Speculation of the next expansion begins!

[Sargeras]

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

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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

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

Wrath of the Lich King was trademarked a few weeks before BlizzCon, and WoWWiki can 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, a player spotted a test server named "Maelstrom 3 Test" in the US server list.
Screenshot: http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac18 ... lstrom.jpg

It's probably bullshit, but a good read anyways:
http://rej8233.multiply.com/journal/ite ... s_Revealed

I guess we'll know for sure at BlizzCon.

[Winnow]

They should have an expansion that takes place on the moon and introduces a cat race to play.

[Fenna]

Did their trademark description for Wrath of the Lich King also mention coloring books and greeting cards? I would love a sympathy card with sentiments from the Lich King himself. Something you could send to someone that has lost a loved one.

[Aardor]

Did their trademark description for Wrath of the Lich King also mention coloring books and greeting cards? I would love a sympathy card with sentiments from the Lich King himself. Something you could send to someone that has lost a loved one.

WRATH OF THE LICH KING

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, providing online computer games; providing computer games that may be accessed via a global computer network; and providing online information in the field of computer gaming entertainment


WRATH OF THE LICH KING

IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Comic books, strategy guides, trading cards, coloring books, adhesive stickers, rub-on transfers, notebooks, stationery-type portfolios, posters, greeting cards, calendars, instructional leaflets, manuals, advertisement boards of paper or cardboard, catalogues, photographs, art prints


WRATH OF THE LICH KING

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable software for use in connection with computer games; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads

So exactly the same.

[Fairweather Pure]

Intersting. If they actually announce it soon, it should be out by Xmas 0f 2010. I will likely play again when the expansion is released.

[Sargeras]

BlizzCon is less than 2 months away. I'll bet they'll announce it there.

[Aardor]

BlizzCon is less than 2 months away. I'll bet they'll announce it there.

Considering that these patents were filed at the exact same time during the year as WOTLK/TBC patents were, and they were both announced at blizzcon, I'm guessing you're probably correct =P. YES TIME TO BATTLE MORE NAGA.

[Dregor Thule]

Maybe it's just me, But 'World of Warcraft: Cataclysm' sounds kind of odd for an expansion name.

[Aardor]

Maybe it's just me, But 'World of Warcraft: Cataclysm' sounds kind of odd for an expansion name.

It's probably "The Catacylsm," and refers to the area/events (caverns of time) of this: http://www.wowwiki.com/The_Maelstrom, http://www.wowwiki.com/Great_Sundering. It's was pretty much expected to be the 3rd expansion, probably with Queen Azshara as a final boss.

Oh, and lots of crab people.

[Dregor Thule]

Oh, I understand the reference to the lore. I'd have thought tho that if it was 'The Cataclysm' they would have trademarked 'The Cataclysm', unless there's some trademark law that precludes the addition of stuff like 'The'.