Category: Video Games

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News Video Games

Zynga buys up ‘Mafia Wars Shakedown’ domain names, drops hints on Android

Mafia Wars Shakedown

Earlier this week, Zynga bought up nearly 50 new domain names for its newly revealed ‘Mafia Wars Shakedown‘ game for iOS devices.

While the game will first release on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad, it appears Zynga has plans to make it available for Android users as well, as the registrations include names such as MafiaWarsShakedownAndroid.com and ShakedownAndroid.com.

As Games.com reported on Thursday: “News of the game appeared when it replaced the Facebook page for Mafia Wars: Atlantic City, which was shuttered earlier this month in preparation for a “a much more exciting destination”.

The list of names registered through the brand protection company MarkMonitor, includes many defensive registrations, but what’s missing from the list is: MafiaWarsShakedown.com.  The domain name was registered in August 2011 at Moniker and is currently marked private.  The web page for mafiawarsshakedown.com points to a Sedo parked page that displays third-party ads. 

While it’s unknown whether Zynga officially owns mafiawarsshakedown.com, it’s entirely possible the company is waiting to re-direct the name to its Facebook page once it officially launches.  Also, purchasing the name at Moniker instead of MarkMonitor, may have been its approach to throwing sleuths off its trail.

Here’s the full list of domain names registered at MarkMonitor.  WARNING: A couple of the registrations include profanity.

ilovemafiawarsshakedown.com
iloveshakedown.com
mafiawarsshakedown2.com
mafiawarsshakedownandroid.com
mafiawarsshakedownapp.com
mafiawarsshakedownblog.com
mafiawarsshakedownbot.com
mafiawarsshakedowncash.com
mafiawarsshakedownecards.com
mafiawarsshakedownfacebook.com
mafiawarsshakedownfans.com
mafiawarsshakedownforums.com
mafiawarsshakedowngame.com
mafiawarsshakedowngamecards.com
mafiawarsshakedowngiftcards.com
mafiawarsshakedowngifts.com
mafiawarsshakedownhacks.com
mafiawarsshakedownipad.com
mafiawarsshakedowniphone.com
mafiawarsshakedownmobile.com
mafiawarsshakedownnews.com
mafiawarsshakedownrewards.com
mafiawarsshakedownstore.com
mafiawarsshakedownzynga.com
playmafiawarsshakedown.com
playshakedown.com
shakedown2.com
shakedownandroid.com
shakedownbot.com
shakedowncash.com
shakedownecards.com
shakedownfacebook.com
shakedownfans.com
shakedownforums.com
shakedowngame.com
shakedowngamecards.com
shakedowngiftcards.com
shakedowngifts.com
shakedownhacks.com
shakedownipad.com
shakedowniphone.com
shakedownmobile.com
shakedownrewards.com
shakedownstore.com
shakedownzynga.com
wwwmafiawarsshakedown.com
wwwshakedown.com
fuckmafiawarsshakedown.com
fuckshakedown.com

Discussion: Inside Social Games

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News Video Games

EA files Style Empire trademark, fashion or interior design game on the way?

Style Empire

This week Electronic Arts has filed yet another trademark application for an unreleased game called “Style Empire”.

With The Sims Social now on Facebook as the No. 2 most popular game behind Cityville, and over 60 million monthly active users according to AppData, it wouldn’t be surprising to see EA expand its library of games that allow users to design interiors or create their own fashion.

It’s possible Style Empire could be for a different type of game as well, but as of today, nothing is official, because there has been no news announced by EA.

EA does not own the web address StyleEmpire.com.  StyleEmpire.com is currently an online retail site that sells designer merchandise.

Here’s a look at the two trademarks filed on September 26, 2011.

Serial Number 85431706: Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices

Serial Number 85431709: Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet

Discussion: Game Informer and Joystiq

Categories
News Video Games

Nintendo gains rights to SuperMario.com, more than 25 years after game’s release

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros.

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 25 years since Nintendo released Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.  In 2010, Super Mario Bros. celebrated its 25th anniversary.  But in all these years, Nintendo hasn’t owned the matching domain to one of the most beloved games of all time. 

That’s changed for 2011, as Nintendo has finally gained control of the domain name: SuperMario.com.

Back in early August, Nintendo filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO Case Number D2011-1348), however even though the case is still listed as active, it appears the case is closed as SuperMario.com is now registered to Nintendo of America Inc. as of September 25, 2011.

It’s possible WIPO’s online database has not been updated at the time of this story.  It’s also possible that Nintendo reached an agreement with the name’s previous owner before WIPO could review the case.  Of course, it’s even possible the owner fearing legal problems for hosting Super Mario games on the web address, simply turned over the name.

The company still doesn’t own SuperMarioBros.com, SuperMarioBrothers.com, MarioBros.com or MarioBrothers.com, but it does have a win with SuperMario.com.

Here’s a look at the updated Whois record.

Domain Name………. supermario.com
  Creation Date…….. 1996-02-24
  Registration Date…. 2011-09-25
  Expiry Date………. 2013-02-26
  Organisation Name…. Nintendo of America Inc.
  Organisation Address. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
  Organisation Address.
  Organisation Address. Redmond
  Organisation Address. 98052
  Organisation Address. WA
  Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

Admin Name……….. Web Master
  Admin Address…….. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
  Admin Address……..
  Admin Address…….. Redmond
  Admin Address…….. 98052
  Admin Address…….. WA
  Admin Address…….. UNITED STATES
  Admin Email……….
  Admin Phone………. +425.8822040
  Admin Fax………… +425.8823585

Discussion: Game Informer, Destructoid and Nintendo Life

Categories
News Video Games

PopCap planning to launch casino-style social games on Lucky Gem Casino

Lucky Gem Casino

A little over over a week ago, I wrote about PopCap Games registering over two dozen new domain names of many of its existing games.  The names included the words: casino, slots, and poker, such as bookwormcasino.com and bookwormslots.com. 

Included in the bunch was luckygemcasino.com, which now appears to be the name of PopCap’s Online Casino game destination, based not only on the fact that PopCap has filed a trademark application with the USPTO as of September 20th, but on the name change that took place in the past week to its Facebook PopCap Casino Page.

Originally, the page was called PopCap Casino (pictured below from early Sept.), now it’s be renamed to Lucky Gem Casino (as shown above).

PopCap Casino

Earlier this week PopCap filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (serial no. 85427495).

Here’s a look at the filing.

PopCap Games, Inc.

Address:
PopCap Games, Inc.
2401 4th Avenue, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98121
United States
Legal Entity Type: Corporation
State or Country of Incorporation: Washington

GOODS AND/OR SERVICES

International Class: 041
Class Status: Active
Entertainment services, namely, providing online interactive, computer, video or electronic games; providing interactive, computer, video or electronic games through computer networks or television or other telecommunications networks; providing websites featuring content and information in the field of games, interactive game content, computer game content, video game content or electronic game content; providing temporary use of non-downloadable interactive games, computer games, video games or electronic games; providing temporary use of non-downloadable social networking games and social networking-related software applications
Basis: 1(b)
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)

International Class: 042
Class Status: Active
Creating an online community for registered users to participate in electronic discussions, chat, give and receive feedback, form virtual communities, engage in social networking, and post, retrieve, share and display data, information, messages, images and other digital media; creating an online community for game players for the purpose of connecting players and enabling game-related activities and competitions
Basis: 1(b)
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)

[Update 1 on February 21, 2012: PopCap Games unveiled the slot-based social game experience Lucky Gem Casino.  You can read the full press release here.]

Discussion: GeekWire

Categories
News Video Games

ModernWarfare3.com to re-direct to official MW3 web site, any day now

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 website

It’s good news for all the fans of the Call of Duty franchise. 

The domain name ModernWarfare3.com has transferred over to Activision’s domain server that hosts other names like CallofDuty.com, which likely means only one thing:  ModernWarfare3.com will finally resolve to the official MW3 website any day now.

Earlier in the week, Activision’s trademark attorneys at Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C, took official control of ModernWarfare3.com from Anthony Abraham following a dispute over the web address.

The transfer of the domain to Activision’s domain server occurred on Saturday, September 24, 2011.