Micky Neilson announced an upcoming panel titled Blizzard Entertainment: Project Blackstone: The Great Transmedia Experiment. This panel will be held at the Hilton Costa Mesa on September 14th.
One-Day tickets cost about $30. To buy tickets visit Micky’s website.
Update (9-3-2013): dpershonock is taking video of this panel for Blizzplanet. Stay tuned to watch the video.
Blizzard Entertainment: Project Blackstone: The Great Transmedia Experiment
September 14 at 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Designed By: Micky Neilson, Cameron Dayton
The ambitious goal of Project Blackstone was to weave a narrative across multiple media, draw traffic to the StarCraft website, raise awareness of StarCraft short stories, and build hype for Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm video game. The experiment was a success on many fronts, and Project Blackstone: the Great Transmedia Experiment will be an opportunity for the creators of Project Blackstone to share their insights, war stories and opinions on what transmedia really means, and where it’s headed in the future.
A few days ago, Cameron Dayton mentioned in Twitter Project Blackstone is coming to an end very soon. Today there was a wave of Twitter activity among the Project Blackstone characters.
This has been by far the longest episode with the crew coming together for survival as the zerg experiments have been set loose by Held. ex-Ghost Academy cadet Dr. Winlaleah Martine and Dr. Talise Cogan have gone missing. All protoss specimens but one have been killed by Held.
Anything might happen with these three loose ends, as the finale approaches. Will the crew survive? Will there be casualties or sacrifices? Bring some popcorn, and visit the Project Blackstone website and the Project Blackstone twitter feed.
Cameron Dayton: Final chapters of #ProjectBlackstone just sent off to copy-edit. My fingertips are bruised, but this campaign is starting to look finito. — twitter
I want fans to know that Senior Story developer Cameron Dayton will depart Blizzard Entertainment for personal matters. He’s moving to Arizona. However, he will do some freelancing for Blizzard Entertainment, which makes me happy. At least we will continue to see new work from him in the future from time to time. Please, send your appreciation and good wishes at @CameronDayton for his contribution to the lore community.
Sorry for the radio silence. I took a sabbatical for a few days. Got a few Glory of the Hero achievements, and had a Marvel Digital Comics marathon. Ok … a geeky sabbatical.
Cracks knuckles — back to business. The Project Blackstone website was updated recently with Log # 11.
This new entry has some interesting revelations. Some subliminal.
Dr. Rothfuss’s secret allegiance
First, Dr. Daniel Rothfuss reveals to Dr. Talen Ayers that he is a sort of spy. He’s not serving the Terran Dominion and Emperor Mengsk. He is not a spy of the Kel-Morian Combine nor a spy of the Umojan. Dr. Daniel Rothfuss is serving the best interests of humanity.
Now this is intriguing. From the beginning of Project Blackstone, we know that all communications are filtered and read by the security staff. Recently, Dr. Rothfuss provided Dr. Talen Ayers a scrambler to communicate safely away from prying eyes — a highly advanced encryption technology to bypass the Project Blackstone security.
Who does Rothfuss serve? How comes he has better technology than the Terran Dominion — and yet Rothfuss doesn’t work for the Kel-Morian nor the Umojans? Yet he serves humanity.
This makes me ponder. Is Rothfuss a spy of the United Earth Protectorate (UED)?
I remember Chris Metzen commented once the UED were not using their technology in their appearance in StarCraft: Brood War. Basically, the UED used stolen Confederate technology.
In short, we don’t know how advanced Earth-bound technology is in relation to the Koprulu’s Confederate and Dominion technology.
In our recent video aired by the NASL.TV we discuss presicely this. With the re-introduction of Vice-Admiral Stukov in Heart of the Swarm, we wonder whether Blizzard is planning to visit a post-apocalyptic Earth in StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, or another StarCraft video game.
I will leave you with a thought. It took the original supercarriers 28 years to reach the Koprulu sector. That was old technology. How long did it take the UED to reach the Koprulu sector, however? The answer is simple. It is subliminal in StarCraft: Brood War. Admiral Gerard DuGalle sent a message to his wife as the Battlecruisers attempted to escape Kerrigan. The message he sent before he shot himself. Mere months? Weeks? Days?
Admiral Gerard DuGalle: “Dearest Helena, – By now, the news of our defeat has reached the Earth. – The creatures we were sent here to tame are un-tamable. – and the colonies we were sent to reclaim have proven to be stronger than we anticipated. – Whatever you may hear about what has happened out here, know this; – Alexei did not die gloriously in battle. – I killed him. My pride killed him. – And now my pride has consumed me as well. – You will never see me again, Helena. – Tell our children that I love them, – and that their father died in defense of their future. – Au revoir.”
Dominion Technology Flaw
Is the Terran Dominion and Confederate technology safe? This entry makes you question whether the UED presence in the Koprulu sector is still ongoing at large.
Yes, we have seen UED survivors out there. In StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, when you visit the Cantina, you can hire UED mercenaries. Those who remained behind.
Rothfuss says: “Over the past few centuries, Dominion technology has made commendable advances in the blunt science of military strength: better armor, better weapons, and frighteningly obedient soldiers. But there has been surprisingly little progress in the fields of encryption and machine language. Significant portions of the original ATLAS coding and functionality still exist in your adjutants like familiar old dinosaurs. My guess is that dependence on the servile and deliberately limited sapience of these automatons has allowed for intellectual complacency in those fields, especially since the more exciting horizons of extrasolar planets and xenoscience have been within your grasp.”
Little lore background here. Back when the supercarriers left Earth in year 2231, The ATLAS was the artificial intelligence aboard the supercarrier Nagglfar. The other supercarriers had no artificial intelligence. Instead, the Argo, Reagan and Sarengo supercarriers followed the supercarrier Nagglfar’s navigation system signal.
Rothfuss says the current Adjutants still use portions of the original ATLAS artificial intelligence. In short, it’s a very old technology that the UED knows well. This tells me the UED might be able to have a presence in the Koprulu sector keeping themselves stealthed to the eye of the Terran Dominion, and furthermore be able to tap into Terran Dominion computers.
This entry is evidence it was easy for the UED to raid a Confederate outpost or armory by easily infiltrating their computer network. Remember — all those tanks, battlecruisers, wraiths, valkyries, and goliaths the UED used in StarCraft: Brood War … none of those were UED technology. The UED likely defeated a few Confederate outposts, and re-purposed the Confederate weaponry and vessels — keeping Earth technology hidden from the Confederate and Terran Dominion’s reach.
Project Blackstone Secrets
Dr. Rothfuss tells Dr. Talen Ayers he is read in the computer files a lot of the Project Blackstone secrets. Among them:
”Because you are not just building weapons to protect humanity, Talen. You are being used. My exploration through the personnel files opened up some frightening avenues. For instance, did you know that Dr. Vera Langridge (Xenobotanist) has an entire level of the facility dedicated to xenoflora that can control human thought? Not alien thought. That’s right—Mengsk has a section of this facility dedicated to controlling his own subjects. And that is only one of seven isolated levels hidden beneath this one. All are taking your research into dark places that you know nothing about. All are completely off the books.
And your friend Dr. Warren G. Held (Xenobiologist, Senior Protoss Specialist) is still on-site. He has been moved down to a sub-level, along with a handful of psi-blocked protoss.”
Extras
Dr. Ariel Hanson (Planet Agria) is the daughter of Dr. Talise Cogan (Project Blackstone Xenobiologist) and Dr. Bernard Hanson — as revealed in Ariel’s bios (Battle.net).
Dr. Maren Ayer — daughter of Dr. Talen Ayer, debuted in the StarCraft II website’s short story: Broken Wide (by Cameron Dayton). The story about the Zerg Banelings.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Today’s Project Blackstone (Twitter) has a friendly talk between Xenobiologist Dr. Winlaleah Martine (former Ghost Academy trainee) and Protoss Specialist/Archaeologist Jake Ramsey.
Winlaleah takes the opportunity to thank Jake for rescuing her from Senior Protoss Specialist Dr. Warren G. Held in the recent BioLab 4 incident.
Jake talks about his close encounter experience when Zamara’s mind was merged within his own brain — as seen in the pages of the StarCraft: Dark Templar trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Christie Golden.
I got a bit curious. Recently, Jake Ramsey and Dr. Talen Ayers were discussing what happened in the BioLab 4 incident.
Jake had called for help to save Winlaleah from Dr. Warren Held. However, because of his telepathic sensitivity Jake understood he might have actually saved Dr. Warren from her instead. She was a former Ghost Academy trainee, with the martial art prowess and lethality of a ghost.
Apparently, Winlaleah had triggered some thoughts within Dr. Warren with her telepathy to force him to cause the incident — as seen in #09 Chat Log at the Project Blackstone website. Possibly so she could have an excuse to beat him up.
Jake asked Winlaleah indirectly to set up his trap — I guess, attempting to get a confession from her of what truly happened in that incident. However, she elegantly changes the subject when Jake Ramsey brings it up in today’s Twitter conversation.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: I never thanked you for helping me last week. I can’t believe Held actually had a psychotic breakdown.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: I have to say that I’m amazed at how perceptive you are, even if it is involuntary.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: Your mind is a joy to witness. The way your thoughts flash & shift. The complexity & unpredictability of your mental landscape.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: You know, I think you’re the first person I’ve met who’s described an archaeologist’s mind as anything but ponderous.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: But thanks. Guess I should get started on prepping for our next round of tests.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: Hang on, professor. Are you trying to hide your thoughts from me?
Dr. Jake Ramsey: It’s only natural, isn’t it? With all the surveillance on this rock, thoughts are the only privacy we have.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: True enough. But if you ever want to discuss telepathy again, let me know. I could teach you a few things.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
The Project Blackstone website added #10 Chat Log. It’s a secure communication transmission between Chief Engineer Redell Quinton and Senior Zerg Specialist and Xenobiologist Dr. Talen Ayers.
Redell has a little gadget that allows him to bypass Project Blackstone’s monitoring of communications.
Redell just got a dead Infested Terran to dismantle in order to figure out how the zerg altered the inorganic weapons held by Marines. The weapons are attached to the Infested Terran through tendons and veins.
Chief of Research Dr. Helek Branamoor is getting pressure from Mengsk’s office to research new weaponry systems based on Zerg and Protoss technology.
During this conversation, it’s revealed Project Blackstone facility is built within an asteroid, and likely located somewhere near Deadman’s Rock.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Recently, it was revealed the zerg didn’t change much of the original Overlord creatures assimilated by the zerg. (Source: Project Blackstone website, #07 Message)
The latest Project Blackstone communication via Twitter explores a bit of an enigma concerning zerg Overlords.
This conversation is composed of Xenobiologist Dr. Talise Cogan and Xenobiologist Dr. Leah A. Martine.
As discovered a few days ago, Leah is actually Winlaleah Martine — former Ghost Academy trainee (Tokyopop manga — StarCraft: Ghost Academy by Keith R.A. DeCandido).
Dr. Talise Cogan: Do you mind if I pick your brain, Dr.? I understand you’re an expert in psionic neurology.
Dr. Talise Cogan: I’m going over my notes from a few weeks ago, and I’m struggling with a question.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Follow Project Blackstone transmedia storyline … go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Today Project Blackstone definitely broke the pattern posting Twitter entries four days in a row. The 15th Anniversary of StarCraft is in two days — Sunday, March 31st.
The Warhound is on the spotlight in this Twitter update. Yesterday, a new short story titled Command Performance by Alex Irvine appeared in the official StarCraft II website featuring the Warhound.
Dr. Daniel Rothfuss: I’ve been over your Warhound modifications – some impressive attempts at streamlining here, Red.
Red Quinton: Thanks, old timer. Are you part of Branmoor’s review process now?
Dr. Daniel Rothfuss: Ha, no not at all. Just poking around some of the schematics you stored here on the network. Nothing too formal.
Red Quinton: Poking around in my high-security, encoded files, huh? I like you already.
This new entry makes me wonder if Rothfuss had anything to do with framing Redell Quinton in a recent Project Blackstone update. It’s hard to tell if some of the strange incidents and character slip ups are or not red herrings.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Project Blackstone Twitter entries usually get posted every 2-4 days. Sometimes two days in a row at most. It’s the fourth Twitter entry in a row, a change in the pattern, which makes me think the increase is tied as a silent countdown to the StarCraft 15th Anniversary (March 31). I might be wrong, so don’t get your hopes too high.
We’ll have to wait and see.
Dr. Warren Held: Everything set up for the intracranial investigation of specimen AP-05?
Update: 9pm EST – the official Project Blackstone website has been updated. Entry Log # 8 and #9 happen after the Biolab 4 incident (read above).
Based on the conversation between Dr. Jacob Ramsey and Dr. Talen Ayers, there is something to be learned about Talen’s daughter — Maren Ayers. She was the main character of Cameron Dayton’s 2010 Short Story: Broken Wide (Banelings)
Jacob Ramsey is confirmed to have feelings for Rosemary Dahl (StarCraft: The Dark Templar), and she’s waiting for him.
A new image was unlocked. It is the Warhound mentioned a few days ago. Something cool about it is the shield on the Warhound’s left-arm is the War Pigs logo (Wiki). This is the Dominion mercenary team which debuted in the DC Comics StarCraft # 1-8 series. — check out the Project Blackstone website.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
I have a feeling Project Blackstone and the StarCraft 15th Anniversary are tied somehow. Out of the blue, I have seen Project Blackstone characters tweet several times throughout the day on the 25th, 26th, and today 27th.
A few days ago, Cameron Dayton was upgraded to Senior Story Developer. On March 22, 2013, Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the 15th Anniversary early, last week, toasting and showering each other with dozens of bottles of champagne.
Something curious is there was a toast to Project Blackstone at the 15th Anniversary celebration. Are there signs of something in the horizon? Will Blizzard announce something related to Project Blackstone on March 31? Or … during the South Korea big eSports Announcement (April 3)? (i.e. major game announcements have been done at Tokyo Game Show, Blizzard Worldwide Invitationals in Seoul & France, and at GamesCom)
Today, in Project Blackstone, protoss tools — acquired by the Terran Dominion and delivered to Project Blackstone — have gone missing. Strange things are happening lately at the top-secret research center. Somehow there is always the lingering hint that Jacob Ramsey is involved in these mysterious incidents.
Recently Redell Quinton was framed for the disappearance of supplies that technically could be associated as materials for a alcohol distillery. Curiously, the same night Jacob Ramsey was found light-headed on the floor, and he was escorted to his quarters.
Now it is Protoss tools missing. The flavor dialogue seems to hint at Jacob Ramsey being involved. He did never reply Leah’s question if he knew where the tools were — unless Jake’s insinuated involvement in the incidents have been a deliberate red herring all along, and instead there is more than meets the eye going on.
Recently, I theorized two ways how Redell could have been framed: mind-control, or computer log hacking. Ramsey seems to have developed telepathy, but new story entries indicate he’s not fully aware of it. So far, Dr. Jacob Ramsey mainly listens to mental distress-related thoughts from the protoss captive within Project Blackstone, or from fellow workers.
That leaves the computer hacking and the mysterious incidents open to a potential character involved: Lio Travski. That hasn’t been proven correct nor wrong. The mystery continues.
Today’s Project Blackstone Twitter entries reveal more exciting things. The true identity of @LeahAMartine — right under our very noses these past month and a half.
In this story, you will see Dr. Jake Ramsey, Xenobiologist Dr. Leah A. Martine, and Xenobiologist Senior Protoss Specialist Dr. Warren Held.
March 27
Dr. Warren Held: @LeahAMartine I’ve asked you before not to touch my hagedorn needles. There will not be a third reminder, doctor.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @WarrenGHeld I’m sorry, Dr. Held. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are your tools missing?
Dr. Warren Held: @LeahAMartine You know damn well what I’m talking about.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @WarrenGHeld Again, my apologies. Weren’t you the last one in the lab? How could I possibly have moved them?
Dr. Warren Held: @LeahAMartine They don’t move on their own, Martine! I left them on the operating tray. You must have moved them. Where are they?
Dr. Warren Held: @LeahAMartine I’ve asked you before not to touch my hagedorn needles. There will not be a third reminder, doctor.
1 Hour Later
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey Dr. Held is looking for the hagedorn needles from our procedure earlier today. Any chance you’ve seen where they went?
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine How do you do it, Dr. Martine?
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey Ok, this is odd. The nerve cord samples we collected this morning are gone. Did Dr. Held take them when he stormed out?
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine I’m not sure, but that wouldn’t be a surprise. Held isn’t much for consulting me on what he does.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey The samples. Dr. Held incinerated them. Too dangerous, he said, and plenty of other tissue to study. I can’t believe it.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine You’re surprised? Everything—everyone—is disposable to Held.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey Do you know how rare it is for us to find a dead protoss?
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey Usable nerve cord tissue is especially precious. So many things we still don’t understand about telepathy.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine I know. But you can’t let Held get under your skin like this.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey We sacrifice everything to become ghosts. Our memories, our freedom. Too often, our sanity.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine I blacked out. I could hear your screams. I could feel them.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey Impossible. I wasn’t directing that at you, and you’re no telepath.
Dr. Leah A. Martine: @JakeJRamsey How did you know my full name? I haven’t told anyone here.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @LeahAMartine I just knew. It was already there, in my head.
As read, Jacob Ramsey’s brain seems to be slowly developing into telepathy after his brief experience with the protoss preserver Zamara. Her mind merged with his, granting him access to the memories of every protoss who ever lived, and access to the Khala.
I recommend to those who havent yet read the StarCraft: Dark Templar trilogy by Christie Golden to do so.
Dr. Jake Ramsey debuted in that trilogy. This is why StarCraft lore fans are excited to see him again in Project Blackstone, and why we think there is more to this story than just a real-time transmedia novela. We can’t yet figure out what it is. It was not a Heart of the Swarm promotional, it was not a PAX East promotional, and it likely isn’t a 15th Anniversary promotional.
Cameron Dayton said on Twitter this story took two years in the making.
I am seriously considering Project Blackstone is leading to an announcement at BlizzCon 2013 (November 8-9).
Two years of development is too long a time for a free recreational story that is not tied to a upcoming video game.
If you haven’t played Heart of the Swarm yet, there is no mention of Project Blackstone, and none of the characters make a cameo.
If StarCraft: Ghost returned sooner than later, we have to agree it won’t have the same Terrazine plot as the Nihilistic iteration, but a more up-to-date plot based on the StarCraft II trilogy episodes.
UPDATE
As Eroldren mentioned below in the comments, there was yet another awesome discovery in this Project Blackstone entry. Dr. Leah A. Martine is actually Winlaleah Martine. She was member of Team Red in the Tokyopop manga titled StarCraft: Ghost Academy by Keith R.A. DeCandido.
The digital version of Volume 1 can be downloaded from Cryptozoic Entertainment.
Team Red and Team Blue were among the best ghost trainees. Nova Terra (StarCraft: Ghost) was on Team Blue.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
Red Quinton: @PamelaGFoster NO NO NO I’m serious. Warhound has power to spare. Bunch of electronics n security wired into it. WHY FINGERPRINT SCANNER?
Red Quinton: @PamelaGFoster Ditch all that and we got POWER to spare. I WANT CLOAKING.
Dr. Pamela Foster: @RedellQuinton Hm…cloaking aside, you may actually be on to something. Do we need all that thumbprint security vs a bunch of nonhumans?
Red Quinton: @PamelaGFoster This’ll free up space/pwr for all kindsa junk. I think. Sending you diagrams now.
Red Quinton: @PamelaGFoster We can fit more guns. More armor. Cup holders. MOTHERFEKKIN CLOAKIN DEVICE!
Dr. Pamela Foster: @RedellQuinton You want to cloak a giant metal walker? You’re drunk, Red. The efficiency gains are worth a look, though. Let me revise.
Go to twitter, and create a new LIST. Title it as “Project Blackstone Crew”. Add all of the Project Blackstone characters to the LIST by visiting their page and clicking the arrow (located left of the “Follow” button) and choosing “Add or Remove from List”. Then check mark “Project Blackstone Crew”.
As we were getting chatty today in Twitter, Eldorian and I (under the Blizzplanet Twitter account name), a series of entries were posted today by a few Project Blackstone characters.
I got an eye-candy alert from Eldorian over chat: “AHHHH SPAM. you followed the Project Blackstone people”
I couldn’t stop laughing.
Patiently, I read through the eye-popping lengthy text to figure out what the deal was. Apparently, security logs show Redell “Red” Quinton (Chief Engineer) has been stealing large amounts of supplies. The Adjutant seems to suggest of the alcohol-type.
Major Treicher has ordered the Adjutant to seal off Red’s quarters. Red is ranting why he has been forcefully imprisoned in his own quarters. His behavior as he attempts to find out why he has been imprisoned, and under what charges seems to indicate the security logs are false.
After you read the entire entry, I will add up my own speculation on what might have really happened here.
Dr. Helek Branamoor: @Adjutant3327 I’m going over supply logs today. Why are we requesting additional filters?
Adjutant 33-27: @HelekBranamoor Dr. Langridge has requested them for chambers 12 through 17.
Dr. Helek Branamoor: @Adjutant3327 The existing stock was intended to last three months! I want a full usage report for the prior lot.
Adjutant 33-27: @HelekBranamoor Yes, Dr. Branamoor. Engineering has allocated 73.2% of the existing supplies. A report of usage has been sent to your inbox.
Red Quinton: @Adjutant3327 My door is jammed this morning. Little red light on the keypad keeps blinking at me like it’s mad at me. What gives?
Adjutant 33-27: @RedellQuinton Please direct all inquiries to Major Treicher.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton So, I’m going to make this very clear to you.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton You are officially under investigation Mr. Quinton and, until my investigation is complete, you are restricted to quarters.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher Okay, fine. Tell me what you’re investigating. What exactly did I do?
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton After the scanner debacle, it’s painfully obvious what you’re doing.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton Mr. Quinton, if you come clean and admit what you’ve done…
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton I promise, as Head of Security, that I’ll go easy on you.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher Easy? For what? Using more activated carbon than you expected? Give me a break.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton The official accusation is “misuse of critical Dominion resources.”
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton Or to be clear: I know you’ve built a distillery in the engineering bay. We’ll find it soon enough.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton I’ll say it again: Come clean right now and things will go much easier for you.
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton It’d be stupid to end up in jail over a bit of moonshine.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher A distillery, huh? Interesting theory, major. Couple problems, though.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher First and foremost, I’m a whisky man. Proper whisky takes time to age. I ain’t been here long enough to properly age nothing.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher Secondly, you think I’m patient enough to wait for whisky to age?
Major Lee Treicher: @RedellQuinton I’m not in the mood for games, Mr. Quinton.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher That makes two of us. So this is a paid day off? Fine by me.
Red Quinton: @LeeTreicher Let me know if you find any magical invisible distilleries anywhere in my workspace.
As silly as the entire situation might seem, I have a few speculations:
1. A telepath managed to mind-control Redell Quinton. He doesn’t remember doing anything of what he is been accussed of. I can only think of one telepath aboard the Project Blackstone facility who might be able to mind-control … Jacob Ramsey. In the Project Blackstone website (Entry # 5) Jacob Ramsey clearly says he can hear the captive Protoss screaming, and asks Dr. Talen Ayers if he can hear them too.
Dr. Talen Ayers didn’t hear the screams, and actually he had absolutely no idea there were living Protoss specimens held captive within the premises. Hint-hint: Jake retained some psionic abilities from his mind-sharing experience with Zamara (the protoss preserver) — as seen in the StarCraft: Dark Templar trilogy by Christie Golden.
2. Someone hacked security logs to steal the alcohol and framed Redell Quinton. We haven’t heard of any technology hackers among the staff, so let’s pretend this is the case and there is a yet-to-be-revealed character among the Project Blackstone staff.
The only one in the StarCraft universe who has reputable hacking skills are Colonel Orlan (former leader of Deadman’s Port) who last time was seen in Heart of the Swarm under custody of Mira Han-[giggles]Horner. She had to — umm — cooperate with Matt and let Colonel Orlan free to go.
Is it possible? Considering Project Blackstone is a Terran Dominion research center, and we know what happens in Heart of the Swarm, I’d have to discard Colonel Orlan as the one hacking into Project Blackstone computers.
The other expert hacker is known as Lio Travski from Tokyopop manga StarCraft: Ghost Academy. There’s a little problem here though. Lio is a technopath, but he died. He somehow transferred his mind into the datastream and returned as an advanced AI.
Could Lio be playing games with the Project Blackstone staff? I doubt he would have much use to drinking alcohol in his current state-of-being, but framing Redell would certainly serve as a ruse to keep the Major, the Adjutant and Redell busy from their usual duties.
I can only think of these two options to explain how the computer registers Redell as doing something he claims to not have done. What do you think?
Update: New Entries
Dr. Helek Branamoor: @JakeJRamsey Dr. Ramsey, Major Treicher informed me of an incident last night. You collapsed in one of the hallways?
Dr. Jake Ramsey: @HelekBranamoor It was nothing. I just felt a little lightheaded.
Dr. Helek Branamoor: Having to be carried off to your room is the antithesis of nothing. I’m scheduling an examination by one of our medics.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: The concern is appreciated, but unnecessary.
Dr. Jake Ramsey: Of course not. ‘Asking’ doesn’t factor into the Dominion’s MO. Waking up alone every day is a reminder of that.
Dr. Helek Branamoor: @JakeJRamsey Report to the medical dispensary at 0700 tomorrow.
(UPDATE: Seems I came close to the culprit. Sounds suspicious Jacob Ramsey felt light-headed and was escorted to his room. The typical symptoms of someone straining after a small experimental mind-control session ….
In this week’s Blizzplanet Weekly, our host Chris Arnone talks about several topics around all Blizzard Entertainment video games. Mists of Pandaria will see no additional 5-person dungeons, Major League Gaming (MLG) in Dallas is this weekend where 32 players will clash to the end to claim the victor prize, Diablo III developers are moving away from the Auction House, and finally — Chris Arnone enumerates what are all the facts surrounding the new game Blizzard is revealing at PAX East, and what it is certainly not.
Will it be something related to Project Blackstone? Maybe a revamped StarCraft: Ghost intermingled with the Heart of the Swarm story? Will it be an MMO or a Mobile game?
Everyone thought the Project Blackstone website was a promotional campaign for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. However, there are still some unlocked content and absolutely nothing is mentioned about Project Blackstone in the Heart of the Swarm single-player campaign.
The Project Blackstone creator, Cameron Dayton (Senior Story Developer), tweeted recently “I think it’s starting to dawn on people that #ProjectBlackstone was more than just a promotional piece for #HotS – this story ain’t done yet” — hmm?
A few weeks ago, I remember Cameron Dayton revealed Project Blackstone’s story took two years in the making. This put me to rethink and ponder … does a website story and the ficticious characters tweeting each other on Twitter take two years to write? Or is there more to Project Blackstone than just a Free online short story? That’s a lot of time and manpower budget.
Watch today’s Blizzplanet Weekly with our host Chris Arnone speculating about PAX East new game announcement here.
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Note: Chris wears a different Warcraft, StarCraft or Diablo T-shirt on the shows courtesy of JINX. Get yours here.
Project Blackstone entry log # 6 is Dr. Talen Ayers’ personal journal.
He isn’t comfortable with co-workers Dr. Held and Jake Ramsey and writes down his thoughts about this situation as a way to drain his frustration out.
What I find truly interesting is the continuity nods in this story. I finished the StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm single-player campaign, and I have to admit this Project Blackstone is still an enigma to me.
Did Cameron Dayton and the Creative Team meant Project Blackstone to be a StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm teaser? Or is Project Blackstone somewhat related to whatever Blizzard Entertainment is announcing at PAX East on Friday, March 22nd?
Only a week to find out the latter, but I can assure you Project Blackstone and none of the characters are mentioned in the StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm single-player campaign.
Back to continuity nods, first Jake Ramsey (from StarCraft: Dark Templar Trilogy by Christie Golden) shows up out of the blue as new member of Project Blackstone. Now Dr. Talen Ayers mentions Dr. Warren G. Held (Xenobiologist, Senior Protoss Specialist) was part of the Project Gestalt!
Now this is EXTREMELY interesting. Project Gestalt was introduced into the StarCraft universe in the pages of TOKYOPOP manga StarCraft: Frontline Volume 3 (Story: Do No Harm by Josh Elder — published on July 14, 2009).
Dr. Stanley Burgess was the Terran Dominion scientist in charge of Project Gestalt, where Dr. Held worked.
Project Gestalt was a Korhal IV Primary Resocialization Center where Protoss specimens were held captive to conduct experiments. Project Blackstone now has living Protoss specimens in captivity too.
Basically, Project Gestalt added spliced protoss DNA and protoss appendage implants on Terran Dominion ghosts with the intention of allowing the ghosts to become powerful warriors with psi-blades and access to the Khala, but under the controlled environment of the Terran Dominion’s neural inhibitors.
There was only one successful specimen: Gestalt Zero — a Terran/Protoss hybrid. He destroyed Project Gestalt and killed Dr. Burgess. Finally, Gestalt Zero joined the Protoss. Nothing has been known of him afterwards either in printed media or in-game. I remember telling Chris Metzen at the Irvine Headquarter this character reminded me of Rexxar, but there are no plans to bring him to StarCraft II as a character. Who knows, he might actually show up in printed media or future StarCraft-related games.
During our video interview with Chris Metzen, he said the following when I asked him about Gestalt Zero:
Press-only StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Single-player Hands-on event (July 2009)
Blizzplanet: There is an interesting concept played out through the short story Do No Harm by Josh Elder. A Terran Dominion scientist has been capturing Protoss and experimenting with their DNA to create a Human-Protoss hybrid prototype. There have been other previous prototypes, but this one in particular is pretty strong and uses Ghost technology to stealth. The Terran Dominion plans to create an army of these hybrids to protect the core-worlds. Are we going to see a follow-up of this play out into the Single Player? This guy is pretty much the Rexxar of Starcraft.
Metzen: I think that one, for now, is kind more of a one-off. I don’t think there’s any plans to follow up on that theme anytime soon in terms of the game itself, in terms of the game story. But I dig that story a lot that I think it’s more of just a really cool story by itself.
Blizzard Entertainment updated the Project Blackstone website today. Jacob Ramsey (Xenoarchaeologist/Protoss Specialist) has an interesting dialogue with Dr. Talen Ayers (Xenobiologist, Senior Zerg Specialist).
Ramsey complaints the Blackstone team is currently conducting experiments and taking samples from living Protoss specimens held captive.
Dr. Talen Ayers had no idea this was happening. Apparently, Jacob Ramsey’s brain has changed since Zamara’s mind was removed from it. He can hear the screams of the Protoss captives.
I can’t wait to find out where Ramsey has been since StarCraft: Dark Templar trilogy, and why exactly he was transferred to join the Project Blackstone team.
It’s very clear he is against Emperor Mengsk and against the Project Blackstone’s experiments.
The Project Blackstone saga isn’t static in the website. The story is expanded also in Twitter where each character has its own Twitter account to interact with each other.
I wish to take the opportunity to congratulate Cameron Dayton (Transmedia strategist and story developer). A few minutes ago he announced on Twitter that he has been promoted to Senior Story Developer. Congratulations!!!
May the new upgraded pen with +500 intellect and spirit give you the wisdom to write even better Azeroth / Kropulu / Sanctuary stories.
The Project Blackstone website was launched on February 6th as we reported earlier. The password login has been removed allowing easy navigation. I am still uncertain on what the purpose of Project Blackstone is. It’s a very different way of storytelling what the Creative Team assigned to the project is introducing to fans. Fun and amusing in a way. Makes you want to read more as weeks go by.
Blizzard developers involved in the Project Blackstone website content: Cameron Dayton, Matt Burns, Robert Brooks, Cate Gary, Evelyn Fredericksen, Micky Neilson, Sean Copeland, Justin Dye, Cynthia Hall, Katherine Joplin, Kevin Johnson, Justin Parker. Micah Whipple (Bashiok). I’m sure you know some of these illustrious names.
This is what Cameron Dayton posted a few days ago on Facebook:
”The transmedia campaign that I have been building with our creative development team over the last two years is officially LIVE. It’s a combination of short stories, blog posts, science journals, and twitter accounts that tie exciting, agile storytelling in with the gameplay that has made StarCraft an international gaming phenomenon. Stay tuned for more excitement at www.projectblackstone.com and https://us.battle.net/sc2/en/game/lore/“
The method of storytelling is through social media. The Project Blackstone xenobiological research team communicates like everyone else does in real life: via email, twitter and facebook-like means.
This ends up in a charming series of silly and elaborate dialogues between the characters throwing in some comedy lines and investigative talk.
Project Blackstone is an undercover top-notch laboratory sponsored by the Terran Dominion. There is still much to learn about this lab, its director and its research team.
In the latest Twitter-like entry found in the Project Blackstone website, a new member has joined the Project Blackstone team. His name is briefly mentioned, but I find this enough to classify it as a massive cliffhanger. I recommend everyone to keep visiting the Project Blackstone website in a weekly basis … Jake Ramsey is the new member.
Now I know many fans might not know who Jake Ramsey is. StarCraft lore fans know the name vividly, and I bet they felt a thrill going through their spine. Jake Ramsey — or — Jacob Jefferson “Jake” Ramsey is one of the top Terran Dominion archeologists hired by Prince Valerian Mengsk to investigate Xel’Naga temples across the Koprulu Sector.
While Jake Ramsey didn’t appear in any fashion in the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty‘s single player campaign, his archaeological work did influence the outcome of its story. It was Jake Ramsey who determined what the Xel’Naga artifacts collected by Jim Raynor’s team would do to Kerrigan the Queen of Blades in the final mission. His archeological work is what led Prince Valerian Mengsk to offer Jim Raynor a deal to use the artifact on Kerrigan.
This character debuted in the StarCraft: Dark Templar — Firstborn by New York Times Bestselling author Christie Golden. This was by far the best StarCraft-themed novel trilogy.
Jake Ramsey found a Protoss Preserver named Zamara in a Xel’Naga temple. She had slowed time around her to remain alive until she could transfer her vast knowledge and a secret — that spells doom to the entire universe — before her demise.
What’s a Protoss preserver? This caste of protoss functions as a living archive of every single protoss mind that ever existed — including Adun, Khas, and Tassadar’s memories.
With Jake disabling the time bubble, Zamara quickly touched Jake, transferring her mind and all her knowledge into Jake’s brain. This caused his brain to quickly evolve and adapt to the countless knowledge invading his mind. Thus he gained ancient knowledge through the eyes of Khas and other protoss characters in history.
To make the story short, Jake Ramsey is a key character in the entire StarCraft universe who we should keep a close watch on now that he has emerged back into the lore. Jake was able to accomplish something we have never seen in StarCraft. In a desperate moment, while Terran Dominion ships chased his vessel, Jake triggered a Khala mindwave linking all Terran minds as one. This was an amazing feat.
I won’t go into detail here considering those who haven’t read the trilogy. The preserver Zamara left Jake’s brain at the end of the trilogy having secured her knowledge and her dire secret would be preserved by the protoss, and Jake Ramsey ended up returning home with Prince Valerian Mengsk — who we know has ties with the Moebius Foundation and its founder Dr. Emil Narud.
With the introduction of StarCraft II: Flashpoint by New York Times Best Selling author Christie Golden, we also learned Prince Valerian was deceived. The Moebius Foundation had secret ties with his father, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk. The Moebius Foundation created the Hybrids.
Thus, one has to ponder what exactly is Project Blackstone, and what is its connection with the Moebius Foundation. Why is Jake Ramsey joining the Project Blackstone team? What has he been up to all this time since early pre-“Wings of Liberty” time-frame?
Note: If you encounter problems with Firefox, the website works better on Internet Explorer. Love Cameron Dayton’s stories? Give him some sweet words at @CameronDayton on Twitter and follow him.
Project Blackstone has been revealed. For weeks, it was rumored Blizzard Entertainment acquired the Project Blackstone domain name. Speculation was split between whether this was related to the Next-Gen MMO Titan, the unannounced MMO or even Diablo III expansion (considering the name hits close to the Black Soulstone).
Our host Chris Arnone discussed this rumor a few weeks ago (December 17th) in the Blizzplanet Weekly videocast.
All speculation is now crushed. Blizzard Entertainment launched the Project Blackstone website with a cryptic login text-field.
Fans who perused the HTML code found the correct password to access the page is: Y7_$0>0k_3<$m
One doesn’t need to be a genius to figure out what Project Blackstone is related to. No need to even enter the password. The background shows you the StarCraft II Terran Insignia. Sounds like someone at Blizzard loved The Avengers Nick Fury and its S.H.I.E.L.D. logo a lot.
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be on sale March 12. Exactly 5 weeks from today. Blizzard will update a new teaser each week from what I can see in the links to Twitter and Facebook (within the website). This teaser is named week 1.
From what we can read in the images, Project Blackstone is a secret organization within the Terran Dominion involved into genetic research. One of the images seen in a classified email is a Zerg Larva.
In addition, there are a few real-life Twitter accounts based on Project Blackstone characters continuously tweeting roleplaying dialogues or comments. You can read all of their tweets here.
This whole vibe reminds me of something revealed in StarCraft II: Flashpoint by Christie Golden.
Spoiler Alert
Emperor Mengsk freed Tychus from jail to infiltrate Raynor’s Raiders. It was Dr. Emil Narud’s Moebius Foundation who paid Tychus Findlay for the missions Jim Raynor completed.
All those Xel’Naga artifacts collected by the Raynor’s Raiders were helping the Moebious Foundation to create the Xel’Naga stone that neutralized Kerrigan the Queen of Blades.
Dr. Emil Narud (who many fans speculate might be Duran) is the leader of the Möebius Foundation. In the Flashpoint novel, it is revealed that Narud is actually involved with Emperor Arcturus Mengsk without Valerian’s knowledge. Narud was who created the Zerg/Protoss hybrids in the Space Station Prometheus located within the Kirkegaard Belt. Narud is an expert in Xel’Naga and Zerg matters, seems to have psionic powers and a Xel’Naga amulet that grants him the ability to cloak himself.
Is Dr. Emil Narud behind Project Blackstone? Only time will tell.
What the novel revealed has a domino effect on all the plots found in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Think about it. What was the real intention behind neutralizing the Queen of Blades? Mengsk orchestrated that through Emil Narud. I can’t wait to play through the single-player campaign.
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trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Christie Golden.
by Keith R.A. DeCandido).
(Story: Do No Harm by Josh Elder — published on July 14, 2009).
by New York Times Best Selling author Christie Golden, we also learned Prince Valerian was deceived. The Moebius Foundation had secret ties with his father, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk. The Moebius Foundation created the Hybrids.
or the 
. (Release Date: March 12, 2013)
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