Why do people think MoP is an Xpac...

[lukyl]

How has everyone just jumped to this conclusion and decided that it is final?...

The whole pandaren thing has always been somewhat of a joke so it seems very unlikely for blizz to make it a serious xpac. The most logical thing to me is that it would be a vanity thing, such as a mount or a pet. Having to trademark a phrase such as MoP could be because they will have an event to bide time and lighten the mood of the WoW community with free pets being baby pandas or something... so many other more logical reasons to the MoP then an entire expansion..

[Edlarel]

It's not. It's clearly a Subway Footlong.

Based on the timing and the information uncovered on that thread, the circumstances are the same as several previous Subway Promotions.

It's a guess, but a very educated one based on solid evidence.

[Profyrion]

Because based on the timing and the information uncovered, the circumstances are the same as previous expansions.

It's a guess, but a very educated one based on solid evidence. Try reading the big thread. All this has been asked and answered a dozen times.

[Caiada]

It's not. It's clearly a Subway Footlong. BRB with link.

This.

On topic now... there's a large body of convincing, if circumstantial, evidence.

[TypicalGoblin]

Without any info beside a name, this is hard to say. Personaly, i think (and i hope) it will be the next xpack.. but who know ? Maybe that will be a new facebook application ?

[conscript]

How has everyone just jumped to this conclusion and decided that it is final?...

The whole pandaren thing has always been somewhat of a joke so it seems very unlikely for blizz to make it a serious xpac. The most logical thing to me is that it would be a vanity thing, such as a mount or a pet. Having to trademark a phrase such as MoP could be because they will have an event to bide time and lighten the mood of the WoW community with free pets being baby pandas or something... so many other more logical reaosns to the MoP then an entire epansion..

So Blizzard filed for a trademark with the US government claiming that they were going to use it to create disk games, computer websites, digital content, and all sorts of other products under that name, but it isn't going to be an expansion?

It isn't a patch, they don't trademark patches. It isn't an event, they don't trademark events. It isn't a card game, it wasn't trademarked as a cardgame. It isn't a series of lunchboxes, it wasn't trademarked as such. It was trademarked exactly the same as Wrath and Cata were trademarked in the exact same time frame as they were trademarked before their corresponding announcements and Blizzcon.

[Stormcall]

Trademarking is expensive. They don't trademark things that aren't major releases.

[Deleted]

It's not. It's clearly a Subway Footlong.

Based on the timing and the information uncovered on that thread, the circumstances are the same as several previous Subway Promotions.

It's a guess, but a very educated one based on solid evidence.

Yeah after reading the first post in this thread there's no arguments about it. Definetly a Subway Promotion.

[lukyl]

k /thread. I now know why. I think.

[Deleted]

its hard to say what it is at this stage. the trademark includes CD / dvds game software download. or something like that, so it is some sort of game that has discs and a digital download by the sounds of it. so unless blizzard are releasing a whole new game based off pandaria then it seems like it must be a expac. doubt its a patch as they dont trademark those usually.

[Herecius]

I think the most damning evidence is actually that the trademark also includes 'mousepads' on top of everything else. What has Blizzard included with virtually every single expansion's collector's edition? Uh huh.

[conscript]

Without any info beside a name, this is hard to say. Personaly, i think (and i hope) it will be the next xpack.. but who know ? Maybe that will be a new facebook application ?

This is what a trademark for a Facebook game application looks like:

Word Mark	FARMVILLE
Goods and Services	IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game software; video game programs; computer software platforms for social networking; interactive video game programs; downloadable electronic game programs and computer software platforms for social networking that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information in the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment, and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties; magnetic coded gift cards. FIRST USE: 20090619. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090619
Mark Drawing Code	(5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number	85187825
Filing Date	November 30, 2010
Current Filing Basis	1A
Original Filing Basis	1A
Owner	(APPLICANT) Zynga Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 365 Vermont Street San Francisco CALIFORNIA 94103
Attorney of Record	John M. Kim
Description of Mark	Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of the word "FARMVILLE" written in all caps except the "i" with the "F" and the "V" larger than the rest of the letters.
Type of Mark	TRADEMARK
Register	PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator	LIVE

There are keywords which indicate what the trademark is intended for. In the case of Farmville, the key identifiers are "computer software platforms for social networking." Those indicate that it is a software for a social networking site, in this case Facebook. Now look at MoP:
"Computer game software; computer game discs; computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable computer game software; computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; downloadable electronic games via the internet and wireless devices; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads"

Nothing in there indicates that the game would be an online platform like Farmville. There is no reason to trademark a game for use and distribution through disks if it isn't a game you will be selling in stores. You don't print instruction manuals and distribute them with discs for Farmville.

[Dorkins]

Because it is a game. It's either an Xpac, or a seperate game. Period.

[jball2k]

I could be part of the Trading Card Game as well...There is no 100% solid evidence that this is the next xpack. Unless you HEAR it from Blizz, don't believe it.

It could be a content patch for the future though, maybe a new area for questing and dailies. Just be patient and stop jumping to conclusions. I trust Blizzard to make quality games, no matter how bizarre it sounds.

[Deleted]

Trademarking is expensive. They don't trademark things that aren't major releases.

Could be an expensive publicity stunt. Blizzard trademark 'Mists of Pandaria' knowing that we will pick up on it and rush to the conclusion it's an expansion. Everyone goes crazy with Q_Q, some love it, some hate it. Blizzcon rolls in, Blizzard announce the real expansion <insert epic name here> (something like 'Rise of the Seawitches'), discuss the role that Old Gods (N'Zoth), Naga and Panadaren will have in it. Everyone feels trolled.

Could happen, it's not as if Blizzard is a company that's in danger of going under.

[Thage]

Because based on the timing and the information uncovered, the circumstances are the same as previous expansions.

It's a guess, but a very educated one based on solid evidence. Try reading the big thread. All this has been asked and answered a dozen times.

This. It matches the timing for Cata, Wrath, and TBC's trademarks as well, and people were skeptical about Cata, so it's just more of the same.

I say bring it. Haters can hate, I'll be over here drinking firewine out of a gourd and beating people senseless with a bo staff.

[Kagdar]

The whole pandaren thing has always been somewhat of a joke

I'll just give you an example.

Someday you go and see your friends a tell them (as a joke) about some random thing. You start laughing, but nobody else is laughing. They all look at you and say "man that has to be the best idea ever!"

What would you do? I would continue on that idea. That is what happened with Pandaren in a sort. Blizz told a "joke" and nobody took it as a joke. Now they see the potential of this being real.

[Thage]

Could be an expensive publicity stunt. Blizzard trademark 'Mists of Pandaria' knowing that we will pick up on it and rush to the conclusion it's an expansion. Everyone goes crazy with Q_Q, some love it, some hate it. Blizzcon rolls in, Blizzard announce the real expansion <insert epic name here> (something like 'Rise of the Seawitches'), discuss the role that Old Gods (N'Zoth), Naga and Panadaren will have in it. Everyone feels trolled.

Could happen, it's not as if Blizzard is a company that's in danger of going under.

Registering a trademark with no intent to use it is also very illegal, I doubt they'd blow money to register a trademark, just to spend more money in a legal battle that they could stand to lose, and lose even more money as a result.

[jball2k]

This is what a trademark for a Facebook game application looks like:

Word Mark	FARMVILLE
Goods and Services	IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game software; video game programs; computer software platforms for social networking; interactive video game programs; downloadable electronic game programs and computer software platforms for social networking that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information in the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment, and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties; magnetic coded gift cards. FIRST USE: 20090619. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090619
Mark Drawing Code	(5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number	85187825
Filing Date	November 30, 2010
Current Filing Basis	1A
Original Filing Basis	1A
Owner	(APPLICANT) Zynga Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 365 Vermont Street San Francisco CALIFORNIA 94103
Attorney of Record	John M. Kim
Description of Mark	Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of the word "FARMVILLE" written in all caps except the "i" with the "F" and the "V" larger than the rest of the letters.
Type of Mark	TRADEMARK
Register	PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator	LIVE

There are keywords which indicate what the trademark is intended for. In the case of Farmville, the key identifiers are "computer software platforms for social networking." Those indicate that it is a software for a social networking site, in this case Facebook. Now look at MoP:
"Computer game software; computer game discs; computer game software and related instruction manuals and guides sold together as a unit; downloadable computer game software; computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; downloadable electronic games via the internet and wireless devices; interactive multimedia computer game program; mousepads"

Nothing in there indicates that the game would be an online platform like Farmville. There is no reason to trademark a game for use and distribution through disks if it isn't a game you will be selling in stores. You don't print instruction manuals and distribute them with discs for Farmville.

just because it's trademarked, doesn't mean it's going to happen. Just wait and see.

[Xeroz]

... This game is not the Xpac. its the title of the new MMO they are making . DOH ppl :P