Next WoW expansion...

[retro]

Blizzard trademarks "Cataclysm"
A few days ago Blizzard filed a trademark for "Cataclysm" on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. Cataclysm was registered for :

• Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; providing computer games that may be accessed via a global computer network; and providing on-line information in the field of computer gaming entertainment
  
• Comic books, computer game strategy guides, trading cards, coloring books, adhesive stickers, rub-on transfers, notebooks, stationery-type portfolios, posters, greeting cards, calendars, instructional leaflets in the field of computer games, computer game instruction manuals, catalogs in the field of computer games, advertisement boards of paper or cardboard, photographs, art prints
  
• Computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable computer game software; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads

LAST APPLICANT(S)/OWNER(S) OF RECORD
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
16215 Alton Parkway
Irvine, CA 92618
United States

GOODS AND/OR SERVICES
Class Status: Active
Computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable computer game software; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads

2009-06-30 - New Application Office Supplied Data Entered In Tram

2009-06-30 - New Application Entered In Tram

So ... What does it mean? Well, Wrath of the Lich King was trademarked a few weeks before the Blizzcon, we're not going to jump to conclusions here but WoWWiki will most likely give you a few things to think about on their Great Sundering article.

The Great Sundering, also known as simply the Sundering or the Cataclysm was a world event which reshaped Azeroth approximately 10,000 years ago at the end of the War of the Ancients. This event was triggered due to the Well of Eternity being destroyed.

Prior to the Sundering, there was only one continent on Azeroth, referred to as Kalimdor. In the catastrophic explosion, eighty percent of the land mass was destroyed leaving behind the major continents and scattered islands that are known today: Northrend, Kezan, the Eastern Kingdoms, and the remnant still referred to as Kalimdor.

The site of the Well of Eternity became a swirling vortex of power known as the Maelstrom.

A few days ago, one of our user also spotted a test server named "Maelstrom 3 Test" in the US server list (it only showed up for a few seconds, see This post). If the expansion is indeed The Maelstrom/Cataclysm, we can expect to see a few things here:

• Sargeras and/or Deathwing
• Queen Azshara
• Goblins!

Blizzard trademarks "Cataclysm"

I suppose it could potentially be the name of the new MMO they're working on, but it's doubtful that they'd copyright it this early in the development process, and with everyone expecting the announcement of a new MMO at BlizzCon next month, I think it's a pretty safe assumption that this is going to be the name of the next WoW expansion.

 

[ssl]

Not at all.

Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; providing computer games that may be accessed via a global computer network; and providing on-line information in the field of computer gaming entertainment

Cataclysm = the server software running the game servers, more than likely.

At first I thought the "Cataclysm" name was taken by ATi for their driver software, but researching such netted "Catalyst" drivers.

They probably needed to update their server software, in preparation for all the WoW, Diablo, and StarCraft traffic that will soon occur. :nod:

 

[itsmeJonB]

im anticipating next patch, i cant wrap my head around another expansion yet lol

 

[ssl]

i just don't play Wow.

makes life much easier. :nod:

 

[retro]

Not at all.



Cataclysm = the server software running the game servers, more than likely.

At first I thought the "Cataclysm" name was taken by ATi for their driver software, but researching such netted "Catalyst" drivers.

They probably needed to update their server software, in preparation for all the WoW, Diablo, and StarCraft traffic that will soon occur. :nod:

uhhhh... not even close. There would be no need to trademark a server software name. Plus, you've completely ignored the other trademark descriptions

Comic books, computer game strategy guides, trading cards, coloring books, adhesive stickers, rub-on transfers, notebooks, stationery-type portfolios, posters, greeting cards, calendars, instructional leaflets in the field of computer games, computer game instruction manuals, catalogs in the field of computer games, advertisement boards of paper or cardboard, photographs, art prints

Computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable computer game software; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads

Those are three separate trademarks that Blizzard applied for, different facets of what they plan on using the name for. Also, what you chose to pay attention to is also included in original World of Warcraft trademarks, as well as Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King ones. You have to file for multiple trademarks for the different types of services and/or products that you plan on associating with the trademarked name. You see the same thing in all of the Starcraft 2 trademarked names as well.

So we're left with possibilities... the next WoW expansion or Blizzard's new MMO based on an entirely new IP. I also have it on very good authority that it's going to be the name of the WoW expansion...

 

[itsmeJonB]

i just don't play Wow.

makes life much easier. :nod:

If you enjoy computer games then you're missing out.

If you dont enjoy computer games, then thats cool

 

[ssl]

i enjoy computer games.

not highly complex ones.

but if your game on WoW, get your game on then. :thumbup

 

[itsmeJonB]

they're making wow a lot more casual friendly, for the non-harcore gamers.

get lost in the world, its a great escape of reality

plus who can deny the hotness of a female draenai and blood elf

 

[retro]

I rather dislike the fact that it's becoming more and more casual... but I still love the lore and the game play is fun as well. Aion looks really cool though... reminds me a lot of Vanilla WoW in it's class orientation, not a lot of available classes, and there really aren't very many overlapping roles either. The customization is nothing short of spectacular, but I have a feeling I'll be sticking with WoW for the foreseeable future. If just because it's more casual now, since I'm going to be going back to school fulltime on top of working fulltime.

 

[ssl]

they're making wow a lot more casual friendly, for the non-harcore gamers.

get lost in the world, its a great escape of reality

plus who can deny the hotness of a female draenai and blood elf

pron takes care of the "hotness of a .."

get lost in two worlds? I have trouble finding RedRyder's address!

When games try to branch out farther than its original goal, most of the time that is the point of degradation, or something like that.

If Blizzard wanted WoW to be casual-friendly, then they would have started WoW casual-friendly.

Not the other way around.

It's like Facebook -- get a niche, exploit it, then expand (in attempts to exploit it) ... but Facebook 2.0 is MySpace 1.0... so... what's the point?

------------

Just stick to your guns and go with that. Don't change genres or lower the complexity for more bank. Just because it makes business sense, does not mean it makes long-term revenues.

 

[retro]

except that WoW was designed originally for both casual and hardcore players.... what they've done now though is water down end-game so that all the casuals can experience it, rather than just the hardcores. I don't necessarily agree with the philosophy, because the end-game content has been ridiculously easy in WotLK. But at the same time, it's a good business decision, because they're getting more people subscribing because they can see the content. My frustration is that I enjoyed the difficulty, I actually liked leading 40 man raids and coordinating all of that together in order to get a boss down for the first time. There's not a lot of that anymore... I went into Ulduar and once the GM let me lead things, we had Hodir down in like three weeks (she kept control the first week and a half). Then she took back control and ran me out of the guild, but that's a whole other story for another time.

I'm leveling horde now simply because I had played Alliance for 3.5 years, and I was bored and wanted to do something else. Should have a toon ready for raiding about the time 3.2 comes out, and then we'll see if there's much of a difference between the factions in end-game. I'm planning on sticking it out at least through the end of WotLK, because I want to go to Icecrown and kill Arthas.

 

[ssl]

i hardly get how WoW was originally designed for casual gamers, when quests take forever.

but long investment time into a game is not my cup of tea, unless i am writing the game. then that is a different story.

 

[itsmeJonB]

I'll write your cup of tea

 

[ssl]

good luck with that project! :24:

that will take at least 20 years... to debug.. *sad face*

but mucho dinero. :nod:

 

[itsmeJonB]

i dont even know what I said

 

[itsmeJonB]

guys I have 2pc T8.5 finally!

 

[Hans]

except that WoW was designed originally for both casual and hardcore players.... what they've done now though is water down end-game so that all the casuals can experience it, rather than just the hardcores. I don't necessarily agree with the philosophy, because the end-game content has been ridiculously easy in WotLK. But at the same time, it's a good business decision, because they're getting more people subscribing because they can see the content. My frustration is that I enjoyed the difficulty, I actually liked leading 40 man raids and coordinating all of that together in order to get a boss down for the first time. There's not a lot of that anymore... I went into Ulduar and once the GM let me lead things, we had Hodir down in like three weeks (she kept control the first week and a half). Then she took back control and ran me out of the guild, but that's a whole other story for another time.

I'm leveling horde now simply because I had played Alliance for 3.5 years, and I was bored and wanted to do something else. Should have a toon ready for raiding about the time 3.2 comes out, and then we'll see if there's much of a difference between the factions in end-game. I'm planning on sticking it out at least through the end of WotLK, because I want to go to Icecrown and kill Arthas.

its not "watered" down at all. do you have an ironbound protodrake? Most people dont. That, and theres a grand total of one guild that has cleared ALL content.

although, i think the idea of "hardmodes" isnt as rewarding as having a progressivly more difficult instance, like sunwell.

 

[itsmeJonB]

how bout all those complaining about it being watered down get full T8 and have Ulduar on farm. Hard Mode.

yeah thats right. shut up

 

[retro]

its not "watered" down at all. do you have an ironbound protodrake? Most people dont. That, and theres a grand total of one guild that has cleared ALL content.

although, i think the idea of "hardmodes" isnt as rewarding as having a progressivly more difficult instance, like sunwell.

how bout all those complaining about it being watered down get full T8 and have Ulduar on farm. Hard Mode.

yeah thats right. shut up

But it is watered down in comparison to vanilla WoW... because in Vanilla WoW, chances are that you weren't going to see content like AQ40/Naxx unless you were a good player or had a good guild to carry you there. I don't have an Ironbound Protodrake, but I don't have to have one for my statements to be true. I don't have one of them because I honestly don't play all that much anymore, and even when I was raiding regularly, it was 3 days a week, and not the 5-6 that the "hardcore" guilds generally put it. If I really wanted to go full on into raiding again, I had open invites to three of the top five guilds on the server, but being forced to raid nearly every night in order to progress quickly isn't my idea of fun anymore.

I don't have full T8, I think when I quit my druid had the T8 pants and no T8.5 at all... but I had T8 quality rings, trinket, and neck to go along with my 4-PC T7.5. But the simple fact that there are bad players out there who have been carried to their T8/8.5 pretty much validates what I'm saying about end-game being watered down from what it was. I'm not even saying that any of that is necessarily a bad thing... simply that it's allowing more casual players to see content than they ever were before. At this point, I kinda like it, because like I've said... I don't play very much anymore. I'm what would be considered a *gasp* casual player at this point in time.

They've replaced hard content like AQ40/Naxx/SWP with content that's relatively easy to clear as long as you have half a brain and people who will follow instructions. Then they've added in the "hard mode" content to try and make up for the fact that progression is far easier to come by in WotLK than it was in TBC which was easier than Vanilla.

But honestly, if you had to ask me what I think the biggest issue with WoW right now is, I wouldn't say end game PvE at all. My answer to that question would be Arena... and as far as I'm concerned, it's Arena that has caused more issues than anything else since it's implementation. I'm sick and tired of my abilities being nerfed or changed because a bunch of 15 year old kids started whining that I could kill them in a duel, and so therefore the class was completely OP and needed to be changed. That's a gross over exaggeration, but you get the point. Screwing PvE over in the name of their precious eSport is what's led a lot of people to quit playing the game. Sure, arena is obviously at least somewhat popular... but most of the people I know who have stopped playing have cited arena and the balance issues being implemented in PvE in order to "fix" PvP as a major part of their decision.

Like I've said though... I'm not quitting, at least not yet. I've taken about a month and a half off from regularly playing, and am getting ready to get back in it again. Need to get a few more characters leveled to 60 with my girlfriend through the RAF account I've got going on right now, and then transfer my druid and mage over to the horde when that feature gets implemented.

 

[itsmeJonB]

i dont have full t8 nor t8.5

Profiler - Wowhead

i think the content is really fun right now, it feels more like pre BC and the strategies in Ulduar are intricate and sometimes irritating (mimiron and general trash ftl).

but what makes it enjoyable is the fact that im in a guild of people i like raiding with and get along with. theres no "kids" who bring down morale and trash talk when something goes wrong.