UPDATE: According to a post on the "Diablo 3" forums, beta invites will roll out in waves "as needed." Basically, that means Blizzard will let more people in as they're certain the game's infrastructure can handle the load. When the dev team does send out invites, they'll go out between 9a.m. and 6p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. No need to stare at your inbox outside those times!
ORIGINAL STORY: Word on the street is that "Diablo 3" closed beta invites have just started going out. Time to start incessantly checking your inbox. Everyone – well, "Diablo" fans, that is – have been anxiously awaiting for that magical invite in the mail. Starting today, it just might show up; or it won't, which will likely send you into some type of frenzied nerd-rage.
"This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on 'Diablo III,'" said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime via press release. "Our goal is to create the best action role-playing game experience to date, building on everything we've learned since the release of 'Diablo II' and incorporating the powerful features of the new Battle.net platform. We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback."
I would be more than happy to provide some of that valuable feedback if, you know, I received my beta invite. Checking the inbox via iPhone is really starting to cramp my dedication to "Jetpack Joyride," so hopefully it arrives sooner rather than later.
If you're fortunate enough to receive an invite, you can look forward to playing through the game's first act in any of the five available player classes: barbarian, wizard, witch doctor, demon hunter or monk. Crafting and skill systems are also available, and it sounds like the act will allow you to face off with a party against the Skeleton King boss.
For the rest of us, when you're not mentally willing the invite into your inbox, be sure to check out our skills guide for all five "Diablo 3" character classes. Maybe you can draw the game on graph paper and pretend you're playing.