Microsoft abandons Blinx trademark

[MightyJordan]

 

Microsoft has abandoned its trademark for Blinx, the time-sweeping cat who first appeared on the original Xbox.

 

Initially positioned as Microsoft's rival to Mario and Crash Bandicoot, the Xbox mascot appeared in two games that saw players taking control of time while armed with a vacuum cleaner.

 

The original game, which released in late 2002, was touted as only being possible on Xbox thanks to the console's built-in hard drive. A sequel arrived two years later.

 

But after a 10 year break it seems that Microsoft has finally laid Blinx to rest, having cancelled the trademark on December 26.

 

The dream for a third game, it seems, is finally hoover.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/microsoft_abandons_blinx_trademark.html

 

The first one was one of my favourite Xbox exclusives.

 

 

^ And I just love the music in the trailer.

[compl3x]

Initially positioned as Microsoft's rival to Mario and Crash Bandicoot, the Xbox mascot appeared in two games that saw players taking control of time while armed with a vacuum cleaner.

 

 

 

Must have failed pretty bad because I have honestly never heard of Blinx.

 

 

The dream for a third game, it seems, is finally hoover.

 

 

 

[chrisj1968]

[LimeMaster]

Aw, that game was unintentionally hilarious from what I remember of it.

[TAZMINATOR]

Not heard of it.. 

 

[.Ruby]

I hope there's an HD remake for X1

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I hope there's an HD remake for X1

 

Unlikely. They'd have to renew the trademark to do so. Not abandon it

[compl3x]

Unlikely. They'd have to renew the trademark to do so. Not abandon it

 

 

Ah ha! That's what they want us to think! It's all a clever ruse! Blinx reboot confirmed!

[LaP]

I'm surprised people never heard of Blinx. The game was marketed as a Mario killer and failed to deliver on a scale that will never be seen again in the history and mankind.

[nosense]

This isn't the first time MS let the trademark lapse. The trade mark for Killer Instinct  lapse and fox trademarked the name for a tv show.

[compl3x]

I'm surprised people never heard of Blinx. The game was marketed as a Mario killer and failed to deliver on a scale that will never be seen again in the history and mankind.

 

 

You're suggesting we should know it because it was such a notorious failure? I honestly have never heard of it.

 

Maybe people remember an exaggerated version of the claims made. Like Blur was marketed as a more mature version of Mario Kart. 

[.Ruby]

Unlikely. They'd have to renew the trademark to do so. Not abandon it

lol true, I felt like MS could of injected some new life into the IP and reboot the series, maybe animal mascots are losing their luster that they've once had in the 90s..

[Aergan]

Odd they would do this really. Suppose "Project Gotham" will be next.

[LaP]

You're suggesting we should know it because it was such a notorious failure? I honestly have never heard of it.

 

 

 

No you should know it because it was marketed as a mario killer. Honestly it was a very big game for the xbox. People talked about it a lot back in the days.

 

"Blinx: The Time Sweeper is one of Microsoft's most touted games of the season, a 3D platformer exclusively for the Xbox that's intended to give the system a mascot much like Nintendo had in Mario, Sega had in Sonic, and Sony had in Crash."

 

Written by Greg Kasavin a guy who knew his ****.

 

http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/blinx-the-time-sweeper-review/1900-2882485/

[-T- Member]

Aww poor Blinx, that game was properly hard

[Torolol]

should've make Cortana as Mario's 'Rival', but what kind of game that featuring Cortana as main protagonist?

[theyarecomingforyou]

I'm surprised people never heard of Blinx. The game was marketed as a Mario killer and failed to deliver on a scale that will never be seen again in the history and mankind.

Well clearly it wasn't marketed well, as I've never heard of it and was an avid gamer back then (as I am today).

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

You're suggesting we should know it because it was such a notorious failure?

 

Notoriety suggests recognition, so actually kinda yeah

[LaP]

Well clearly it wasn't marketed well, as I've never heard of it and was an avid gamer back then (as I am today).

 

Well it failed

 

But this is what MS wanted to do with the franchise when they made a deal with Naoto Ohshima a former member of Sonic Team and designer for Sonic games.

 

I'm really surprised you did not hear about it. It was hyped to death on IGN and Gamespot boards by XBox fans.

[blank]

Never heard of it.

[GotBored]

Like everyone else almost. 

 

Never heard of it.

 

Quantum Break: The game is played from a cover-based third-person perspective, with time manipulation powers

 

 

It seems to be the new Blinx, so no need for the old IP.

[Hedon]

This is a bummer. It was popular back in the day when it was released. I still have it as a matter of fact. Awesome game.

[ta61839]

I grew up with the blinx series. Here are the images i have. I own both Blinx games for the original xbox. I also cherished the game series so i don't know why they dropped the series because blinx 3 was being made.