Nintendo's E3 2012 press conference has come and gone and even though it was liberating to finally see the system in its "full" glory, the big N's determination to provide exceedingly little regarding new software (especially something that would define Wii U as a next generation console) and online connectivity left a foul taste in many gamers' mouths. While more information or at least an explanation of this conference should arrive by the 28th of June (The 72nd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders takes place then), all we have is more speculation. Though not much, I saw some more details about Miiverse in trademark filings through the USPTO.

For those that haven't heard of Miiverse, it appears to be a key component of Wii U's online services. Here's the official explanation from http://e3.nintendo.com/wiiu/:

Miiverse is a brand-new network communication system that lets gamers from around the world share experiences, discuss games and discover new content. Using their personalized Mii character, players enter Miiverse and see games, applications or entertainment content that either they have interacted with recently, expressed interest in learning more about or that their friends are using or discussing. From here they can challenge their friends to play together, ask a question about a difficult level or discover new elements of their favorite games they never knew existed. After a notable achievement or other share-worthy moment, players can pause their game or application and seamlessly post messages to the Miiverse community.

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Seems simple enough and provides a good explanation of what it is about. But wait, there's more! Trademark filings (filed on the 3rd of June, uploaded yesterday) through the USPTO speak of a heap more things surrounding Miiverse and with little else to talk about besides the few games announced and rumored hardware specs, let's get it out. A total of seven trademarks regarding Miiverse have been filed.

Trademark 85641805, Miiverse

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer software that allows users to interact via on-line social networks; computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, blogging, streaming, linking, sharing or otherwise providing images, information, data, sound, electronic media, and video games over the Internet or other communications networks; computer software which facilitates on-line services for social networking; downloadable video game programs; downloadable video game software; electronic publications regarding video games and social networking services; video game operating system software, programs and utility programs; video game programs; video game software

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Commentary: A more thorough explanation of the ways you can communicate with fellow players over Miiverse. The "blogging, streaming, linking, sharing" part is quite interesting due to what you can share. If "images" include video I don't know, but I doubt it. "Information" and "video games" could mean sharing save files. This also appears to describe firmware updates or perhaps Channels as seen on Wii.

Trademark 85641807, Miiverse

IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Accessories for video game systems, namely, carrying cases, protective films, power supplies, earphones, headsets; electronic game controllers, joysticks, and memory cards; hand-held game machines with liquid crystal displays; hand-held units for playing electronic games; video game consoles; video game controllers and video game joysticks; video game machines

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Commentary: This is standard and is filed for almost all Nintendo consoles and related services. Just means that Miiverse logos and graphics (screenshots, character renders etc.) can be printed on various kinds of accessories. Doesn't tell anything about how you use Miiverse.

Trademark 85641808, Miiverse

IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Management and administration of social networking site; marketing, advertising and promotion services; on-line retail store services featuring digital media and video games; on-line service for connecting social network users with retailers for the purpose of facilitating purchases; providing an on-line directory information service featuring information regarding on-line member communities and social networks; promoting the goods and services of others via computer and communication networks; promoting the goods of others, namely, providing information regarding discounts, coupons, rebates, vouchers and special offers for the goods of others

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Commentary: Shortly described, this means ads and marketing campaigns. "on-line service for connecting social network users with retailers for the purpose of facilitating purchases" means to me that Best Buy, GameSpot and other stores could have opportunities to create some kind of apps for displaying what's on sale. Nintendo explained on the 27th of April in its Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2012 that it would sell its digital download products to its retailers, and the retailers sell them in turn to the consumers. There was also talk about some kind of in-store retail kiosk from where games could be bought (convenient for those that do not want to share their credit card number online). Maybe what is described in this filing is a mean to raise awareness about this. In any way, expect ads in varying forms. Maybe even in-game.

Trademark 85641809, Miiverse

IC 038. US 100 101 104. G & S: Audio and video broadcasting services, namely, posting, displaying and otherwise electronically transmitting data, audio, video and information over the Internet or other communications network; electronic transmission of audio, videos, images, electronic games, and information; electronic transmission of instant messages, text messages, voice and data; providing access to computer, electronic and on-line databases; providing on-line chat rooms, video chat, on-line forums and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among computer users regarding user-defined content; providing on-line chat rooms, video chat, on-line forums and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages, information, images, data, audio, and videos, among social network users in the field of general interest; telecommunications services, namely, electronic transmission of data and digital messaging via wired and wireless communication devices; telecommunications services, namely, enabling users to electronically transmit messages, text, multimedia content, videos, audio, animation and images via a global computer network

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Commentary: Well, here's even more info about what you will be able to share. The most popular things I can think for this of are speedrun/walkthrough videos and something reminiscent of the Nintendo NSider Forums (which Nintendo closed down indefinitely in September 2007). Video chat has been demonstrated as well, that ought to be rather interesting (at least if it can be used as voice chat, which these filings do not explicitly mention).

Trademark 85641810, Miiverse

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Arranging and conducting competitions for video gamers and computer game players; electronic publishing services, namely, publishing of on-line works of others featuring user-created text, audio, video, and graphics; entertainment services, namely, providing on-line electronic games; providing on-line journals, namely, blogs featuring user-created content; providing computer, electronic and on-line databases in the field of entertainment; providing information relating to computer games and social network services; providing information relating to contests and games; providing images, videos, audio, data, graphics, sounds in the field of entertainment

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Commentary: This is mentioned in the official description with players being able to challenge their friends to play together. If this filing means exactly the same I don't know, but from what I understand it means that Nintendo could arrange competitions of various kinds (a return of Nintendo World Championships maybe) or simply administer leaderboards for games (Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. would probably be the best choices for this). Seems to be a definite advancement from Wii where there were basically no challenges or competitions at all (except for in Mario Kart).

Trademark 85641811, Miiverse

IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Computer services, namely, creating an on-line community for registered users to communicate and interact with others, participate in discussions, get feedback from their peers, form virtual communities, and engage in social networking in the field of general interest; computer services, namely, interactive hosting services which allow the user to publish and share their own content and images on-line; creating and maintaining blogs for others; providing a web site featuring technology that enables users to upload and share video, photos, text, graphics, data and audio; providing a web site featuring technology that enables on-line users to create personal profiles featuring social networking information

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Commentary: Even more describes something similar to Nintendo NSider Forums, and also seems to hint about an equivalence to Gamertags (with Miis instead of Avatars). If this site where you can upload images and videos etc. will be a part of or linked from your profile I don't know, but I assume you should be able to store some things under your profile.

Trademark 85641812, Miiverse

IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Internet based social networking and introduction services; on-line social networking services; providing on-line computer databases and on-line searchable databases in the field of social networking

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Commentary: Very short filing, appears to be about a database you can search for friends and game content. "Introduction services" could mean some kind of tutorial.

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All of these trademarks are searchable via the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) of the USPTO: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=searchstr&state=4008:bsvgll.1.1

Just copy the serial number of the trademark to the search box and choose "Serial number" in the drop-down menu.

This should give at least a bit more insight in what Nintendo is working on regarding online services. I must mention though that this is only preliminary, these marks must be registered first for Nintendo to be able to use them efficiently. But it's a start.

Sounds like good stuff, with a few new details. I'm waiting to see what the end experience feels like before I like Miiverse a lot or end up not using it much, though.

Good work as always, Rosti.

Thanks for all the information, it looks like it's going to be a really full-featured and open system.

Humm...

I like this idea much more so than just the straight forward "go to a lobby and play" type of thing. Seems geared toward actual usefulness, and really puts an emphasis on being connected no matter what you are doing...should you choose to be. I'm not sure how the while human resources thing will go for them, but perhaps people will be less likely to abuse it once they hear about other's posting privileges being taken away permanently from similar behavior.

Or not.