Diablo III servers go live across US, AU; immediately fall over

Blizzard is scrambling to bring Diablo III's servers online after launch-hour demand proved just as rabid as anticipated.

"Please note that due to a high volume of traffic, login and character creation may be slower than normal. If you're unable to login to the game or create characters, please wait and try again," the game's Facebook page advises.

"We've temporarily taken our Battle.net websites offline and launched more servers to accomodate for the traffic. We hope to resolve these issues as soon as possible and appreciate your patience."

Impatient users are flooding the game's social media presences, as well as those of Blizzard and Activision, with mass complaints of errors and log outs. Many users who had been playing prior to launch have found themselves unable to get back online. See the fun for yourself on hashtag #Error37, for example.

The issues have highlighted complaints about online activation - which left those with retail copies from Australia sitting on their hands for eight hours - as well as the game's always-on Internet requirement.

European and Asian servers went live overnight, and despite problems with the game's installer, seem to have experiences a much smoother launch; some Korean players have already finished the game.