Month: January 2013

Categories
News Video Games

Is Warner registering Arkham domains for the next Batman movie or video game?

Dark Knight Arkham movie

Last year, Cosmic Book News reported that we could expect a new Batman film in 2016 based on the popular Batman: Arkham Asylum video game.

While there hasn’t been much talk about the Batman reboot since the rumors began, it appears this week that Warner Bros. is trying to secretly buy up domain names for the next Batman movie title or video game through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor, the same company it uses for its very own warnerbros.com (Whois) and for other recent domains like the 300 prequel.

The names, all registered on January 10, 2013, revolve around ‘Arkham’, like ArkhamUniverse.com (WHOIS) and BatmanArkhamArises.com (WHOIS), and many more.

There are quite a few possibilities for movie or video game titles in the names that were registered.

Here’s a look at the full list of names:

arkhamuniverse.com (Arkham Universe)
batmanarkahmuniverse.com (Batman Arkham Universe)
batmanarkhamarises.com (Batman Arkham Arises)
batmanarkhambegins.com (Batman Arkham Begins)
batmanarkhamdarkknight.com (Batman Arkham Dark Knight)
batmanarkhamknight.com (Batman Arkham Knight)
batmanarkhamlegend.com (Batman Arkham Legend)
batmanarkhamlegends.com (Batman Arkham Legends)
batmanarkhamnight.com (Batman Arkham Night)
batmanarkhamorigins.com (Batman Arkham Origins)
batmanarkhamstories.com (Batman Arkham Stories)
darkknightarkham.com (Dark Knight Arkham)
dcarkhamuniverse.com (DC Arkham Universe)
dcarkhamverse.com (DC Arkhamverse)
thearkhamuniverse.com (The Arkham Universe)

Keep in mind, although the owner of each domain is hidden behind MarkMonitor’s privacy service DNStination, Warner Bros. as I mentioned is a client of MarkMonitor, so you can bet they are the registrant.

It is possible that Warner Bros. is registering these names for no other reason than to protect it intellectual property and has no plans for them.  The names could also be used for a different Batman product.

Because there has been no official announcement, it’ll just have to remain speculation for now.

At the time of this story being published, none of the domain names resolve to a web page.

Talking about this story: Cosmic Book News, @supererogatory, tweakers.net, JeuxVideo.com, SlashGear, GameSpot, IGN, NowGamer, MCV, Joystiq, io9, Attack of the Fanboy, GamerFront, JoBlo.com, Game Rant, GameDynamo, Den of Geek, TechnoBuffalo, StickSkills, GMA News, Tapscape, Just Push Start, Batman-News, Screen Crush, The Escapist, Blue’s News, Shacknews, Platform Nation, Gameplanet, PSX Extreme, Neoseeker, G4 TV, iDigitalTimes.com, Playstation Lifestyle, God is a Geek, Xbox 360 Achievements, Comicus, EL33TONLINE, MOVIEPILOT NEWS, AreaGames, Cinema Blend, Gamenguide, 411mania.com, WorstPreviews.com, Superherohype.com, Game Informer, ComingSoon.net, Bleeding Cool, The Game League, Warp Zoned, Digital Spy, gamona.de, Gaming Examiner, FOK!, Nintendo Everything, Comicbook.com, We Got This Covered, Multiplayer.it, Gamereactor Danmark, 4Players Portal, gameswelt.de, Gameplayer-Magazine, Play3-Live, IGN Italia, EGMNOW, Gematsu, playm.de, Playfront.de, Nintendo Everything, Dark Knight News and PCGamesN

Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum Video Games

Blizzard Entertainment takes ownership of mysterious Heroes of Warcraft domain

Heroes of Warcraft

Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment has taken ownership of the domain HeroesofWarcraft.com.

Back in November 2012, the gaming company filed a complaint with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) against the owner, setting off speculation about the company’s future plans and rumblings that Warcraft IV might be in the works.

The dispute for the domain name was won by Blizzard Entertainment, but not in the traditional sense.  Instead of waiting on a decision to be handed down by the NAF arbitration panel, the complaint (Case No. 1470639) was withdrawn and the original owner transferred the name to Blizzard this week.  The WHOIS record now shows “BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.” as the registrant.

It’s unknown how the two sides arrived at an agreement or whether any money exchanged hands.

So, what is Heroes of Warcraft?

As I pointed out in my story in November, Warcraft III started out as a game called Heroes of Warcraft, but was ultimately called Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

A lot of people have their own theories, however, Blizzard still has yet to announce anything official, so for now, a game being released called “Heroes of Warcraft” remains speculation.

As of today, Blizzard also owns HeroesofWarcraft.net (WHOIS) and HeroesofWarcraft.co.uk (WHOIS), but none of the names including HeroesofWarcraft.com, resolve to a web page.

Talking about this story: PC Games, MMO Champion and OnlineWelten.com

Categories
News Video Games

Riot Games continues scooping up domains, this time “eSports” names

LoL eSports

Riot Games looks to be expanding its online presence.  This week already the game studio registered the name ChampionshipSeriesLeague.com, but that’s not all.    Riot has bought up even more domains, this time names centered around “league” and “esports”, like LeagueeSports.com (WHOIS) and LoLeSport.com (WHOIS).

So, why are the makers of the “most played video game in the world” with the largest prize pool in eSports history registering these names?

Although it’s only speculation, I think we might see a web site and a level of professional programming from Riot Games, that you see with the likes of “ESPN”.

It’s not too far fetched an idea.  With Major League Gaming taking off, why not?

While the company may have nothing in store beyond protecting its IP, with a record 2012 and Season Three just beginning, I think many would agree that 2013 is shaping up to be the biggest year for League of Legends and eSports.

In its newest batch of registrations through the brand protection MarkMonitor, Riot picked up: league-esports.com (WHOIS), leagueesports.com (WHOIS), lol-esports.com (WHOIS), and lolesport.com (WHOIS).

It is just speculation at this stage though, as none of the newest registrations resolve to a web site.

Talking about this story: GameZone

(Image of 2012 Riot Rumble via RiotGames.com)

Categories
News Video Games

Riot Games registers the domain name ChampionshipSeriesLeague.com

Riot Games registers ChampionshipSeriesLeague.com

In August 2012, Riot Games announced The League of Legends Championship Series, a global league of the top professional, salaried teams that features multiple matches per week and playoff events leading up to the World Championship.

As players begin to battle for spots in the League of Legends Championship Series during Season Three, Riot has went and registered the domain name ChampionshipSeriesLeague.com (WHOIS) through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

Could Riot be planning to launch a new website that provides online coverage of the Championship Series?

It’s too early to tell.  For now, the domain name doesn’t resolve to a web page, but given the massive popularity of League of Legends and its thriving community, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Another possible sign that Riot may do more with the name than just park it, is that, unlike most companies that buy up dozens, sometimes hundreds of domain names to help protect their brand, Riot Games has gone a different route, selectively acquiring a limited number of domain names over the years.

According to a rough estimate using Reverse Whois, Riot only owns about 100 domains.

The company’s last major buying spree came in April 2012, when it secretly registered a slew of domain names for the top secret project Supremacy.  Riot has also acquired names by filing complaints with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which led to the company taking down porn and scam sites like support-leagueoflegends.com, LeagueofLegends.co, and LeagueofLegendsPorn.com.

LeagueofLegends.co
In August, Riot won a dispute over LeagueofLegends.co (missing the ‘m’) which redirected users to a porn site.

If you’re not familiar with the League of Legends Championship Series, here’s a recap:

  • The League of Legends Championship Series: the top eight teams from the US and EU, plus top teams from the Asian regions
  • The top three teams from Gamescom and PAX immediately qualify
  • Weekly regional pro League of Legends matches live, for free, in HD
  • Millions of dollars at stake
  • Regular season, regional playoffs and a spectacular World Championship
  • Critical Challenger Circuit events featuring up-and-coming teams vying for a shot at the League of Legends Championship Series

Whether Riot launches a new online website for Season Three and beyond, is all just speculation at this point.

We’ll just have to wait and see.  In the meantime, you can keep checking the website ChampionshipSeriesLeague.com to see if anything goes online.

(Image of Season Two via LeagueofLegends.com)

Categories
News Video Games

Is Riot Games working on a top secret game project called “Project 425”?

Project 425

Sometime in the mid-2000s, the domain name Project425.com was privately registered through the registrar Melbourne IT.  The organization behind the registration was unknown until November 2008, when the Whois record showed Riot Games President Marc Merrill as the name’s owner.

Merrill continued to renew the domain name each year, but this past week it underwent some changes, most notably it transferred to the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor and instead of being renewed on an annual basis, the name was renewed through March 2015.

And as you can see from the Whois record, Riot Games is the outright owner.

Project425.com

So, what exactly is “Project 425”?

Right now, I don’t know anything about the project, because the secret of “Project 425” is hidden behind a password-protected website.  Currently, when you go to the web address http://project425.com, you’re asked for a username and password.

A senior League of Legends community member pointed out late last year, that Riot Games owns several random domains including names like onslaughtgame.net (Whois) and InstituteofWar.org (Whois).

However, unlike Project425.com which actually is some type of website, the other domain names either don’t resolve to a web page or are parked at a registrar like Go Daddy and display ads.

It’s no secret that Riot Games is working on other projects, but what’s in store will likely remain unknown up until its launch.

Talking about this story: GameZone and iDigitalTimes.com

(Image via RiotGames.com)