Big newsy week round these here parts of Kotakopolis. Lucasarts celebrated Lego Indiana Jones by pinkslipping a shitload of coders. Jack Thompson stomped out of his big parent-teacher conference and missed hearing a judge read the preamble to his professional obituary. Crecente and ESA's head rapped about the trade org's problems, namely big-name members walking out. Also developments in the big "Will and For Whom Will Take-Two Put Out?" saga. In all, a lot of stuff that had Kotaku's crack staff — special hat tip to News Editor Leigh Alexander — making phone calls, pulling docs and getting it all put together fast against the deadline. The week in Kotaku original reporting, with more after the jump, because there was lots.

Edit: Yes I changed the headline. I agonized for hours over how to pun that one, and it just now came to me. Carry on.

Analyst: LucasArts Layoffs About EA, Studio Politics
LucasArts Confirms Layoffs, Says The Dev Is Still Healthy
Zelnick: We're "Actively Engaged" In Talking To Potential Acquirers
Breaking: First GTA IV Episodic DLC To Come To Xbox 360 In Q1 09
ESA Talks Problems, Perceptions, Promises
Jack Thompson Walks Out On Hearing, Court Recommends Enhanced Disbarment

Turnin' Around: Highlights From THQ's Press Event
The Olympic Gamers
Why My GRID Review Is Late
Rumor: Ex-Lucasarts Staffer Talks KOTOR 3, More Indy, Wii Lightsaber Game
Rumor: LucasArts Sees Massive Layoffs, Outsources Jobs
Eww, Cool! Deadly Creatures Impressions
Awwwww, Look At Him: Checking Out Wall-E
SpongeBob Drawn To Life Like Drawn To Life, But With SpongeBob
First Impressions Of Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise
Strong Bad's Cool Game Slips To July
Zelnick: Expect BioShock Film Alongside BioShock 3
GTA IV Sold 8.5 Million, Shipped 11 Million So Far
Rainbow Connection: Hands On With De Blob
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Review: Whip it, Whip it Good
Impressions: Lock's Quest Mixes Old-School With Innovative Ideas
So What's Our Metal Gear Solid 4 Surprise?
Kojima Productions Responds to MGS4 NDA Complaints
Kojima Productions Says "No MGS4 90 Minute Cutscenes"
Fishy Copies Of MGS4 Already In British Hands
EA, FTC Agree On Take-Two Bid Deadline, Another Extension Likely
Frankenreview, Lego Indiana Jones (Xbox 360)
TECMO: Itagaki's Last Day is July 1, Team NINJA Still Developing
Sony Make In-Game Ad Deal Official
Tecmo Responds To Itagaki
Guitar Hero: Metallica Doesn't Affect Rock Band's Plans
Resident Evil 5 Not Redesigned After Race Criticism, Says Producer
In "Creatively Dead" Industry, Change Comes From The Outside
About Kotaku Reviews
Interview: Halo Designer Leaves Bungie For Academia
Microsoft Thanks Itagaki For Years of Support
Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-Slick Precipice Of Darkness Review
Hands-On With Street Fighter IV: The Final Arcade Version
Why You Should Comment On Kotaku
Dark Void Gameplay Impressions
Bionic Commando Hands-On Impressions
First Resident Evil 5 Gameplay Impressions
Japan Gets The Blue PSP As Well
Japan Gets A New, Red PS2
Itagaki Leaving Tecmo, Suing Tecmo
Missed Darkrai? You Might Have Another Shot
Hands On With Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Metal Gear Solid 4 Shibuya Billboards
The Video Game Defense That Wasn't

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