i was correct!

JASONSPAZ

i was correct!!!!!!

JASONSPAZ

@Aethyr: Pretty much proves what I said, don't it? I know I wasn't the only one who thought so.

SubKamran

I'd have to guess Diablo 3 or a new IP. The fact that the eyes could be both diablo 3 or WotLK probably means it isn't either one, as that wouldn't be something blizzard would do on accident, and the whole icy background being a symbol for blizzard as a company really makes a lot of sense to me.

ashman512

@CCCombobreaker: Do I have permission to come out and laugh at you if they don't announce the Starcraft MMO then? Since you're guaranteeing people that some deep eye sockets belong to a protoss rather than what they look like?... Which is Arthas with and without the helm, Diablo 2 box art, Diablo, Baal and the Protoss... I don't really see you having a guarantee at all. I will apologize if it is the Starcraft MMO. But your so-called guarantee is laughable.

Dennen

@tuckertuck: "New Race - Purple penguins"

Arakkoa.

Zhal

1 - Save the image
2 - Invert colors
3 - Set it as your wallpaper

It's pretty cool... What? You expected to see something new? Me too... Me too...

goliathvv

Not that I think it's connected to anything, but did anyone ever figure out what the chat room gem did in Diablo 2?

Kjiron

I think it's a penguin from the icy realm of Northrend. The numbers from Lost are probably because in Lost Ben dropped into that Tundra.

Or it's Super Blizzard Smash Brothers.

vaderonice

@Edwinik:

Nothing we have seen suggests that its diablo...the shape in the ice is clearly a protoss and the Diablo 3 forum was proven to be a total letdown as there also Diablo IV and V forums you can get to. I wouldn't be surprised is VI and VII are there too.

CCCombobreaker

Starcraft MMO. 99.99% guaranteed.

CCCombobreaker

I'm sticking with Diablo... You'll see

Edwinik

I have two theroies for this little splash page we have here.

One of course being a D2 fanboy Is simple that..Diablo 3.
The thing that proved it to me was 1. it looks like DIablo, and 2. the rune all the way to the right is a Hel rune from D2: LoD [i25.tinypic.com]

- - - MY next theory, is a blizzcon poster of some sort. It has ties to all different games of Blizzard and maybe Diablo in the center for an announcement zinger.

Threetimefelon

[img185.imageshack.us]

Scionic

[eu.blizzard.com]

Speaks for itself, I think.

Aethyr

I tell you all, it's just a ploy to get people to obsess over it and get web hits, it's probably for WOLK, a game that is obviously coming out. Why not advertise and promote it, almost like an ARG, but you dont do anything, just stare and refresh over and over.

Talleh

It MUST BE rock'n roll racing 2!!!!!!!!!!!11111111

Mlata

AhA! Disgruntled Penguin I knew it!

Chewbenator

ITS STARCRAFT GHOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kane666

@0rin: If you invert the image, it's demonic red ;-)

SubKamran

@Dennen: Fair enough; honestly the main reason I'm thinking SC minerals is that the eyes are really starting to look protoss-oid. Plus, ice would be so obvious due to Wrath (and Blizzard's usual motifs) that a really fun surprise twist would be that it turned out to be something else. Oh well, it's probably ice ;p

However, even then it's still possible that it's part of a Hell Freezing Over campaign for Diablo 3.

I'd prefer not to connect my Kotaku profile with any specific outside work I've done. If that sounds like a copout, sorry. I'm flattered though heh...

gaijira

I still think it's diablo. the blue is just to throw us off! Don't forget that diablo had some rather rigid facial features as well! *refuses to let go of the hope*

0rin

Hey guys, I am sure people have pointed this out, but I think it's going to be 3 announcements. Since there are 3 runes corresponding to their respective games, Starcraft, WoW, and Diablo, I think there will be:

* New Lich King info
* Release date for SCII
* Diablo 3 announcement

See what I mean? I point all this out in my blog post!

I hope!

SubKamran

The point is specifically where do you see that kind of detail in Starcraft Minerals? I do not recall seeing any of that in Starcraft other than the jagged cracks and light diffraction.

I don't really consider that different enough to say it could possibly be starcraft minerals.

P.S. Can I see some of your work? These things interest me.

Dennen

@Dennen: A few weeks ago? You mean that rumor from back in February? Even if it were true, I haven't heard anything more on that particular front.

As for the dripping water, I've been a professional digital artist for around 12 years, and used to creating and studying images. I definitely see lots of elements in these that look 'icy'; cold vapors, translucency, light diffraction, jagged cracks, particulates floating down, etc. Just not liquid water. I'd be interested to know specifically what you're referring to, if you'd care to point it out.

gaijira

I vote Xel'Naga.

dungeoncore

is kotaku doing any kind of live coverage for tomorrows events? or coverage at all?

graphx

SC2 Beta announcement? :)

Maybe they finished SC2 and they're releasing it in the next month. That would be great.

MetaKz

@Dennen: Gamespot says this rumor is bogus. Dunno what to think.

Kyolux

@Helterran:
"World of Starcraft? (No because if they do that, its goodbye to World of Warcraft)" Well no actually, Blizzard is clearly working on another MMO, they have said so in interviews and have posted jobs on their site for work on a 'next-gen MMO'. They've also said in interviews it will not be 'another WoW', so expect significantly different gameplay, i.e. totally able to coexist with WoW.

"Starcraft Related Game? (No because Starcraft II is being made)" As I've pointed out every time this comes up, Blizz had begun development on WoW while War3 was being worked on (at the very least during Frozen Throne). War3 is to this day an incredibly popular online game (as is SC itself). No reason there can't be a SC MMO coming out so soon after the RTS...course 'soon' in Blizzard terms could mean 2012.

Diablo 3? There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that it's being developed. Whether that's the big announcement or not...well we'll just have to see.

gaijira

@gaijira: On another note. You're going to get your Starcraft MMO. If it's not announced now, then it's going to be announced later.

It's going to be called "Starcraft Online".. The9 registered it in China a few weeks ago.

Dennen

@gaijira: You see no signs of dripping water?... Amazing. I guess this only shows people that they see what they want to see.

Dennen

@Dennen: Good point! Ice melts into...lots of water. Don't see any signs of dripping water in these images, so you just helped convince me more that they could be SC minerals, maybe being cleared away by drones. Lol thanks!

Seriously, we'll see in less than 24 hours what the damn thing is, but I just hope it's SC related. There's nothing about Wrath that would excite me (unless it was something really major, which it won't be,) and I've never been that huge of a Diablo fan. There's gonna be a new game announced, and I've got fingers and toes crossed for Worlds of Starcraft.

gaijira

I haven't been following the conspiracy mill too closely, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned.

But could it be that the runes are simply a reference to the runecrafting profession being introduced in Frozen Throne?

Diddy_Mao

There's still some hope its about diablo III... just gotta have faith...

[img157.imageshack.us]

myketuna

@Majpain007 & @tuckertuck:
Why won't people learn to read? People are not just thinking it's going to be D3, they rely on what we could make out so far to say so. Just like people saying it could be Lost viking because of the Lost numbers and Lost Viking was up to now didn't have a rune representing it (but now it does so we're back to square one).
It's not specific details on Wreath of the lich king... it's a new game annoncement.

Also.. There's 5 Next-gen MMO job openings and 3-4 more for the same top secret project or another one. So please don't go around saying what you "think it is" based on nothing else then the little you read on. But what am I saying, you won't be reading this anyway..

Kyolux

I would buy and pay for World of Starcraft.

SubKamran

It looks like Razor: The Lightning Revenant from DOTA.
[www.dotastrategy.com]

Maybe they're taking over DOTA and making something official like Valve took over its most popular mods (CS and Team Fortress).

haha

phor11

World of Starcraft? (No because if they do that, its goodbye to World of Warcraft)

Starcraft Related Game? (No because Starcraft II is being made)

Diablo 3? (it highly possible, since Diablo 2 has been made for awhile now, and if you look at the picture of Diablo 1 cover's face, it might be since Diablo's Game's Face usually Focus on the Head part....*if Diablo 3 plays like Titan Quest, it might be lawsuit happy for them**since they are very similar game)

New Game that is not the Warcraft/Starcraft/Diablo? Chance of it happening is pretty low, since those 3 are the main things for Blizzard income....

Now if they charge us monthly fee like WoW, it might be an major turn off for people like me..

Helterran

Why does everyone think the Splash will be announcing D3? This is just to create hype for Starcraft 2.

Majpain007

Its totally for Wrath of the Lich King
New Class- Death Knight
New Profession - Rune Crafting
New Race - Purple penguins

Its easy the clues are all there.

tuckertuck

But yet both of your concepts do not work because they said it'd be a new game and not something like a release date. Announcing a new race for SC2 does not equal "New Game".

I thought on the first day that it'd be a beta opening or something of that manner til they told me it was a new game. I highly doubt they'd say it's a new game just to throw people off.

@gaijira: Ice melts. To my knowledge, minerals from Starcraft don't.

Dennen

@TheDaftPunk: indeed, one of the things I was thinking after reading a rumor on IGN about a possible fourth race.

nomopofomo

The first day when it was just the ice, I thought it was the WotLK closed beta or a boatload of new information on it, but now that you can clearly see a Protoss' face, I'm set on the hybrid race, possibly Xel'Naga?

TheDaftPunk

It has to be a death knight, they are suppose to use ruins. It would easily explain why there are all those ruins around the image.

Vilair

Hmm the splash page 'ice' could be blue minerals. However, ice would also fit if the eyes turned out to be Zeratul or other protoss digging out a frozen Xel'Naga body.

Oh god if this turns out to be Worlds of Starcraft I will shit a ton of bricks. You Diablo fans will get your mindless clickfest on at some point, don't you worry. But I'm picturing a vehicular/large unit action MMO with epic space battles!

gaijira

I am telling you all this. If you read the Diablo SIN war books you will know that the angel turned EVIL was cast into a "cold dark icy void". ( ok maybey the icy part wasn'nt involved) Anyway that angel was cast their by Diablo. Those eyes are of the angel and the forming in the ice looks like it will give way to a crude form of a diablo penticle.

I feel this is it. But I probabaly will be wrong and be the dink in here....lol

JASONSPAZ

How great would it be, after all of this, for it to be a picture of Rick Astley?

City17Mailman

Penguins aren't exactly unknown to Northrend if you take the time to explore the maps in WC3:TFT, The Purple Penguin looks like the Penguin King from outsde Azjol-Nerub: [www.wowwiki.com]

K-OSS

@Maldron: Same log out thing happened to me.

Anyways, that penguin (if it's a penguin) is really creepy, but explains nothing. Maybe the Xel'Naga were purple penguin monsters?

Placentasaurus

@Forcepowered: Each of the runes are from a different Blizzard series - Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft. This is nothing special.

Aethyr

Does it really matter at guessing what it is?? We are going to buy whatever BLIZZARD puts out anyway.....

Even if it is STARCRAFT: GHOST.

dirtypanda

By the way Fahey and anyone else, that 5th rune has been pointed out by many to resemble the artwork from the old RTS Pax Imperia. Many are speculating that Blizzard has reacquired the license.

[en.wikipedia.org]

I think this has little to do with any big announcements for a new game tomorrow, but it's an interesting detail.

gaijira

Hey all,

If you look at the Protoss symbol on this page [www.starcraft2.com] you will notice that it is the rune in the lower left hand corner of the splash page. There is your link that this splash page is about Starcraft and in particular the Protoss. Could this be a new announcement for the Protoss race or perhaps a new world of starcraft. I will go with former of the two though.

-Viqu

viqu

Lich King FTW

Dionyza

I guess I am lucky in the sense that I do not care what it is. But if I were to venture a guess, I'd say it will reveal information on WoTLK and the open-beta date, or maybe even the release date. I don't know, and I don't care. I will sleep well tonight. heh

Juthan

@CVV1:

This is clearly a photoshop.

I can tell from some of the pixels, and having seen a number of them in my time.

oreth

I don't care if they showed a Protoss army marching out of the iceberg, I'm still going to think it's Diablo 3!

torsoboy

Jesus Christ who should care about this?!

It's like Blizzard is trying to hype their hype!

I'm sick of normal bullshit factories, but this is meta-hype. I really, really don't think anyone should care about this. Blizzard's an amazing studio, but I really wish that someone from their PR department would get shot dead over this.

Kainy

It's clearly a Photoshop.

I can tell from some of the pixels and having seen a number of them in my time.

oreth

Check out this comparison I made. Looks like Arthas/Death Knight:

[esotericbabble.com]

Of course, I dunno why I post this since no one will see it.

jackburnt

It is one of the angel/demon things from Diablo! Or not.

Turael

you are all being mislead. It's Battle Chess III.

andrethejesus

@nomopofomo: Ah yes, CLEARLY -_-;

@i.roboto: Nice put together, someone over on diabloii.net put something similar to that up. Had it a bit more deciphered too. Hmm, I'll see if I can find it again.

JerrD74: RIP George Carlin

Starcraft Ghost?! Maybe probably not, but maybe?

tshack

At this point if it isn't D3 then I won't be buying anytihng else from Blizzard until D3 IS announced.
They know how rabid people are for that game, and they tease in a manner that implies that they might give it... If they don't? F them.
I can hold off on SC2 and I don't need to go back to WoW when WoLK comes out either. If it's a new property then they shouldn't have thrown out a teaser that made us think it might be the loooooong awaited D3 then.

nomadder

Someone over at the diabloii forums posted something interesting regarding the evilpenguin:

[www.wowwiki.com]

j4ce1

I'm goin with StarCraft

DarthWind

I think Neer'mo has the right idea. It's likely just a cleverly evolving rollout of what's going to happen, with perhaps a big shocker thrown in (like Diablo 3). To assume the reveals only indicate one end result is probably incorrect.

JonSnow

I'm guessing it's World of Starcraft... either that or some completely new property.

ctaylor

@CVV1: already been posted. we have argued, made up, and moved on heh.

graphx

i was happier with eggplant with tiny feet, a tail, and a mohawk. rather then the creepy balding purple penguin

Go Team Venture

I hope Blizzard was paying attention to all this speculation to what this website was because everyone seemed to want it to be a new Diablo game....

Syndicated Terence

[img148.imageshack.us]

Theres a little something for you guys

CVV1

A few folks have already mentioned this, but it's probably a new game. Not sure what to make of the Lost numbers or the evil penguin, though. The splash image, as I see it, seems like it is showcasing Blizzard's successes (the runes) and preparing to unveil a new game. There's something breaking out from under the ice... Blizzard preparing to release a new, unknown beast from its icy clutches, perhaps?

arterial_black

Gah, the hype is killing me. Announce it already!

jesp3r

It's a Protoss. Seriously. Look at not just the bit between the eyes, but also at what shows up on the outside. Looks like the distinct, high-boned, sunken cheeked, Protoss to me. So I'm guessing there's some big StarCraft news coming up.

C22DBlueKnightOne

It's going to be a crossover racing game. Duh.

Lorch

I think the eyes comparison between the protoss and death knight show more how blizzard's artists draw the same type of character over and over, rather than being a hint to one of those.

mistersneak

Starcraft MMO to be released in 2012, or something like that - since at that point WoW will have run its course and they'll have something to slap around Mythic and SOE with once again.

Remember, Blizzard was recently hiring for a "next-gen" mmo.

Solarion

@Arsenicberyllium: You mean:

DIABLO!

IN!

SPACE (spacespacespacespace)!!!

Spoony Bard

Well, duh. Anybody can see where this is going- Diablo III in space, confirmed.

Arsenicberyllium

There's still a good chance it's Diablo, in my opinion.

nomopofomo

Though I doubt this changes much the subtext of the symbol, strictly speaking, it is not a viking compass.

If you look closely, every end of the symmetrical appendages are exactly similar - which would make it the Helm of Awe, or Ægishjálmr.
[www.vikinganswerlady.com]

The viking compass is called Vegvísir, and the design is very nearly the same.
[en.wikipedia.org]

Vindir

Aw, crap.
I mean, everybody's waiting for a new Diablo, right?
:sadface:

digitalmorphine

I'm starting to think it's just a huge fake-out and has nothing to do with the big announcement. Dangnabbit, Blizz...

*Starts crooning 'Quit Playing Games With My Heart' mournfully*

Lorch

Though I somewhat doubt this changes the subtext of the symbol - strictly speaking, the rune is the Helm of Awe, or Ægishjálmr. Not the viking compass, Vegvísir. [www.vikinganswerlady.com]

Vindir

@dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased: That makes the two of us. I was trying to convince myself that it was the next Blackthorne too. If Blizzard is going through all this hoopla for WoLTK, people will be sore disappointed.

PsycheE

@Tycoonalex1337: bingo.

nomopofomo

@OoBaSNoRk: However, I thought the LAST image was due to be revealed tomorrow, where as there are 6 pictures there, making the final announcement next Thursday, way after this Blizzard event at the weekend. Although, saying that, the first and second pics look like they are from Diablo, therefore basically ending discussion straight away. I guess we'll see whether that "leak" is real or not tomorrow. But I doubt it is.

Tycoonalex1337

@graphx: I've worked in a production environment before, so actually I'm pretty familiar with image editing in general.

It's not good.

nomopofomo

@Crabfeast: Like Hell he did, again, gtfo my thunder >.>

Master Saji

@nomopofomo: and wouldn't you be the fool tomorrow if this was the actual shot.

before you go saying that this is amateurish i would like to see some of your photoshop skills... because frankly whether it is fake or not it is quite good.

graphx

It could be a message that there is a new game coming for ALL of their major franchises.

In other words, it could be an ad for SC2, WotLK AND a new Diablo.

Personally, I'm thinking that it has something to do with WotLK, and that the Starcraft/Diablo runes were just instances of an artist copy/pasting from his previous work ... but I dunno.

I really wish it was Diablo 3, but I seriously doubt it.

PaulMorel

@OoBaSNoRk: probably, but really there are lots of things wrong with that series of pics.

The ice never completely melts away for one, even in the very last pic.

It's an amateurish hack-job.

nomopofomo

@turkish101: I'm in the same boat as you. I "got" Diablo II today just so if it's Diablo III I can play it knowingly. Damn Blizzard.

*Got = Torrented.

Tycoonalex1337

@Helterran: Hahaha however you came to 75% chance Diablo 3 was some 'fuzzy math'. That was classic... Diablo... as a muppet!

Omnimon

I don't know about anyone else but before I saw the penguin pic all I was thinking was explosive chain reaction, after all one of the first things I saw was evil penguin. It'd be too much to ask for to have Diablo III with Prinnies as higherlings or summons. :)

cholinms

@OoBaSNoRk: Interesting, and exciting, though aren't they announcing it tomorrow?

Still, it would be a great fake-out on Blizzard's part.

Captain_Collide

@nomopofomo:
Ah yes, but isn't it likely that Blizzard artists use photoshop?!

OoBaSNoRk

@OoBaSNoRk: Very cool picture and I will stand corrected if tomorrow's splash is the first image in that series, but for now, I am calling fake. Here is why:

1) Look at the first image in the series. You can clearly tell it's Diablo. Why bother teasing the rest?

2) The ice shape doesn't change throughout that series. In all the previous ones, the ice is cracking, changing shape, opening wider, etc.

ruslander

It's clearly shopped.

nomopofomo

@OoBaSNoRk: agreed it is VERY nicely done by whomever. and ya that would be amazing to see it tomorrow haha.

graphx

I take that back, it's a ninja turtle :D

Megan Fox iz Hot ^-^ -ph15h

@graphx:
Yup your right. Its nicely done regardless and I wouldn't be surprised to see that be it, but I have no sources to cite so it just is what it is.

OoBaSNoRk

@OoBaSNoRk: i'm sorry but anything posted from imageshack or photobucket and the like is simply very sketchy. very cool progression and image though.

graphx

@OoBaSNoRk: Ah HAH.

Spoony Bard

oh wow that's kinda cool.

I was going to try to feed Diablo fans that saying that, a compass is in the north position implying Blizzard North, the original company who made D.

But yea... that works hella good. That's an awesome pic.

i.roboto

Why has nobody posted this? Its allegedly leaked.
[img148.imageshack.us]

OoBaSNoRk

OK. You want the answer?

It's Diablo 3.

Mike is trying to lead you all down the garden path! BAD FAHEY! :D

Spoony Bard

@Master Saji: I see no pentagram. I see a star. A pentagram would be an upside down star, sir.

Personally, I'm looking forward to Hello Protoss Island Adventure. It will be the best game sinc E.T.

Vlox

@i_9: guess what? do you know something? o_0

graphx

Nobody is ever going to guess it. All the speculation is rather fun though.

i_9

Warcraft vs Starcraft... the action adventure game! You get to play as BOTH a death knight and a protoss.

Megan Fox iz Hot ^-^ -ph15h

lol I don't know nothing. This is the friday before long weekend for us in Canada, so today feels like a write off work day.

I just know that Blizzard did this in Korea last year when their splash pages went through their history. You can track the progression of Splash pages here - [www.blizzplanet.com] for when they announced SC2. Also at a WWI.

Oh - here is the wiki link
[en.wikipedia.org]

Talks about how companies have been using the Lost Numbers for their ad campaigns.

It would be awesome if someone could solve this before saturday.

i.roboto

WOTLK teaser gets all the diablo-fanboys hard. EPIC blizzard, epic.

rainofwalrus

Starcraft MMO.

graphx

@i.roboto: amazing post, thanks.

nomopofomo

@i.roboto: TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW!

NeoStarr

@CherryIcee: Your idea is my favourite.

I think the Lost numbers are just meant to confuse fans/piss off the people doing the Lost ARG.

NeoStarr

It's World Of Starcraft. I called it.

greyhoundbus

Well they did a big teaser like this when they announced both WoW and SC2.

Both WOTLK and SC2 are already announced.

i.roboto

This has nothing to do with the release of the new game. It is clear that they are advertising the new SC game, and in a way saying... "They are coming...." But there could be more. Take into account the person viewing the revelation. Does Blizzard want to make the viewer/gamer/us the omniscient character, observing the inevitable? Or! is there a second protagonist to this equation who is the one trapped in an ice cave watching