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Featured News Video Games

Take-Two registers ‘NBA 2K14 Greatest Shots’ domain near the time of media event [UPDATED]

nba-2k14

There was a media event for the next-generation version of NBA 2K14 earlier this week and the buzz continues to grow for the video game.

Interestingly enough, around the same time of the event, Take-Two Interactive Software, the parent company of 2K Sports, registered the name NBA2K14GreatestShots.com (WHOIS).

The domain was registered through the brand protection agency MarkMonitor, and in the past 24 hours the domain moved from MarkMonitor’s domain servers to Take-Two’s domain servers.

Will “Greatest Shots” be a mode that allows you to relive some of the most memorable shots in NBA history?

As of the time of this writing, a parked web page appears, but the move to Take-Two’s servers hints something more may be in store for “NBA 2K14 Greatest Shots”.

Here’s a look at a screenshot of the WHOIS record for the name:

While there’s been a lot of press coverage on NBA 2K14 for the next-generation consoles, there’s been no talk yet of “Greatest Shots”.

UPDATE 1: The official website has been launched at nba2k14greatestshots.com.  The Facebook contest has you record your best shot and then submit it online for a chance at winning prizes.

NBA 2K14 Greatest Shots home page

Talking about this story: Kotaku and Operation Sports

(Image of Lebron via 2KSports.com)

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Disputes Featured News WIPO

Take-Two wins dispute for GTAtv.com domain name, GTA.tv case still pending

Take-Two wins dispute for GTAtv.com, GTA.tv case still pending

Video game company Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. won a domain name dispute (Case No. D2013-1434) for grandtheftautovideos.com, gtaextreme.com, gtarevolution.com and gtatv.com.

The decision comes shortly after Rockstar ruled out the possibility for a GTA 5 movie, but hinted at a TV show for the Grand Theft Auto series.

While a GTA TV show is all just rumor and speculation at this point, Take-Two has been filing complaints at related domains.  In August 2013, Take-Two filed a dispute (Case No. DTV2013-0004) against the owner of the domain GTA.tv (WHOIS), however, a decision has yet to be issued.

A panelist with the World Intellectual Property Organization ordered gtatv.com and the other names transferred after finding the names were confusingly similar to Take-Two’s GTA trademarks, that the current owner had no rights or legitimate interests in any of the names, and that the names were registered in bad faith. The names had been listed for sale for prices ranging from $350 for grandtheftautovideos.com to $15,000 for gtatv.com.

All four names: grandtheftautovideos.com (WHOIS), gtaextreme.com (WHOIS), gtarevolution.com (WHOIS) and gtatv.com (WHOIS), are still registered to Domain Asset Holdings, which is operated by domain name pioneer Mike Mann.  Mann made headlines in 2012 after registering 14,962 domains in 24 hours.

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Disputes Featured News Video Games WIPO

Manhunt 3? Take-Two goes after domain name of fake snuff website it used to own [UPDATED]

Manhunt 3

Much of the buzz surrounding Take-Two has been over the recent release of Grand Theft Auto V.  What you may not know, though, is that Take-Two just filed a dispute over the domain name valiant-ent.tv (WHOIS), which used to be a fake snuff website used to promote the psychological horror video game Manhunt.  The domain name and website were owned and operated by Rockstar Games for years, until the company let the name expire in 2011 and its new owner launched a petition site aimed at having Manhunt 3 developed.

Why go after the name after more than 2 years since it changed owners? Is Manhunt 3 in the works?

There have been rumors of Take-Two introducing a Manhunt 3 before, but the rumors were quickly eliminated.

Take-Two filed the dispute (WIPO Case Number: DTV2013-0006) over valiant-ent.tv this week with the World Intellectual Property Organization.  The case follows a number of successful filings against owners of other Take-Two related domains like GTAV.com and GTA5BetaCode.com.

Today, the identity of valiant-ent.tv’s owner is private according to WHOIS records, but the petition site is online.

A message on the site reads, “I strongly believe that there is still a desire to make a new Manhunt game within at least one of Rockstar Game’s many studios, I think it’s just a matter of showing Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar’s parent company) that there is still a high demand.”  Despite the current owner’s efforts, only 4 signatures have been received, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Valiant Video Enterprises

The fake snuff website (SCREENSHOT) once owned and operated by Take-Two may or may not be coming back.  Even if Take-Two wins the dispute and takes control of the domain, it’s only speculation that the video game company might one day release a Manhunt 3.

On a sidenote, if Take-Two decides to release a Manhunt sequel, they do own Manhunt3.com and Manhunt4.com.

UPDATE 2: Take-Two’s complaint over the domain name Valiant-Ent.tv has been denied by a sole panelist. Details of the ruling can be found here.

UPDATE 1:. Be advised, the Valiant-Ent website has devolved into graphic content since this story first broke earlier today.  Do not visit the website unless you are prepared for adult content.

Talking about this story: Kotaku and Bloody Disgusting

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Featured News Video Games

Microsoft may not like “Xbone” nickname, but they just acquired Xbone.com

Xbox One

Major Nelson may not like the idea of the Xbox One being nicknamed the “Xbone”, but that hasn’t stopped the company from acquiring the domain name Xbone.com.

According to the latest WHOIS records, Microsoft Corporation is the name’s new owner.

While it’s only speculation, it’s very possible the domain’s previous owner got an undisclosed amount of cash from Microsoft.  And considering all the recent buzz this week, it probably wasn’t a small amount.

Earlier this week, Larry Hryb (the Director of Programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live), posted a message on NeoGAF saying the nickname, “…disrespects the teams that have put in thousands of hours (already) into the development of the product. Sure, it’s cheeky but I don’t care for it myself.”

No domain dispute was ever filed by Microsoft against the owner of Xbone.com and even if it had been, there’s no guarantee the company would have won.

In July, Microsoft’s lawyers took ownership of the domain names XboxOne.com and XboxOne.net after filing a complaint with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF).

Talking about this story: CNET, Joystiq, The Escapist, Kotaku, MTV.com, IGN, The Daily Dot, VG247, NBCNews.com, Complex.com, ComputerAndVideogames.com, Examiner.com, Eurogamer.net, Gaming Bolt, GameRanx, GameSided, GameSpot, GameStar, GameZone, GamesWelt, Geeky Gadgets, Game Rant, Game Revolution, Geekosystem, Hard OCP, IntoMobile, Kotaku Australia, GamePlanet, Latinos Post, MCV, Neowin, OXM, playm.de, PC Games, El33t, Polygon, kaldata.com, SpieleRadar, SPONG, The Next Web, TheSixthAxis, The Verge, WinFuture, Videogameszone, 411mania.com, VideoGamer.com, VR-Zone and Ubergizmo

(Image via Xbox.com)

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Featured Movies News

Transformers 4 film to be titled Apocalypse or Last Stand? Domains privately registered [UPDATED]

Nightwatch Optimus Prime [via Deviant Art: Art-Master-1983]

Transformers 4

The same brand protection agency that registered TransformersDarkoftheMoon.com back in 2010, has registered a few new domain names that could be possible titles for Michael Bay’s untitled Transformers sequel.

MarkMonitor, which is also the registrar for the Transformers 4 official website, registered names for Transformers: Last Stand, Transformers: Apocalypse, and Transformers: Future Cast.

On August 28, 2013, TransformersApocalyspe.com (WHOIS), TransformersLastStand.com (WHOIS), and TransformersFutureCast.com (WHOIS) were registered.

The official registrant of each domain is hidden behind MarkMonitor’s WHOIS privacy service called DNStinations, however, Paramount Pictures is likely behind the names.

Transformers Apocalypse WHOIS record

Movie title rumors for Transformers 4 have been shot down before.

Two months ago, Michael Bay publicly responded on his website to rumors that the movie would be called Transformers: Rise of Galvatron, saying, “There are rumors flying around from various media sites about the title of the next Transformers.  I wanted you to hear from me directly that we have not yet chosen a title and anything being reported is absolutely not true. When we have a title to announce, I promise you will hear it from me first.”

For now, names like Transformers: Last Stand and Transformers: Apocalypse are just speculation.

The title of the film, which is set to be released in June 2014, is still referred to as the Untitled Transformers Sequel, according to IMDB.

At the time of this story, none of the newly registered domains resolve to a web page.

UPDATE 1: So it turns out, Transformers 4 will be called Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Talking about this story: ComingSoon.net, Seibertron.com, Comicbook.com, Superherohype.com, 411mania.com, ScreenCrush, Flickering Myth, Cosmic Book News, Moviehole, WorstPreviews.com, First Showing, AlloCiné, melty.fr, Sopitas.com, RopeofSilicon.com, moviepilot.com, TFW2005, IGN, /FILM, Screen Rant, FizX and Dark Horizons

(Image via TransformersMovie.com)