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Diablo 3 is easily one of the top ten most anticipated games currently in development. So it comes as no surprise that we’re starting to see rumors crop up. Though we could go on for days about rumors regarding class changes, and other game-specific inclusions/exclusions, this particular rumor is noteworthy because it claims to have insider information that points to both a specific release date, as well as minimums technical specifications (how beefy your PC needs to be to run it.)
Website Kaputik.com claims to be the founder of this information courtesy of a source inside development on the game. Now we could just take their word for it and go about our day with a smile on our face content with the knowledge that we’ll be getting our hands on Diablo 3 on exactly September 11, 2009, and the full version to follow on Christmas Eve of the same year.
There’s several things to consider here about this rumor. Setting aside the fact that this website has zero reputation, and thus zero credibility, they’re also using an unnamed source, with an unnamed position in the company. Seems fishy already. Also consider that Blizzard is famous for the “it’s done when it’s done” philosophy of game development. It seems unlikely that they would be setting a date this far down the road.
The inclusion of a multiplayer beta release date helps give this rumor a little bit of credence, but I’m not sure how ready I am to believe that Blizzard would want their game associated with the worst attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor (9/11 and all.) However, many people have 9/11 off of work, and it being a Friday Blizzard could be looking at a chance to catch people on a lazy long weekend. The Christmas Eve release date also raises some red flags. Most companies ideally like to release their game during the holiday season, but Christmas Eve is usually too late to capitalize on that. I know it’s the second biggest shopping day of the year, but for Blizzard to release the game a couple months after the beta just one day before the shopping season ends wreaks of desperation and panic. Blizzard doesn’t play that game, nor do they need to. They’re selling one of the most successful and beloved games of all time, they can sell it whenever they please.
There’s so little to judge this on, that it’s impossible to say that they’re outright wrong or lying, but at this point I’m not going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
We’re trying to get into contact with Blizzard at the moment to get the final word on this.
TGR Rating: Unlikely
Capcom Remaking RE: Code Veronica on Wii?
Capcom seems to have gotten their signals crossed yesterday as to what qualified as “public information.” During two interviews that occurred nearly simultaneously with separate websites, hints were given that lead us to believe that there could be a remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica ready to be announced for Wii.
During an interview with GameFocus, Capcom Product Manager Matt Dahlgren said, “Nothing is planned for the game regarding a remake on PSN/XBLA, but what I can say is if you are a fan of Code Veronica you should pay attention in the next couple of weeks there is some news you should be very pleased with. Tell him to pay attention on the 12th (March).”
Then, during an interview with Joystiq Dahlgren said that Wii Resident Evil fans will be, “Nintendo Wii fans will be very happy very soon." It goes without saying that these two comments are obviously linked, and pertain to the same game. The only question is, does that necessarily suggest a Wii Remake of Code Veronica?
It would seem so. The Wii is the general system of choice for remakes, and ports. Why Code Veronica though? Fans of RE have been screaming for years for a remake of Resident Evil 2, so why would Capcom create a remake of an out of place, less popular game in the series? I don’t have the answer, but heck, it’s Capcom. They’re even trying to adapt Bionic freakin’ Commando to modern day, so you already know they’re a little bit kooky.
TGR Rating: Highly Likely
Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned Coming to PSN?
A certain PlayStation fansite, that I wont be linking to for reasons that will be made clear later on, is claiming to have information from an “anonymous tipster” close to the project who contacted them with the information that the highly successful GTAIV DLC The Lost and Damned is not truly exclusive to Xbox Live.
I’ve worked on video game news for quite a while now. Four years at last count, and at no point during that time have I, nor anyone I’ve ever known in this industry, been contacted by an “anonymous tipster” and been made privy to private company information. Sometimes it will happen to the big sites like GameSpot of 1UP who have extremely close relationships (in terms of both their friendships and proximity) with employees at major developers. They get lucky sometimes when an angry laid off employee will tip them on insider info, but ask yourself, why would that person go out of their way to give that tip to a virtually unknown fansite?
Which seems more likely to you? A) Rockstar employee risks job, career, and reputation to tell company secrets to unknown fansite. Or B) Unknown fansite makes up anonymous tip to get attention in a crowded enthusiast media.
Time may prove me wrong on this one, but I’m going with the latter of those choices.
TGR Rating: Rumor Killed
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