other --NVidia GeForce 9800 GT> > Request ------------------------------------> Product: Diablo II > Category: Connection Issues> > Description -------------------------------- > > Over the past few weeks, I've been doing what are known as Uber Tristram runs. Why is it that sometimes, whenever I run in to fight Diablo and Baal (sometimes all 3 Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto) I randomly get disconnected? I'm really sick of this. It is wasting my organ sets (Baal's Eye, Diablo's Horn, and Mephisto's Brain). I'm really upset with this. Please let me know what I can do in order to improve my Uber Run experiences.



So what can I do Blizzard Support members? Please help me out.

Play WoW; that's the new favorite child of Blizzard. D2 was the child of yesteryear....they tossed it aside now that they got a new one (that generate recurring revenue).

In more seriousness, D2 just isn't what it used to be. Obviously, both of the responses you received were automated, which tells you what Blizzard really thinks of it's consumers. And before someone says "ohs noes! they have lots of teh uzerz though so they have to automate messages in order to provide any support," I am aware; however, if they actually helped the users, they wouldn't have near as many complaints, would they?

I realize that D2 is an "old" game; but if Blizzard still insists on running it, they need to support it. If they do not wish to support it no longer, they should just close the doors on it.

By the way, if Blizzard does wish to prove they still support their consumers, a Blue response (that isn't automated) would be the way to do it. Thanks.

P.S. Sorry I couldn't help you with your problem. And sorry for semi-hijacking your thread. :O

Remember that when you talk to support you are talking to a tier-1, script reader technician, often with no real understanding of the problem. That is how any tech support line works.

I have seen the problem you report. As support and the FAQ say, it 'can' be caused by users.

But 99% of the time it is caused by bad code. I have seen disconnects followed by account restrictions that hit EVERY PLAYER in a game. There is no way all of those players were doing 'invalid activities' at exactly the same time.

IT IS A BUG. A bad bug.

The problem is... how do we get past tier-1 support and to a developer that has enough technical expertise to recognize it as such?