Alpha Centauri trademark sought by EA

EA has filed two applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office for Alpha Centauri.

Gamespot turned up the two trademarks for Alpha Centauri.

The first pertains to "entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet". The second broaches the "computer game software; downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices" categories.

Both applications were made by EA on August 1.

Co-created by Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds, Alpha Centauri is a spin off to Civilization which commands an overlapping, fairly rabid fan base. The sole game and expansion were published in 1999 by EA. Developer Firaxis is now owned by 2K Games.

Don't get too excited. EA regularly files to protect trademarks associated with properties it's not ready to abandon, such as Road Rash. It's usually years before we hear about any related projects, and often, they've been cancelled by then. Probably not Syndicate, though.