Not that the game is dead, but it's a much diminished group now compared to release. I'm pretty optimistic about what I've heard about 1.04 and I know a lot of other people are, too. The main question is whether it will bring players back into the game. Only a full-fledged expansion will cause the same numbers as the original release, but what are the opinions of people here on whether the patch will cause any lasting positive impact on the player base (and hence, Auction House)?

I think it will depend on how well they do the needed changes if it is running true to form then NO, but here is hoping

I think the changes will bring people back, and make the people who stuck around a bit happier. PVP will be a bigger get for players though.

I am thinking that PvP is the catalyst to making the numbers increase enough to make a good impact on the RMAH. Having said that though, some good endgame content would make D3 life interesting as well. Assuming , of course, that it is quality (expansion-like) end game content.

I remember back in D2 when they started introducing D clones and those epic battles, those were exciting times my friends...

I know I am only talking about a video game but still...it was very interesting seeing something like that solidify the player base.

I think that Patch 1.0.4 will be more casual, and it can attract some new gamers, but can not bring players back!

Good points about PvP. That probably will get the AH going for a while, especially while people are trying out builds to determine which are the best and whether they need 2 or 3 sets of PvP gear. I still have hope we'll see a noticeable long-term bump in traffic from Patch 1.04.

Patch 1.0.4 will be nice for current players but I don't see it bringing a ton of them back.

i doubt anyone who has completely quit will bother with the notes to come back.... some WD mains might come back but thats about it

Players will most likely come back for a short while with PvP, and then for a much longer time when an expansion is released.

I think 1.04 will make a lot of casual players happy that they can progress through the game after minimal farming now. I like the approaches they have taken but it also takes the challenge out of the game for the people that actually managed to get through inferno in its current state.

Let's hope the playerbase expands, after all, the Free Starter edition was just released, that'll bring an influx of new players too

Also, if more rares drop with higher stats, hopefully the prices will drop to normal prices on the AH, not everyone can afford 50million for a set of bracers :)

Id say that it will attract more people, by the way with the legendary item situation (where exisiting legendaries are not being updated), if you guys have the money buy up the plans... This way you can craft em when 1.04 occurs, you will make plenty of cash off it..

Depends on their changes with skills/talents imo, so people have a better idea what PvP will be like. The changes in legendaries alone might bring a few players back though.

Based on the information that blizz has released about 1.04, it looks like the new patch is just going to make the game a lot easier. The elite packs will be weaker, and weapons will be stronger, and drops will be better.

I don't think players just want an easier experience. There will be lots of guys bragging about how they beat the game before 1.04. The people who already quit won't come back.

I think the hardcore gamers will not appreciate this and the casual gamer will love it and thats where blizz is going to make their AH money from.

i'll be back to test drive, not sure if it's got enough meat to hold my attention though

i love what they are doing with the items however feel that nerphing inferno may hurt them in the long run as they may lose a few more of the hardcore gamers by making to too easy. I have yet to finish inferno as im helping a mate farm act one to upgrade his gear for act 2 however with the changes we may not need to now and im not so sure that this is a good thing

I know this is a small sample size, but two of my buddies are coming back to play after the patch is released.

Honestly this patch revived the interest of this game for me.
About time they made buffs so we can diversify our build and stuff.

Im getting tired of playing my dual tornado barbarian, but given the amount of gear i have; thats probably the most viable way for me to farm right now.

I'm planning on going back to the game. I played WD for a pet class.... Hopefully they make it a pet class.

I think it's a great start. It doesn't take very much to have someone log back in again-- no subscription required. So I'm sure people who had quit will log on once again to try things out.

I certainly hope so.

Personally, I have a friend that has been discouraged by his lack of luck. The drops have been atrocious in 1.0.3 but have managed after much time and labour to find a few good items. My friend has put in a fair number of hours but seems restricted to act 1 inferno. He cannot play a great deal so there is little for him to look forward to. I have been helping him out and even gave him 10m gold some time back (not too wealthy myself).

My friends list (personal friends) is looking dead. :(

Great start for barbs. looking to try different builds!

I honestly think the patch will be bringing back a lot of players because they are addressing many things that those players complained about. Also, I have been reading on forums, and it seems many people are saying that they will play again when 1.0.4 comes out.

I tihnk it will bring people back because of all of the fun new changes.