Diablo III and the GRB issue

First of all let me warn you: read this post only if you're a Diablo / Blizzard fan (or just curious).

Second. Many of you know about the GRB issue already, but let me say a few words for those who don't.

• In 2008 Blizzard announces Diablo III at Blizzcon in Paris. Awesome news, fans get excited.
• At Blizzcon 2009, participants get to play through acts 1 and 2 of the game and see "stuff" from act 3. Blizzard says nothing about act 4.
• Blizzard announces a Beta is coming soon, it will run for some 6 months and will allow the players to go through the same content (acts 1 and 2... probably some part of act 3). Act 4 will be kept a total secret until the game is launched.
• More and more information about the game is presented on the Diablo III web page. Fans get anxious for more and more info.
• In 2011, Blizzard announces a Beta is imminent, but will have only a fraction of the first act and will run for 3 months. Possible release date: November 2011.
• Early September 2011, Diablo III Beta is live. Numerous videos are being posted on YouTube, reviewing D3 Beta content.
• September 22nd, 2011: Blizzard CEO - Mike Morhaime makes an emergency visit to South Korea. There are certain issues with the South Korean GRB (Game Rating Board).
• September 23nd, 2011: Morhaime (who never posted ANYTHING on any Blizzard website) makes the famous "soon was too soon" post. You can read it here: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/3552227. Diablo III will NOT come out this year. Estimated release date: early 2012.
• As time passes by, fans become nervous, flaming the Diablo III forums, requesting information.
• Blizzard takes the "cash-out" feature out of the controversial RMAH (Real Money Auction House) in an attempt to get the "go ahead" from the GRB.
• December 22nd, 2011: Blizzard sends the new "documents" to the GRB.
• January 4th, 2011: The Korean GRB is still undecided about Blizzard's game. To them, the game as a whole (and the RMAH in particular) feels too much like gambling.

The entire series of events is HUGE, I just picked the most important facts that relate to this issue. The forums are swarming with angry fans, asking questions and demanding answers. "Why doesn't Blizzard tell us something?", "It's the Koreans' / GRB's fault!", "Why didn't Blizzard think of this?" are the main issues being discussed these days.

And the famous question every Diablo III fan wants answered: Is the GRB situation holding back the release of the game?

If you want my opinion, I'm somewhere in the middle. Morhaime's visit in South Korea just the day before the "soon was too soon" post cannot be a coincidence. Taking everything into consideration (sounds like Baal in the D2LoD intro), including Bashiok's posts, Jay Wilson's twitter and all that, what I really think about this issue is:

Is the South Korea GRB issue keeping Blizzard from releasing the game? No.
Is it preventing Blizzard from announcing a release date? Yes.

Just my 2 cents.

First post (Remember)

Yeah, I know... I'm THE expert in finding awesome titles for my posts.

OK, so... does anyone still remember this?

Maybe it's just me, but that moment felt so EPIC... The guitar guy, the Blizz fans saying "OMG", "It's Diablo3", "F*** yeah!", the crowd when Diablo's new "face" comes on and then the game logo. Pure AWESOMENESS.