Category: Video Games

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News Video Games

Sony Pictures registers ‘Bring Them to Justice Game’ domain names

Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures has tipped its hand on a forthcoming game called “Bring Them to Justice”, after registering several domain names on December 22, like bringthemtojusticegame.com (Whois).

All the domains were registered through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

The game, which hasn’t been officially announced, may simply be a mobile game published by Sony Pictures Digital, part of Sony’s US mobile phone games division.

The domain names, five in total, include:

bringthemtojusticegame.com 
bringthemtojusticegame.net  
bringtojustice.net  
bringtojusticegame.com  
bringtojusticegame.net

At the time of this story going online, none of the domains resolve to a web page.

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News Trademarks Video Games

WB Games planning GreyFoundry video game according to trademark, domains

WB Games

It appears Warner Bros. may be developing a new video game called GreyFoundry.

On December 15, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. filed four separate trademark filings (85493271, 85493265, 85493259 and 85493253) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, two of which cover video game software and online video games.

In addition to the trademark applications, it looks as though Warner Bros. may have secured the domain rights to greyfoundry.com, greyfoundry.net, and greyfoundry.org.  According to WHOIS records the domains aren’t registered to Warner Bros., instead, each name is registered to Kite Inc., a full-service strategy and design firm that helps companies build brands. 

Kite counts amongst its customers: WB Games Seattle (screenshot).  WB Games Seattle was recently in the news after laying off dozens of employees.

At the time of this story going online, Warner Bros. has not made any announcement about a new video game called GreyFoundry. 

Here’s a look at the Goods and Services covered in two of the trademark applications:

Serial Number: 85493271
Designing and developing computer game software and video game software for use with computers, video game program systems and computer networks; Computer software design; Video game development services; Video game programming development services

Serial Number: 85493265
Entertainment services, namely, providing online video games, providing online computer games, providing temporary use of non-downloadable video games; Production of video and computer game software; Entertainment services in the nature of live-action, comedy, drama and animated television series; production of live-action, comedy, drama and animated television series; distribution and display of live-action, comedy, drama and animated motion picture theatrical films; production of live-action, comedy, drama and animated motion picture theatrical films; theatrical performances both animated and live action; Internet services providing information via an electronic global computer network in the field of entertainment relating specifically to games, movies, and television; providing a web site featuring film clips, photographs and other multimedia materials; providing information for and actual entertainment via an electronic global communications network in the nature of live-action, comedy, drama and animated programs and production of live-action comedy, action and animated motion films for distribution via a global computer network; conducting contests on-line; providing a computer game that may be accessed by a telecommunications network; and electronic publishing services, namely, publication of text and graphic works of others on-line featuring articles, novelizations, scripts, comic books, strategy guides, photographs and visual materials

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News Video Games

THQ will develop WWE Showdown into a videogame according to domain buy

John Cena vs The Miz

Almost two weeks ago, PWInsider reported that WWE had filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85482730) for WWE Showdown that covered video and computer games.

As some had already speculated, it does appear WWE game publisher THQ will be releasing WWE Showdown as a videogame sometime in the near future. 

On December 13, 2011, the domain name WWEShowdown.com (WHOIS) was registered with Go Daddy.

While the registrant of the name is hidden behind Go Daddy’s WHOIS privacy service – Domains by Proxy – the domain servers listed (NS1.THQ.COM, NS2.THQ.COM and NS3.THQ.COM) belong to THQ. 

Surprisingly, even though news of WWE’s trademark filing appeared on new sites like Wrestling Inc. almost two weeks ago, no one immediately cybersquatted on the domain.

Neither WWE nor THQ have made an announcement as of yet.

(Image of John Cena vs The Miz via WWE)

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Crowdstar developing another zombie iOS game called Zombie Chopper Strike

Zombie Chopper Strike

With the zombie craze showing no signs of dying down, you can never have enough zombie games.

It looks like social game developer Crowdstar is working on yet another mobile game for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad called Zombie Chopper Strike.

In an application submitted with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 5, 2011, Crowdstar Inc. filed to trademark the phrase “Zombie Chopper Strike”.

The goods and services covered in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85487117) include:

Downloadable computer game software for use on wireless devices and computers; computer-game software, video game software, and computer game application software; interactive-video-game programs; electronic game software and electronic game application software that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information regarding the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties.

In October, Crowdstar quietly released Zombie Universe (screenshot above), an iOS game that allows players to grow a population of zombie attackers, build decaying digs for them to stay in, and lead them on invasions of human towns.

At the time of this story going online, Crowdstar has made no official announcement about Zombie Chopper Strike.

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Zynga goes on record about new iOS game by filing Forestville trademark

Forestville on Facebook

I first broke the news last week about Zynga developing a new “Ville” game after several Forestville domains were privately registered through MarkMonitor, an internet brand protection company Zynga regularly uses.

While I had nothing more to work on than new domain registrations, an anonymous reader sent me a tip that a Facebook page was online, further solidifying my belief that a game was in the works and near launch day.

Shortly after my story ran, accompanied by screen shots and a web address, the page was taken offline. 

Zynga, even with all the proof, made no announcement despite Games.com, AllFacebook, and other sites covering my story, so there was still some lingering doubt about the game.

Though Zynga does not officially comment on speculation or rumor, this week it has officially gone on record indirectly, by filing a trademark application (Serial Number: 85487695) for “Forestville” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Here’s a look at the trademark filing.

Forestville trademark

Expect to see a press release from the social gaming giant on “Forestville” soon.