Let the Speculation BEGIN!

[Ych9]

Take a look at Blizzard's official website.

Once you open it, it opens up a wallpaper.

We all know that WWI is only days away. Blizzard loves to do these kind of things right before a game is announced. I remembered during the annoucement of WOW and SC2, they did something similar to this.

People have been speculating that the new game announced at WWI could be D3. But from the looks of it, the wallpaper doesn't have any kind of D3 feel to it. Infact, it looks very SCish to me.

Anyways, let the speculation begin!

[ijffdrie]

i think it looks more like wrath of the lich king

[Prodigal]

Look to the left side of the image, if you lookg closing (mid left) you will a swirling pattern and what appears to be writting. hmm. What could it say? Also if you attempt to save it, its name is "Ice1".

[ItzaHexGor]

The wallpaper could be considered Diabloish, it just depends on the take they'll play on the Diablo storyline, but it looks more like Wrath of the Lich King to me. If it's anything, I doubt it would be Diablo3, as then they'd have way to many projects going at once. World of WarCraft, Wrath of the Lich King, StarCraft2 and then Diablo3. Might just be me, but that certainly looks a bit too busy.

Even though the wallpaper has indicated the announcement of a game in the past, it isn't confined to that, so my money's on it being related to Wrath.

[AcE_01]

well its ice, and the lich is ice....so its gotta be related to WoW 3rd game.

[KuraiKozo]

stupid WoW T_T

[ItzaHexGor]

And what's wrong with World of WarCraft? It's the same as all Blizzard's other games, so what makes it so stupid? People are always paying it out just because it's cool to, and when questioned about it they just fob of the question by saying something like 'because it's wow', which if anything just proves my point that there's nothing wrong with it and only heightens the fact that they probably want to play it only can't afford to pay the twenty per month. But honestly, what's wrong with it?

EDIT: Take my word for it when I say this is the short version...

[Babmer]

YES, THE TIME FOR DIABLO TO RISE IS NIGH!!!

ahem. Yeah if you look closely its covered in demonic runes etc etc, annnnnd it all seems to fit with WWI, i for one cannot wait for diablo 3, diablo was one of the first games i ever played!

cross yer damn fingers people :s.

Edit: Hex they have already announced that they are working on TWO other unannounced projects ;D, besides wotlk and sc2. I'll find the source hold on.

[KuraiKozo]

well Hex, i'm just tired of all this WoW stuff =(
i want something new.

[BloodHawk]

Deffinatly looks like WotLK

Although Hell could have frozen over and this is Diablo 3.

One problem with WoW is repetitive game play. You go through the same zones doing the same quests. Even if you switch factions is there much difference? You spend most of your time killing 20 "x" or finding 15 "y". Quests have similar formulas with different settings no matter where you go. Even end game you have to grind faction or collect **** to gear up.

[ShdwyTemplar]

Did anyone consider Warcraft IV? They have stated that WoW is canon for only a few events, but otherwise it is of its own storyline. (Don't remember where they said it.) I would be very interested in Warcraft IV.

[lurkers_lurk]

i know how about the Lost Vikings 3? i love the lost vikings. =P

[Joneagle_X]

Here are the links to two of the hidden images:

http://us.media.blizzard.com/232309/_images/ice1.jpg

http://us.media.blizzard.com/232309/_images/04.jpg
http://us.media.blizzard.com/232309/_images/04.jpg

Lipton from Starfeeder is speculating that since the second picture is named "04" and D is the fourth letter of the alphabet that tomorrow we will see a similar image titled "09" which is the ninth letter of the alphabet, I. He thinks they're going to spell Diablo 3.

Furthermore, the Diablo3.com domain name is being groomed for something, and there are a number of other indications to me that a game is in the works.

I'm inclined to agree with him and I stand firm on my belief that D3 will be revealed at WWI. I will be sure to provide confirmation of this as soon as we know at WWI. :D

I very much doubt that there is another WarCraft or StarCraft title in the works ATM because of the combination of signs I have seen since March.

But good luck with deciphering these clues. While this isn't enough for a newsie, it's certainly interesting. :D

[ijffdrie]

it is rock&roll racing 2

[Light]

I will die of happyness, DIABLO 3!!


..even tho WoW is still a dark cloud over me >_<

[Kaaraa]

I've read some speculation that the runes one the left are from Frostmourne, the sword Arthas uses in WC3. I myself am hoping that first picture has something to do with soul gems. All hail the coming of Diablo 3!!! ;)

[Wlck742]

Developing three games at once might be a lot, but this is Blizzard we're talking about. They have a ton of resources to draw from thanks to WoW. I think it just might be possible that Diablo 3 is in the works. At least I hope it is, because it's completely awesome.

[CyberPitz]

Apparently the rune on the left is on Frostmourne. Well, at least we can guess what this is about...
http://www.worldofwar.net/n/414868/blizzard-image-solved

[Babmer]

Would be no reason for blizzard to tease anything wotlk related, as it has already been announced, blizzard do not have a habit of going to the extent of making spash teasers for alrady announced games!

Regardless, yes the rune is similar, however such could be jus a coincidence due to the LARGE and i mean massive, amount of info pointing in D3's direction.

1. Multiple job postings for top secret projects
2. The project "hydra" rumors - justified by a very late leak on a website of peter Lee (blizz art dude). Just look at this:


http://www.peterconcept.com/gallery/...p?g2_itemId=32

Hydra: Coming Soon
Date: 06/22/2008

WarCraft
Date: 06/22/2008

StarCraft
Date: 06/22/2008


The only question remains is: is project Hydra indeed Diablo 3?

3. gah too much evidence to point to here, you get meh point tho :p

[CyberPitz]

Why would D3 be ice/including warcraft symbols..? I mean, I'm all for it being D3 out the ass, I just don't think we should be hyped...hell, it could also be some brand new IP.

[Wlck742]

But it doesn't make sense that it should be for WotLK either. Why would they put on a mysterious picture when everyone knows about it already. It's possible that Diablo's based on an ice world or something now, like in the expansion.

[BirdofPrey]

I am thinking it will be D3

Before last year's WWI SC2 rumors were aboud and low and behold guess what they announce
Well this year D3 rumors are floating around.

I doubt they would reannounce WotLK or SC2

[Wlck742]

Hot Job –
Lead 3D Environment Artist
Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Diablo and Diablo II, is looking for a lead 3D environment artist skilled at creating models and texture maps for both architectural and natural environments. The ideal candidate has experience modeling and texturing assets for a diverse visual range of environments.
Take a look at the job posting here.

Source: http://www.blizzard.com/us/index2.html

The specific references to Diablo 1&2 make it seem more possible that they're working on D3. It seems more and more likely their new project is D3.

EDIT: They just took this down seconds ago, which means that an artist was found.

[Kimera757]

Ice makes sense, IMO. When StarCraft II was about to be announced, each day a different Blizzard game was spotlighted. I expect stars next day, then hellfire the next, etc.

[Joneagle_X]

http://www.fohguild.org/forums/attachments/mmorpg-general-discussion/77757d1214271132-next-gen-mmo-blizzard-development-universe.jpg

*runs*

It's a fake, I'm sure.

[lurkers_lurk]

nice pic. i think ill save it, even tho a SC MMO is likely imo, the SC dimension would fit better as a FPS or something similar like SC: Ghost was.

[KuraiKozo]

i think that pic labled ice reminded me of the soulstones in diablo, not that that means anything ^_^
also of the main core of the earth that Tyreal destroyed.

[BloodHawk]

Well for a D3 we need a resurrection of Diablo (I would assume). Probably need to bring Baal and Mephisto back to life as well. Ice is not a common symbol of rebirth in any culture that I'm aware. As we know Blizz draws heavily on myth and pop culture. On the other hand, if that is a rune...as appears, where are the hilt and blade? Orientation would be off too. Why is that one rune more prominaint than any other on the sword? Could this just be he work of a tired Blizz artist using the same rune again without noticing? A red herring?

I'm far more curious of the picture of that purple guy. I like the "03"=D theory. It seems to me that spelling out diablo in that manner would create a pretty stranded size concept art.

Here is the full size stiched together
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/nowapolska/diablofits.jpg

Here is a quick sketch of what I believe the rest of the image will look like.
Personally, from that one piece my mind conjures only Diablo styled bruisers.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/nowapolska/Myguess.jpg

As far as the project hydra codename, hydras are commonly depicted with 3 heads (Until you start cutting them off that is).

[LordKerwyn]

I would also like to point out on the rune comment that the rune does also look like one of the runes from d2.

[CyberPitz]

Come on guys, there is hype, which is good, then as Jon has in his post...there is a separation between speculation and crazed obsession... \=

[Joneagle_X]

Lol.... Hawk, your drawing makes me laugh... in my pants. :D

ROFLMAO I can't believe you drew a sketch. I'm going to laugh when it turns out to be the One-Eyed-One-Horned-Flying-Purple-People-Eater.

Plus, come on, it's purple.

[BloodHawk]

I call it the 1980's Crotch Monster. I blame spore CC.

It's really more of a tablet scribble than a sketch, but I'm glad I made your ***** laugh. Makes me think of South Park.

Lots of fruity colored mobs in D2.
When the full image is released I will prepare for a side by side comparison in the arts section. I welcome all to come either in praise or to gaggle their chins with laughter at my failure.

[ijffdrie]

anyone concider that the runes in warcraft and diablo are the same(at least as i ahve read somewhere)
maybe this is for the warcraft or diablo movie...

oh and itza, your pic makes my computer crashy, i had to reboot 3 times cause i tried clicking it

[Babmer]

2nd image is up, featuring a rune that rersembles a hell rune out of diablo. The countdown continues!

[kuvasz]

They're not Warcraft symbols...

http://www.sc2legacy.com/

sc2legacy seems to have totally figured out everything. Diablo 3 it is, then. I just hope it isn't too much for Blizzard.

[ijffdrie]

could be, i still think that the left rune looks more like the arthas rune, though i have to agree on the right
maybe it is a crossover game

[Seradin]

Yesterdays Ice Image
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5046/ice1hz1.th.jpg (http://img184.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ice1hz1.jpg)

Todays Ice Image
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3373/ice2dy1.th.jpg (http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ice2dy1.jpg)

New Purple Monster Image: 15

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7849/363ho2.th.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=363ho2.jpg)

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9759/runesqn8.th.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=runesqn8.jpg)

[i2new@aol.com]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/I2new/ice2.jpg



ITS DIABLO 3 LOOK its a hel rune and a sheal rune ITS DIABLO 3

[Gasmaskguy]

@Seradin.Yeah I noticed that. It would be nice if you updated this thread with every new image.

[i2new@aol.com]

Its DIABLO 3!!!!

those are diablo only runes in the new picture, Its a hel runes and a sheal rune in the picture!!!!

those arnt WoW runes

it will be clearer on any blizzard owned website, go look at it for your selfs.....you'll see what i'm talking about!!

[Gasmaskguy]

Chill, I know... :P

http://www.sc2legacy.com/

[i2new@aol.com]

Damn credit stealers, lol well i'm glad some one else sees it as a hel rune me and my brother dont agree. He thinks its another letter of a Death knights rune blade

[ShdwyTemplar]

The better question is what on earth is the creature that is being created? I don't really want to fight Walrus man in Diablo 3.

[i2new@aol.com]

if thats even a walrus....

[Seradin]

-Updated with rune comparison

[MarineCorp]

I knew i was seeing some symbols, i thought it was WoW since i never played diablo

[ShdwyTemplar]

I will need to replay Diablo 2 now. Plus, that is true we don't know exactly what it is. Blizzard is going true to they're name and is going cold. :D

[i2new@aol.com]

Man there in a huge fight on other websites about it being WOW or diablo. but i'm 90% sure its diablo

[Wlck742]

Diablo 3 is the only logical conclusion if you think about it. Why would Blizzard reannounce WoW when the whole world knows about it? And as has been pointed out, the runes are Diablo runes, not Warcraft. D3 most definitely.

[Light]

Yay!


yet...diablo 2 is such an epic game...it will be missed *sob*

[Wlck742]

And the Diablo series are the one that never can or should be made cartoony either. It works on SC and WC, but definitely not in Diablo.

[ijffdrie]

people, only the second rune is diablo, the first one is from arthas blade, there are some minor differences with a hel rune

[i2new@aol.com]

that first rune is not WoW related. its not going to be WoW related at all. Tomarrow if the 3ed rune is diablo related just throw the Death knight rune idea out the window, even tho it should of been out the window today.

[CyberPitz]

So glad I was wrong about it not being DIII. BRING IT OOONNNNN

[i2new@aol.com]

i would rather play any diablo game then wow some times...... i cannot w.a.i.t.........

[Major Willy]

F*** yeah D3.

Death Knight VS Whirlwind Barbarian.

[Wlck742]

I can't imagine them ever making a crossover game. Besides the runes are quite similar for both games, at least the first one was, but the hel rune should make it clearer that it's a Diablo game.

[i2new@aol.com]

@ Major willy, i'll take the Barb....lol

@Seradin, you need to post the date cody thing related to D3 in the first post. I dont think everyone knows about the theroys and rumors and should know.

[ItzaHexGor]

Sorry, back.

@ KuraiKozo. How can you be tired of all this Wow stuff and want something new? It's Blizzard's newest game. You sick of WarCraftIII or StarCraft1? They're even older and have been out longer, so why're you sick of World of WarCraft and not them?

@ BloodHawk. How is any game any different? In StarCraft, or any RTS, you 'just' keep on building a base and attack your opponent. In any FPS you 'just' run around and try to get headshots. In World of WarCraft, and any other RPG, you 'just' run around grinding. It's the same with all games. If you continue playing the same game, then you're doing the same thing, hence it's repetitive. The thing is that repetitive doesn't mean boring. In fact, if World of WarCraft had to be different from any other game, I'd say it's actually better off that the others as it's got a much spectrum than other games and is constantly being added to.

Anyway, enough of that. I warned you that that was the short version. About the runes, I've got to say that the Shael Rune, or whatever, the one in the bottom left, looks much more like the inscription on the sword than the rune from Diablo2, but the Hel Rune, or whatever, definitely looks like the Diablo one more than anything else. It could definitely go either way at the moment, as Blizzard's renowned for cutting corners, etc, which would easily explain why there's a crossover.

@ Babmer. You sure there're two unannounced projects? They're working on the StarCraft and WarCraft storylines at the moment, so that just leaves the Diablo one. Maybe there's something brand new, which would be a bit risky, or perhaps it's not related to gaming, like the WarCraft movie or something. Anyone know if that's officially been announced? WarCraftIV's a possibility, hopefully it would help restore what World of WarCraft did to WarCraft's storyline, but then again, it would have to take a tangential storyline because otherwise they'd be in conflict.

From what we've seen of Wrath of the Lich King and the Diablo series, it definitely does look like it would suit Wrath more at the moment, however considering how the Diablo2 storyline ended, with all the Prime Evils being slain and having their Soulstones obliterated, it's safe to say that the plot would have to take a twist. Whether they reappear in another village, an area previously unaffected by the Evil's corruption but still possessed by it, or whether it's in a different realm, like how there was the Arcane Sanctuary and the Chaos Sanctuary, we don't know, but I can easily see Diablo taking a turn into such an environment of their opening ice wallpaper.

Then there's the thought that they could just be leading us on an elegantly planned goose chase. Having images that don't clearly fit any of their genres while sharing some qualities of each, strange purple monsters with what seems like secret coding inscribed into their filenames, and after having had useful build ups before each invitation all these years, or so I've heard... Can't help but feel as though it could all be a fake and when the ice has fully opened up it's just some guy pointing and laughing at us, or when the last part of the purple monster's revealed it's just some uber-cartoony joke of a creature. I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

@ ijffdrie. What pic?

[ShdwyTemplar]

Third day is now officially up. Just thought I would let you guys know.

[ItzaHexGor]

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/itzahexgor/Ice.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/itzahexgor/Protoss.jpg

That's one for each now, right? WarCraft, Diablo, StarCraft.

[ijffdrie]

haha,
ijffdrie was right,
sorry to say it bubs, but you drew yout conclusions far too fast, i want d3 as bad as anyone, but this thing isnt prove(yet)
what about the animal, what is the new picture?

[ssjfox]

Yes there is one for each race, the first rune was in fact the rune of Arthas's blade it appears, so that kinda hurts idea of it being diablo 3 it was just showing a symbol for all three game series.

Also another nail in this would be coffin is that the secret picture is 23 which is w and obviously that is not in diablo. Either way here's the new secret image put in place, doesn't really help much but i went ahead and did it, really fast 30 second job so sorry about the lack of time writing :P

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh295/ssjfox/diablo.png?t=1214378730

[ijffdrie]

so we have a w an o and a d
lol that makes world of diablo
it cant be combined to either warcraft, starcraft or diablo, so i have to put my money in a new series, or that we interpreted the numbers wrong

[ijffdrie]

i was talking about the "shael"(i think) rune

and wow, i cant believe no one talked about the mistery simbols at the left of the arthas rune, at the right of the hel rune, and under the protoss symbol, they are really small though


i odnt recognize the one next to arthas's rune
the one near the hel rune looks like a circle, with some strange thingies on the right and under
the protoss one has an r very clearly(thanks to foxy for finding it), it looks to be followed by a small clock that says 5oçlock and an oval on the upper right of the clock

[marinefreak]

Blizzard has purchased the Dawn of War series yes!
On a slightly more serious note you can never rule out they're making another lost vikings game or of course blizzard are listening to what people are saying on forums and are trying mislead us...

Btw SC2 pod are getting so much traffic their servers are currently down as they try to move them ^^

[ssjfox]

That's what I'm hoping for they did all this and got everyone super excited about diablo 3 and all this stuff and a big giant announcement and.... they were just screwing with us the whole time. Be the greatest thing Blizzard ever did.... screw with their entire fan base.

Also diablofans crashed because of the huge number of people trying to enter it, just to let you know how many people were watching this.

[ijffdrie]

it could also be a gneral sign for the WWI, and not an announcement

[Babmer]

Sorry guys, its a confirmed announcment:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...91551&site=pcg

"Blizzard's Rob Pardo refused to tell Game Informer what the announcement was, but the phrasing of his refusal was itself revealing "So you want me to announce the game before the announcement?" So it is a game you'll be announcing then, Rob? That rules out most of the pessimist's theories: that this would be new Lich King details, Starcraft 2 stuff or a Battle.net relaunch.

Relatedly, someone who would know has very strongly hinted to us that this is not going to be a new IP - that is, the announcement will not be of an entirely new game unrelated to their existing series."

[Sargsaft]

Hi guys

i m new to this forum but have been following it for quite some time now.
i know what i am about to say will get lot of flaming going on, but what the heck, my source was never wrong so far.


so here it is, a friend of mine who worked for blizzard europe till the end of may 2008 came back home (small country, lots money and chocolate). Anyway everyone of us knew hed came back on day so we asked him "these questions about upcoming stuff" which everyone wants to know.


One Answer was, that he already saw animations of the barbarian class for the upcoming Diablo 3.
So we asked him more and he told us that he couldnt tell us more, since blizzard tells everyone to stfu or be killed.... well he told us some more things but....that for another time if i survive the flaming.


anyway let the flaming begin, but if i m right i will be god, coming next weekend.



cheers
sorry for my bad english....

and diablo 3 for the win.....

[Babmer]

Ahem, ok.. erh yeah! its basicly confirmed:

Diablo 3 Announcement at WWI
25th Jun 2008 04:56 PM GMT | Rushster | 1 comments
10
Tag this!

With this week's speculation over the Blizzard teasers, more and more reports in the media, and numerous tips coming direct us at IncGamers from reliable inside industry sources in the past 24 hours, we now have confirmation from inside sources to say that Diablo 3 WILL be announced on Saturday at WWI Paris 2008.

With that in mind, we would like to invite Diabloii.net readers to submit their questions for us to ask Blizzard.

This is extremely exciting for all of us here at Diabloii.net. For the past 10 years we have been supporting the Diablo community and to have something completely new to sink our teeth into is fantastic. We will be at the show on Saturday for the announcement and also the press conference which is directly after, so expect reports from the show floor live, interviews and much more.

[kuvasz]

Sargsaft, why would you be flamed for this? Even if you're wrong you wouldn't be flamed for raising hype - everyone is just guessing here. And if you're right... well you certainly won't become god. So stop dramatising please.

[Sargsaft]

sorry didnt mean to dramatize, but then chill man i was just exagerating.

anyway i just got flamed in german forums for telling this...so....

[kuvasz]

Why would you be flamed for sharing an info no one else knows about? Germans...

:p

[Wlck742]

Uhh, shoulda known Blizzard wouldn't make things this easy for us. WTF??

[Wlck742]

I think this is similar to the countdown we had before the SC2 announcement. You know the one where the site redirected to a picture that showed a Blizzard game every day? So it's probable this is another announcement. Also the order of the runes means a lot. Assuming the rune on the upper left is the Warcraft rune, that would mean this is another countdown. Because Warcraft came first, then Diablo, then Starcraft, it would follow the chronological order of their games. In a few days I'm expecting a new rune or icon or something in the middle of the pic that announces what the game is.

[Major Willy]

Ice not affiliated with Diablo?

The series ended (so far) in the Barbarian lands. Look around in Act 5.

[i2new@aol.com]

if they dont announce a diablo 3, i'm going to pay air plain tickets for every hardcore diablo fan in thw world and fly them to CA.

Then i'll pay for hotels and buy out a hilton for like 3 days.

then i will equip my army of angrey diablo fans with pitch forks buckets of oil & tourches, and you cant forget big sticks with nails.

The 3ed night my and my army will have a super dinner for the army and dance to crapy diablo music..... then....

the next day, we will martch onto blizzards front door step and take them by force. I will also send out ninjas to get all the former diablo makers for failing there fans.... Now only if i could get enough money my dream will come true

:) lol.........j/p

[Fenix]

Sooo...What's with the Protoss symbol then

[Itsmyship]

You're all wrong guys! It's OBVIOUSLY Lost Vikings 2!

I mean, it's been forever since the first one, and everyone knows the gaming community has been waiting for the sequel.

[Prodigal]

Wow that is the protoss symbol. Since SC2 is their biggest game, it wouldn't be too far fetched to assume that it is a massive announcement about SC2.

[Gasmaskguy]

Damn straight! If you guys think waiting for a sequel for eight years is long, then guess how the LV community feels! They have waited for sixteen!!

(on a side note, a sequel to either Blackthorne or Rock n Roll Racing would be pretty cool)

[i2new@aol.com]

LMAO, lost vikings, lol

[Fenix]

Why not?

[Gasmaskguy]

There will be no reannouncements... Rob Pardo (or who was it?) practicaly said that it will be the announcement of a totally new game, so it can't be WotLK or SC2.

[Prodigal]

There will be no reannouncements... Rob Pardo (or who was it?) practicaly said that it will be the announcement of a totally new game, so it can't be WotLK or SC2.

Or...the different symbols could allude to different games. The new on is a Protoss Symbol. Maybe they will announce Diablo 3, the new expansion to WoW AND a bunch of new SC2 info.

I may stand to be corrected. The screen doesn't necessarily relate to only one game.

[Gasmaskguy]

Haha, of course there's gonna be a lot of WoW and SC2 info at WWI too, but there will also be the big announcement of a new game there, which won't be WoW or SC2 related.

[Prodigal]

They could be announcing the expansion pack to Starcraft II...with a new playable race!!!

[Gasmaskguy]

I hope you're joking. :D

[Major Willy]

Blizzard universe cross-overs.

Racing game.

Go.

Playable Race: Hammerdins.

[Fenix]

Umm...Wraiths move at Hypersonic speeds, lorewise....

[Gasmaskguy]

Playable Race: Lost Vikings perhaps?

[Major Willy]

Lorewise.

[Itsmyship]

Or...dare I dream....a SC........mixed with a Sex and the City game! My god....that would rock our world.

[BirdofPrey]

When I look at the shadow in the middle it makes me think it is mephisto

Has two tall horns on the front.
Thin arms (mephisto's are just bone)

[fordinski]

guys guys, your all wrong! cant you see that there were 3 symbols, one of a rune from diablo, the protoss symbol from starcraft, and a rune from frostmourne in warcraft. ITS OBVIOUS

cant think of anything?

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Super Smash Blizzard Brawl

The brawl to end them all......

[Vodka-Chill]

All we are going to get is a nice :

Welcome to World Wide Invitational! :D

.......

That would suck

[Gasmaskguy]

You arn't the first fordinski. :P

http://www.starcraft2forum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5296

[fordinski]

You arn't the first fordinski. :P

http://www.starcraft2forum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5296

ahhh dam, lol i thought id be the first to think of that

[fordinski]

just found this

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/278/98774602tu2.jpg

looks sorta like the complete image or someone just drew in the missing pieces. looks like barney meets the lochness monster.

[ItzaHexGor]

Looks like it's been fan-made. The texture isn't consistent throughout the missing images. Besides, doesn't look like anything Blizzard would do.

Also, don't double post or quote the person above you.

[ssjfox]

yeah it's not the real thing, it doesn't match to what blizzard has already released http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh295/ssjfox/diablo.png?t=1214378730

sorry for the sloppy job i did this last night right when it came out and posted it in the ice is opening up thread which got merged with this.

[ijffdrie]

i havent read all teh pages, but maybe what i've said has already been said
even if this project is part of teh already existing universe, there is no reason to assume that, because all the other games are being expanded, it is diablo 3, they can work on 2 games of the same franchise at the same time; look at starcraft:ghost and starcraft 2, or warcraft 2 and warcraft adventures: lord of the clans

[ssjfox]

EDIT: as to not double post I'm going to put what my old post said to ijffdrie at the top, just ignore it if you want.

But in the same light both starcraft:ghost and warcraft adventures failed and were never released, which would seem to prove they can't work on two games of the same franchise. I'm sure they could if they tried hard but they don't have the best record in that field.


Ok so day for is officially up (actually it has been for awhile just no one has posted so I will)

This is now the status of the creature and it really does appear to be becoming a purple penguin. LordKerwyn had a theory that the creature isn't important and it's what it will be holding in that last panel which I have to agree with at this point.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/3364/pengie5.png

Also the number for the new picture was 16 which leaves us with D O W P which leaves us with nothing, then again the number to letter might not be right at all.

http://seattle.gametent.com/diablofans//wwi-2008/day4-ice4.jpg

First off people seem to be seeing a lot of things inside now (lion face, diablo, human form) the only one which seems to be possible really (although there is part of a lion's face if you look right but that has nothing to do with the actual splash and I wouldn't bother looking for it) is that the two slanted ice chips near the center are actually eyes which could be possible.

As for the new rune it's a circle surrounded by a few other circles really. There are a bunch of theories on it right now mine was that it's a solar system/universe which the diablo fan site guy who posted the information agreed with when i looked.
Then there's Lord's theory which is that the three circles are the three games circling around one main event which would be the WWi and that's what the middle circle stands for.

The other two I've seen that are plausible are two ximnipot69 showed me in the chat that came from the diablofans site.
1. Seems like the area where you fight the ancients, you're in the middle, with
the 3 ancients surrounding you
2. The 3 prime evils are summoning something more powerful and destructive.

EDIT new theories
1. if you took it to be a solar system or universe that could indicate universe of starcraft of starcraft galaxy like Diablofans says.
2. The other idea from them is much like lord's but it's the 3 old franchises revolving around the 4th new one.

So anyway have fun speculating and driving yourself crazy over this, everyone else seems to be.

[Wlck742]

3 words: Damn you Blizzard!

[ssjfox]

yes... you got to love how blizzard loves to screw with their fans and lead them around, probably just to laugh at all the crazy ideas people come up with.

also i added 2 new theories that could be true about the new rune in my last post.

[BirdofPrey]

I also noticed the runes are moving the Protoss symbol is lower now

[ssjfox]

yeah so it seems... but that's most likely because the runes would be illegible or destroyed if left in the same spot by the expanding break and light shining from it.

[Wlck742]

I could almost swear the scratches by the Protoss symbol spell out :laugh:.

[ssjfox]

I don't see it.... maybe you could point them out with a picture or something.
....if blizzard wanted to mess with people and make them see things not there in the ice they did a great job with all the pictures and ideas that are surfacing

[Prodigal]

What exactly is the new Rune from?


That looks an AWFUL lot like an Archon!! (the new blizzard image)

[Wlck742]

As far as the games are concerned, it's a completely new rune. I've looked all over for it but it's not there.

[ssjfox]

No one is quite sure, I posted a lot of the big ideas for it on the last page in that long post with the pictures, so you check that for a few of the ideas that you might like.

Also a new one is that it has some connection to warcraft 3 because of one of the cinema scenes in it in which archimonde draws a symbol like it in the sand. You can find the theory on SClegacy http://www.sclegacy.com/

[Wlck742]

I don't think it's from the cinematic because all the other runes were near perfect matches and this one's a little off. But if it is, it'll support the countdown theory more. First came Warcraft, then came Diablo, then came Starcraft, then World of Warcraft (?).

If it really does spell POWNED in the end... that would be the end of Rob Pardo and the beginning of yet another annoying trend.

[ssjfox]

I don't really think it's from the cinematic i just thought I'd throw it out there for people. And it could represent WoW if you consider it to be planets because WoW has been expanding on the different planets in it recently with the dreanei (no idea how to spell) and the other new races and lore

[Wlck742]

Let's see:

Warcraft 1 -> Warcraft 2 -> WC2 Beyond the Dark Portal -> Diablo I -> Starcraft -> SC Brood War -> WC2 Bnet edition -> Diablo II -> D2: Lord of Destruction -> WoW & expansions -> SC2 -> Project Hydra (unconfirmed)

We saw WC, Diablo, and SC. So what's next, Rock & Roll Racing?

[Meee]

You're all wrong guys! It's OBVIOUSLY Lost Vikings 2!

I mean, it's been forever since the first one, and everyone knows the gaming community has been waiting for the sequel.

That's odd, 'cause I was sure LV2 was out for AGES

http://www.gamespot.com/snes/puzzle/norsebynorsewest/index.html?tag=tabs;summary

[ijffdrie]

the new rune looks like a arcane sanctum seen from above

[ItzaHexGor]

The whole setup is starting to look extremely Diabloesque. The whole thing is a circle, the cracks in the ice are beginning to form a pentagram with the runes at each point, and now the eyes in the middle are starting to appear. Obviously I agree that the runes can't really help but be placed in a pentagrammic array, but now that the gap is starting to take place, it's beginning to look less and less coincidental.

The whole problem with this is that the runes aren't all from the Diablo series, especially the Protoss symbol. Could just be to stop it being so blatant, but might just be to show what the Invitation will include, being all Blizzard's games but with a focus on x, the x most likely being related to Diablo. Then again, maybe it'll end up like a huge roulette wheel or something...

[ijffdrie]

i checked it, the symbol most certainly isnt in the archimonde scene

[marinefreak]

The numbers will be 4,8,15,16,23,42... don't any of you guys watch lost =O ?

[Wlck742]

I actually won't be surprised. Knowing Blizzard and their references, a Lost reference isn't that unlikely.

Edit: could the rune be a reference to this? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Imperia:_Eminent_Domain)

[Prodigal]

Its obviously an Archon emerging from an Ice Berg. Ever seen the movie Titanic? Its Leonardo DiCaprio's character emerging from the ocean, three thousands years in the future, except now he is the first human Archon! Does this mean the Terran's are evolving into the Protoss? Blizzard thinks so! ;)

[SuccaMC]

you know what would be wild. if it was an entirely new game. as in not warcraft starcraft or diablo. I don't think any of us will live to see that day though. Although I think the time has come. I love all three franchises, but jeeze lets do something fresh. Now, don't think I want them not to make Diablo 3, the time has come for that too. But, something fresh from Blizzard would be great. I mean. What is the last Original Franchise release? I believe that would be either Diablo or Starcraft.

[Wlck742]

The eyes are possibly those of the Dark Wanderer. If you don't know what I'm talking about, he's the guy on the Diablo 2 cover. If you superimpose the box art onto the ice image, the eyes line up perfectly, and the ice slopes up to meet his shoulders.

http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/884/884604/is-blizzards-hell-frozen-over-20080626110415767.jpg

Coincidence? I think not.

[Fenix]

Why would they have the Diablo II cover lining up....It would only be logical if the cover of Diablo I lines up too

[ItzaHexGor]

Snapage. Serious snapage.

Why would it even be the same character? Diablo1 was Diablo, Diablo2 was the Dark Wanderer. StarCraft1 was a Marine, Hydralisk and Protoss, StarCraft:BroodWar was Stukov, Kerrigan and Artanis. WarCraft1 and 2 were the only ones that lined up, as they were one of Blizzard's earliest games. The trend didn't continue to WarCraft3 which had a member of each race, and then Frozen Throne, which had the Lich King. World of WarCraft had two members of each faction, and Burning Crusade had the new member of each faction.

Long story short, barring the early exceptions, none have lined up so far, so why would it matter if it lines up with anything at all? They're evil eyes. That's all we know and that's all that matters at the moment.

[marinefreak]

Unless Blizzard is making the reference on purpose to link it to diablo. But i've seen screenshots of zealots and the lich king being lined up with the eyes in the same way so it inconclusive like everything else to do with it .

[kuvasz]

I bet the representative is going to pull an innocent face and go "you're right, they do look like eyes... but they're just chips of ice" to destroy everyone who were brainstorming about whose eyes they can be.

[Prodigal]

The misty outline of the face is VERY Protoss-like.

[Wlck742]

Just curious, can someone not in the Pacific time zone stay upfl for 30 minutes and see if the site updates by then? I know it's a weird request but I'm curious if this updates at the same time for everyone. (99.99% sure it'll be the same for everyone but you never know.


EDIT: site updated. They're most definitely eyes. And the surrounding face looks very Protossy. The runes are also much brighter, and a new rune has been added. SC2 beta perhaps?

[Prodigal]

ITS UPDATED!!! It looks like a Protoss now!! AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING SINCE YESTERDAY!!!

its 3am Eastern Standard here.

There is also a snowflake ruin at the very top.

[Wlck742]

It could also be the lich king though. Unfortunately I'm on my iPod so I can't get a good look. Interestingly enough, there's yet another job listing on the site that starts with " Blizzard, the creators of Diablo and Diablo II..."

[Prodigal]

"Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Diablo and Diablo II, is looking for a lead 3D environment artist skilled at creating models and texture maps for both architectural and natural environments. The ideal candidate has experience modeling and texturing assets for a diverse visual range of environments."

Wow, they are basically saying "we are making Diablo 3".

Then again the splash page may be all about the beta.

PLEASE BE THE BETA!!!

[Wlck742]

I think I'll be disappointed if it wasn't Diablo III at any rate. A beta is awesome, but D3, god that would be so awesome.

[i2new@aol.com]

god what the hell is that monster behind the ice.... God tell me..... NO BLIZZARD tell us. plz!!!

[lurkers_lurk]

im looking at it and the only thing Blizz. related that i can think of is WOW because of the mist coming out of the eyes do to The Burning Crusade or SC same reason but its from the Archons, or it kinda looks like Tassadar face because of the cracks around the eyes, and i remember seeing that from SC. =P or im just rambling right now.

[i2new@aol.com]

It looks like either an icy zerg skull or a protoss head.
Or it could be a new Evils head with blizzards icy theam for show and good looks. This is truly strange.
It could be Diablos new body melting the ice? only time will tell.
and my last thought. Its a Panguin....

[Prodigal]

I've thought it was an archon since yesterday. ;)

[Wlck742]

I honestly cannot say there's anyone with eyes like that in Diablo. Tyrael might fit but I can't see what that would have anything to do with ice, especially since the area around the eyes seems alienish.

Has anyone noticed the way the ice around the Frostmourne rune seems to form a sort of a head? It might be nothing but it's very interesting.

[Prodigal]

I'm not saying they don't have big announements this weekend about D3 and Wow...but the splash screen is clearly STARCRAFT II!! Its a protoss character...and the background has alot of Stars. So far the only Blizzard game that takes place in Outer space is....

[Wlck742]

It's possible that the image is that of Belial or Azmodan.

[Prodigal]

The Stars in the background are a dead give away. Their is a good comparison on kotaku.com.

Its a Protoss.

[Wlck742]

I have no idea what SC has to do with this, even if it's the beta (kinda doubt that anyways). Rob Pardo said a couple days ago they're going to announce something big, probably a new game. I don't think a beta qualifies for such a huge tease.

[Babmer]

Regardless, there is no incentive to do a splash page for stacraft 2, the only thing to make sense would be a starcraft mmo.

It is very blizzard like to throw a different bone in a whole different direction when everyone is expecting something else. Think of it from this POV if you and the majority of blizzard fans were really expecting and hoping for a starcraft mmo, and blizzard knew this, would they put a protoss face in the flash teaser? and give away their upcoming announcment? No they wouldnt.

If you take this in mind, blizzard wouldnt put a big ass diablo face in their teaser either, the most likely thing they would do is try and throw everyone off the idea of diablo 3, hence the protoss like face :P.

Its diablo related people, you will all see! ;D

[ijffdrie]

well, the face kinda looks like, erm, aldaris

[marinefreak]

Maybe they will announce beta and Diablo 3 ? Though diablo 3 would dwarf the beta release of SC2

[ItzaHexGor]

Diablo3 would work so well as an MMORPG. It's like, purely designed for it. I'm not saying it would actually do better than World of WarCraft, but it would actually be better than it.

[VodkaChill]

That Pentagram form the runes are positioned in still hints to demonic intentions. Unless Aldaris is the new Diablo it could be any of the remaining prime evil.

Your quest: revive Diablo who is the only one to know how to kill them. And once he has destroyed them and acquired their power, you need to kill him!

It looks like a protoss with the eyes of the lich king... Blizzard most probably wanted it this way.

[ItzaHexGor]

Just remember, there's no even arrangement of five runes that would not equate to a pentagram.

Also, all the Prime Evils have been destroyed. There aren't any other than Mephisto, Diablo and Baal.

[hydralisk]

Guys you are all wrong its has to do with sc cause if you look now there are symbols on the ice and one of then is the new sc2 protoss symbol look for yourself

http://www.blizzard.com/us/splash.html
the protoss symbol is the bottom left side

and i know its protoss from this
http://starcraft2.com/features/ the protoss symbol is right next to the dark templar

the other 4 symbols i don't know what they are but try to figure them out.

[AcE_01]

^
ure right!!! BUT what can it possibly be!! im so clueless now...

[Gasmaskguy]

Guys you are all wrong its has to do with sc cause if you look now there are symbols on the ice and one of then is the new sc2 protoss symbol look for yourself


OK, so one of the symbols has to do with SC2? Well did you know that one of the other symbols is Diablo related, and that another symbol is Warcraft related? Maybe you're the one that's wrong.

[AcE_01]

k, I THINK...that they are just putting random symbols. but there will be something new...something...im leaning on new diablo game..

[MyWifeforauir]

sigh trust blizzard to confuse the hell out of us....
and blizzard really know how to get a hype started.... i mean they made no announcement what so ever but put some JPEGs up on their web and boom somone notices and rumours begin.....

[Sargsaft]

check this out just found it.:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8034/faithv23tk1.jpg

[Major Willy]

Sarg, amazing find if it's true.

But I'm suspicious at the moment.

[Sargsaft]

wellme kinda too but orignalposter said it qwas leaked from internal blizzard server moments ago...anyway nicepics thou

[Prodigal]

they look fake. Their are no runes in them....Diablo 3 is probably going to be announced, but whats with all these fake mock ups?!

[Sargsaft]

they look fake. Their are no runes in them....Diablo 3 is probably going to be announced, but whats with all these fake mock ups?!


oh man look at the pics once again and you can see the runes.... even if they are fake it is still nice to see where it could go...

[Prodigal]

The amount of pictures doesn't make sense either. According to the fakes, it would be "fully announced" next Wednesday. After WWI. Nice try though.

[JudicatorPrime]

I hope it's Diablo. Frankly, other than the 3 biggies (SC, WC, Diablo) Diablo is the only one without another make. There's already SC2, and WarCraft has been going on for a while.

Personally it looks more like SC to me, but the pentagram, ice and runes don't add up.

[Stephen Worrell]

HEY!!!

When are they coming out with Civil War games?

Or the SpanAm games?