This isn't exactly StarCraft 2 related but important news nonetheless! This is the solution to a riddle hidden in the splash screens Blizzard put on all their major sites on Monday, as a teaser for WWI08 later this week.

These are Seven reasons why it is Diablo 3 that will be announced at WWI on Saturday:

1. New Diablo Art

Blizzard has made completely new art of Diablo for their WWI logo, BlizzCon last year had old art and Diablo was in the back.

2. CSS names

Code:

/*.tundra {background:url(_images/04.jpg) no-repeat 0 0} */
/*.cavern {background:url(_images/15.jpg) no-repeat 0 0} */
/*.icy {background:url(_images/23.jpg) no-repeat 0 0} */

The hidden classes are named Tundra, Cavern and Icy, possibly after Drifter Cavern, Frozen Tundra and Icy Cellar in Act V of Diablo 2. A qualified guess is that the next names are among these: Pit, Cellar, Summit, Keep, Throne and Chamber.


3. diablo3.com
Diablo3.com previously pointed to diablofans.com, but was taken down on Monday. Blizzard is the owner of the domain so they took it down on purpose.


4. PR disaster
Imagine if they don't announce Diablo 3 on Saturday when everyone are expecting it, they would have a major PR problem. You would think Blizzard would release some kind of denial to soften the blow, and absolutely not hint for a Diablo game in the splash screen.


5. Job Ad
Blizzard has a job ad up with this intro:

Blizzard wrote:Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Diablo and Diablo II, is looking for a 3D environment artist skilled at creating models and texture maps for both objects and natural environments.

6. Birthday of Diablo II
Diablo 2 was released on June 29 2000. LoD on June 29 2001. WWI is June 28-29 2008.


7. Inside Sources
diabloii.net has apparently spoken to inside sources:

Quote: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.

Conclusion
Although nothing is 100% certain until Blizzard says so, the evidence is very strong, especially since Blizzard hasn't denied the rumors. There also seems to be something getting brighter behind the ice each day, bursting through, can it be a portal, or even Diablo himself?

Maybe it won't be Diablo 3 on Saturday, might be World of Diablo, or Realms of Diablo, especially with all the job openings for a next-gen MMO.

Links:
Wednesday Splash Image
Tuesday Splash Image
Monday Splash Image


I'm flying to Paris later this week to attend WWI08, expect extensive coverage with photos and videos here at SC2Pod, the live gallery is ready for uploads.

Haha, this is insane.
Anyway, I really hope it's new Diablo, not another WoW game.

Wow, conspiracy theories 4tw!

I just love the way Blizzard spreads rumors like that

Gogo D3!

diablo3.com previously pointed to diablofans.com, it's now down, further indicating that we're on the right track!

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/ ... gecopy.jpg

I edited the image and made it easier to see this.

kind of strange, looks like a face...

<img src="http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/micahmatthew/blizzpagecopy.jpg">
</img>

Haha.

http://us.media.blizzard.com/232309/_images/15.jpg

It's not in order (they're not making it easy for us) but 15=O

Update the first post, please!

i think these runes are NEF and HEL, not shael and hel...
NEF: 4. rune = D
HEL: 15. rune= O

so...

NEF = D (4)
ORT = I (9)
EL = A (1)
ELD= B (2)
SOL= L (12)
HEL = O (15)

BTW：guys, i guess i must be diablo3. notice the diablo in the middle of the post? take a look at his left (or right, from his view) hand (or claw, if u prefer ). his fingers and the fire perfectly work together to make the fire look like a big 3. though not very obvious, we all new bliazzard just do not like to make things very obvious~ .

besides, if the rune is shael, my guess is that all the runes will make up "Heaven's Will (Scepter) - Mal - Hel - Ko - Shael - Amn - Ko". notice the name？ yes, heaven's will! doesn't it match with some previous news that diablo 3 will be based on the story that forces from hell will attach heaven?