Category: Video Games

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News Video Games

Ubisoft Entertainment registers “Just Dance Floor” domain names

Katy Perry Just Dance 2

Early last month, a list of twenty-five titles for the Wii U were leaked from a UK Blockbuster.  While the games haven’t been confirmed, many of the possible titles, which includes Just Dance 4, will almost certainly be released.

Though Ubisoft has not announced anything official, the company is now hinting at something new called “Just Dance: Floor”.

On May 31, 2012, Ubisoft Entertainment registered the domain names JustDanceFloor.com (Whois) and Just-DanceFloor.com (Whois).

“Just Dance Floor” may or may not have anything to do with “Just Dance 4” and it’s unknown whether it’s a game or some type of “dance floor” device to support the game.

Currently, neither domain resolves to a web page, but it’s likely Ubisoft will announce something regarding Just Dance at E3 2012 this upcoming week.

Talking about this story: Joystiq

(Image of Just Dance 2 in Katy Perry’s ” Last Friday Night music video via Ubisoft.com)

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News Video Games

Creative agency for Microsoft registers Halo 4 Remix, Halo Remix domains

Halo 4 remix

It looks like a promotion or online contest for Halo 4, set for a worldwide release on November 6, 2012, may be on the way.  Roundhouse, a creative agency based in Seattle, WA, who counts among its clients Microsoft, has registered the domain names Halo4remix.com and Haloremix.com.

Roundhouse handles social media work for Xbox, but has yet to reveal what it plans to do with Halo 4 Remix.

Roundhouse has been responsible for several Xbox-related initiatives like last year’s Halo Reach contest.  That contest involved using the forge tool within Halo to assemble and create a work of art using pieces, textures, and other available materials that represent the Halo Universe.

Both domains, Halo4remix.com (Whois) and Haloremix.com (Whois), were registered by Roundhouse’s operations manager Sylvia Nikes on May 30, 2012, only days before the kick off of E3 2012.

At the time of this story, both domain names resolve to a parked page.

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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, Joystiq, The 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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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Ahead of rumored E3 reveal, Microsoft goes after XboxMusic.com [UPDATED]

Xbox Music E3 reveal

UPDATE 1 July 5, 2012:. Microsoft has won the domain dispute for XboxMusic.com.  A National Arbitration Forum panel has ordered the domain name transferred from Wang Shiguo to Microsoft Corporation.

ORIGINAL STORY:. Last month, The Verge reported that Microsoft will offer a sneak peek at its Zune replacement (codenamed “Woodstock”) during E3 2012.

With E3 right around the corner, it appears Microsoft is somewhat planning ahead of its new Xbox Music service reveal, by filing a complaint (Case Number 1445087) with the National Arbitration Forum over the domain name XboxMusic.com.

The domain name dispute proceedings commenced this week along with a separate case over xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.

Microsoft Corporation also filed another complaint (Case Number: 1445084) against the owner of xbox8.us which currently hosts a Chinese-written blog that even discusses the xbox8.org domain dispute.

Xboxmusic.com (Whois) does not resolve to a web page at the time of this story.

Insiders told The Verge, “Woodstock will be a cross-platform play, available to Windows 8, Android, iOS, and Xbox users — playable from a browser”.

(Image of E3 2011 via Xbox.com)

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft wants XboxPhone.com, XboxTablet.com, more; files dispute [UPDATED]

Halo 4

Who knows what the future holds for the Xbox, but a recent complaint (Case Number: 1445083) filed with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), may hint at things to come down the road.

The domain dispute appeared on NAF’s website today and includes xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.

All of the names are owned by a resident of China who goes by the name “cheng juan”.

According to UDRP rules, if more than one domain being disputed is held by the same respondent, all of the names may be included in the same complaint. Rule 3(b)(vi).

At the time of this story, xbox8.org resolves to a Go Daddy parked page, xboxcompanion.com, xboxtablet.com and xboxlivetv.com are listed for sale, and xboxphone.com redirects visitors to a different site.

Microsoft released an Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone users in late 2011.

It’s also been rumored Xbox Live would be coming to other platforms.

Microsoft Corporation has won many of its disputes including two disputes that helped take down fake Halo 4 beta websites.

I wouldn’t expect the outcome in this case to be any different.

Talking about this story: VG247, Videogameszone, NeoGAF, Eurogamer España and GameZone

UPDATE:. Microsoft has won the dispute for xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.  All domains have been ordered transferred.

(Image of Halo 4 Concept art)