Category: Video Games

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ModernWarfare3.com: Activision’s attorneys take official control of domain

ModernWarfare3.com Whois

In what has been one of the most highly publicized struggles for a domain name, Activision’s trademark attorneys at Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C, have officially taken control of ModernWarfare3.com from Anthony Abraham as of September 21, 2011, after winning the dispute over the web addresss earlier in the month.

Now all that’s left to do is to transfer the domain to Activision’s Mary Tuck, who serves as the company’s senior litigation counsel (and is the registrant for most of Activision’s properties), then re-direct the domain to the official ‘Modern Warfare 3’ website at callofduty.com/mw3.

Modernwarfare3.com doesn’t resolve to a web page at the time of this story, but lets hope that Activision puts it to good use shortly.

Type in modernwarfare3.com into any of the major search engines, and EA’s Battlefield 3 is still the first result.  A temporary effect of Anthony Abraham’s redirection of modernwarfare3.com to  battlefield.com/battlefied3 back in July.

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News Video Games

Zynga uses a defensive buying strategy for Mafia Wars 2 domain names

Mafia Wars 2

As Zynga announced Mafia Wars 2, it went on a buying spree of Mafia Wars 2 domain names, registering over 75 web addresses on September 20, through the registrar MarkMonitor.

The domains range from MafiaWars2Android.com to MafiaWars2iPad.com, and MafiaWars2sucks.com to BoneyardTokens.com.

Because of the sheer number of names registered, I have listed them separately here.

In early September, Zynga went on a similar buying spree for Kingdoms and Quests domains.

Zynga does own MafiaWars2.com, which is official web site of the sequel to Mafia Wars.  Like many of its domain names, it’s registered at MarkMonitor, a brand protection company regularly used by many large companies.

Discussion: Inside Social Games and TechCrunch

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News Trademarks Video Games

Electronic Arts files trademarks for ‘Fly with Me’, new video game in the works?

Electronic Arts Redwood Shores

Electronic Arts appears to be working on a new game called “Fly with Me” according to two recent trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

On September 14, 2011, Electronic Arts Inc. filed both applications that cover “Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game” and “Downloadable computer game software”.

Will Fly with Me be a sports game? A flying game? A Facebook game?  I haven’t found anything online about a new game in the works, but I suspect more information will be put out by EA shortly.  

Here’s a quick look at each of the trademark applications.

Serial Number: 85422630: Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices

Serial Number 85422635: Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet

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News Video Games

Microsoft has something bigger planned for AnswerDesk.com

Microsoft Answer Desk

If acquiring a bunch of domain names is any sign of a company’s plans to launch a service or product, then Microsoft may have something up its sleeve for AnswerDesk.com. On September 12, 2011, Microsoft Corporation took ownership of the domain AnswerDesk.com.  Before that, the domain was registered to NameRally,Inc. 

The name “Answer Desk” isn’t new to Microsoft.

Answer Desk is Microsoft’s response to Apple’s Genius Bar available in retail stores.  With the Answer Desk, you can make an appointment for a face-to-face session with a Microsoft Technical Advisor and get answers to technical questions about your PC, Xbox, or Zune.  The Answer Desk also performs diagnostics and repairs on-site.

AnswerDesk.com isn’t the only domain centered around “Answer Desk” that Microsoft has acquired in recent weeks, signalling its interest.  Just in the past week alone, Microsoft has acquired answerdesk.ch, answerdesk.fr, answerdesk.jp, answerdesk.tw, and answersdesk.com (plural), to name a few.

Could the Answer Desk be seeing an expansion online as Microsoft continues its push to open more retail stores?

(Photo of Microsoft Answer Desk via Stone Tree)

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News Video Games

Nintendo registers “Sneak Peek” domains; something new on the way?

The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

Nintendo of America Inc, which owns upwards of 3,000 domain names, made two purchase lately which include the words “Sneak Peek”. 

On September 16, 2011, the company registered NintendoSneakPeek.com and NintendoSneakPeak.com (‘sneak peak’ is  a common spelling mistake).

It’s unknown what the company plans for the domains — an event, an unveiling, a web site for special Nintendo gamers? 

At the time of this story, both web addresses resolve to a “Website Coming Soon” page hosted by InMotion Hosting Network, where the names are currently hosted. 

Here’s a look at the Whois record for NintendoSneakPeek.com.

Domain Name………. nintendosneakpeek.com
  Creation Date…….. 2011-09-16
  Registration Date…. 2011-09-16
  Expiry Date………. 2012-09-16
  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