Blizzard launches new website - Project Blackstone

[Noomz]

http://eu.battle.net/sc2/en/blackstone/login

Holy, freaking, crap!

Edit: The password is said to be Y7_$0>0k_3<$m

The website seems to contain some manner of pre-launch event to HotS. As you enter the password you're able to currently read three messages sent between two characters in a covert research facility that seems to have something to do with research on zerg.

Edit 2: This is part of a viral marketing for Heart of the Swarm. https://twitter.com/CameronDayton/st...23874661769216

[unholytestament]

Clearly a Starcraft thing.

I'm hoping Starcraft Ghost related, which is one theory I've seen flying around. Though I'm hoping Nova isn't the main character this go around...

[Buu]

The blackstone..has... melted?

[Deleted]

They locked me out ;(

[hythos]

They locked me out ;(

12345 didn't work?

[unholytestament]

Oh, he didn't post the password.

Y7_$0>0k_3<$m

[Buu]

Clearly a Starcraft thing.

I'm hoping Starcraft Ghost related, which is one theory I've seen flying around. Though I'm hoping Nova isn't the main character this go around...

I theorized that is where Jay Wilson was moved. To release a Console SC game.
Now we only have to wait 7 more years.

[Dundebuns]

Ah password is above.

Here's a clue they gave. You can see this by viewing the pages source

<!--
d8888bL d8888bL .d88bL 88 d88888 .o88bL d888888b
88 8D 88 8D .8P Y8L 8P 88 d8P Y8 88
88oodD' 88oobY' 88 88 88 88oooo 8P 88
88 88 88 `8b d8' Y8 88 88 Y8b d8 88
88 88 YD `Y88P' Y888' Y88888 `Y88P' YP

d8888L db .d8b. .o88b. db dD .d8888. d888888b .d88b. d8b db d8888
88 `8D 88 d8' `8b d8P Y8 88 ,8P' 88' YP 88 .8P Y8. 888o 88 88'
88oooY' 88 88 88 8P 88,8P `8bo. 88 88 88 88V8o 88 88
88 8b 88 88TTT88 8b 88`8b `Y88b 88 88 88 88 V8o88 88TTT
88 8D 88booo. 88 88 Y8b d8 88 `88. db 8D 88 `8b d8' 88 V888 88.
Y8888P' Y88888P YP YP `Y88P' YP YD `8888Y' YP `Y88P' VP V8P Y8888

### ============================================================================
### [REMINDER] REMOVE THIS COMMENT BLOCK BEFORE CODE DEPLOYMENT!
### [REMINDER] POSSIBLE EXPOSURE OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION!
###
### [BLACKSTONE]

?HX?cec27e03c51e1b18bc89e78003788ed0e87080f64da416cffda68f0d2cb3e9893ef5bcf00613
b5dfdbb3827240a2d6f3ebc0ff1989fa2187c016722f53d141d2a7cd6f678118d6d425eecca627a4
a85138180a6fbe74934ab51c31aa15811d06ca320390ee5781cd233ae7377a8d807caeeefe7267c4
c6c9ca032124e1db8f361c3b4918a3931c119bcc3ac62ecbf4e09f7a95223d0bbe9f53415920db1b
a3eb8f2bc85dc0e2e7a46d40b9c908777f59ea6197851569301788f38ea07b07e2245f92cc95a67a
621726d5631c77fa637b4cd15daaa1a77de5e82e7ebcb73ca6803927adf975864c96b94e13aa542a
d63be8f0e6ad1558aa4e7eaba0567751050ad858459ec4c0fbef5ce9aab20500fade?H

### [REMINDER] REMOVE THIS COMMENT BLOCK BEFORE CODE DEPLOYMENT!
### ============================================================================
-->

[Asta]

Related to Starcraft II but nothing else seems apparent. But looks awesome.

[Deleted]

Stop teasing me Blizzard..

[Sj]

Oh, he didn't post the password.

Y7_$0>0k_3<$m

This is actually the password, folks, he's not joking. It's apparently the start of an ARG.

[Deleted]

I thought that with the timing and flagrant Zerg name dropping that it's some Heart of the Swarm thing, or am I missing completely obvious about it being a teaser for some undisclosed upcoming project?

[Noomz]

Clearly a Starcraft thing.

I'm hoping Starcraft Ghost related, which is one theory I've seen flying around. Though I'm hoping Nova isn't the main character this go around...

Think it could be some kind of pre-launch thing for Hots?

Would be great to see Starcraft: Ghost revived though.

[Xilurm]

Lol it says:

Please note: Attempting to access secure Dominion networks without proper authorization is considered a hostile act. Further incorrect access attempts will earn a commensurate response.

[ro9ue]

Very interesting. Probably just a promotional thing for the new SC2 expansion though, sort of how Promethius put out that Weyland Industries website to promote the movie. Look it up.

[Bareno]

This is actually the password, folks, he's not joking. It's apparently the start of an ARG.

Blizzard... making a ARG? Heh, never thought I see the day.

EDIT:

I sure did screw myself over... is blizzard going to send assassins to kill me now?

[Xilurm]

Again, welcome to Project Blackstone. I look forward to making your acquaintance at the barbecue in the (green-lit) social lounge this evening at 1900 hours.

Hint at it being an MMO?

[hythos]

Just imagine how much activity they WOULD have gotten, were there no password provided....... but only subtle clues here and there. The hype would have been greater, I'd think, unlike the dissappointment Vista brought us when they had that cluster'f of a release "event".

[ro9ue]

Hint at it being an MMO?

I wonder if green-lit social lounge means mmo-champion.com lol. I mean... who knows

[Deleted]

Lol it says:

Please note: Attempting to access secure Dominion networks without proper authorization is considered a hostile act. Further incorrect access attempts will earn a commensurate response.

yep, if you enter wrongly again it says:

RESPONSE 37M DEPLOYED

and you cannot enter a password anymore