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Killer Instinct trademark renewal rejected, what it means
Microsoft's trademark renewal of Killer Instinct has been rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for "likelihood of confusion." As NeoGAF points out, this bit of confusion has to do with the short-lived FOX show Killer Instinct from 1995. Microsoft announced in mid-September it was in the process of renewing the long-languishing intellectual property, but did not specify the purpose.So, what does the rejection mean? We checked with attorney Mark Methenitis who pens Law of the Game."In short, this means ... more or less nothing," Methenitis told us when asked if there was more to the rejection. "It's just an office action; they happen on lots of trademark applications, and is not by any means the final say on the application. It just means that Microsoft has to provide more evidence to overcome their objection to move forward with the application."He continued, "All things considered, I would imagine that Microsoft has a pretty strong position reverting back to the previous Killer Instinct games, which far predate the Fox filing, and moreover, there's no evidence of actual confusion between that show and the game."According to Methenitis, Microsoft has six months to respond. He equated this action to fighting games, saying it's like taking some hits in the first round, but you haven't even come close to losing the bout.
Microsoft renews Killer Instinct trademark
Long-languishing intellectual property Killer Instinct has had its trademark renewed by Microsoft.Microsoft's PlayXBLA noted the renewal, saying the company's legal department authorized the following statement about the franchise: "We have either renewed or refiled a trademark application in various jurisdictions."The takeaway here is not much more than Microsoft protecting its rights. The most recent mention of the series was an interview with a former 3D modeler at Rare, who said, "We all wanted to make KI3, but Microsoft [was] more interested in broadening their demographic than making another fighting game ... So it never got made, I doubt it ever will."[Thanks to all who sent this in.]
Ex-Rare dev discusses Killer Instinct 3, Kinect's 'Savannah' prototype and Microsoft acquisition
A former artist at Rare has given us a peek behind the curtain at the studio's "Savannah" project and the eventual elimination of Killer Instinct. Speaking with NotEnoughShaders, Donnchadh Murphy, who was a 3D modeler at Rare but now works at an animation studio, revealed the developer was working on a project called "Savannah" for Kinect.Savannah (models pictured) was going to be a Kinect title where players raised a lion cub from birth, teaching the animal survival skills. The game was only ever a prototype and was never greenlit.Meanwhile, Murphy said, the company was always interested in revisiting the Killer Instinct franchise in HD, as is often requested by ardent Rare fans. "We all wanted to make KI3, but Microsoft [was] more interested in broadening their demographic than making another fighting game," he said. "So it never got made, I doubt it ever will."
Rare expresses its Valentine's love with new TIP cards
Being the season of love, one of our countless admirers, developer Rare, sent over a set of scan-friendly Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise Valentine's cards, including three new Killer Instinct characters for your collection. You can view all four new trading cards in the gallery below. Using your handy Vision camera, scan the bar code into Trouble in Paradise, then behold the magic that takes place. Warning: We have yet to scan any of the cards, so if you have an urge to invest in Ultratech or experience an unshakable infatuation with all Rare products, please, don't send your lawyers after us. Gallery: Rare Valentine's Day Cards
Rare's Christmas card lacking Killer Instinct ... or is it?
click to embiggen the holiday cheer Rare sent over this Christmas card wishing the staff a happy holidays. Unlike last time, there's no Killer Instinct hint to be found. What gives, Rare? No Glacius The Snowkiller? Oh, wait, what's this ...%Gallery-39099%
Rare 'may do something' with Killer Instinct franchise
Being the teases that they love to be, Rare studio head Mark Betteridge told Eurogamer that they're still kicking around the idea of bringing back Killer Instinct, but that the idea would have to be something uniquely special."Killer Instinct is an IP that is fondly remembered and we may do something with it," Betteridge admitted, "but it's a tricky market to be like the old Killer Instinct." If Rare were to bring back Killer Instinct, they'd require some sort of market "revolution", as was done with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Let's just hope that if they were to do another KI, that it wouldn't stray too far away from the golden formula.[Thanks, Joe]
Rare says new Killer Instinct not out of the question
It's such a shame what happened with Nintendo and Rare. Remember the good old days when we loved their games? Oh, how it was wonderful to be alive. And Rare is thinking about reviving one of those older games we love in their fighting game franchise, Killer Instinct, they've commented to Eurogamer. "Killer Instinct is an IP that is fondly remembered and we may do something with it, but it's a tricky market to be like the old Killer Instinct," said studio manager Mark Betteridge. And, even if they did revive the series, it would most likely be on the Xbox 360 and not back home on Nintendo's Wii console, like we would hope.Who would still want to play a new Killer Instinct game?
Battletoads and Killer Instinct jokes in Nuts & Bolts
Ah, those yuksters at Rare are at it again. After teasing fans only a month ago with Killer Instinct themed Piñata Vision cards, now they've gone and dropped pure fanboy flamebait into Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Note the image above, in which sequels to several favorite (and not so favorite) Rare franchises are mentioned, including Killer Instinct, Jet Force Gemeni, Battletoads, and Grabbed by the Ghoulies. Now, we could live without most of them (okay, technically we could live without all of them), but we have to admit a new Battletoads would be more than welcome. Unfortunately, the text itself is relatively clear, the sequels are mentioned merely as a joke. Unless, of course, a sequel to an old franchise counts as Rare's upcoming "surprise."We're not holding our breath.[Via Joystiq]
Viva Killer Instinct, special cards include nostalgia
There's nothing better than a Rare treat, is there? Rare has released three special cards to be scanned into Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise that promise "a suitable Pinata approximation of whatever is pictured." The three items pictured? Killer Instinct characters Fulgore, B. Orchid and Tusk. To access the KI pinatas, print out the cards and hold them up to your vision camera.Let's not jump the gun and think this means a new KI is on the way, kids. Rare has mentioned they don't want to go to the IP Well before -- so, I guess that means they're filthy, filthy teases. Gallery: Viva Pinata TIP Killer Instinct cards
Viva Pinata vision cards fan the Killer Instinct flames
Rare is offering an added treat for Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise -- print out one of the three currently available cards and you can get "a suitable Pinata approximation of whatever is pictured." The first three available, which is guaranteed to incite a rabid fan base -- are Killer Instinct characters Fulgore, B. Orchid and Tusk. To access the KI pinatas, print out the cards and hold them up to your vision camera.We wouldn't take this to be an indication of a pending announcements -- the cards themselves feature the 3D models from the Nintendo 64 era -- but either Rare has something in mind or it really likes to taunt its old fan base.%Gallery-34660%
Rumorang: Killer Instinct 3 comes back ... as sheet music!
(click image for full size) No matter how many times Rare tries to tamp them down, rumors about a continuation of the Killer Instinct franchise continue to surface periodically. This time the rumors come from fan site MundoRare, which received the above photo of purported Killer Instinct 3 sheet music from an anonymous "someone at Microsoft."Of course, this shot doesn't really prove anything -- that header at the top could just as easily read "ULTRA Punch Out!!" or "The MORE Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy" and work just as well. We're sure some photoshoppers out there will have their own ideas of what other big name sequels this photo could possibly confirm. What we're really interested in, though, is what this purported music actually sounds like. Anyone out there with some MIDI sequencer skillz want to help us out?[Update: The community comes through! Check out the alleged theme as either a MIDI (thanks Dan H.) or a violin synth MP3 (via Giant Bomb)][Update 2: Check out this awesome remixed version of the "theme" (via NerdiestKids)]
Rumorang: Killer Instinct making a return?
EGM rumor-monger Quartermann has once more turned the spotlight on speculation that we've been hearing for ages that Rare is keen on developing a third entry in its combo-heavy fighting game franchise Killer Instinct. Never mind that Rare itself has denied such rumors in the past, because honestly that's exactly what we'd say if we were working on a top secret project too.Going by the mouthful Killer Instinct 3D: Death, Destruction and Doom, the rumored Xbox 360 fighter is said to axe the previous titles' rendered graphics and button mashing in favor of 3D visuals and more robust gameplay. Still, it remains to be seen if this latest attempt rekindle interest in Killer Instinct will pan out, or if once again it will do an Ultra Combo to our heart.
Rare is so not working on Killer Instinct 3
In their latest mailbag answering session of Scribes, Rare squishes then squashes the rumor that their team is currently working on a Killer Instinct sequel stating that "purely out of contractual obligation, no, we're not working on KI3". Rare also re-emphasizes that their main focus right now is the Xbox 360 Banjo-Kazooie sequel which we're sure we'll be seeing at this year's E3.That pretty much ends the Rare rumor squashing for today. But let it be known that their yet to be announced project after Banjo ships is totally fair game for the rumor generators among us.[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Killer Instinct 3 for 360 in 2007
The rumors keep rolling in this week. This latest is an oldie but a goody. A Dutch website called Xbox 360 Only is reporting that the latest issue of Games TM (a UK publication) states that Killer Instinct 3 is headed to the Xbox 360. For those that don't know, Killer Instinct was part of the nineties fighting game boom (think Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat) and also one of the earliest games to promote the Nintendo 64 (called Ultra 64 at the time). Not only that, but KI is one of Rare's most fondly remembered titles, introducing millions to the dial-a-combo system that still pops up in fighting games today.Killer Instinct is a game that fans have clamored for since Rare was purchased by Microsoft. It's not uncommon to see people hoping it -- and other classics like Goldeneye -- will pop up on Xbox Live Arcade. Interestingly, this article doesn't mention Xbox Live Arcade. Could Rare be working on a full fledged sequel? It's possible, but we get the feeling they're probably too busy concentrating on Banjo Kazooie. Stick this one up on the big board and forget about it for now.
10 franchises that need to return
Racketboy.com recently offered up this list of 'Classic Franchises That Actually NEED a Resurrection'... Darkstalkers Shining Force Battletoads Strider Killer Instinct Vectorman Starcraft System Shock Road Rash PowerStone Runners-up: Clayfighter, Story of Thor/Oasis, Lost Vikings, Rocket Knight Adventures, Jetman, and Jet Set Radio
