Rumor: A Fifth Blizzard Game In the Works

According to tumeroks.com, the 5th Blizzard game is in their early development stage. 5th you say - What was the fourth? If you’re still not clued in yet:
1. Starcraft II2. Diablo III3. New World of Warcraft expansion4. Next-Gen MMO5. A new unannounced game (New IP?)
The rumor surfaced last week when Blizzard posted 2 new job opportunities under the “unannounced” category for two software engineers. According to a blue post from Blizzard regarding the new positions:

The first time a new IP was hinted was as far back as 2006, when Paul Sams said the following to Gamespot:

Two years down the line, Paul Sams announces the Next-Gen MMO is in production but also mentioned interest in a new IP. So far, Paul Sams has been living up to his words. Although the title still remains a secret, it is official they are working on the Next-Gen MMO.
A few months ago you offered a job on the official Blizzard webpage, Considering a next gen MMO… A community manager added that its about a game that hasn’t been announced yet. Is there any new information on that or is Diablo the mentioned next gen MMO?
Rob Pardo: No, its obviously not, since it is not an MMO! We have another development team, that is…
So there is still one project?
Rob Pardo: Yea, there is still one “unknown” project…(source: OnlineWelten)Blizzard has very strong IP, but it also seems like all of it was created in the last century.
PS: First of all, that’s true that we’ve not introduced any new franchises this century. I think what it really comes down to is, we ask the teams what they want to make next.
I think the folks at our company are concerned, if they’re going to do a new franchise, that it be worthy -and that it be something that is equivalent or better than what we’ve done before, because they don’t want to do a franchise that’s not.
These are three of the best-selling franchises of all time, and very well-loved. So you’ve got a pretty high bar of trying to figure out what those franchises might be.
What I will say, though, is that the idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company. Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don’t know when that day will be quite yet. (source: Gamasutra)When the man says they’re bringing out a new game or whatever, I believe him. He has lived up to his word so far and I do feel they have the budget and are in need of banging out a new IP. Also consider the fact that they’ve yet to release any new franchise for this century.
Paul Sams: What I will say, though, is that the idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company. Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don’t know when that day will be quite yet.
So far, Blizzard has pretty much covered almost every genre of games out but a shooter. I wonder if that’s within the line of what they’re looking to develop. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinion.

Wolrd of Warcraft: Sex text teacher facing jail

A primary teacher was facing jail today after she admitted sending sexually explicit text messages to a 14-year-old schoolboy.

Lynn Walls, 42, used the interactive computer game Warcraft to befriend the teenager and get his mobile phone number while playing online.

She sent the boy, from London, a series of graphic texts in November last year which outlined what she intended to do with him if they met.

Walls was caught out when his father read the messages. The primary school teacher, who works in Gateshead, was warned the offence of inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity was so serious that jail was a possibility.

Judge Guy Whitburn, at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “This is very, very disturbing.”

Walls, of Rose Street East, Penshaw, Sunderland, will be placed on the sex offenders register for a period yet to be determined. She was granted bail and will be sentenced in January.

The judge said: “I warn you, this offence is so serious a custodial sentence cannot be ruled out.”