Diablo III

Scion · Diablo III

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26370193

If this turns out to be Diablo 3, you guys may never speak to me again.

Dakoth

Introducing: World of Warcraft reskinned for Diablo! Buy Now!

Rive Caedo

I would expect that they're planning for a possible release sometime between 2010 and 2012, so don't get too excited yet.

Personally, I see the appeal of Diablo, but it's my least favorite of the Blizzard trio of franchises. I usually end up buying the "Battlechest" discounted version months and months after the game is released. Whereas with Warcraft and Starcraft I'll buy the Collector's Edition on Day 1 Smile

Lord Vexen

Scion

Diablo>Than both crafts put together, especially since they whored out the better of the 2 to MMO status.

Lord Embeion

Diable= OR'ed

Dakoth

Scion

Rive Caedo

You know - I'd love to play a Starcraft MMO, I've said so in the past.

But I'm not so sure it would work as a Warcraft style MMO. With Warcraft, you have dragons, demons, and Gods that you can deal with as Raid bosses.
With Starcraft, what do you have? You either have everyone playing Protoss and Terran characters and constantly fight bigger and badder Zerg mutations - or you bring in a new race (Xel'naga?) to be the opposing Force. Whatever the case, it's going to get a bit silly.

Starcraft might work better as a Planetside style MMO. A first-person game that involves pure PvP - and as you play and kill other players and capture enemy bases your character gains access to weapon, armor, and vehicle upgrades. Culminating with being able to do awesome stuff like call in a Yamoto Cannon strike.
I played Planetside, briefly. It seemed like a spectacular idea, but with imperfect execution. I think Blizzard could pull it off right.

Imagine playing a single veteran marine attempting to reclaim an infested supply depot from fairly new Zerg players. Or making an attack run against a group of Protoss players as a Zerg Mutalisk? Or even running a stealth mission as a Protoss Dark Templar, trying to plant explosives in a Terran Anti-Aircraft missile launcher so a team of other Protoss players in a shuttle can land directly inside the base - behind those two Terran players that keep killing you in those Siege Tanks.

Lord Vexen

Scion

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6192839.html
http://www.blizzard.com/us/splash.html

The first is the article on the teaser, the second is the teaser itself. I am able to see a frozen red figure with yellow eyes.

I have no doubt in my mind now, hopefully they announce D3 at Blizzcon or their convention or whatever. I will be sorely disappointed if they don't.

Lord Embeion

Rive Caedo

I can't see anything besides that weird little circle on the left side myself.

Diablo 3: Hell Hath Frozen Over? Razz

I'm more inclined to believe that it's indicating a new Ice-Based race for Starcraft 2 or simply something big coming as news for the Ice-Based Warcraft expansion.

It would seem... uncharacteristic for Blizzard to hype up two brand new games at once. But, they're a much larger company now than they were in the past - so it's not impossible.

Dakoth

Scion

Rive Caedo

Wrath of the Lich King was announced a few months after Starcraft II. Wrath was the one announced at Blizzcon. Starcraft II was announced at the South Korean invitational.

I don't see why they "can't have a convention dedicated to WoW and SC only" - they've been doing it for years, heheh.

In any case, I believe what will happen is that the ice will crack open soonish and they'll reveal the release date for Wrath of the Lich King behind it.

Dakoth

or maybe it'll say "hay we learned how to balance WoW and it might be fun now!"

Lord Vexen

Or...it will be a brand new enemy and/or ally for the game.

Rive Caedo

Lord Vexen

I agree...the Warlocks were way to overpowered...and I loved it.

Lord Embeion

Warlocks are push overs for Paladins. Bubble tanking ftw

Scion

Rive Caedo

Lord Embeion

Rive Caedo

I'm adjusting for Wrath of the Lich King inflation - I bet there will be a new spell rank for it. Yes, that's exactly what I was doing. This is in no way a plausible lie Wink

And sorry Scion, but now it's all but confirmed to just be something for Wrath of the Lich King - release date or otherwise.

The splash page is now up at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com but NOT http://www.starcraft2.com/

EDIT: Gah. Well now I don't know what to think.

Apparently that IS a Diablo rune. Perhaps they're deliberately trying to trick people by making it look Warcraftish and only linking it on worldofwarcraft.com?
But the new Death Knight class in Warcraft uses runes too. So it could just be a cross-franchise link. Blizzard likes to do those.

And apparently Blizzard IS working on FOUR projects right now. A "next generation MMO" and "Project Hydra" (and Wrath of the Lich King and Starcraft II).

Also: the ice is cracking. A second rune has appeared.

Lord Embeion

Death Knight and ice go hand and hand. IDK thought, its still 50/50 imo. The red figure has me guessing. I can't think of anything Warcraft for it. Unless its a new species there revealing in this for some reason.

Lord Vexen

Red figure...Kil'Jaeden(sp) maybe?

Rive Caedo

The ice has further cracked. A third rune appears.

Hrum... well apparently whatever they're revealing isn't going to be in the center of the frame - and it's also apparently not going to be the depths of hell. So far it just looks like an ice tunnel Smile

EDIT: Well now they're just TRYING to make it impossible to guess. The first rune was the Diablo rune, the second one was from Arthas's sword, and this third rune is the Protoss insignia.

Maybe they're announcing Starways of Diablocraft? My Orc will DESTROY your Hydralisk - no matter how many demonic powers he has! Wink

Lord Embeion

Lord Vexen

Yeah...but with Protoss, Arthas, and Diablo runes altogether...I'm clueless. Maybe a game were they all come together and Starcraft comes out on top?

Ga'nen

I don't know, it could be an entirely new game and these runes are just meant to sidetrack you. -shrug-

Lord Vexen

Rive Caedo

Maybe it's Lost Vikings 3 Razz

Dakoth

The ice... IT IS MELTING!

Rive Caedo

Hm...

Scion

Lord Embeion

Gonna be Northerend

Lord Vexen

Yeah, I'm thinking Northrend too

Rive Caedo

Well that'd be fairly disappointing, since they already revealed all the zones for it...

Lord Embeion

But they haven't revealed all the instances... and remember it is on the WoW site. Not the Diablo site Wink

Dakoth

Super smash Bros: Blizzard!

Lord Embeion

Actually Rive's lil post does make sense a little. Theres two snowflake jawns that match up with the eyes..I think.

Scion

http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06...nges-as-diablo-3-and-wotlk-specu/

Pretty interesting perspectives from both sides.

Lord Embeion

hmm it's def starting to look like Diablo. But IDK I can't help but stare at it and see the Lich King helm. The mist above looks sorta like the helm to me. Eyes are in a very similar location.. It's gonna be Diablo though most likely when you look at the other things.

Spoiler:

Scion

Lord Embeion

Rive Caedo

Well it's not Arthas' helm.
It also doesn't look very much like previous Diablo cover demons.

The CSS puzzle is complete and is... weird.

Dakoth

Ignoring captain pengiuno for a second. Yeah, thats wotlk

Rive Caedo

It doesn't match up with the helmet. It could be a radical redesign... but I doubt it.

It looks much more organic to me than metal anyway. It looks very Protossy to me.

This reaffirms my suspicions that it'll be a release date announcement - except now I believe it'll be Starcraft 2, not Wrath of the Lich King. And this will, in addition, reveal the Starcraft 2 box art - which will be an updated version of the Starcraft 1 box art. Using the modern standard of awesome blue-eyed Protoss instead of the less impressive big orange eyes.

But the penguin is perplexing no matter which universe you aim for. If purple penguins are a new playable WoW race... I won't know whether to laugh or cry.

Scion

http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=faithv23tk1wk8.jpg

An interesting idea from a Diablo fan, I hope it's something like this...

Lord Embeion

Rive made a good point about SC. Isn't SC2 coming out soon?( or later..) Hmm it could go ether way with this. The monster looks like something from Northerend. Look under the eyes and the eye angle on the ice image. It's not WotLK, unless they want us to think that and boom Sargeras the Destroyer.

Rive Caedo

Hrum.. it's shifting orange and I think I see a snouty nose. I'm still not ready to say "ZOMG! It's definitely Diablo 3!" but it's looking likely now.

Also: the previous files have been called...
ice1.jpg, ice2.jpg, ice3.jpg, ice4.jpg, ice5.jpg
This one was called ice5andahalf.jpg Razz

Lord Embeion

IDK looks lil Starcrafty, but the orange points towards D3. I still wouldn't eliminate WotLK ether. Blizz is very sneaky at times

Scion

It's almost official the runes form a pentagram, its pretty much DIII

Though that odd smiley face one in the corner keeps winking at me.

Scion

And the Heavens Shall Tremble...

Lord Embeion

Blarg. I was hoping for a shocker

Rive Caedo

I was hoping for a new franchise or for Blizzard to try their hand at making an FPS again (I'm still disappointed they cancelled Starcraft Ghost).

Oh well, I'll see you in a few years Diablo III: Battlechest Edition Laughing

Kudos to Blizzard for keeping us guessing right up until the end.

Dakoth

Are you crazy? Diablo III is just code for a new boss in WotLK i'm sure.

....Laugh it up scion >.>

Rive Caedo

I can see it now. You enter the Frozen Throne.

Arthas sits atop the winding staircase. This is it. Your months of work and farming gear for restless nights have finally paid off. You are the first to face the Lich King.

Though your headset, the inspiring words of your valiant leader fill your head ("Okay, uh, guys... do we have all the Soulstones up?"). Xyxcygi, your raid's only Death Knight begins casting the runic spell that will keep Arthas's forces at bay as you face him alone...

It's done, you're ready, the tank rushes up the stairs with the other 24 of you in tow...

Suddenly, halfway up the staircase, time stops. The Lich King's voice echoes "Thought you my Forsaken to be my only defense? No, reckless invaders, you must prove your worth!"

NOW LOADING... DIABLO III
Create your character!
New Quest! Unlock the Frozen Throne: Defeat Diablo!

Lord Embeion

Lawl...sad thing is that I could see it happening for an April Fools joke on the PTR.

Dakoth

Scion

you guys don't know how giddy I am right now.

Actually you do, I just used the word giddy!!!!!!!!!@!

Screw Battlechest, Day 1 purchase for me.

If you wached the gameplay video, you'll notice the series staple is already in place:

outdated graphics + addictive point and click and click and click and click and click and click and click and click combat = Win

Rive Caedo

Heheh, I'm not sure if I'd call them too outdated. I mean, honestly - how good can you make an overhead camera perspective that you need to be able to see hordes of enemies look? It's an odd perspective and your screen is only so big.

Same deal with Starcraft II. The biggest selling point (besides new units and a new campaign) is being able to play Starcraft at modern resolutions. 640x480 just doesn't cut it these days. You're seeing more - which is good. But each individual slice of the screen doesn't need to look all that much better Very Happy

I watched the gameplay video and the cinematic trailer. It does look like fun and may turn into a pre-discount purchase for me (although I still doubt I'd spend the extra coin on the inevitable collector's edition)... but it didn't give me chills like the Starcraft II announcement videos did, heheh.
Knocking down the wall to take out one of the zombie hordes was neat - I don't remember Diablo II very well, since I didn't play it much, but I doubt you could do anything like that in 2000.

What I WILL say though is that I'm glad that Blizzard isn't stopping making other high quality games despite the mountains of cash they're making off of WoW. I like WoW, but it'd just be sad if we stopped seeing non-MMO Blizzard productions.

Lord Vexen

I never got into Diablo...but I'll get this game anyway due to what I've heard about it.

Scion

Lord Vexen

I watched the 20 minute Game demo...I love that Witchdoctor

Scion

Rive Caedo

Thread renamed.

Also, today's GU.

Dakoth

So I saw the gameplay video, and it looks like a dumbed down version of WoW that some guy created in the wc iii map editor. that being said, when does it come out so I can buy it? 2050?

Scion

Dakoth

Scion

Dakoth

Wow good job, now all my google ads are about diablo, which is not halo, and therefore unacceptable.

Edit: Scion, I have decided that it is time for us to make war against eachother. name the battlefield sir.

Scion

Lord Embeion

Oh how I have missed the

Scion

Revival with good and bad news:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6199206.html

Rive Caedo

Bump with new confirmation of last post:

But look at that in next few years! "Starcraft Expansion"!

It doesn't say Starcraft II, it says Starcraft! Finally, a sequel to Brood War! Wink

Scion

All I saw was Diablo 3, next few years.

Living proof getting excited for something is stupid.

Dakoth

This is all your faults! If you only hadn't been thinking about them they would have come quicker! Now you ruined it for the rest of us and we all have to wait..