Like so many games, Blizzard's latest Diablo game went through a remarkable number of iterations, both pre- and post-launch, as the dev team tried to hone in on what it was meant to be. 

The process of how they did it is fascinating, and at GDC 2013 Blizzard's Wyatt Cheng described different game systems that were attempted, explored, and then ultimately removed from the original release of Diablo III.

Consider the game's health recovery system: According to Cheng, the team tried many different solutions, from regenerative damage shields to potion dilution, where potions become less effective as you drink them. In the end, they settled on health globes, and you can learn why (and much more) by watching his full talk.

Conveniently, you can now do just that over on the official GDC YouTube channel!

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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