Well it's all speculation but it sounds to me like the most likely explanation is that they were told firmly after things had been left hanging for quite some time that Blizzard was not going to do a third Diablo game
That seems to me to be the sort of thing that would make people jack in the 9 to 5 and start their own company
There actually aren't many things in working life that make people jack their job in - despite Dilbert it isn't usually over keys to the executive loos
Note too the oblique reference to pinching a few of Blizzard North's staff
So where does that leave us?
Well Roper et al will make something as close to Diablo 3 as Alpha Centauri was to Civ
They'll also get it out reasonably fast - they can't pay the bills until it hits the shelves
Meanwhile Blizzard, if all this is true, may meanwhile be attempting to turn the talents of their people at Blizzard North to something else - Lost Vikings type stuff, maybe console games. (And of course this might be encouraging Mr Roper to believe he can lure people away). However, Blizzard might feel stung enough to do Diablo 3 as a spoiler as well as cashing in on the name but it might turn out to be a bit of a turkey, especially if they lose more key people. It's funny how management has an awful lot of playground level mentality running through it, especially at times like this
I also think it's likely that if Blizzard North gets sold off then the buyer will commission Diablo 3 - the main reason for buying Blizzard North would be for that product line
So we should get a diablo-like game from the executives who left plus what I think is an increased chance of an official Diablo 3 from Blizzard North
Hope it all works out for the people whose careers and incomes are on the line here
And, at least our friend Isolde, whether stepping up to management or being poached for fat $$$$, should end up getting paid more :)
That seems to me to be the sort of thing that would make people jack in the 9 to 5 and start their own company
There actually aren't many things in working life that make people jack their job in - despite Dilbert it isn't usually over keys to the executive loos
Note too the oblique reference to pinching a few of Blizzard North's staff
So where does that leave us?
Well Roper et al will make something as close to Diablo 3 as Alpha Centauri was to Civ
They'll also get it out reasonably fast - they can't pay the bills until it hits the shelves
Meanwhile Blizzard, if all this is true, may meanwhile be attempting to turn the talents of their people at Blizzard North to something else - Lost Vikings type stuff, maybe console games. (And of course this might be encouraging Mr Roper to believe he can lure people away). However, Blizzard might feel stung enough to do Diablo 3 as a spoiler as well as cashing in on the name but it might turn out to be a bit of a turkey, especially if they lose more key people. It's funny how management has an awful lot of playground level mentality running through it, especially at times like this
I also think it's likely that if Blizzard North gets sold off then the buyer will commission Diablo 3 - the main reason for buying Blizzard North would be for that product line
So we should get a diablo-like game from the executives who left plus what I think is an increased chance of an official Diablo 3 from Blizzard North
Hope it all works out for the people whose careers and incomes are on the line here
And, at least our friend Isolde, whether stepping up to management or being poached for fat $$$$, should end up getting paid more :)