Kotaku: Satire

Welcome Back to Earth, Mars500; Guitar Hero Died While You Were (Not) Gone

Owen Good — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EDT

Guitar Hero Died While You Were (Not) Gone" alt="Click here to read Welcome Back to Earth, Mars500; Guitar Hero Died While You Were (Not) Gone" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_e9882e9fd03b617571dbf2c3b60b3479.jpg"/>

The six brave non-adventurers of the Mars500 project yesterday emerged from their capsule for the first time in 18 months, finding they had returned to a dystopic Earth where their Guitar Hero skills were utterly useless. More »

L.A. Noire, in Five Seconds

Owen Good — Sat, 28 May 2011 16:29:35 EDT

L.A. Noire, in Five Seconds" alt="Click here to read L.A. Noire, in Five Seconds" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/05/small_lvzvh-velvu.jpg"/>

This is true. Another way to handle it is the roommate going apeshit at an innocent response to a procedural question. [5 Second Films, thanks Carlos L.] More »

If You Like This Video, Give It a Thumbs Up, If Not, Give It a Favorite

Owen Good — Sat, 14 May 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Here's "Generic Geoff," taking us through a free-for-all victory (on combat training) in just under three minutes. If it sounds like you've heard all of this shit before, that's the point. It's a sendup of just about every YouTube walkthrough video ever made, especially for the shooters. More »

Mimecraft Totally Sucks and Is Boring

Owen Good — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Rooster Teeth makes like Letterman from The Electric Company, swapping an N for an M to give us this comedy short. Hang around for the end - who doesn't like it when mimes pantomime ... that ...? More »

Terrible 1990s Console Games Simulate the 2011 NBA Playoffs

Owen Good — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EDT

SB Nation had a good thing going, picking winners of the first round of the NBA Playoffs using awful games like Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball and IN THE ZONE '98. But then the Miami-Philadelphia series was simulated using Streets of Rage. Streets of Rage is not a crappy video game. More »

Making a Point About the Pointlessness of Unboxing Videos

Owen Good — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EDT

Having done only one unboxing - and it was of fried chicken - I feel I may post this video without it being an overt display of my hypocrisy. Unboxing videos have always struck me like childbirth videos, albeit without the blood, umbilical cord, placenta, etc. As YouTube's Cool Gear Reviews notes, they're exciting only to the person filming them, and packed with details I could live without knowing. More »

Here's an Unlicensed Game Featuring Tiger Woods at The Masters

Owen Good — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EDT

Unlicensed Game Featuring Tiger Woods at The Masters" alt="Click here to read Here's an Unlicensed Game Featuring Tiger Woods at The Masters" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/04/small_tigerassassinsplash.jpg"/>

The Masters Tournament, which graces Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters (duh), begins with its opening round tomorrow at Augusta National. Hecklers and disturbances are either unanticipated or flat impossible thanks to the golf club's otherworldly security - in this flash game's case, a sniper ready to take out any troublemakers. More »

Indie Dev Meme Speaks Truth to the Powerless

Owen Good — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Meme Generator now has "Optimistic Indie Dev" on its menu of choices, and it's become quite active. Some suck, but a lot provide biting commentary on independent games development, in a can't-live-with-em-can't-live-without-em way. For an all-star selection of the best, go here. More »

What If Michael Bay Directed an Angry Birds Movie?

Owen Good — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Angry Birds Movie?" alt="Click here to read What If Michael Bay Directed an Angry Birds Movie?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/03/small_2math4b9bto.jpg"/>

When Rooster Teeth swivels its main guns onto a particular topic, you can count on that sucker being blasted off the map. And here is a comprehensively excellent faux trailer that reframes Angry Birds as an action drama about secret wars fought with advanced technology. Or a slingshot and birds. More »

The Art That Takes a Bazooka to Bullshit Art

Owen Good — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EDT

Jeff Koons, if you know anything about modern art (you don't? Doesn't everyone?) is quite the polarizing figure. His specialty is the grandiose reproduction of a kitschy object - balloon animals, for example. He's sold one such piece for $25 million. That pisses off people, some so much they want blow up his work with a rocket launcher. More »

iTunes Store Rejects The Onion's Face-Shooting Joke App

Owen Good — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EDT

Remember "Close Range"? The Onion's violent video game satire got a web-based flash game after its hilarious introduction in April, and soon the satirical publication began work on an iPhone app. Until Apple killed the fun, of course. More »

Achievement Unlocked 2: Revenge of the Pastry Pooping Pachyderms

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EDT

The original Flash game Achievement Unlocked was a groundbreaking milestone in crossing virtual accomplishments off a list. Never has staying alive for 30 seconds or moving to the right felt so rewarding. Until now. Until Achievement Unlocked 2. More »

Madden NFL Doritos Impressions: Saltier. Cheesier. Orange-ier.

Owen Good — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EDT

Madden NFL 11 strives to make your football video game experience "simpler, quicker, deeper." Not sure what dedicated Dorito support can add to this - maybe "more stoned?" - but two flavors "inspired" by the game have hit store shelves. More »

BP Unwinds in Another Unspoiled Wilderness

Owen Good — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:20:00 EDT

A spoof tweet from a faked BP public relations account, which has gotten lots of followers in the past week, not all of whom are in on the joke. The Xbox Live tag does not exist. More »

What About "Evil Monkey Clanging Cymbals Man"?

Owen Good — Sun, 23 May 2010 18:30:00 EDT

This video goes back to the drawing board on Mega Man III's promise of "all-new terrifying foes." But what about Backhair Man? Sudden Cop Light in Your Rearview Mirror Man? Envelope From the IRS Man? Girlfriend Missed Her Period Man? More »

TF2 Maps Get a Stimulus

Owen Good — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:00:00 EDT

TF2 Maps Get a Stimulus" alt="Click here to read TF2 Maps Get a Stimulus" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_b40f326e7b02b334b2bca17b97f50bad.png"/>

If Activision had made Team Fortress 2. By Steam forum user nofriends, seen yesterday by reader Zach. More »

This Drunk Driving 'Game' Actually Has a Message

Owen Good — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:30:00 EDT

As Kotaku's resident deplorable alcoholic, expectations for me are low enough that not only can I post something this reprehensible, it's practically expected. So here's the problem of drunk driving imagined as a 1990s-style game - note, this game doesn't exist. More »

Upper-Crust Games Satire Features Glaring Continuity Error

Owen Good — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:20:00 EST

Disney's forthcoming, darker reboot of Mickey Mouse caught the eye of the Shouts & Murmurs satire column in this week's New Yorker, the second time in three months the highbrow mag has deigned to poke fun with a video-game purpose. More »

Well, He Does Look Like He Could Work There

Owen Good — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST

Once again, The Onion cuts to the chase: Lane Kiffin, the new football coach at Southern California is rumored* to have been wooed away from the job by the chance of a lifetime: Working at a GameStop. More »

Super Mario Bros., with Fake Boobs and Fake Bakes

Owen Good — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:30:00 EST

To satirize self-styled guidos (and guidettes) who better than Mario and Luigi? Dr. Coolsex, the group behind Mario Kart: The Movie, give us this send-up of TV fad Jersey Shore, and introduce to our lexicon the phrase "star-stealing koopa f***er." More »

Gamerscore for Corporate Achievement Whores

Owen Good — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:30:00 EST

The motif isn't exactly original but the execution is reasonably clever. Pardon me - lj.l.jbqr4 na aeg;ioab;-a3lasd rqzxcy - just trying to get "send an email with your feet" before I clock out. More »

How to Survive a Trip to GameStop

Owen Good — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

As seen on GameSpy. More »

KFC Madden NFL Box Unboxing and Review

Owen Good — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST

On the heels of 2008's Guitar Hero: World Tour KFC Fully Loaded Box Meal, this year the purveyor of alleged poultry allegedly from the Bluegrass State has teamed up with EA Sports for the KFC Madden NFL Box. More »

It's Bad When The New Yorker Trolls You Over a Game

Owen Good — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EDT

This actually ran a month ago, but, forgive me, my subscription lapsed, for a lack of houseguests to impress with my reading material. (I also canceled my subscription to "Large Penis-Havers' Quarterly" since I haven't gone on a date lately.) More »

McSweeney's Outs Samus Aran, Fanfics Gay Marriage Rant

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:40:00 EDT

Normally, we'd recommend just about any piece of fan fiction that begins with Metroid bounty hunter Samus Aran coming out of the closet. But McSweeney's satirical rant from the Zebes native isn't even remotely sexy. More »

One Down, Four to Go for this List

Owen Good — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Last week, Pwn or Die made a list of "Five Bands That Don't Need Their Own Guitar Hero Game." Number five: Van ~~Hagar~~ Halen, outed by a ratings board listing the very next day. More »

Political Platforming In Super Obama World

Stuart Houghton — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:20:24 EST

Still buzzing after the Election '08 celebrations/commiserations? The nice thing about this topical SuperMario clone is the way it reaches out to appeal to both Red and Blue states. Obama supporters can guide the new POTUS-elect on to another stunning victory - this time against Pigs (Pork barrel politics! Do you see what they did there?) and money bag toting lobbyists. McCain supporters can settle for repeatedly plunging the Prez off an Alaskan ice shelf. The makers promise that Arizona, Illinois, and D.C. levels will be added soon. The Alaskan maps on offer did provide one moment of authentic Biting Satire - a several screens long Bridge to Nowhere that ends in an impassible barrier. Nice touch. [Super Obama World] Thanks to reader UppityCracker for the tip. More »

Democratic Primary Determined By KO

Leigh Alexander — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT

We often discuss the power of video games for change, for education, for enlightenment. How fitting then that the New York Post, a bastion of sophisticated and incisive political editorial, has created a video game as commentary on the Democratic race for Presidential nominee. More »

The Game Pitch to End All Pitches

Maggie Greene — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EDT

I really dislike PowerPoint, so I appreciated this 'game pitch' that's poking fun at games, PowerPoint, and the industry at large: More »

Street Fighter: The Later Years

Drew Crecente — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST

Great production values + obscure video game references + man-boobs means that it's time for Street Fighter: The Later Years - Part 9. The final chapter has Ryu and E. Honda fighting as well as those slapstick gags that you've come to love. Those of you that are working today be aware that there's the bonus of a hairy man-ass. More »

Satire For the Weekend: Harpooned

Maggie Greene — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:00:34 EST

Well, the world of little online games has just been rife with satire and social commentary the past few weeks - latest entrance into the game is Harpooned: Japanese Cetacean Research Simulator. It's been making the rounds the past couple of days to somewhat mixed press. But the creators aren't letting the nay-sayers get them down: More »

5 Gaming Industry Keynotes, In Short Form!

Maggie Greene — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:00:03 EST

From Magical Wasteland comes a hilarious (and quick) wrap up of five of the gaming industry's most popular keynotes. Maybe it's just because I've hit my saturation point with this sort of stuff, but I found it wickedly funny and oh-so-true. My personal favorite is the first: More »

New FPS - First Person Stacker

lsmith — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:00:15 EST

The Onion has a Swiftian bit up about Take Two Interactive's "latest" video game Stacker. Poking fun at uptight video game critics who blame video games for influencing children to do bad, bad things - Stacker wouldn't influence anyone, but that's by design. It's a clever read. More »

For Trade: Al Gore, Humanitarian for George Bush, American Nero

lsmith — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 16:45:19 EDT

Katrina: The Gathering is a brilliantly poignant card game designed by Ubiq and Lum (who author Zen of Design and Broken Toys) with heavy tongue-in-cheek nods to Magic: The Gathering. Cards like Condoleezza Rice's (Puts a 3/3 token black creature into play) or Sean Penn's (Creature classification of Liberal Entertainer) take dead aim with biting sarcasm. We hope it gets to a playable state soon. If something like this offends you, we can only dream how offended you were with the government's response time in the wake of the Katrina tragedy. Lighten up. More »