Has the splash screen mystery been solved?

So if you've been living under a rock here's the news: Blizzard announced Diablo 3 at the World Wide Invitational's opening address. This has brought much delight to many fans, and closure to the many who believed that the changing splash screen has pointed to this game. During the address the splash screen changed to a flash teaser of the latest in the demonic property. It a pretty exciting announcement, but I'm not convinced that this is the only thing there.

The demon in the logo does match up with the eyes and brow of the central character, but the flash does not add to the existing chain of splash screens. This bit of news also fails to explain the interesting icy bit in the lower left hand corner of image 5.5.

Aside from a reference to the ninth circle of hell as depicted by Dante's Inferno, the Diablo franchise is more of about fire than ice. This also leaves out the runes, which are organized in a star-shaped pattern. So the argument that it forms a pentacle can be made however it is oriented in the upright position rather than the inverted, "demonic" pentagram symbol. Has Blizzard used this orientation for pents in the past versions of the game? Theories have suggested that the runes refer to all three of the major Blizzard properties.

I've been impressed with the class news for Wrath of the Lich King. As a Shaman I couldn't be happier about CC and totem improvements. We've gotten a lot of new information so far. Do you think Blizzard has anything left?

I find it hard to believe that the mystery has been completely solved. I believe the best news for World of Warcraft players will come during the closing ceremonies tomorrow evening between six and nine convention time. I'm still holding out for a Wrath release date.

Stay tuned to our continuing coverage of WWI.