Torchlight 2 pre-orders open with free original on Steam

Undeterred by the launch of the clicking juggernaut that is Diablo III in a fortnight, Runic Games has opened pre-orders for its own action-RPG, the charming Torchlight II. You can slap your $20 down now, or club together with three chums for the $60 four-pack.

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Undeterred by the launch of the clicking juggernaut that is Diablo III in a fortnight, Runic Games has opened pre-orders for its own action-RPG, the charming Torchlight II. You can slap your $20 down now, or club together with three chums for the $60 four-pack.

"As we put the finishing touches on Torchlight II, it made sense to start pre-orders after the great response we received at PAX East," Runic Games CEO Max Schaefer said in the announcement. "Fans have asked us for a pre-order, and we are planning an imminent network test, so the timing was perfect."

You can direct from parent company Perfect World, though you'll probably want to go to Steam. Steam's offering a free copy of the original Torchlight with pre-orders, which can be gifted if you already own it, and is the only place to get that bargain four-pack.

Torchlight II is due to be released some time this summer.

"We are still working hard to finish the PC version, then we'll work on the Mac version," Runic said yesterday on Twitter. "Too small to do both simultaneously!"

From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 26, 2012 6:45 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Torchlight 2 pre-orders open with free original on Steam.

    Undeterred by the launch of the clicking juggernaut that is Diablo III in a fortnight, Runic Games has opened pre-orders for its own action-RPG, the charming Torchlight II. You can slap your $20 down now, or club together with three chums for the $60 four-pack.

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      April 26, 2012 7:04 AM

      It's kind of amazing when you compare the features and price points of the two games. Torchlight 2 is $20, has no always on DRM, allows for co-op LAN play, and has what I would call an active leveling system. That is, you get points and decide where to spend them. Also it's designed by at least a few ex-Blizzard North guys.

      Diablo 3 will be $60 (presumably) requires an internet connection, no LAN play (so possibly no D3 at Quakecon) and has what I would call an utterly passive leveling system. Stuff unlocks as you play, and you can chose your skills but you can't focus or specialize on anything. I know some people like this but it's a big strike against D3 as I am an egregious min/maxer. On the plus side, D3 has a more macabre art style, unlimited funding and Blizzard's rigorous design sensibilities. Even if they've dropped the ball on the leveling system IMO.

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        April 26, 2012 7:08 AM

        I played and loved Torchlight 1 and now the D3 beta. I've ordered T2 and I won't be buying D3. Just not for me. I like the charm of Torchlight. I just want a basic but fun game which Torchlight totally delivered.

        Diablo 3 combat kind of bores me to be honest and since I don't have loot lust (thank fuck!) then I can just finish Torchlight 2 once, like I did T1 and feel like I got value for money.

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          April 26, 2012 9:53 AM

          You do realise the D3 Beta is like less than 1/10 of the whole game? Hell, maybe even less than 1/20th if you factor in the difficulty levels?

          Torchlight combat at those low levels is far, far worse. Diablo 3 is gonna rape the face off Torchlight, which I'm sure will be a nice little game, but it's merely a cheeky kiss in the dark compared to the balls out love affair that is Diablo 3.

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            April 26, 2012 3:07 PM

            The combat bores me though, so it doesn't matter how much of the game I've seen.
            Also the lack of a pet is just inane.

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        April 26, 2012 8:14 AM

        But you can focus and specialize on things. Do you know anything about the game?

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          April 26, 2012 8:20 AM

          Instead of manually placing stat points (which has been proven to offer no real customization, considering everyone spent them the same way), you now bump those attribute points up with the gem system.

          I would say that is a lot more fun than clicking a few buttons every level.

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            April 26, 2012 9:09 AM

            You actually clicked the button every level?!

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        April 26, 2012 9:03 AM

        Everyone has legit arguments on both sides of the coin, but I think "egregious min/maxers" such as yourself are in the minority, correct me if I'm wrong though. Most people just want to sit down and play, not do math in order to kill a boss most efficiently. I don't think Torchlight is that hardcore in terms of numbers, but I only played the first Torchlight casually and didn't focus on it. Also the people that complained about D3's art direction should be completely turned off by Torchlight as it is completely colourful and cartoony. It will be interesting to see what game those people decide to play... I'm guessing neither, and probably go for PoE.

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          April 26, 2012 6:28 PM

          I was kinda surprised that the only real art gripe I had from D3's beta was that god awful WoW lock they had on the gate going to Adria's hut.

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        April 26, 2012 10:10 AM

        The stat point argument is so moot it's unreal. Every class is D1/2 had an "ideal" stat point distrubution. There was ZERO point in deviating from that build as it was apt to result in your ruin.

        D3's levelling/ability system is awesome IMO, progressive and entertaining with specialisation coming in the form of the Rune system.

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        April 26, 2012 10:41 AM

        The active leveling system is actually a flaw in my book. I like the D3 system much better

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      April 26, 2012 7:15 AM

      Okay, bought now, anyone wanting a Torchlight 1 copy?

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        April 26, 2012 7:20 AM

        I like the idea of what they're doing, but repeated steamsales have made sure that mostly everyone who cared about TL in the slightest already has a copy.

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          April 26, 2012 8:13 AM

          Yeah, there was only one person on my Steam list who didn't own it, and she does now.

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          April 26, 2012 8:28 AM

          ha yeah thats what I was thinking "who would buy torchlight 2 without torchlight 1 already"

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        April 26, 2012 7:26 AM

        Oooh I do. Please. I never played it

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          April 26, 2012 8:22 AM

          Just send me your steam id, and you're ready to go!

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        April 26, 2012 8:07 AM

        [deleted]

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      April 26, 2012 7:25 AM

      Question for you all. If I purchase a Steam game such as Torchilight on my Windows PC, can I play the game on my Macbook as well? I'd like to try Torchlight on my Macbook Air but if it sucks then I'd run it on my Windows PC.

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      April 26, 2012 7:30 AM

      Any news on why OSX isn't listed as a platform?

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        April 26, 2012 8:10 AM

        Yes there as, as you can see if you read the article.

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          April 26, 2012 9:02 AM

          Yes, well, as in-depth as informative as "work on it later" is, I meant why it's not simultaneous release as originally announced and planned by Runic.

          • reply
            April 26, 2012 3:31 PM

            "We are still working hard to finish the PC version, then we'll work on the Mac version," Runic said yesterday on Twitter. "Too small to do both simultaneously!"

    • reply
      April 26, 2012 8:06 AM

      Anyone want to group up on a 4 pack sale?

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        April 26, 2012 8:15 AM

        I will join you on a 4-pack

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        April 26, 2012 8:28 AM

        I'd be tempted, how does tha twork with a preorder? can you gift the preorder copy?

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        April 26, 2012 9:34 AM

        I'm in PM with the details

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        April 26, 2012 10:58 AM

        If there's a forth I'll buy it.

        Right now we got Typo and FreshWater

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          April 26, 2012 11:22 AM

          Phone isn't posting. I'm game. SM the amount and PayPal address. Thanks

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            April 26, 2012 11:24 AM

            well fuck there it is... got off the couch for no reason.

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          April 26, 2012 11:23 AM

          fuck me... phone and tablet aren't posting to here... I'm in. SM the amount and paypal address. Thanks.

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        April 26, 2012 1:48 PM

        I do.

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      April 26, 2012 8:11 AM

      So, I kind of felt like Torchlight was more of a beta/tech demo than a finished game. The main reason I say this is that the abilities/skill trees didn't seem balanced. Some abilities and play styles were too easy while others were simply too hard, requiring the crutch of health potion spam.

      Any idea if T2 will be more refined?

      Also, kinda feel like they've missed their launch window. D3 beta has grown on me the more I've played it.

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        April 26, 2012 8:18 AM

        I don't think they've released any info about skill trees, or abilities.

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        April 26, 2012 8:30 AM

        going heavy minions with my guy and minion boosting gear made me basically invincible. I also gave the dog like a group heal or something. I felt so so powerful.

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          April 26, 2012 9:16 AM

          that was my problem - I can't remember how far along I got, but as an alchemist with some kind of laser beam - I was blowing through levels and getting incredibly bored by it. How many levels were in the game? I must've stopped after about 10-12 hours or something.

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            April 26, 2012 9:21 AM

            10-12 hours? Too early. I have at least 35 hours in and have yet to finish it.

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              April 26, 2012 9:22 AM

              It wasn't that long.

              There was the dungeon that does not end it goes on and on my friend, but the main game was around 15 hours, I thought.

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                April 26, 2012 9:23 AM

                I guess I have 25 hours played on mine. Not sure how much of that was one run through of the storyline, though.

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        April 26, 2012 3:47 PM

        They made that whole game in something like only 18 months.

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        April 26, 2012 9:46 PM

        Agreed, the longer this goes on the less interested about T2 I am, especially after the D3 open beta.

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      April 26, 2012 9:19 AM

      Meh, wasn't a big fan of Torchlight 1, #2 would have to be a big difference imho for me to pick it up over POE/D3.

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      April 26, 2012 9:38 AM

      I just wish it had gamepad support. I loved playing the first game on XBLA with a gamepad.

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      April 26, 2012 9:40 AM

      why isnt the game being developed for xbox? the first one was why not the second? I'd buy the xbox version just for co-op

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        April 26, 2012 9:41 AM

        Size limits on xbla games.

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        April 26, 2012 1:55 PM

        The first one came to 360 well after the PC version. If they find a way to do it on the 360, they will. They were considering a retail release or reworking it to fit within the XBLA size restrictions.

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      April 26, 2012 10:21 AM

      Can I make my own server to play on with my friends, or is it some hosted thing out in the cloud?

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        April 26, 2012 10:55 AM

        I've seen a lot of people say it supports LAN coop so no need for an online server

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      April 26, 2012 3:46 PM

      Am looking for one other person to split a 4-pack, so 2 each @ $30... PM if interested

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      April 26, 2012 9:44 PM

      Does anyone besides me think that most of the posters here will end up getting T2 and D3 at some point?

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      April 26, 2012 10:53 PM

      I kinda wish they'd just go silent until it's finished.

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      April 27, 2012 9:38 AM

      T2 had a release window when I definitely would have bought it. That was about 8 months ago, you know, when they said they were gonna release it.

      Now, theres no point. Not enough time for 2 ARPGS and Diablo 3 is gonna rape face.

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