UPDATE - It appears the sign has now been removed! (source)
Update 3:
It gets more interesting! When we called the Rochester, Minnesota Best Buy this morning, a manager explained that the sign has been taken down as a directive from the store's "GM" (general manager), not because the manufacturer had asked but because the manufacturer has been "not very firm" in picking a launch date. As many had guessed (per the misspelling of "February," among other things), the signage was made in-house and not sent by Blizzard. If you happen to spot any similar signage in your local big box retailer, don't hesitate to contact us!
A lot of hype is going around today about the BestBuy countdown banner at one of their stores. It is counting down to February 1st, midnight release. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. We have had many blue posts saying retailers will not know the release date before we do. We also have (read above) a blue post saying they like to give us a few months warning before a title comes out. Bashiok also replied about this on twitter today.
Official Blizzard Quote:
whats the word on this? http://t.co/dqQ8mt7G
The word is lol. (source)
yeah, but its on their website, and the forums are blowing up. ill admit i got excited for the first time in a long time.
Retailers will not know a date until its officially announced through a press release.(source)
you guys really need to let best buy know...unless im missing something here
We can't really keep every individual retail shop from making up a date.(source)
Barbarian - Runed Weapon Throw
Today we have Weapon Throw for the Barbarian. The Indigo rune has been left out in this video. Also, its very important to note that these skills may be missing some effects/graphics. PLEASE keep this in mind while watching.
Diablo 3 Not Confirmed for Q1
Bashiok posted quickly. last night. that he had made a mistake by saying Q1 and that the game is still on track for "early" 2012.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Sorry I wasn't intending to imply anything by writing first quarter, just an honest mistake. Our official target is still "early 2012". Not sure if it makes too much difference one way or the other, but I don't want people to nitpick a mistake.
Bashiok on When Beta Ends and Demo
Bashiok posted on the legacy forums last night stating that the beta probably wont be ending until close to the release of the game. He also says in this same post, that they usually try to let us know two months in advanced for release dates.
Official Blizzard Quote:
We probably won't end beta until shortly before release, and traditionally we've tried to announce release dates about two months before release. I couldn't speculate how invites might ramp up or down when the beta finally comes to a close, it definitely is not coming to a close yet though.
Bashiok did say there was a strong possibility of a demo after release
We'll probably make a trial edition at some point. It's sort of a demo I suppose, but it's a bit better because it's essentially the full game just with locks put on certain areas. So you'd be able to jump into multiplayer games with your friends, but maybe you wouldn't be able to play beyond a certain place and wouldn't have access to all the game systems (certainly not auction houses) but if you choose to buy the game all that stuff just unlocks.
This is just a game after all. Not a cure for any great disease. Not an end to any wars. It's not even an important piece of literature. It's a video game. One that I'm sure we will all enjoy very much. But still... Just a video game.
never once bashed a single person, ever. You're allowed not to agree with people, the whole point of forums is posting your views.. nothing wrong with a good debate! ( I like them )
Exactly. We're intelligent, PAYING fans, treat us like that please. Tell us what's going on, and why we don't have this game already. Whether we deserve to or not is up to opinion, but whether or not it's good business is really not.
what you think?
I mean yeah, id love to get more exact information from them... But I think about the fact most companies dont say a word until the release date... some people like that, and thats fine. But me... well, I like haven -some- kind of idea. I just look at it as its better than them saying nothing at all.
(but I guess it comes down to like I said, the poeple that dont trust them, feel that is what they are saying, nothing at all) So I guess thats where the difference in the thoughts comes in.
ohwell, I'm still cross my fingers for some kind of information at the feb meeting, but at this rate, it looks like it will be the same as the last one "We are still on track for early 12"
That's what I'm saying. It's always our misunderstanding or misinterpretation or something along those lines. And it never comes with up front information from them. It's very patronizing and insulting.
I'm sure many feel the same way but I felt I needed to voice my opinion.
I know what your saying there as an artist you tend to over analyze and some times over detail eventually going so deep it loses its thunder it had to begin with -- Most artist do suffer from OCD though so its understandable
I just don't trust ANYTHING Blizzard says about release dates anymore. And someone said something about trusting them.... Hey, i did... for 2 years, but then i realized that they've like politicians.... They say so many positive words, while not giving a crap to keeping them.
Just think, how many "Diablo 3 Not Confirmed for Q1" messages is it we have gotten during these years? no matter how many times they say it, they never do it. Aim here, aim there.... Blizzard, your aim SUCKS.
And blizzard can neither be trusted or keep their words anymore. The only thing in their head is money...
People should obviously stop hyping this thing and spreading misinformation.
Now there was a lot of things lately that still indicates that we may get an announcement before the end of the month but febuRARY 1st is out of the question.
I emailed mine earlier today.
Again, not sure if this would help - but I figure it's worth a shot. It would just be nice to be kept in the loop a little more than we are now. Blizzard has been pretty deceiving with their statements lately and that's not really necessary.