HHN XXI Speculation II

[Dr. Jimmy]

Also note the raven on the bookshelf for the rune game.

I don't see a raven there, just some dragon and gargoyle figures, other carvings, books and a skull.

Have many of you weighed the possibility that there might not be a casino house?

A new rumor has surfaced recently that there will actually be no Icon nor Icon House this year, that Lady Luck would then only appear in promotional material for the event like the mental patient from 2004. I find this rather difficult to accept as I cannot see how they would spend so much money developing the whole 21 theme on the website and the character which seems to be a rather strong Icon like character with the potential of being the "new face" of HHN that FEAR didn't quite manage to achieve last year.

But, let us just for now hypothetically say that is the case. What then will be the house in Sprung Tent 2???

If a casino is eliminated, what is left?

We had thought perhaps this might be the location of the "Pirate House", but now it seems much more likely that that house will be in the Parade Building.

Some have suggested that this could be a house based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Even though I would personally love to see such a house, as it would match some of my jokes in my April Fool's videos, I cannot help but think that this seems unlikely. We would need something a bit more solid, I think, a clue that was more confirming, than the few possible connections between the scareactor codenames and Poe.

So I must ask those who seem convinced that there will not be a casino, what then do they expect to see in Sprung Tent 2? Is your certainty based on any real idea of what will be in that house?

Without any real alternatives I will thus continue to expect a house in that tent that connects to games of chance and gambling. If not exactly a "casino" then some other house of gambling, such as a saloon or speakeasy, or perhaps even a more literal "House of Cards".

Now onto speculation. I am venturing to say that our so called demon house will feature aspects from many of the world's biggest cultures and religions. I say this because of the objects and symbols placed on the shelf's in the pregame contains not only dragon type things, but a Buddha, Crucifix/Cross, and other possible religious symbols.

I don't really see a connection to Organized Religion in the odd artifacts there. Rather they seem to be more esoteric and arcane, pointing to "nameless cults" that worship rather dark "deities" indeed. The image has an atmosphere of "antiquarian horror" about it. It would not be out of place in a RPG produced by Chaosium. There is almost, I dare say, a Lovecraftian feel to it.

Also it appears that this office belongs to a Professor of Religion. I am a Professor of Religion. Could this be, just maybe, a shout out to me????

[Guest HHNPicMan]

I don't see a raven there, just some dragon and gargoyle figures, other carvings, books and a skull.

A new rumor has surfaced recently that there will actually be no Icon nor Icon House this year, that Lady Luck would then only appear in promotional material for the event like the mental patient from 2004. I find this rather difficult to accept as I cannot see how they would spend so much money developing the whole 21 theme on the website and the character which seems to be a rather strong Icon like character with the potential of being the "new face" of HHN that FEAR didn't quite manage to achieve last year.

But, let us just for now hypothetically say that is the case. What then will be the house in Sprung Tent 2???

If a casino is eliminated, what is left?

We had thought perhaps this might be the location of the "Pirate House", but now it seems much more likely that that house will be in the Parade Building.

Some have suggested that this could be a house based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Even though I would personally love to see such a house, as it would match some of my jokes in my April Fool's videos, I cannot help but think that this seems unlikely. We would need something a bit more solid, I think, a clue that was more confirming, than the few possible connections between the scareactor codenames and Poe.

So I must ask those who seem convinced that there will not be a casino, what then do they expect to see in Sprung Tent 2? Is your certainty based on any real idea of what will be in that house?

Without any real alternatives I will thus continue to expect a house in that tent that connects to games of chance and gambling. If not exactly a "casino" then some other house of gambling, such as a saloon or speakeasy, or perhaps even a more literal "House of Cards".

I don't really see a connection to Organized Religion in the odd artifacts there. Rather they seem to be more esoteric and arcane, pointing to "nameless cults" that worship rather dark "deities" indeed. The image has an atmosphere of "antiquarian horror" about it. It would not be out of place in a RPG produced by Chaosium. There is almost, I dare say, a Lovecraftian feel to it.

Also it appears that this office belongs to a Professor of Religion. I am a Professor of Religion. Could this be, just maybe, a shout out to me????

You have to lighten the picture. But, the raven is there. See the pic below.

As far as the whole religion thing I talked about earlier, you are most likely right. Perhaps religion is the wrong word to describe the objects. I like how you put it, with the whole idea of just different objects that are worshiped by different people. As usual, same thought, just yours explained better!

Also, do you have one of those globes in your office? Just a random thought!

[Dr. Jimmy]

You have to lighten the picture. But, the raven is there. See the pic below.

As far as the whole religion thing I talked about earlier, you are most likely right. Perhaps religion is the wrong word to describe the objects. I like how you put it, with the whole idea of just different objects that are worshiped by different people. As usual, same thought, just yours explained better!

Also, do you have one of those globes in your office? Just a random thought!

That is quite fascinating. The raven is completely invisible unless the image is lightened. The only image associated with a Major faith is the Budai or "Laughing Buddha". There is no cross of any kind, but the gargoyle and dragon could be associated with Christian ideas of evil. Even more fascinating is that what I took for a statuette is actually a specimen preserved in a jar of some small demonic creature!!!

Unfortunately I cannot quite make out the titles on the various books. The note on the wall seems much clearer in this picture, but alas is not legible. But is it signed by "The Doctor"?????

And there is a small model of a ferris wheel that looks like the one from 2007!

And yes, I do have such a globe, although mine is considerably larger.

[Guest HHNPicMan]

That is quite fascinating. The raven is completely invisible unless the image is lightened. The only image associated with a Major faith is the Budai or "Laughing Buddha". There is no cross of any kind, but the gargoyle and dragon could be associated with Christian ideas of evil. Even more fascinating is that what I took for a statuette is actually a specimen preserved in a jar of some small demonic creature!!!

Unfortunately I cannot quite make out the titles on the various books. The note on the wall seems much clearer in this picture, but alas is not legible. But is it signed by "The Doctor"?????

And there is a small model of a ferris wheel that looks like the one from 2007!

And yes, I do have such a globe, although mine is considerably larger.

Is that not a cross in the upper left hand corner? On my computer I can see it clearly, the image is not that high of quality. Give me a few moments to work with the image. Lets see what kind of magic we can do here......

[Karras]

Scarezones should be popping up any day now.

[Dr. Jimmy]

Scarezones should be popping up any day now.

I would think not until September, most of the work on zones is done just before, during and after Rock the Universe.

[mystiquephreeq]

Some have suggested that this could be a house based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Even though I would personally love to see such a house, as it would match some of my jokes in my April Fool's videos, I cannot help but think that this seems unlikely. We would need something a bit more solid, I think, a clue that was more confirming, than the few possible connections between the scareactor codenames and Poe.

Doctor, I can tell you that the formation of my speculation began with a conversation that is in the Our Mutual Friend thread. As for the reasons I finally posted it, I am not at liberty to say. Further, I am not 100% sure of my speculation, but I am one who would rather post a speculation that could be wrong, if that speculation can spark a discussion that leads us to a more sound possibility.

Onto the question of the casino, I feel from the information we have seen that there will not be a casino. I feel the Icon House will be in SS22 and is connected to the graveyard we have seen in the HHN game and the one referenced by our mutual friend. Once again this is pure speculation and a reasoned deduction rather than sure knowledge.

Now for an observation. It has been discussed in the website thread that we will only have 6 games. This leads one to question what each game is representing, for they surely can't each represent a house. Unless of course, the House of Cards represents a house and The Thing is completely left out of the game.

The other option is that 2 of the games could represent 2 houses. I find it interesting that the language we hear in the Machine game could be Spanish when the Spanish house is thought to be on a ship and the Machine game is very SnS. What if there is a greater connection between the houses this year then in previous events? Could our ghost ship link back to SnS?

And of course there is that Raven inside of the Rune game.

[ThomasHHN]

That is quite fascinating. The raven is completely invisible unless the image is lightened. The only image associated with a Major faith is the Budai or "Laughing Buddha". There is no cross of any kind, but the gargoyle and dragon could be associated with Christian ideas of evil. Even more fascinating is that what I took for a statuette is actually a specimen preserved in a jar of some small demonic creature!!!

Unfortunately I cannot quite make out the titles on the various books. The note on the wall seems much clearer in this picture, but alas is not legible. But is it signed by "The Doctor"?????

And there is a small model of a ferris wheel that looks like the one from 2007!

And yes, I do have such a globe, although mine is considerably larger.

I honestly couldn't see the Raven at first when i played it, but since seeing this image I clearly see it! Amazing stuff

It also looks like a smiley face before " The Doctor" signs at the bottom..

Edited August 10, 2011 by hhn fan1214

[Dr. Jimmy]

Doctor, I can tell you that the formation of my speculation began with a conversation that is in the Our Mutual Friend thread. As for the reasons I finally posted it, I am not at liberty to say. Further, I am not 100% sure of my speculation, but I am one who would rather post a speculation that could be wrong, if that speculation can spark a discussion that leads us to a more sound possibility.

Onto the question of the casino, I feel from the information we have seen that there will not be a casino. I feel the Icon House will be in SS22 and is connected to the graveyard we have seen in the HHN game and the one referenced by our mutual friend. Once again this is pure speculation and a reasoned deduction rather than sure knowledge.

Now for an observation. It has been discussed in the website thread that we will only have 6 games. This leads one to question what each game is representing, for they surely can't each represent a house. Unless of course, the House of Cards represents a house and The Thing is completely left out of the game.

The other option is that 2 of the games could represent 2 houses. I find it interesting that the language we hear in the Machine game could be Spanish when the Spanish house is thought to be on a ship and the Machine game is very SnS. What if there is a greater connection between the houses this year then in previous events? Could our ghost ship link back to SnS?

And of course there is that Raven inside of the Rune game.

How many different poker chips are there of different colors? There would seem to be a different colored chip for each game matching the colors of the cards. There are 8 chips, so even though we only know of 6 games, there seems to be room for 8.

[RingMaster]

A new rumor has surfaced recently that there will actually be no Icon nor Icon House this year, that Lady Luck would then only appear in promotional material for the event like the mental patient from 2004. I find this rather difficult to accept as I cannot see how they would spend so much money developing the whole 21 theme on the website and the character which seems to be a rather strong Icon like character with the potential of being the "new face" of HHN that FEAR didn't quite manage to achieve last year.

Well, the majority of the 2004 website was themed to a series of case files of patients inside Shadybrook Asylum, yet there was no asylum haunt at the event.

[Dr. Jimmy]

Well, the majority of the 2004 website was themed to a series of case files of patients inside Shadybrook Asylum, yet there was no asylum haunt at the event.

Yes, but there was nothing as well developed with the mental patient as that which I really cannot talk about involving a certain Lady in green.

[Karras]

I would think not until September, most of the work on zones is done just before, during and after Rock the Universe.

I could have sworn we've had construction start in August before.

EDIT:

Last year. August 27th.

We have.

Edited August 11, 2011 by JWFearman

[Dr. Jimmy]

I could have sworn we've had construction start in August before.

EDIT:

Last year. August 27th.

We have.

OK but 2 1/2 weeks is hardly "any day now" by the 27th we will have had the full site update as well.

[bberts]

Yes, but there was nothing as well developed with the mental patient as that which I really cannot talk about involving a certain Lady in green.

Dr. Jimmy,

The way you put it, the Lady in green, just reminded me of the old urban legend of the Green Lady. She would kidnap both adults and children, and they would never be seen again. Just something that made me go hmmmmm.

[Karras]

House construction started earlier this year than in the past. It's possible street could start in a week (lighting, small decor).

[Cooger and Dark]

I would like to give my personal thoughts on two of the topics being discussed.

First of all, I just do not see them doing anything Poe related. Even though the raven is present in the office, I see this as much more of a Lovecraftian story. Sort of someone in search of greater, otherworldly knowledge that unleashes evil upon the world. As to whether it is the professor or the students who may be stealing the test grades I do not know, but I am not getting any sort of Poe vibe from anything in that game.

Second, I just do not see them putting all of this time and effort into building the house of cards and the opening video without some sort of payoff. I do not see it as being a casino (speakeasy maybe) but right now more of a mansion set during the big band era (I am just basing that off of the cards). All I know is if I see anything remotely resembling that house of cards as a set I will be mightily impressed. There has just been way too much build for an icon house for there not to be one.

My only other idea is that maybe the entrance gate is what will be designed to be the house of cards or mansion. That I could absolutely see. This would lend more freedom to the icon (assuming it is a person) to roam around or appear in any number of houses without necessarily tying them to a single house of their own. That is just assuming they do not squander the icon the way they did with fear.

Thoughts?

[Dr. Jimmy]

I would like to give my personal thoughts on two of the topics being discussed.

First of all, I just do not see them doing anything Poe related. Even though the raven is present in the office, I see this as much more of a Lovecraftian story. Sort of someone in search of greater, otherworldly knowledge that unleashes evil upon the world. As to whether it is the professor or the students who may be stealing the test grades I do not know, but I am not getting any sort of Poe vibe from anything in that game.

Second, I just do not see them putting all of this time and effort into building the house of cards and the opening video without some sort of payoff. I do not see it as being a casino (speakeasy maybe) but right now more of a mansion set during the big band era (I am just basing that off of the cards). All I know is if I see anything remotely resembling that house of cards as a set I will be mightily impressed. There has just been way too much build for an icon house for there not to be one.

My only other idea is that maybe the entrance gate is what will be designed to be the house of cards or mansion. That I could absolutely see. This would lend more freedom to the icon (assuming it is a person) to roam around or appear in any number of houses without necessarily tying them to a single house of their own. That is just assuming they do not squander the icon the way they did with fear.

Thoughts?

A House of Cards would also make an awesome scarezone, or a set for a new show.

[Dr. Jimmy]

Oh yes, something that should have been obvious just occurred to me.

On those introductory title cards for each game there is an image, The Keys show a graveyard, Channel Surfing a comfy chair and lamp, The Machine a large Steampunk type of apparatus.

The one for Certain Ruin shows dilapidated ruins. Of course there is an evil pun is in effect here... Certain Rune... Certain Ruin.

But now I wonder if the House will be set in a literal ruin???

[Cooger and Dark]

Oh yes, something that should have been obvious just occurred to me.

On those introductory title cards for each game there is an image, The Keys show a graveyard, Channel Surfing a comfy chair and lamp, The Machine a large Steampunk type of apparatus.

The one for Certain Ruin shows dilapidated ruins. Of course there is an evil pun is in effect here... Certain Rune... Certain Ruin.

But now I wonder if the House will be set in a literal ruin???

Assuming this is true, could we be seeing a mini-icon? I mean, if they have the start of the house at a college campus with a professor (as implied by the game) could he be sort of our guide into the fantastical, demon haunted ruins? I feel like somewhere on this site someone once mentioned a professor who studies famous killers and having him as an icon. If we assume that what the doctor say is true, I think this house may be working off of a spin on that idea.

[Legacy]

I would like to give my personal thoughts on two of the topics being discussed.

First of all, I just do not see them doing anything Poe related. Even though the raven is present in the office, I see this as much more of a Lovecraftian story. Sort of someone in search of greater, otherworldly knowledge that unleashes evil upon the world. As to whether it is the professor or the students who may be stealing the test grades I do not know, but I am not getting any sort of Poe vibe from anything in that game.

Second, I just do not see them putting all of this time and effort into building the house of cards and the opening video without some sort of payoff. I do not see it as being a casino (speakeasy maybe) but right now more of a mansion set during the big band era (I am just basing that off of the cards). All I know is if I see anything remotely resembling that house of cards as a set I will be mightily impressed. There has just been way too much build for an icon house for there not to be one.

My only other idea is that maybe the entrance gate is what will be designed to be the house of cards or mansion. That I could absolutely see. This would lend more freedom to the icon (assuming it is a person) to roam around or appear in any number of houses without necessarily tying them to a single house of their own. That is just assuming they do not squander the icon the way they did with fear.

Thoughts?

We're not saying Poe would be in Sprung 1, which is what this game is relating to. We're saying it would be next door.

Furthermore, there really HASN'T been a build for an icon or an icon house this year. There has been no grand story development this year, which means the "House" could could be nothing more than a metaphorical place you enter when you go to the event. Everything about the marketing this year parallels 2004 more than any other year, which means the individual in a commercial can be for nothing more than marketing, and that "Luck" (like your Breaking Point) is nothing more than an idea.

Personally, I feel HHN has been too icon-centric the past five years. It works fine without one, and it would be nice to see it again.

(And the house of cards looks more like a Victorian manor... the type that could sit next to a graveyard...)

[Guest HHNPicMan]

We're not saying Poe would be in Sprung 1, which is what this game is relating to. We're saying it would be next door.

Furthermore, there really HASN'T been a build for an icon or an icon house this year. There has been no grand story development this year, which means the "House" could could be nothing more than a metaphorical place you enter when you go to the event. Everything about the marketing this year parallels 2004 more than any other year, which means the individual in a commercial can be for nothing more than marketing, and that "Luck" (like your Breaking Point) is nothing more than an idea.

Personally, I feel HHN has been too icon-centric the past five years. It works fine without one, and it would be nice to see it again.

(And the house of cards looks more like a Victorian manor... the type that could sit next to a graveyard...)

Just to reaffirm what Legacy, I know that myself and others have said that the last few years were known as the "Iconic-Era." If you go to the Legacy section on the page, Universal talks about the different eras of HHN. They did say that we would be entering a new era. Maybe they meant literally a new era where the next 5 years or so revolve around no icon, but something else.

If you really think about it, maybe the majority of the people who attend HHN simply don't care about an actual icon. They mostly care about having a good time and getting lots of photos to commemorate their time at HHN. If this is true, then it probably serves Universal best to think about developing "entertainment" rather than icons that only a few of us will remember.

In other speculation, I think the "Rune" house as we know it may take the form of some sort of educational catastrophe gone wrong. Or, a writer that studies various "dark" aspects of culture and somehow releases the forces that haunt you and I as we go through the house. I say this because of not only the pre-game image, but the game as well. It's kind of like a mystery waiting to be solved. All it takes is for someone to find the right combination.

[Freak]

Just to reaffirm what Legacy, I know that myself and others have said that the last few years were known as the "Iconic-Era." If you go to the Legacy section on the page, Universal talks about the different eras of HHN. They did say that we would be entering a new era. Maybe they meant literally a new era where the next 5 years or so revolve around no icon, but something else.

If you really think about it, maybe the majority of the people who attend HHN simply don't care about an actual icon. They mostly care about having a good time and getting lots of photos to commemorate their time at HHN. If this is true, then it probably serves Universal best to think about developing "entertainment" rather than icons that only a few of us will remember.

In other speculation, I think the "Rune" house as we know it may take the form of some sort of educational catastrophe gone wrong. Or, a writer that studies various "dark" aspects of culture and somehow releases the forces that haunt you and I as we go through the house. I say this because of not only the pre-game image, but the game as well. It's kind of like a mystery waiting to be solved. All it takes is for someone to find the right combination.

I don't know if Universal would even consider going the next five years without an icon. Having a main icon is a useful tool for marketing the event and the fans, of course, love an icon to tie the whole event together. I know in 2004 (Correct?) They didn't have a main icon; just an image of some guy in a straight jacket. If they did go the "no icon" route this year, then who would run the event? Wouldn't it just be an event with a gambling theme with no one behind it? It just wouldn't make sense; at least to me it wouldn't.

As for the Rune room, I'm leaning towards the Viking/Morse mythology route and that's probably what it could be. This is what I found in the Llewellyn Encyclopedia:

The runes are a set of symbols that concisely embody the most potent magical system of the ancient world. Because rune magic was rarely described in written records, persecution by the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages succeeded in obliterating almost the entire tradition of rune use from the memories of the peoples of northern Europe, the indigenous home of the runes. Runes became the recreation of antiquarian scholars, known only as an obscure and obsolete alphabet preserved in crumbling parchment manuscripts and on leaning stone monuments erected by the vanished Vikings.

BTW, if anything of what I said has already been covered, I apologize. I haven't been on this thread in a while because of what's been going on in Hollywood and I just wanted to join in again.

[HHNJen]

Just an observation. Has anyone noticed how the colors of the cards we are able to play on the game match the colors of the Hollywood scarezone code names?

[Dr. Jimmy]

Just an observation. Has anyone noticed how the colors of the cards we are able to play on the game match the colors of the Hollywood scarezone code names?

yes, and Reaper I believe brought up poker chip colors as well a while back.

Now about the whole Icon/No Icon thing.

Let us just assume for arguments sake that BOTH the rumor of a Lady Luck figure being prominently featured in the commercials and other advertising media AND the whispered rumors of no Icon this year are both correct.

What then would result? While I am aware that outside of us hardcore obsessed fans, most members of the general public don't really care too much about all the intricate back stories and continuities of the various Icons, they are well used to seeing them at HHN.

Consider the average HHN guest: Florida resident, not a member of a fan forum, most likely young male in late teens early twenties.

Chances are such a young man doesn't think much about HHN until near October when he sees the first TV ad and says "oh yeah, gotta go to Horror Nights". He has most likely been to nearly every HHN since he was about say 7 or 8 years old.

If he is 18, then his first HHN was in 2000. So he has seen Jack in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 (if he went on peak nights), 2006, 2009 and 2010.

He has seen the Caretaker in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

He has seen the Director in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

He has seen the Storyteller in 2005, 2006 and 2010.

He has seen the Usher in 2009 and 2010.

He has seen Bloody Mary in 2008.

He is used to Icons, even if he doesn't know all the junk we know about them or obsess over it the way we do. He expects to see this sort of character.

After seeing the commercials featuring an attractive, sexy and yet scary Lady Luck and goes to HHN... and she ISN'T THERE??? He will feel ripped off.

He will feel cheated, just like some woman who takes her kid to Grinchmas and it turns out there is no Grinch! That would be a PR disaster.

Lady Luck is not just a generic nameless figure like the mental patient from 2004. I think anybody seeing the rumored TV spot as described would expect the character to make some sort of appearance. And I expect disappointment and dissatisfaction if she doesn't.

I hereby stick myself out on a limb and make a prediction:

Should the above scenario be true, I think that Universal will find itself quickly doing damage control shortly after the first few nights of HHN and quickly hire an actress to play Lady Luck and get her in the park in some capacity as fast as they can.

[Fallow]

I agree completely with Dr. Jimmy. I really think some people are overestimating the chance of a No Icon event. Icons have been an event staple since 2000 - barring 2004, there's always been an icon, a face, for the general public to resonate with. They don't need to know the back story, that's our territory to expand our enjoyment of the event. But if they see a character as unique/frightening as Lady Luck in ads, they're going to expect to see her in the parks.

People always point to 2004 as an example of no icon "other than the advertising" - but seriously, the mental patient didn't even appear in the commercial. The selling point of 04 was TWO PARKS, TWICE THE FEAR. That's gimmicky enough to work (and it did). This year has no such gimmick - the public expects an icon, and if you ask me, that shalt receive.

(I feel like we've gone through this cycle the past three years. In 2009 many argued that The Theater would be our icon - no dice, Usher got his place [even without marketing support]. In 2010, before the first video, people seemed to think The Lantern was all we were going to get. Now this - some people have reverted to 09 thinking, saying "The Casino" or "The House" is our icon. Guys, that's too abstract for a quick advertisement. The icon has to be instantly memorable and creepy/scary. Lady Luck will accomplish this.)