Diablo3.com becomes Diablofans.com! Blizzard acquires diablo3.com.
Well, there's no point in beating around the bush any longer, so let's get right down to it. A few months ago we were contacted by Blizzard in regards to the Diablo3.com domain name. While they appreciate all the work that's been put into running this big Diablo fan community over the years, they still want the domain name. Hmm, I wonder why? Now before you get all up in arms about it, allow me to explain a few things.
First off, this fan site isn't going anywhere, it's just getting a new name: Diablofans.com! Blizzard is actually being really cool about it, giving us all the time we need to make it a smooth transition before we hand the old domain over to them. So be sure to update all of your bookmarks and point 'em to diablofans.com instead. Your user accounts will all still be perfectly functional and, along with this new site name, we'll soon have a big site redesign up and running as well. A new name, a new look. Huzzah!
Secondly, while Blizzard is indeed acquiring the diablo3.com domain name, they told me that this shouldn't be considered an announcement for the Diablo 3 game we've been waiting for all these years. They acquire new domains all the time. While this is true, I personally can't help but think that this is a confirmation of sorts that they're working on the next Diablo game. Sure, they can claim it's because they want to protect their intellectual properties 'n what have you, but I can't imagine they would all of a sudden be so interested in the diablo3.com domain if they weren't working on a new Diablo 3 game behind the scenes.
On a final note, I want to thank all of you guys who've made this community so strong over the years. It's only going to get better around here and I hope you'll all stick with us. One of the nice things about this whole name-change ordeal is that Blizzard really appreciates the fact that we're a dedicated fan site and we'll be working with them much more closely in the future to bring you the latest Diablo game news.
It's funny, I've had so many offers over the years from people who wanted to pay a lot o' cash for the diablo3.com domain name and I wasn't even willing to consider then. I set out to have a great Diablo fan site because I simply loved the Diablo series. Fortunately, with the help of some great people on the staff and fans like you, we accomplished just that. But when Blizzard came around asking for the domain, I was excited about it both as a Diablo fan and for their recognition of all the work we've put into the site. Fortunately for us, the diablofans.com domain name was available and it fit perfectly in line with the intentions of this site, so I registered it and here we are. Diablo3.com will still be active for a few more months so everybody can have a chance to get used to the new Diablofans.com domain. After that, it will simply point to the Blizzard.com homepage... at least until they're ready to use it for something more worthwhile. One of the nice things about the new diablofans.com domain is that it's all-encompassing. Instead of the site just being for people waiting on Diablo 3, it can serve as the main hub for *all* current and future Diablo games. Isn't it nice to know you'll always have a place online you can call home? Hey, even Diablo's demon minions need a place to hang their hats too.
Alright, that's all the news for now. I'm sure all of this news is gonna get the Diablo 3 rumor mill running like a mad banshee... so have fun discussing the announcement with your fellow Diablo fans!
update: Some gaming news sites are reporting that Blizzard "purchased" the diablo3.com domain from me. This is not the case. As I stated in the above post, if it was my intention to make a profit off of the domain, I could've sold it years ago, but I didn't. When Blizzard spoke to me about their interest in the domain, I was happy to give it to them since they had no problems with us moving the site to diablofans.com and will now be working more closely with us in the future. So yeah, I just wanted to clear that up... there is no monetary exchange taking place, I'm simply giving Blizzard the diablo3 domain.
[click here to discuss]
It has been so long since the closed Beta for D2 that I don't remember the criteria. I myself was only able to get into the open Beta when they opened Act 1 to everyone with only the Barbarian as a choice. Does anyone here recall what the original selection criteria was for the closed Beta and has it changed over the years for any closed Betas for the other 2 games?
this makes me cry....
On the matter of closed betas,
I believe WoW beta sign-ups there was quite minimal information required.. probably not just a random selection tho
And from the Bliz rep: Asked about rumors of the development of Diablo 3, the rep added, "Regarding any plans for a new Diablo game, as much as we’d like to eventually revisit that universe, we don’t have any plans to announce at this time."
Well semantics being something one can play with it either means they have no plans for a Diablo game and therefore have nothing to announce or it can be taken to mean they have no plans to announce a new Diablo game even though they have one in the works.
It's these cryptic statements that can be taken either way that has infuriated us Diablo fans for all these years!
I suppose there is value in secrecy in the competitive corporate world, but Bliz likes to take this cloak and dagger stuff to the extreme! You would think they are presidential speech writers or sumpthin!
Dude, what I’m getting at is: The hype was created by the fans (including me) and ppl are being animous toward ‘diablo3.com’ for fuelling that hype. I’m just merely pointing out the fact that for those of us who are really excited about this, had diablo3.com not posted a countdown and just let the acquisition go by without the hype, we would’ve been like, “hey what the hell this is huge! Why didn’t you guys turn this into a media frenzy?? Don’t you think this is a big deal?” Our excitement has been shared with all the other 24000 ppl logged here. And that’s my point. Sharing and public awareness.
MD also said “You can’t please everyone…” and he was right, you can’t. And I don’t blame hardcore fans for being disappointed, because, they want the real thing and they want it now!!
You’re right that I lack some common sense in the fact that blizzard are working on Diablo, but we know blizzard. They know us, and they want the hype. They want us to keep guessing. Some dude said earlier, (cant remember what page) “who cares about a domain name? blizzard acquired most ‘diablo3’ domains anyways.” Then MD said “but only now do they acquire the US domain – the most coveted of all!”
If this was a legal matter over brand names blizzard would have gone ahead and taken the ‘.com’ FIRST and all the rest would follow, but no. They timed it out. Diabloiii.es was taken without anyone makin any hype and blizzard waited and took this one last, cause half the web, users across the planet link to some or other ‘.com’ daily! That’s why this is such a big deal.
Absolutley! 100% in agreement. A .com domain is the cream of the dot.com crop so this is a HUGE deal!
Well I don't have much to add other than agreement so I guess this is becoming a mutual admiration society at this point but there's nothing wrong with a bunch of high-fives among us Diablo fanatics so that cool! :cool:
This is the exact same quote they used for people that asked about StarCraft II weeks before it's annoucement. I wouldn't take this comment as being "all hope lost".
lol seriously.. i wasnt rly paying attention to any SC2 details. I have at one point been into/obsessed with every blizzard game, except for SC. im not rly sure why but ive never even played it.
i guess that sounds like good news then =)
Oh, oops.
hehehe... you know I was just kidding right? Yeah, I was just kidding.... That's the ticket!
Edit: does that smiley face make me look fat?
No, of course not. But me on the other hand...
I agree 100% with Robiwan, that the fans and users on the forums, created the hype, and it would be the exact opposite story if nothing had been done.
Hopefully its really good news that Blizzard has waited all this time to want diablo3.com, they knew there was a community here, and that many fan sites linked to here, so taking the domain early would eventually lead people to believe the game would never come. But waiting till a short time before WWI, they can generate a small amount of hype now, leading up to a possible announcement at WWI. Which is what we all want.:D
What the hell do you know? You don't even splek Engish!!! .....HAKU!!!!!!
That's awesome!