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ZeniMax to launch new online store for games like Doom? (Domains registered)

Elder Scrolls store

ZeniMax Media registered several domains this week around the name “store” through the brand protection agency Corporation Service Company.

According to WHOIS records, Bethesda Softworks’ parent company ZeniMax picked up names like Bethsoftstore.com, Doomstore.net, ElderScrollsstore.com and FalloutStore.com.

So, could ZeniMax be planning to announce a new online store?  In the past, it had a store at orders.bethsoft.com, which is now home to The Elder Scrolls Construction Set Wiki.  As of today, the company has yet to announce anything official, but with the holidays fast approaching, it is possible there could be some news soon.

Here’s a look at the list of domain names, all registered on October 30, 2012.

http://whois.domaintools.com/bethesdastore.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/bethesdastore.org
http://whois.domaintools.com/bethsoftstore.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/bethsoftstore.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/bethsoftstore.org
http://whois.domaintools.com/doomstore.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/doomstore.org
http://whois.domaintools.com/elderscrollssstore.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/elderscrollssstore.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/elderscrollssstore.org
http://whois.domaintools.com/falloutstore.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/falloutstore.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/falloutstore.org

Currently, none of the domain names resolve to a web page.

Talking about this story: PC Games

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News Trademarks Video Games

ZeniMax Media files trademark for “Hearthfire” computer game software

Hearth Fire

Trademark applications keep rolling in.  Earlier this month, ZeniMax Media filed a trademark application for Dragonborn.  In April, the company filed for the dragon shout “Fus Ro Dah”.  Now, the company has submitted a new trademark application (Serial Number: 85634522) covering computer game software with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for “Hearthfire”.

“Hearthfire” appears to be a reference to the skill book “2920, vol 09 – Hearth Fire” in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Skill books reward players with bonuses.  Hearth Fire is a conjuration skill book and is part of the twelve volume 2920 books.  The conjuration skill allows you to summon creatures from the dead or concoct ethereal weapons from soul energy.

Hearthfire is also the ninth of the 12 seasons in the Elder Scrolls universe.

The trademark application just appeared on the website of the USPTO today, and was originally filed on May 24, 2012.

At this point, it’s unknown whether Hearthfire will be for a new Skyrim DLC, a new video game, or something else.

Bethesda has made no official announcement as of yet.

Talking about this story:  VG247, JoystiqThe Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, Meristation, Game Informer, IGN, GameDynamo, Push Square, Blue’s News, OnlineWelten.com, Strategy Informer, We Got This Covered, Exophase, Ubergizmo, Cinema Blend, Destructoid, Xbox 360 Achievements and NowGamer

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Bethesda unveils Dishonored “Weapons of Revenge” site, lets you kill plagued rats

Weapons of Revenge

Late last month, WeaponsofRevenge.com and RevengeatHand.com transferred to internet brand protection agency Corporation Service Company.  Both names were first registered by ROKKAN, a digital design firm that often acquires names secretly on behalf of ZeniMax Media.

Weaponsofrevenge.com originally redirected visitors to Bethesda’s home page on www.bethsoft.com.

There was no new website activity on WeaponsofRevenge.com until this week.

A website has now been unveiled that lets you kill two rats and the aftermath is graphic (as shown in the image above).  However, if you choose to spare the plagued rats, the website rewards you with a Dishonored screensaver that you can download for the Mac or PC.

Bethesda has not officially announced the website, as the Kill Count which appears after you kill the rats, only stands at about 50 (of which several are mine) at the time of this story.

I discovered the website after checking the web address earlier today to see if anything had changed.  The Spanish version of the website is available at www.armasdevenganza.com.

The launch date for Dishonored was revealed earlier this month.  The video game will be released on October 9th, 2012, for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Talking about this story: VG247

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News Trademarks Video Games

ZeniMax files trademark for Dragonborn

Dragonborn

In April, ZeniMax Media filed a trademark application for the dragonborn shout “Fus Ro Dah”.

Now, the company has filed another trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, this time for “Dragonborn”, an individual who has been born with the blood and soul of a Dragon, but the body of a mortal.

On May 15, 2012, ZeniMax Media submitted the application (Serial Number: 85626061).

The goods and services within the filing cover, “Computer game software for use with computers and video game consoles; downloadable computer game software offered via the internet and wireless devices”.

At the beginning of the month, Bethesda announced the first Skyrim DLC, called Dawnguard, would be coming to the Xbox 360 this summer.

It’s unknown whether the company’s latest filing will be for a subsequent Skyrim DLC or rather a defensive measure to protect its Dragon-born intellectual property.

Just this week, the creator of the Dragon Shout app received a copyright infringement notice from ZeniMax.

Talking about this story: VG247, GameStar, Lazygamer, MCV, Blue’s News, Game Informer, GameZone, International Business Times, Buffed.de, Kotaku, IGN, Giant Bomb, Cinema Blend, Blue’s News and games.on.net

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ZeniMax acquired ‘Weapons of Revenge’, other Dishonored-related domain names

Weapons of Revenge

ZeniMax’s Bethesda Softworks unveiled www.RevengeSolvesEverything.com earlier this week, in what may possibly become one of many marketing web sites for its upcoming Dishonored game developed by Arkane Studios.

Digital design firm ROKKAN was the initial registrant of the domain revengesolveseverything.com which has become Dishonored’s tagline, and after some digging around, I managed to uncover other revenge-related domain names that ROKKAN acquired on behalf of ZeniMax Media.

Two names in particular that ROKKAN purchased last year have had some recent web activity: WeaponsofRevenge.com (Whois) and RevengeatHand.com (Whois).  Both names transferred to internet brand protection agency Corporation Service Company this week and weaponsofrevenge.com now redirects visitors to Bethesda’s home page on www.bethsoft.com.

ZeniMax also acquired ArmasdeVenganza.com (Whois), the Spanish version of “Weapons of Revenge”.

Other names ROKKAN acquired in the same batch include:

http://whois.domaintools.com/beatsofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/codeofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/revengeiscertain.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/revengestartshere.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/soundsofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/trustrevenge.com

It’s unknown whether any of these domains will be used in further Dishonored marketing efforts, but you may want to keep an eye on names like WeaponsofRevenge.com and RevengeatHand.com as Bethesda steps up its online marketing tactics and the game’s release gets closer.