Well there's two problems I see with people debunking it as Diablo.

Yes we see ice. That might make people think Lost Vikings. But we must remember where Diablo 2 left off. An icy region upon which hell was unleashed through the breaking of the World Stone. Naturally, a frozen environment suddenly exposed to an outward pouring of hell would naturally melt. That could be a way to interpret this method of teasing us.

On the next hand, why does the silhouette not look like Diablo *at least right now*.. Well that's simple really. it probably isn't him. I haven't played Diablo in a long time, but if memory does serve - is Diablo not dead for good? If the series is going to continue, he might only exist in spirit *figuratively speaking*. The figure we are seeing might be Mephisto's son, Azmodan or Belial. The new face of Evil for the Diablo franchise.

Dennen

I am almost positive that the purple picture is the same design style as the new Tuskarr race. Here's one from WoW's site.

[www.worldofwarcraft.com]

It does look more penguin-esque though. Especially with that tail. I'm convinced this is the announcement for an earlier release date for WoW: Wrath of the Lich King.

j13

Wow, I just saw the eyes of Diablo right there! \o/
Or Protoss... hmmm... 1 day to go.

Shiryu

@PsycheE:
The thing is, perspective could work either way, just depends how you look at it. Either those could be clouds and we're looking up or that's an icy mist and we're looking down. Although, the blackness around the ice lends it's self to us looking up and out, but still, it's art and hard to interpret.

If the numbers are related to Armageddon, then it's closer related to Diablo and gives extra credibility to that guess.

Darkest Daze

At this point I won´t accept anything but Diablo III. If it's Lost Wikings, WotLK or SCII I quit Blizzard for ever.

Ariakkan

The more I see of the splash screen the less I think it's Diablo III. The silhouette in the image looks like a Protoss to me. This might just be SCII related, though that would be a bit anticlimactic since that game has already been announced. Maybe Blizzard is nearing the completion of SC:Ghost, or maybe they're gearing up to announce The World of Starcraft.

psycoking

@Darkest Daze: probably because its an artwork?.

Rune looks like a crop circle, unbalanced electron shell,galaxy rings, and many other things.

Did people take perspective to account?, the artist must have had a reason to draw a chasm as if the viewer is staring at the heavens on his back. Maybe the protagonist fell in and consumes all the rune power to become.

Also the numbers do not only apply to "Lost", its a main principal variables for Valanzetti Equation; theoretically a crystal ball for Armageddon.

PsycheE

@Havok: oh whoa actually ya it looks as if it were from the perspective of within an icy dome and the roof was melting away revealing the sky =O

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

I dont know what the hell Lost Vikings is.. *hides* but my money's on that. Come on, the LOST numbers...Lost Vikings. That penguin doesn't look very diablo either...

ThisCharmingMan

lol maybe this whole thing is actually the end of the world, the polar ice caps are just melting and on the 6th day we'll have a huge flood and everyone will die.

sometimes i'm just too positive =D

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

Why is it that most people focus on it being us peeking into an abyss. Looks the other way around to me. It's from the inside out. Because it looks like a starry sky if you ask me..

Havok

Breaking news: World of the Purple People Eaters set in an icy planet. Here all the details right after we tell you which dinner foods are killing your children.

SpearXXI

@Lu-Tze: GAF has superimposed many eyes over those, and they all fit. Protoss, Diablo, the Wanderer (Diablo 2), Arthras....

Yuki

@2domby: the more and more I look at it, I'm starting to think it can only be the Lost Vikings, even though I originally put that out there as a joke.

Sorry if there's a double post -- Kotaku has been eating my posts lately

ハリセンボン

the ice is melting! maybee diablo is awakening!

Astroth

@2domby: I was just thinking that. ;) The more I think about it the more certain I am that it's the lost vikings, although I originally just put that up there as a joke.

ハリセンボン

Based on the picture of the purple walrus thing, it looks like he's eating something. Imagine when you see his arms, that the ends are actually just elbows. Obviously his mouth is open and it seems to me as if he's either holding something and screaming at it, or eating it.

I dunno it's all so bizarre. I'm trying to decide if I see a shadow behind the ice, that forms the head that belongs to the pair of eyes we see. Damn them!!

Thugmunk

I'm sure this has been pointed out somewhere else, but the middle of the current splashscreen has oh so familiar eyes. Starcraft much?

Lu-Tze

I hope whatever it is it doesn't involve 15$ monthly fees

Murderdolls

If it's the "LOST"-Numbers (plus the ice, runes, space, eggplants), it can only be "LOST vikings". What else?

2domby

My guess is It is a new battle net.
Maybe it will be like steam where you can buy games or register your games and you do not need to download them anymore. Hence all of the titles.

OR it is just a picture of the Blizzard logo welcoming everyone to the France event.

anglon

My bet's on The Lost Vikings. To my knowledge, it's their most popular series that they haven't milked in years, and they haven't exactly forgot about them (WoW players who've been to Uldaman will know the easter egg. ;))

Plus, y'know, I'm DYING for some more TLW. That game was one of the first I got for my SNES, and was one of the most enjoyable on it.

If not the most frustrating.

Jonax

My money is on Warcraft 4. Ill give it at least another 2 years, but theyre going story based with these patches for WoW. They can't keep the World of Warcraft up so high. They need to change something rather then adding new high level dungeons. Here's what i'll say-If it's Warcraft 4, then Blizzard is going to tie the story in closely with patches and expansions. It's like an episodic MMO.

Mascott

This feels like an ARG, only a lot more mainstream and without the whole TINAG angle.

Lorch

@Master Saji:
I was wondering if there was a reason why every image has been a different resolution. Just seems weird that they'd make each one a different size and different ratios.

Darkest Daze

Interestingly enough, if you take the image size of this new image, and multiply it:

1230 x 874 = 1075020

for the sake of arguement, with no logic whatsoever, I'm going to remove the 0's and just use 1752: The year of the great Moscow fire.

Another hint?!

tomassetti13

That new image on Blizzard.com looks an AWFUL lot like an ARCHON!!

PrivateJ0ker

Found some stuff on the battle.net site.

NO WAI Bird: [battle.net]

ASCII Decode: [img146.imageshack.us]

Image With Same Numbers As ASCII Decode: [www.battle.net]

(That's not my decode, someone else did it but people were saying it's right).

Also I apologize if this is a double post, my interface was acting odd.

Nirolak

@GregoriusH: Thats what I assume ... They just announcing winter! It's being released in 3-4 Months.

Similian

It's a purple pinguin!

CrispyCrunch

Just because blizzard is doing splash screen shenanigans doesn't mean they're announcing a new game. Remember when they did it just for a battle.net site upgrade?

GregoriusH

@tomassetti13:

If that is the case, why is one white?

Going with his idea, it might be because only one of the three is concerned with this announcement. I also like the lost vikings idea, but that looks like one section of one level. I'm sure there are more iconic things about the game they could use.

Mascott

For the first day or two I was blissfully oblivious, before my lead sucked me into this whole thing. Christ.

IMO, it'd better not be about WoW, SC2 (or, heaven forbid, SC: Ghost). If it's D3-related, I'll be excited. Or, it could be about something completely unrelated but totally mind-blowing, I wouldn't mind that either.

Lorch

Lost Vikings perhaps?

WaveMaster

I would **** myself if they announced a new Diablo. I already did when they announced Starcraft 2.

Amazon_Chris

So Grimace was in the coffin?

famousmortimer78

@Yuki:

Good find. Looks very similar. So now, where is the Blackthorne representation in this image? Coming tomorrow I presume :P

tomassetti13

I believe the new rune has something to do with this:

The middle circle represents blizzard, and the 3 circles around it are their 3 main franchises/worlds: Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft.

However, I do not understand the significance in it, as the all 3 have already been represented by their own rooms, unless it signifies the coming together of the 3 in one universe.

Hopefully it doesn't.

tomassetti13

I think it's a new evil penguin game.

Isn't Michael Dashow involved in the WoW Tuskarr races?

Similian

>It's quite obvious to me now that we're dealing with an eggplant with tiny feet, a tail, and a mohawk.

Oh my God, Blizzard is making the Ice Climber/Kid Icarus crossover.

Yaanu

Have you considered the perspective of the picture? If there are eyes, it must be looking from somewhere. So that's something that needs to be decided, is the ice opening downward or upward? The eyes, are they looking from inside or outside?

I really like the idea of Blizzard saying "Hell Froze Over" to announce Diablo. It'd explain why the ice is melting in the first place, with the devil behind it.

Of course, as was mentioned before, the first rune resembles that of one on Frostmourne. Could "someone" still be trapped inside the throne? I mean, Blizzard HAS built this fancy-schmancy new engine to use with Starcraft II, it'd be a real shame if they didn't have a Warcraft title to play on it too.....

Mascott

So, anyone check out the image's dimensions? :)

Master Saji

sudden scary thought:

what if it's WORLD OF WARCRAFT 2?

. . . what if it's a warcraft FPS???

what if it's . . . something completely new?

OH HOLY SHIT WHAT IF IT'S LOST VIKINGS: THE NEXT GENERATION, WITH ONLINE CO-OP?!?!?!?!?!?!

108

Someone on GAF pulled up a Lost Vikings image that was very similar to (but not exactly) that new "rune".

[i30.tinypic.com]

Still betting that there will be a Diablo 3 announcement.

Yuki

@Thugmunk: P, right, I assumed when they said Hurley that 16 = H but I'm obviously not thinking. >_<

Nirolak

We definitely have demon eyes, here.

108

Well, I'm wondering about the obvious eyes dead smack center in the picture.

I thought it was a Wrath thing until the 4th Rune showed up, as DK's only have 3 runes.

Whyspir

@Nirolak: That has been theorized, but with today being revealed with the number "16" which correlates with a "P", that theory has been pretty much thrown out.

Thugmunk

@Nirolak: Err, the purple thing that is. They probably did it to screw with people who have been checking the websites of their artists like the peterconcept one.
Also, is it just me, or do two of those snowflakes look like eyes and we're starting to see an outline or something appear in the clouds (a devil?) This last part I could be hallucinating about.

Nirolak

It's coming from hell into an icy region and up into space. And that new solar-systemy rune has 3 planets... It is LOST World of Blizzard!

Desmondia

Yeah this is frustrating! haha

It could be interpreted as the Lost Vikings... Those numbers that come up from Lost? Maybe.. Shoot I have no clue.

Those eyes peering out are really reminiscent (to me) of a Protoss zealot/warrior type. I dunno.

So honestly, I have no clue. I am HOPING for Diablo.. I may have deluded myself a bit to think that they would be announcing it, but still there's two more days to figure it all out. Until then.. I'll be up till 3AM as well. Damn them.

Thugmunk

its a Batman search-light for a new Batman game.

its apparently snowing in Gotham City. I guess the Penguins in town?

drunkentyger

Doesn't seem like its Arthas. It looks like whatever it is is melting through the ice, so I think I can safely say Diablo 3 confirmed?

Diablo 3 makes sense in Blizzard's plans. Starcraft 2 is almost guranteed to be dropping late this year or Q1 next year, so having a game ready for sometime 2009 or early 2010 would make sense. That, or it will be their "next-gen" MMO which could be some kind of Diablo anyway. Although it would make sense to launch that two to three years from now since WoW is still going strong.

CarbonFalcon

I think the new rune looks kinda like the spinny golden solar system models that you often see floating around Blood Elf buildings in WoW. As for the angry purple penguin... no clue.

chungo

It's a remake of the Lost Vikings

djricekcn

Could it be Lost Vikings? The number sequence, plus the cold look...

Dang, if they don't announce Diablo 3 there'll be a lot of upset people.

(Me included. C'mon Blizz, give us D3!)

BigWeather

It's ex-Blizzard North artist Michael Dashow's walrus: [www.diabloii.net]

They're spelling out an anagram of his name: D O W H (probably A and S are the next two)

They likely rehired him recently, especially if they're making Diablo III.

Nirolak

Dude, I totally said it was the numbers a few posts back! I even thought it would be 42 next...

Desmondia

Runes... Space... Eggplants..

Holy crap, they're bringing back The Lost Vikings!

ハリセンボン

Oh no.... is that... a Blizz prinny/penguinmascot?

Kaizuden

World.

Of.

Blizzard.

:)

"Two more days and we'll know for sure, and then I can finally get some sleep. Damn you Blizzard. Damn you to hell."

Amen

Master Saji

Clearly they're fuck*ng with our minds. No way in hell they announce what we want. (Diablo 3)

Acseru

Sounds like they are having a bit of fun with their fan base. Or at least the webmaster is.

cocomo

Looks like Opus the penguin during his heavy metal days.

cynopt

If you look right at the center, two of the snowflakes look like sinister eyes looking out. I'm gonna go with Diablo 3.

Chr0nicHe4dsh0t

I think I solved it don't quote me yet. (Let us wait till I know I'm right first.) It is World of Diablo. The hybrid of WoW and Diablo. Yeah....

ThatsMrOffDutyNinja

The rune could be a crop circle, unbalanced electron shell, or orbiting planets.

Why doesn't anybody take into account of the perspective?. There must be a reason the artist drew a chasm as if the POV is from a character lying flat on his back looking up to the heavens.

Also, the numbers infamous for "Lost" is also the main principal variables for Vele-something Equation; a hypothetical number to predict Armageddon.

PsycheE

On second thought, maybe it's Diablo III or Lost Vikings or Warcraft 4 or Starcraft MMO.

j13

@KnightsofRound:

Haha, that was ME!! I put that up over [forums.diabloii.net]

Some crazy stuff happening with this whole announcement.

..and as previously stated: I hate the internet hype machine..

..makes me stay up too damn late.

JerrD74: RIP George Carlin

@KnightsofRound: Holy crap the eyes match perfectly! ...And not much else

AngryTankManMax

Loving the speculation.

One minute someone thinks it's 'this' game, the next minute someone thinks it some other game, then someone else throws another game into the mix whilst there are some of you who don't even think they are announcing a game.

Run Blizzard, run!

Cigol

@KnightsofRound:
Very cool!

Garo

Also if you guys haven't seen this, you will go nuts over this. Open these two links in two different tabs and alternate between them.

[seattle.gametent.com]

[xs228.xs.to]

KnightsofRound

The new symbol is the Arcande Sanctum from Warcraft III.

[infoceptor.net]

[bp3.blogger.com]

:)

KnightsofRound

@Pepek: Maybe something related to the Xel'Naga if it's Starcraft related. But what can they do that would warrant a practical weeks worth of teasing? This is why I am skeptical about it.

I am sticking with my theory of the melting ice being representative of hells heat melting the ice of the region where the Worldstone was broken... If the individual to which those eyes belong to someone from the Diablo World, I will bet it's some character we haven't seen before. Blizzard playing a kind of game of "Peek a boo. Nice to meet you." to introduce gamers to the new evil. Most likely Belial, since he was named the "Lord of Hell" in one of the books.

Dennen

Like it was pointed out several times, those 'eyes' look like Protoss eyes.
So could it be, that the Protoss found some ancient race frozen in ice? And they'll just announce another race for Starcraft 2?

...

God I hope it's Diablo 3.

Pepek

@JerrD74: RIP George Carlin: Oh yeah, I'm definitely not taking any credit for those images. My friend is the first person I know about who made the Arcande Sanctuary discovery, and he is also the one who showed me the eyes image.

It is DEFINITELY the most concrete evidence I have seen that this is going to be Diablo III though. The eyes are a perfect match.

KnightsofRound

Well im looking at the picture and im going crazy! Hopefully its Diablo 3, you know what would be even cooler? If this was related to their job openings for a next-gen MMO. I could live with World Of Starcraft or something of the likes...

Laquer

I doubt it's Diablo 3, when you access worldofwarcraft.com you get the same splash page. It doesn't make sense.

I have a feeling it's something for Wrath of the Lich King

zzt711

How can all of you be so blind. They're remaking Minesweeper, now with pseudo RPG features.

ManiO

4 runes.
Add one more on Friday and it will be 5 runes.
Join them and you'll get a pentacole.
And a pentacole can only mean...

Automageddon!

If it's something retarded like Lost Vikings... I don't know. I'll just cry.

cL9

Yup, it's diablo3! :D

[img258.imageshack.us]

HelderP

I'm putting my money of Wrath of the Lich King date/price announcement.

A Diablo 3 announcement would be fine too, though... *winks at blizzard*

Quest

They're announcing they're making a game about me and in a few days my face will appear!
Get ready!

Automageddon!

I don't see them announcing any kind of Starcraft MMO right now.

Sure, The9 just registered "Starcraft Online", which basically confirms what everyone already knew was going to happen. But unlike releasing Diablo or a Warcraft title. Releasing Starcraft Online information months before Starcraft 2's announcement will harm sales. That's something akin to Square releasing Final Fantasy 10 and announcing Final Fantasy 11 many months prior to 10's release. It confuses people. Regardless that one is MMO and the other is not, it will still confuse people.

So I say that if Starcraft Online is to be announced any time soon. I say it will probably be at an expo next year, or Blizzcon later this year.

Dennen

@KnightsofRound: Nah, don't care bout credit, just really late and was "hey, i know that image!"

And in ref to the whole 'what perspective are we looking from', earlier when i was messing with PS and the diablo pic, i had all 4 images layered. That's when I actually noticed the different resolutions. Guess I never realized it before.

Anyways, if you line them up by the blizzard logo, the ice shown is most definitely breaking/opening out as if something were coming out from behind.

If you've got a way to lay the images over one another and check it out too, they're still in the site's directory as ice1-4.jpg

JerrD74: RIP George Carlin

So.... what do we have here?
A block of ice that's melting....
Various runes placed in what appears to be a star formation....
Diablos eyes in the background....

Yup, just as I thought. Rock N' Roll Racing 2.

CheckersMcGavern

Lost Vikings on virtual console, oh yeah!

Deise

Baal was in the snowy act so maybe it's him :P

Inhert

@JerrD74: RIP George Carlin:
Damn you, I had to change my pants ;)

Garo

probably lost vikings. it COULD also be something about starcraft II (the solar system and the eggplant), but it's not like blizz to screw with their fanbase to not announce something.

eskimo-bob

It is the Lost Vikings. That purple thing screams Lost Vikings, not the hell setting of Diablo.

Vanguarde

@Phlycheez: Asterix was about gauls, who were from western europe, vikings were from scandinavia, it's not the same thing. Gaul=/=viking.

Pepek

Blizzard has seen the fan over-speculation run full throttle so many times; it's amazing to watch them sit down at the driver's seat of that bus and spin doughnuts all over the school parking lot.

Just like everybody wants them too. Even that queasy-looking kid.

I'm now in the process of trying to imagine what they could announce that wouldn't be an automatic buy for me. They could release "Limbo of the Lost Vikings" and I wouldn't hesitate.

PositivelyGreg

You know, I just had a crazy idea. What if it is a brand spanking new Lost Vikings game. It makes a lot of sense.

Anyone else ever heard of the comic "The Adventures of Asterix"?? It was a FRENCH comic about Vikings/Gauls and their crazy adventures. If it was a Lost Vikings game announcement, don't you think it would be fitting to announce it in Paris, FRANCE.

Phlycheez

Screw this! I'm ignoring these hints until they actually announce something, otherwise whatever it is will just disappoint me.

iLov3

@KnightsofRound: Yeah, I saw that theory too, but it doesn't quite fit.

Mike Fahey

@PsycheE: The Valanzetti Equation is a FICTIONAL CREATION from thE TV show Lost, and NOT a real, stand-alone theory.

My god. Seriously,

Mike Fahey

OH SHIT! Its not anything Blizzard has ever done before! Its Blizzards videogame adaptation of Rise Of The Silver Surfer! THATS GALACTUS!

*shakes head in shame*

WildWon

Looks like a purple penguin.. I don't know what's the relation but.. PLEASE! LOST VIKINGS 3!?

CockroachMan

The runes are there for misdirection. None of this refers to a new game.

The Valenzetti equation numbers represent the fan apocalypse that will go down when millions of people realize the truth on Saturday: The penguin is a beast that Blizzard made using Spore's Creature Creator, and they are nearly ready to show it off. Like all Blizzard creations, however, it needs maximum polish before release, so don't be surprised if all we get at the World Wide Invitational is another splash screen.

Popcornicus

On second thought. The planet rune obviously refers to this:

They're planning a crossover game that combines WoW, SC, and Diablo.

WiglyWorm

Arthas' eyes.

WiglyWorm

Well, icy barrier, penguin monster, menacing eyes, Lost numbers...

Seems to be pointing to some sort of polar bear. Maybe a new WoW race?

Captain_Collide

From the marketing view it doesn't make any sense to announce now Diablo 3.

Wrath
StarCraft 2
Maybe Hydra

and then also Diablo 3.

Who should buy all this games... it will be Wrath or nothing, like a global information, we sold like 100 Millions of Copies blabla.

This Year Wrath and StarCraft 2, that it there won't be any new other games.

And it doesn't make sense to announce now a game which will appear at least next year...

Holgerm

So in the image Hell has frozen over and according to [diablo.wikia.com] an ex worker at Blizzard North stated that the next Diablo was going to be set in Heaven....... it just so happens that there are eyes looking down from the sky!

Come on Diablo III !!

chocbina

Meh. People, what's wrong with LoD ? Never played the D2 extension solo campaign ?

Of course the first logical, natural idea is Baal, awakening from the ice. Then we see those hints coming from various blizzard franchises, and we start thinking this can be a protoss hero turned dark archon, or the evil figure from an eventual new lost vikings game. This still looks alike cave levels design from the baal acts, and still, that "ice" looks quite alike crystals from starcraft. And by the way, "tundra" ==> D2LoD.

I think it shouldn't even be interpreted that way.

Just take a look back. Who are we talking about ? Blizzard. So the pic basically might mean blizzard cooked something that is actually totally new, next to the 3 other hints (starcraft, warcraft, diablo). I don't think it's directly related.

hourayra

we need to look at the facts from the website. blizzard is clearly working on a next gen MMO (looking at the hiring page), in which i would guess might be released (not the game itself but the title) this weekend. also, i am pretty much positive we can rule out world of starcraft (as only a few people mentioned) b/c SC2 is right around the corner. it would also lead me to believe WoW2 is out b/c of the new expansion hitting the market soon, which leaves only 2 titles. D3 and as others have said Lost Vikings (which i am sorry but have never heard of /hide).

As far as the splash page goes it clearly looks to me that the perspective is looking from inside an icy dome out, and yes i see a silhouette of a face in the what is supposed to be a starry sky IMO.

so what does all this mean....

i still have no clue :) Go Blizzard !!!!
i hate your marketing tactics, they make us crazy :)

graphx

After some intense studying, I've found out the final clue.

After tomorrow, there will be 5 runes. I predict the placement of this new rune. When you connect these runes, they form a pentagram.

[img80.imageshack.us]

The Pentagram is often associated with the devil/satanism, even though it has had multiple uses by various cultures and religions such as Christianity and ancient greece.

.. HAHA.. Anyway, while that all sounds serious and all. I think there may be some merit behind it. I made this post in jest but it could be a clue?

Vindicoth

Bet ya Blizzard is laughing their ass off at all of us.

My bets are between 2 games, and only that
Lost viking
Diablo

Now I don't know if they will change the games or what just know it will be centered around either of those 2.

PXShaman

They are going to announce they have bought the Halo franchise. With the next installment going to be The World Of a Halo Player.

Guide your character through hours of playing on live and trash talking little kids. Watch out for the dreaded MLG kids though they are level 60's already!

JustJake

Encyclopedia Brown! Yes! Sweet reference!

Crawl to China

It's a LOST MMO, brotha!

Tyber_Zann

It is so totally the Maxx

Rajio

@Automageddon!: Join them and you'll get a pentacole.
And a pentacole can only mean...

You cannot spell to save your life.

Just an FYI here...A Pentacle is an amulet used in magical incantations. A pentagram is a five-pointed star with a variety of meanings, from a symbol of neopagan faith to the symbol of the Freemason organization The Order of the Eastern Star.

OH MY GOD! A Pentagram? This can only mean...Morocco! [en.wikipedia.org]

Mike Fahey

thats a templar of some sorts... its just something to do with starcraft. Canny be diablo (ill still bet theres a 1% chance tho).

Leepox

[www.battle.net]

how about this?

rlgnsto

If it isnt Diablo 3 im going to be pretty pissed

Omegasoap

Am I the only person who doesn't care what the announcement is? IMHO, if it's from Blizzard, it's going to be great regardless.

...that being said, I wouldn't mind if they were announcing a new IP. The Holy Trinity (Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo) of IPs is nice and all, but I'd like to see something new.

aradamis

My guess is it'll be a Diablo 3 announcement. The game will be free-to-play, free-to-download, and ad-supported (or microtransactions?) Think of it as a cross between Mythos and Battlefield Heroes.

I have spoken.

yukonrye

how the hell are people seeing a penguin there? it's obviously the lovechild of a vulture and Mr. Burns... plus purple.

solar_tf

@vanderblade:

THEY SAID ITS A NEW GAME FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!!!!

ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

HULK SMASH PUNY HUMAN!!!!!!!

arekthorn

I don't know what the big deal is. Clearly Blizzard is just wishing Happy Birthday to Canada. July 1st is coming. That's a picture of a maple leaf.

cong

worldofwarcraft.com
blizzard.com

Same image. Not so with Blizzard's other IPs. Is that not enough proof?

vanderblade

Hello everybody ...

I found something interesting here
=> [www.worldofwarcraft.com]
Look at the Angry Person with the sword.

He has quite interesting eyes doesnt he?
Did I see these somewhere else ? I think so ...
=> [www.worldofwarcraft.com]

Then again there is the Ice ... the runes on the sword.
Why wouldnt it be the obvious? Blizzard is announcing their WotLK addon ... but why do they make a big deal?
Guess they announce something new to WoW ... (Race etc.)

But since we hyped Diablo III into this fairly obvious splash .... I guess we are going to get it :D in future (Project Hydra?)

What do you think?

Well I hoped it was a Black Thorne sequel...
or Justice League Battle Net edition.

Similian

@Mike Fahey: Hey, at least I have a great excuse for my spelling: I learnt English on poorly localised games plus I'm a bloody foreigner so I fall quite easily in the traps of those evil words known as "false friends".

Automageddon!

@Mike Fahey: I really like how you swoop in, make fun of some people who I made fun of to myself, and then leave as mysteriously as you came. I award you with an internet.

jBusiness

It IS Diablo 3, All the clues point to it. What "NEW" game would blizzard announce? Also, check out the picture for Blizzard's WWI 08 in Paris... Diablo is right f*cking on the official logo.

ALl the clues are set in place, you can figgure it out if you know where to look, and who to listen to.

Portalis

I think I just read upwards of fifty individual posts from people who watched Pi, The Number 23, and National Treasure a little too much.
I love Blizzard, but Blizzard is a collective dick, and they know that we're frothing over their information because they don't really do all that much anymore.
Me? I wish I wish I wish I wish it to be Diablo III. I'll quit my goddamn job when that comes out. But I'm not thinking about it too much. I just figure that if it's something about the Lich King or Remember the Protoss, and it relates to something about a game we ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, then I'll be irritated. But then again, Blizzard is a collective dick.

jBusiness

I've got it...

Its an advertisement for "Oops I Crapped My Pants!"

kmonarq7

some of you can't seem to understand that even the Blizzard PR people have said its a NEW game.

arekthorn

[ve3d.ign.com]

lines up perfectly with the eyes

Evuk

@zzt711: been to diablo.com lately? It has the same splash screen. :P

It'd be awesome if they announced Diablo, and it would make sense story wise if they used the lesser Evils. The lesser evils pushed the greater evils (diablo, Mephesto, Baal) into the mortal realm because the lesser evils thought that with the angels fighting in the mortal realm they could easily take over Heaven. Oh, and we don't know what the lesser evils look like... that's my theory of why it could be Diablo 3.

darknessgp

Maybe the numbers for Lost are there since they know were gonna think Lost when we see them now but maybe they aren't talking about Lost the tv show maybe there talking about Lost wikings :O Just a thought

RandomHero48

Actually, just noticed something else. Someone mentioned how it only appears on Blizzard.com and Worldofwarcraft.com.

Well how about www.starcraftghost.com ?? That's right, there it is ;)

And secondly, there is NO way it is some kind of MMO (unless it's simply Lich King). They are not going to release an additional MMO when they don't need to while WoW is going swimmingly. No WAY in Hell. Would be stupid.

Y2Jason

@Y2Jason:

The company name is Blizzard...

Don't you think a splash page with fire would be a TAD obivous???

arekthorn

Wait, the numbers from LOST + ice + runes = Must be the LOST VIKINGS! See what I did there? :D

Seriously though, Lost Vikings, Xmas 2008. There I called it!
It must be.. what else?? It's too blatant not to be... unless they WANT us to think that!

I would love a Diablo 3 but, ice?? Shouldn't it be the opposite? lol

Y2Jason

You fools! Megatron is escaping!

rezlow

Looks like somebody in a walrus costume...or maybe a sea lion.

I never actually played Diablo or Lost Vikings. I don't really care about the game...although I may play them now and ignore this.

Maybe Kotaku should make them pay for the daily adverts.

Pangolin

Here is my theory: They are announcing everything. Unannounced features from Starcraft 2. Diablo 3. Unannounced features for WoW. Lost Vikings.

Ghede

I wish they would decide to hold off on the announcement for another week.

Because THIS is WAAAAAY too entertaining! :)

*munches popcorn and watches chaos ensue*

Spoony Bard

I apologize if this has been posted.

Another hint that seems to point at a D3 announcement.
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.

On the main page right now.

phor11

@Holgerm: Thank you. That's exactly what I was thinking.

cZEAL

seems starcraft2.com is the only official Blizzard site I can find that doesn't have the splash screen.

darknessgp

@vanderblade: diablo.com? it has the splash screen... your theory is broken.

darknessgp

What if it's WotLK? But the twist is, the expansion is free. And you get a few months free to play1?!?!?

OiScout

What i inevitable have been discussing is that people are wishing for it to be Diablo 3 which it wont and since StarCraft 2 is coming why would it be that we all know its out there we all know its coming then why hype it again. what we don't know is the super in depth details of the Warcraft tales of the snow king and his trails and tribulations with having his ASS frozen to a freaking solid piece of ice in the shape of a really nice chair. Truly just pour some warm water on that and lets get this WoW moving, all this lack of Death Knights is making me actually work at work.

Go Team Venture

I think I'm actually a little more excited now at the possibility of Lost Vikings 3 more than Diablo 3.

TheRockingDead

@rezlow: But the only one who would say "You fools!" is Megatron.

Mike Fahey

Looks like an old penguin who's been through too many Blizzards...

Shiroi Kaze

maybe they are announcing all 3 games. starcraft 2 we knew was coming, but warcraft 4 or another expansion to 3, and diablo 3.

paulbrochill

on a side note.. i wish i worked at blizzard right now so i could come here and just laugh, which i am sure some are doing right now.

graphx

im not sure why anyone would think a new MMO is not coming... it says right on the employment page that they are hiring persons for a new next gen mmo. also, an interview yesterday stated it is a NEW GAME.

graphx

Pax Imperia is the latest rune

still think the little guy is a penguin, eviiilll penguin.

wolfeditor

@CarsonB: "why in hell would a game based ON hell be revealed in a ice related splash?"

@arekthorn: "The company name is Blizzard...

Don't you think a splash page with fire would be a TAD obivous???"

@Helterran: that proves or tells us nothing. it is clearly a picture of ice why wouldn't they name the file ice. when naming pictures why wouldn't you name the file something that you can easily recognize.. common sense.

graphx

@PsycheE: The 'Valenzetti Equation' is fictional.

Lorch

@Vash108:
It's been stated a million times that the PR of Blizzard said this was a NEW game.

@Firefly:
Definately seems so to me.

Kyolux

My guess it is WotLK and they are messing with you. It is probably shows the Lich King coming out of his icey prison, and the penguin is just one of the new monsters you will fight :-P

Vash108

Those eyes look like Tomator to me!

Firefly

@CarsonB: Because the ice is getting melted....

And, you know....... the phrase 'Hell just froze over'.....

CheckersMcGavern

why in hell would a game based ON hell be revealed in a ice related splash?

CarsonB

omg i just found some trick...
[us.media.blizzard.com]
[us.media.blizzard.com]
[us.media.blizzard.com]
[us.media.blizzard.com]

on picture of the 4th one, u can clearly see the eyes..

Helterran

wait, world of STARCRAFT?

is that possible?

Solar System... and the ice part may be part of minerals?

Helterran

Guitar Hero: Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftain XXJ Shortstack Remix

Ethyn

It's going to be the release date for WotLK. I don't know why everyone is flipping out about all this other stuff.

weedragonaut

Look. It's obvious.

It's NOT World of Starcraft.
It's NOT World of Diablo.

What does that leave?

World of Lost Vikings, an MMOPPG! (Massively Multiplayer Puzzle Platforming Game)

Duh.

Tycoonalex1337

So here's something odd about that new symbol. There's one orb in the innermost circle, two orbs in the middle circl, and no orbs in the outer circle.

That could be many things, but not (as some speculate) a solar system. Even anticipating "the middle circle is a dual planet orbit" argument, there's no explanation for the outer (orbless) circle.

Beckx

Couldn't it be Warcraft 4?

ray89

I think it's safe to say that it certainly isn't an IP.

I'ma guess World of Starcraft. Just for the helluvit.

ServiceMaster

That's no demon.

That's OLAF.

Koztah

See, I believe that it's just something to really throw us off. I know many of you commentators have stated that the so-called "runes" from various games are to throw us off, but what if it's more than that?

Also, It could be Diablo 3, or some sort of Diablo spin-off, just for the fact that the image shows the ice melting, and also evaporating, caused by heat.

And it can't be StarCraft II related, because it is obviously ice, not the minerals that you can mine.

And yes, it could symbolize that "Hell froze over", so now Diablo 3 is in the works, but then it could be and introduction to RotLK. But why put so much effort in screwing with our minds for it to be just another announcement of RotLK? That would be kinda pointless.

Plus, at the invitational, they will be making a huge announcement, something that nobody has heard before, so it's not StarCraft II nor RotLK, because we already know about these games. Maybe its Diablo 3, or it could be an completely new IP.

We will soon find out. Patience!

xAnarChisTx

@Y2Jason: Hey, you're right! Clever deduction.

Tycoonalex1337

@Mike Fahey: The Valenzetti Equation is not fictional, nor was it made from Lost. The only channel I watch on TV is Sportscenter, so I have no idea wtf Lost is about.

PsycheE

@weedragonaut:

I think, sadly, this is the most likely explanation.

But there is always hope...

Tycoonalex1337

The more I see of the picture, the more I think it is a disgruntled penguin.

Chewbenator

It's the starcraft minerals

they are introducing a new race.

BryanGuitarDude

Assuming it was an announcement for Diablo 3, why has nobody identified the purple dude as a Druid? It's obviously a hide shawl he's wearing or he's in beast form... albeit very purple for beast form.

Just sayin.

DaveKap

Confirmed: Rock N Roll World of Lost Vikings: Ghost.

Kyolux

@weedragonaut: Probably because, like other commenters said, Blizzard staff announced that it's a new game/title. If it's really WotLK though, there's going to be a riot.

Lorch

@PsycheE: It is fiction, it was created for a Lost ARG called the Lost Experience, or something like that.

Lorch

@LockeEWiggin1:

Problem with that is that they've stated they plan on announcing a game.

Dennen

Or this could just be the obvious thing. They'll announce the date of Wrath of the Lich King this weekend and this is a little ramp-up to it.

Sure if they announced Diablo III that'd be terrific. We'd have WotLK, Starcraft II, AND Diablo III.. But as it stands they've already got the two biggest things coming out this year. They might wanna save a Diablo III or new IP for a little later down the line. You know, not blow their wad in '08.

LockeEWiggin1

It's shit like this that makes me glad I've avoided the icy grip of world of warcrack.

ConstantCupcake

I don't get some of these theories. Some people say it's not ice when it's damned clear that the material is melting. I do not recall mineral deposits in Starcraft melting.

And why do people continue to use the phrase "Hell Froze Over"? Am I the only person these days who remembers the story of Diablo 2? Do people who continue to use that phrase not remember that Diablo 2 ended with a portal to hell opening in a frozen environment?

Dennen

Guitar Hero: Howard the Duck Purple Penguin Samba Attack Edition.

gblock

@Holgerm:

The only problem with your logic that it doesn't make sense to announce a game now that will appear next year at the least... That's what they did with WoW. That's what they did with SC2. What makes you think that ANY game Blizzard ever announces will have even a remote possibility of being released the year it's announced? They never did that before. I am surprised if they ever do.

Dennen

Maybe they didn't actually table their SC:Ghost FPS, and it's now ready for release!

*I really hope it's a D3 announcement though...

phor11

I don't see the eyes.

outforprophets

Has anybody else noticed that if you click the link Games > World of Warcraft you're no redirected to WoW main page, but to the splash screen again, and that purple thing has some resemblances with Tuskarr([images.wikia.com]), so I guess we may expect something very WoW Related... But I still hope we might get some Diablo III this weekend. :D

goliathvv

I just hope It isn't Diablo 3 just to piss of the fans that are deluding themselves.

PS: It's World of Limbo of the Lost, their new MMO

Tikey

Sooooo... The last one's gonna be a Dharma logo, right?

I'm not gonna lie, it would be kinda cool if Blizz was making a Lost-related game, even though I'm guessing it's just them messing with us. It would certainly be better than Via Domus.

But yeah, it's not that.

Dread1021

OMG!! NEW SPLASH PAGE UPDATE IS HERE:
[img168.imageshack.us]

lol

neojam

So, I've never played a Diablo game before. They suck or what?

ShadowMoses

*ad

fauxbravo

on that add on the Blizzard site that says they're hiring it specifically mentions that they are the creators of Diablo. that could be another hint that it's diablo 3.

fauxbravo

"Damn you Blizzard. Damn you to hell."

Holy S**T! DIABLO III CONFIRMED!

Pantsman

As I think about it, we may be over-thinking this WAY too much. Couldn't they be using the Lost numbers to reference the first word in Lost Vikings? I mean, I'd love some D3, but Lost Vikings would be awesome. Even better, Diablo eyes and Lost Vikings somewhere else. A TWO-FER!!!!

Walfisch

Not to be the ONLY person excited about a possible Lost Vikings game, but is it just me, or is that an 8 next to the Protoss rune? Maybe there's more out there, but I dunno. Just thought I'd ask the question. Image to check: [tinyurl.com]

Walfisch

why not post 3 times in a row. i just looked again (havent looked in a day or 2) and the ad is different now. or i totally misread last time.

fauxbravo

"Just an FYI here...A Pentacle is an amulet used in magical incantations." - then it would still fit because some sort of spell has caused this ice fissure, the 5 symbols would be part of that spell.

Remember, Baal "can use curses, ice magic, and arcane energy. Baal is considered to have an affinity for ice."

I cant really remember how DiabloII ended but according to Wikipedia, Diablo released Baal and Mephisto but only Diablo and Mephisto were 'killed'. Which would lay the story for Baal to resurrect Diablo (since it looks diablo's eyes).

Crankyhobo

If you notice carefully each of the 4 ruins on the "ice" are different.

Dayhalk

I've been convinced from the first image it was a Wow: Wrath of the Lich King announcment. Ice, the eyes look like the king dude on the cover, and since when did Diablo have anything to do with ice? If I remember Diablo means demons, and demons relate to fire and heat.

If it's not Lich King, it's Lost Vikings. LOST numbers...ice, etc..

Tomahawk214

@Vindicoth: good game!

Master Saji

Well, it could be just something silly, like the release date of WotLK. lol

SpearXXI

My money is on retaking Starcraft Ghost.

... ok, not really.

ironraiden

[us.media.blizzard.com]
it has a monobrow
[us.media.blizzard.com]
the purple thing has claws

lord4000

ITS OFFICIAL

[www.diabloii.net]

DIABLO 3!!!!!

tr3Ks

@Holgerm: Ya know... Hydra probably IS this game. Meaning Hydra could be Diablo 3, making your point invalid.

Praetor

yeah, i did the same thing with baal that the guy did with the diablo layovers....looks like it could be baals eyes as well

tr3Ks

im suprised i dont think anyone has pointed out that the splash page comes up on www.blizzard.com and www.worldofwarcraft.com but if you go to any other blizzard sites...it doesn't show up.....here come my doubts for D3 :(

tr3Ks