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]
you're entitled to believe what you will but i don't think that is true at all. Even Richard Knaack said that he "wasn't writing for a dead world" and the evidence that blizzard is working on something related to diablo is compelling.
HOWEVER it was very unnecessarily hyped. The world deal with half the (rpg) web will direct to Diablo3.com?
Um.. no i think half the Web are probably mocking us. I see where the heart is at, trying to revive life into the Diablo Fanbase, but this was very very poor execution. I am happy with the news but very disappointed by the way it was delivered. Unnecessary hype and most of all it actually took almost two weeks to countdown. So we have to naturally assume that the Shadowy character in the banner wasn't anything and the "Xdays until X is shaken" was also NOTHING.
Thanks for the news
Top Out
I dont believe it, I dont want to believe in it. But it looks closely like it. I mean look at the time since diablo 2... almost 9 years passed.... just sucks
Get him to fix the word "Fans" in the banner as well. Its REALLY grainy.
I'm also glad to hear most of you really like the new design layout. We're gonna have the designer fix the top nav image so it spans the entire screen (for those with higher resolutions).
For those of you who prefer the old lighter design, you can still select that theme no problemo. We wanted to keep that one available for those of you who don't like darker designs, even though this new one reflects the Diablo game series more closely.
Anyway, thanks again for all the support! There are many good things to come to Diablofans.com!
And by the way MD, I was right
why there still no dibalo pic by the address bar.
you couldnt have tempted blizzard to let you use a diablo face logo?
just saying.....the site is nice and i love it.:D
what is project hydra?
lol o well i was just curious ill let it go though i guess
Blizzard = Company
Company = like money
Do you honestly think that blizzard would take the time to take down sites just to kill the diablo franchise which would make them TONS of money? They see that after YEARS... this site is still up and running, just like the others. Cmon now, think about it.. if blizz wanted, they couldve shut down every D3 site.. THEN made their own, but they did a smart thing, kept us fans TOGETHER, because we all inspire each other to stay hopeful through our friendships / blogs / etc. etc.
Its GONNA happen.
i like the way you think.
thats about the same way i feel, but i wouldnt say i hate the announcement, just as you said earlier, the way it was delivered.
the anouncement is great, diablo3.com being bought? anyone who says blizzard taking over diablo3.com (even if it is justa redirect to blizzard.com) isnt a big deal, is a effin' moron.
if they had no plans to create a diablo3, they would not even bother with the website. why? because it would have nothing to do with anything they are interested in.
with that said, as many are saying, the hype was -way- overdone. it was a good deal, but you probably have a LOT of gamers upset about it.
I knew it was going to be a takeover (talked with Umaro last night telling him i knew it would be) by disecting what they have admited it would and wouldnt be, it was the only logical option, but i was -really- hoping thered be some information blizz would have told them, instead of " this shouldn't be considered an announcement for the Diablo 3 game "
something along the lines of "well, we cant really tell you anything, but you'll be happy with what we do with the domain" sorta responce was what i was hopeing for.
Oh well, back to sitting twiddling my thumbs.
Dude, you know whats gonna happen to this site after like a month?? or two? when you type in diablofans.com it will direct you to the blizzard.com site and thats it, and plus diablo3.com was given away for free... and blizz has alot of money, it's very easy for them to do this shit. So many time has passed,, I've waited but everytime a hype goes on ppl get disappointed, but there is a small consulation in the end.