Kotaku: New Zealand

If You Want to Stay Up Playing Xbox Games, Don't Snort Ritalin

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:30:00 EDT

A teenager from The Hutt Valley, New Zealand, was last week trying to stay up late playing his Xbox 360. Instead of doing what normal people do, and drink a ton of coffee, he got smart and tried to snort some Ritalin. More »

Let's Check out a Sports Game That Isn't American (or About Soccer)

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:30:00 EDT

The biggest sports game in the world is EA's FIFA series. After that? A whole bunch of American sports. Great for Americans, or the sport's fans, but they're not the only sports in the world. More »

PSN Service Now Being Restored in Europe, Australia, Latin America

Owen Good — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:28:43 EDT

Reactivation of PlayStation Network, completed early this morning for all of North America, is now proceeding in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and South America, PlayStation Europe said through its official Twitter moments ago. More »

Earthquake Relief, 99 Cents At a Time

Brian Crecente — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EDT

It was like a freight train hit the building. More »

Kinect-Rigged Robot Could Help With Future Quake Recovery

Owen Good — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:30:00 EST

An earthquake fixed attention and sympathy this week on New Zealand, where more than 100 died and more than 200 still are missing. Authorities probing the rubble surrounding Christchurch find some buildings too unsafe to enter. A Kinect-enabled robot, developed by British researchers, could help in such situations. More »

MotorStorm Game Yanked In New Zealand After Earthquake [Update]

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:50:00 EST

MotorStorm: Apocalypse is an upcoming racing game that features buildings falling down all around you. In the wake of a devastating earthquake in the city of Christchurch, that's apparently resulted in the game no longer being released in New Zealand. More »

Millions Of Music Tracks Now Available On North American PlayStation 3

Mike Fahey — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

Music Unlimited, Sony's streaming music service, hits North American PlayStation 3 consoles today, giving users 30 days access to millions of musical tracks before subscription fees kick in. More »

Baby Dies While Man Plays PlayStation

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:00:00 EST

While a 5-month old baby died from internal bleeding, 21-year-old Trent Owen Ngaruhe Hapuku apparently continued playing his PlayStation. More »

See Kinect's Thousands Of Points Of Invisible Light

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:40:00 EDT

Kinect works by projecting infared light throughout the room it's situated in. Under normal circumstances, it's invisible, but switch to night vision mode and you can actually see the dots floating around your living room. More »

Kevin Butler Gets a Gift Basket of Sorry from New Zealand

Owen Good — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EDT

The New Zealand TV network that ripped off a PS3 ad and was called on it by fake executive Kevin Butler sent the PlayStation "vice president of everything," a large gift basket as a gesture of goodwill. More »

SE Asian, Australasian Starcraft II Players Allowed Onto North American Servers

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:31:00 EDT

Anyone buying the SE Asian or Aus/NZ version of Starcraft II will be allowed to play on North American servers, Blizzard revealed today. More »

Sony Rip-Off Ad Pulled!

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EDT

New Zealand television network TV3's recent ad seems incredibly similar to a PS3 commercial from earlier this year. No wonder it won't be running again. More »

Kevin Butler Responds To New Zealand Copycats

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:30:00 EDT

Hey, New Zealand TV, you can't go ripping off a PlayStation ad and not expect Sony's VP of Antipodean Beard Standards Kevin Butler to bring the thunder. More »

Sony Commercial Ripped Off

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:30:00 EDT

TV3 is a television network in New Zealand. Its latest ad seems very similar to this Sony PS3 spot. More »

Where Isn't StarCraft II Launching?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:00:00 EDT

On July 27, 2010, real-time strategy game StarCraft II is going on sale in over fifteen countries. There are more than fifteen countries on Earth. More »

Centaurian Shows How To Make A Game Trailer

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EDT

Flash game Centaurian already has one great trailer under its belt. But I think this "live @ E3" one is even better. More »

Splinter Cell Stunt Almost Gets Someone Shot

Owen Good — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EDT

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Note to flacks: Cops aren't considering concepts like viral marketing or cosplay when an actor staggers into a pub district to point a plastic gun at the patrons. Promoters of Splinter Cell Conviction just learned this in New Zealand. More »

+ Muscle, + Stamina, - Fat

Owen Good — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

Poster seen by reader Reagan M. in a gym - not in Ganton, but New Zealand. More »

Remaking Commander Keen

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST

With id showing no signs of reviving the Commander Keen IP anytime soon, a guy in New Zealand is taking it upon himself to remake the game, give it a more contemporary touch. More »

Rugby League Comes To The Wii

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:30:00 EDT

The Wii has thus far been a haven for developers with last-gen experience lacking the money to make the jump to 360 or PS3. Today's announcement of Rugby League 3 for the platform is no different. More »

Microsoft Introducing Age-Based Xbox Live Lockdown (In New Zealand)

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:30:00 EDT

Kinda strange development taking place over in New Zealand, with Microsoft taking the rather drastic step of blocking every single under-18 user in the country from downloading paid content on their 360's. Even kid-friendly stuff. More »

Nintendo Launch Another Official Magazine

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:30:00 EST

Print is, for the most part, dying a slow and protracted death. Magazines are shrinking, merging or going out of business the world over. And not just games mags, all mags. Add in the current economic "crisis" and you're looking at one hell of a time to go launching a new magazine. But launching one is precisely what Future are doing, with news today that they're kicking off a new Official Nintendo Magazine for the Australian and New Zealand market. The first issue goes on sale in December, doesn't include a cover disc (at least, not yet), and will go for AUD$8.95. Going back to what was said at the start of this post...best of luck, gents! More »

The Gamesman: 100% Kiwi Pwned

Owen Good — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Geekpulp is reporting unofficial word that The Gamesman, New Zealand's largest independent gaming store ("100 percent Kiwi-Owned!"), will be consumed by the EB Games empire and rebranded. This comes on the heels of Kiwi-run GamesPlus, which also caved in last year. More »

New Zealand's Nintendo/Activision Distributor Goes Belly-Up

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:30:00 EDT

Yup. Strange as it may seem in this day and age where their products are a license to - yes - print money, New Zealand's distributor of Nintendo (and Activision) products, Softprint Interactive, have gone bust. Carked it. According to local site Geekpulp, debtors rocked up to the company's offices on Friday, and seized all their stock. Which means no more Nintendo or Activision gear for New Zealand until the whole mess is sorted out. As for what happens next, when we asked about the situation, neighbours Nintendo Australia issued the following statement: More »

This Is Living (And A Talking Urinal Cake)

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:20:00 EDT

This footage was taken at a recent SCE New Zealand press event. In the men's bathroom. It's...just...yeah. More »

Australia And Friends Added To Warhammer Online Launch

Mike Fahey — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:40:00 EDT

The worldwide launch for EA Mythic's Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning just got a bit more worldwide. Recognizing the legion of Warhammer fans in Australia and New Zealand, the two countries along with Southeast Asia will bet getting the game the same time those of us in Europe and North America do, complete with their own servers so they don't have to mingle with dirty Americans. EA Mythic VP Mark Jacobs breaks out 'down under' so I don't have to.

"Warhammer is a world-wide franchise with a strong following in Australia and New Zealand. By placing our own server down under and running customer service out of EA Mythic, we can ensure that when we launch WAR, Oceanic players will experience the same quality of game play and customer service as North American players"

While players in the region will still have the option of connecting to North American servers, I'm hoping they stay on their own side to keep them from propagating their drop bear propaganda. I made a special spiky hat, you lying bastards! More »

Kiwi GTA Modder Might Face Real Cops

ogood — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Interesting story out of New Zealand. Modder Stacy O'Callaghan, "sick of all this American rubbish" in the GTA franchise, set about modding his PC version (doesn't say which) to include official New Zealand police insignia on the cops and the cop cars. More »

Don't Blame Sonic For Hedgehog Violence

Mike Fahey — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:20:00 EDT

We have to nip this story in the bud before the mainstream media get a hold of it, though it may already be too late! There is absolutely no connection between Sonic the Hedgehog and the New Zealand man who allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old boy with a flying erinaceus europaeus.

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.

The suspect has been charged with assault with a weapon (the hedgehog) and faces trial on April 17th. Police cannot tell if the hedgehog, found on the ground dead after the assault, was alive pre-flight. The gaming community needs to distance ourselves from this incident quickly, before another gaming icon comes under fire from major media outlets. Gamers don't mildly injure people. Crazy men flinging small pointy mammals mildly injure people. More »

Halo Fever

Brian Crecente — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:00:36 EDT

If you couldn't tell, Halo Fever is in full force right now. The game may not be perfect (sorry Eurogamer) but it certainly has its selling points and I think Microsoft's boast that they want to dethrone Spider-Man 3's mammoth opening weekend with a mammoth Halo 3 launch day aren't that outlandish. More »

Peter Jackson Will/Won't Be Doing Animated Halo

Brian Ashcraft — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:00:29 EDT

Peter Jackson's Halo movie may be on ice, but that doesn't mean he's not doing Halo stuff. In an interview with game site GameSpy, Microsoft's Shane Kim apparently said the filmmaker is making an interactive, animated series. Apparently, because Microsoft PR is denying it. Anyway, here's what Kim originally said: More »

PSP Outsells DS... In New Zealand

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:22:30 EST

Ah, New Zealand. Kiwi fruit, Peter Jackson and, above, rugby. Pencil in "Sony-lovers" for another thing the island nation is famous for. Last November and December, Sony moved 21,800 PS2s units, which accounts for 70 percent of the consoles sold. Says Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand's Warwick Light (killer name!): More »

Games Make You Drive Like an Idiot

Mike Fahey — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:40:06 EST

Three teens in New Zealand died on Christmas Eve when they led the police on a high speed chase which ended with a crash into a pine tree and a roll down a gully. Now the New Zealand Herald reports that a national transport spokesperson is blaming bad teen driving on video games. More »

New Zealand Wii Launch Date Announced

kotaku.com — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:40:47 EDT

Well, we thought we'd squeezed the last squidge of meconium-like Wii launch announcements out of the Internet's communal bowel, but it seems that's not the case. More »

Open Yer Wallets, Import PS3 Priced

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:22:11 EDT

Don't live in America or Japan? Want a PLAYSTATION 3? This post is for you. Gadget exporter Audio Cubes has opened the flood gates on pre-order for the 20GB Sony PS3. The unit will set customers back a cool US $699, which is at a $70 premium when compared to the European pricing for the same model. The site does not yet have pricing on the bells and whistles 60GB console. Expect it to be somewhere between expensive and expensive. (But probably better than anything on eBay.) Brian Ashcraft More »

It's Not Microsoft that Halo Movie Studio Loves, But Nintendo

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 07:22:23 EDT

New Zealand effects company and production studio Weta Workshop brought us optical magic for Xena and Lord of the Rings, and it is working on Peter Jackson's Halo film. The workshop commissioned a large public sculpture in downtown Wellington called "Tripod" to celebrate the Kiwi film industry. Seems innocuous enough, but up close, the statue reveals the truth: Halo or not, Weta are hardcore Ninty fanboys. Hit the jump for the picture proof and just wait for a pic of Peter Jackson's "secret" Mario ass tatt to surface. Brian Ashcraft More »

The Nokia Wii-mote

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:20:35 EDT

Wired News reports that researchers in New Zealand are working on turning Nokia cell phones into AR (augmented reality) controllers. In a game called AR Tennis, a piece of paper is laid on a table to provide framework for the virtual space. To serve, hit the #2 key on the phone. When the ball is in play, players swing their phones like real tennis rackets. A sound and a vibration let them know when they've hit the ball. More »

Giant Kiwi Xbox 360 Bus

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:44:45 EST

On March 23rd, the Xbox 360 finally launches in idyllic New Zealand. To promote the event, a custom metallic bus is bringing 360 goodness to all Kiwis. Inside the bus, there are playable demos of Project Gotham Racing 3, Fight Night Round 3, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Call of Duty 3, Perfect Dark Zero, Dead or Alive 4, Kameo: Elements of Power and Amped 3. The bus will be touring Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and loads of other cities throughout the North and South islands. Kiwis, you have no excuse not to get your game on! More »

Jackson Lands Seven-Digit Advance for Halo

Brian Crecente — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 14:00:41 EDT

Just how much will Peter Jackson and his wife, Fran Walsh, get to executive produce, not direct, Halo the movie? According to Variety the rotund Kiwi will land a seven-figure (as in one more than six) advance against gross points. Yowsa, did you say advance? On a side note: The thing will be filmed in New Zealand, home of Hobbits and Xena. More »