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WBIE Registers Domains For Arkham Asylum Follow-Up

Batman: Arkham Asylum 2: Arkham Harder not included.

Riddle me this: if a publisher shoots its game-reveal wad in front of a televised audience, does it dare change the name of the game revealed? Conventional marketing suggests that the answer is "no," but in the case of Batman: Arkham Asylum 2, the need of a name-flop seems downright dire -- and WB appears to get that.  
 
A recent rash of WB URL registrations spotted by super sleuth super annuation suggests that the Batman follow-up is receiving the re-direction that it screams for considering that it's not even based in the place its name indicates. As you'll notice, most of these domains seem like decent subtitle material and, at worst, fodder meant to throw us off the trail. But there's arguably one prominent theme in all of this mess: a Gotham city in trouble. This idea, at least, jives with what little we saw during the game's Spike Video Games Award show reveal.
 

 
The registrations: 

  • http://whois.domaintools.com/arkhamcity.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmanarkhamcity.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmanashesofgotham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmanbrokenground.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmannewarkham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmangranddelusion.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmanriseofarkham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmansiegeofgotham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/batmanstateofvillainy.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/cityofarkham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/closearkhamcity.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/peopleforgotham.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/stopmayorsharp.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/waringothamcity.com
  • http://whois.domaintools.com/wheresbrucewayne.com

Ashes of Gotham strikes me as the forerunner. Even if it was a subtitle, it still gives the curious Wal-Mart fan the sense of the game's purported scale. State of Villainy wouldn't be too bad, either, I suppose, if the follow-up ends up being that a boss-monster heavy romp across a Gotham gone wild.  

I should note that it's possible these aren't connected to the sequel, but the Quincy Sharp reference seems to indicate as much. Apparently, the warden of Arkham in Batman: Arkham Asylum was created specifically for use in the game(s).  So, there you go.
Alphazeroon July 12, 2010 at 10:01 a.m.
Neat! 
 
Playing Splinter Cell Conviction recently reminded me quite a bit of the first Arkham Asylum. Sam Fisher is the drunk, Canadian Batman.
Meptronon July 12, 2010 at 10:02 a.m.
seems like Arkham City comes up a few times. I like the ring of that.
Landonon July 12, 2010 at 10:02 a.m.
Almost all of these are better names than Arkham Asylum 2. Now, if only The Force Unleashed 2 will change it's name.
rjayb89 is online on July 12, 2010 at 10:03 a.m.
Batman: Batman that Hoe.
Venatioon July 12, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.
I really hope that the new Batman game isn't called Arkham Assylum 2
ZeForgotten is online on July 12, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.
I like People Forgot Ham the most! 
What!? It's People For Gotham? .. meh
fwyloon July 12, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.
City of Arkham is badass. 
 
Though Arkham Harder is hilarious.
AuthenticMon July 12, 2010 at 10:06 a.m.
I root for Ashes of Gotham.
NekuCTRon July 12, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
I don't think that all, if any of these are intended to become game names. for example wheres Bruce Wayne is more likely to become a campaign slogan than the actual name of the game, and also they seemed pretty set on Arkam Asylum 2 .
alternateon July 12, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
No surprise, I never believed it would actually be called straight out Arkham 2.  All sequels will just be Batman + subtitle - it is the Batman name that sells to a casual audience.
 
I quite like  batman broken ground but I suspect one of those with Arkham or Gotham in the title will be chosen.
Meatsimon July 12, 2010 at 10:15 a.m.
Makes sense if the game won't be in the actual Arkham Asylum.
Bones8677on July 12, 2010 at 10:16 a.m.
I agree Batman: Ashes of Gotham sounds like the best of that list. Gettin' pretty excited. ^_^
This_Dudeon July 12, 2010 at 10:17 a.m.
The original AA was one of my favorite games of all time.  It was great to finally feel like you were Batman, and have access to his full potential.
iAmJohnon July 12, 2010 at 10:23 a.m.
Ashes of Gotham plz.
RedSpark47on July 12, 2010 at 10:25 a.m.
Batman asylum seems like a good name 
TurboManon July 12, 2010 at 10:29 a.m.
War in Gotham seems good to me.
wreckson July 12, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
Arkham Unleashed.
Binman88 is online on July 12, 2010 at 10:35 a.m.
@ZeForgotten said:
" I like People Forgot Ham the most! What!? It's People For Gotham? .. meh "
lmao
damswedonon July 12, 2010 at 10:36 a.m.
They should straight call the game Batman: Streets of Gotham.
FuzzYLemoNon July 12, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.
Um, correction: The game has never had a name. Go back and watch the trailer, foo'!

Dig Deeper into Batman: Arkham City

The sequel to 2009's groundbreaking Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City takes place in a secluded part of Gotham that's been transformed into an enormous prison colony for the city's criminals, and it is once again up to Batman to keep things in order.

US Release Date: Oct. 18, 2011

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