Has the splash screen mystery been solved?
by Amanda Dean 
Jun 28th 2008 at 6:30PM
So if you've been living under a rock here's the news: Blizzard announced Diablo 3 at the World Wide Invitational's opening address. This has brought much delight to many fans, and closure to the many who believed that the changing splash screen has pointed to this game. During the address the splash screen changed to a flash teaser of the latest in the demonic property. It a pretty exciting announcement, but I'm not convinced that this is the only thing there.
The demon in the logo does match up with the eyes and brow of the central character, but the flash does not add to the existing chain of splash screens. This bit of news also fails to explain the interesting icy bit in the lower left hand corner of image 5.5.
Aside from a reference to the ninth circle of hell as depicted by Dante's Inferno, the Diablo franchise is more of about fire than ice. This also leaves out the runes, which are organized in a star-shaped pattern. So the argument that it forms a pentacle can be made however it is oriented in the upright position rather than the inverted, "demonic" pentagram symbol. Has Blizzard used this orientation for pents in the past versions of the game? Theories have suggested that the runes refer to all three of the major Blizzard properties.
I've been impressed with the class news for Wrath of the Lich King. As a Shaman I couldn't be happier about CC and totem improvements. We've gotten a lot of new information so far. Do you think Blizzard has anything left?
I find it hard to believe that the mystery has been completely solved. I believe the best news for World of Warcraft players will come during the closing ceremonies tomorrow evening between six and nine convention time. I'm still holding out for a Wrath release date.
Stay tuned to our continuing coverage of WWI.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Blizzard, News items, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King, Worldwide Invitational
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mrado Jun 28th 2008 6:37PM
"This bit of news also fails to explain the interesting icy bit in the lower left hand corner of image 5.5."
The image.5.5 links you to
Angry Joe Jun 28th 2008 7:24PM
Haha, That's pure Amanda Dean.
amanda dean Jun 28th 2008 7:40PM
corrected, thanks :)
Anathar Jun 28th 2008 6:39PM
The runes are seen on the Diablo 3 page on the top of the red banner. And the "icy" theme has nothing to do with Diablo specifically, but with the company itself; BLIZZARD.
Case solved.
therandar Jun 28th 2008 8:58PM
the icy bit has to do with where the last game left off, at the mount areat
ash Jun 29th 2008 12:45AM
just to point out, the rune that looks like a solar system (bottom right) is on page 13 of deckard cain's journal and I'm pretty sure the top left one that has little pitch fork type things protruding in a circle is also on that same page.
Aticus Jun 29th 2008 11:10AM
I think Theranger hit it right on the head. We left off in the cold barbarian northern lands. In the cinematic, we see two barbarians looking over what was Mt Arreat and the cold region. Now there is a cesspool of demonic hordes and a destroyed mountain. 'The destruction of the worldstone will tear this world apart.'
The only mystery I can see is whether or not the demon in the picture is Azmodan or Belial. Blizzard did mention that there are still some of the 7 Prime Evils left. It would only make sense that they would finish the story of Hell ending the civil war and joining forces to take over Sanctuary.
-Aticus, http://www.paladintales.blogspot.com
Germ Jun 28th 2008 6:43PM
Wishful thinking. They won't announce more till Blizzcon.
SpaceDog Jun 28th 2008 6:48PM
To me the ice melting sort of represented Diablo muscling his way into the fray, letting us know that Wrath isn't the only thing on the way. And fire melts ice. :D
I'd like to see a cinematic, actually.
M.D. Jun 28th 2008 6:58PM
I clicked the article to basically write exactly what you said - Diablo burning his way through the Northrend hype.
kabshiel Jun 28th 2008 6:54PM
That icicle thing you have a picture of is part of Diablo's horns or hair or something. You can see it faintly on the finished picture.
crsh Jun 28th 2008 11:20PM
Ice = WotLK
Nebulae effect = SC2
Eyes peeking through = D3
It's their whole line-up of new titles coming out/announced for Real Soon Now™, am I missing something or do we need more hype? :P
Rasnarok Jun 28th 2008 6:59PM
Lol @ Amanda linking to a file on her own PC. That's like a child's mistake, c'mon.
vlad Jun 28th 2008 8:32PM
omg but i could see the picture when i previewed it ?? ?
Michael Jun 28th 2008 7:00PM
Are we forgetting about the penguin (with whose signature on that?) and 'Lost' numbers already, which aren't even ON the splash... What the heck is the deal with those? O.o
Farrell Jun 28th 2008 7:10PM
from what I heard, the penguin was just random art from the head art designer of the game
AlexW573 Jun 28th 2008 7:31PM
That little thing in the bottom left corner of the ice5andahalf image is one of Diablo's side horn things (you can see it in about the same relative place on Diablo, but it's red and slightly smaller).
The question still remains why it was revealed early though.
PimpyMicPimp Jun 28th 2008 7:52PM
No way we'll have a Wrath release date; that'll come at Blizzcon, I'm sure.
Beta, however, that's a whole different story.
We also have no info on the "Beta opt-in" on the account management page, unless I've missed something.
I agree, more news is coming.
Alex Willisson Jun 28th 2008 8:30PM
I just discovered if you buy a game through the Blizzard Online Store, there is a choice to opt-in for beta (I'm guessing that means you don't have to specifically sign up for each beta, but I don't know)
PimpyMicPimp Jun 29th 2008 1:21AM
That is a very interesting development. Hmmm, I'm hoping for more news on this tomorrow.