wraggster
February 17th, 2011, 23:15
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/02/d32005.jpg (http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/alleged-screens-of-canceled-2005-diablo-3-are-heavenly/)
In internet time, 2005 might as well be the last century. Christopher Nolan was just beginning to tackle a new series of Batman films, many Joystiq writers hadn't even begun their illustrious careers and Blizzard North was rumored (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/02/07/rumor-blizzard-begins-work-on-diablo-iii/) to be hard at work on Diablo 3 (http://joystiq.com/game/diablo-iii). That is until Blizzard North was closed (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/08/09/blizzard-north-closed/) and most of its staff relocated to Blizzard's HQ in California, of course. Even with the closure, there was still a rumor floating around that a newDiablo would be shown at BlizzCon (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/10/30/diablo-iii-shmiablo-iii/), a Diablo that actually took place in a Heaven being invaded by Hell.
While none of us will ever play that Diablo 3, Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/#!5761172/this-is-what-diablo-iii-looked-like-a-long-time-ago) has nabbed some screenshots allegedly taken from the canceled project. Examining the screens, it certainly looks like the Heaven plot was a reality. It also appears that Blizzard North had abandoned Diablo's traditional 2D isometric graphics in favor of a full 3D world, which isn't surprising given the runaway success of World of Warcraft. Hit the source link for more screens.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/alleged-screens-of-canceled-2005-diablo-3-are-heavenly/
In internet time, 2005 might as well be the last century. Christopher Nolan was just beginning to tackle a new series of Batman films, many Joystiq writers hadn't even begun their illustrious careers and Blizzard North was rumored (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/02/07/rumor-blizzard-begins-work-on-diablo-iii/) to be hard at work on Diablo 3 (http://joystiq.com/game/diablo-iii). That is until Blizzard North was closed (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/08/09/blizzard-north-closed/) and most of its staff relocated to Blizzard's HQ in California, of course. Even with the closure, there was still a rumor floating around that a newDiablo would be shown at BlizzCon (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/10/30/diablo-iii-shmiablo-iii/), a Diablo that actually took place in a Heaven being invaded by Hell.
While none of us will ever play that Diablo 3, Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/#!5761172/this-is-what-diablo-iii-looked-like-a-long-time-ago) has nabbed some screenshots allegedly taken from the canceled project. Examining the screens, it certainly looks like the Heaven plot was a reality. It also appears that Blizzard North had abandoned Diablo's traditional 2D isometric graphics in favor of a full 3D world, which isn't surprising given the runaway success of World of Warcraft. Hit the source link for more screens.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/alleged-screens-of-canceled-2005-diablo-3-are-heavenly/