<![CDATA[Kotaku: Speculation]]> http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: Speculation]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/speculation http://kotaku.com/tag/speculation <![CDATA[Ubisoft Struggles To Explain How Powerful the Wii U Is]]> As you can imagine, many reporters had questions about the Wii U's hardware, relative to the PS3 and Xbox 360. One of the few people who actually provided some answers was Ubisoft Quebec's senior technical architect Marc Parenteau, who was brought in to discuss a Wii U Assassin's Creed at a developer round-table. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5811470&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rumor has Microsoft Announcing TV Service at E3]]> I love the weekends before E3. I've worked four. You get everything in the tips jar—yesterday we got one that said Half-Life 2: Episode 3 would be a Wii 2 launch title. It was too earnest to be a troll. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5808536&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What The New iPhone Could Mean For Gaming]]> The new iPhone 4 that our colleagues at Gizmodo have been showing the world adds a second camera to what is one of the world's fastest-growing gaming platforms. Think a second camera could change iPhone gaming? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5520381&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Is This The New Nintendo 3DS Touchscreen?]]> Did electronics manufacturer Sharp just give the world an early look at what the new Nintendo 3DS will be capable of? Because Sharp's new 3D touchscreen display for portable devices sounds precisely what the 3DS needs. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5508371&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What Is BioWare Counting Down To?]]> A mysterious countdown timer has appeared on BioWare's home page, as well as the pages for Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. What is BioWare revealing on Monday? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5500109&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Analyzing The Fallout: New Vegas Trailer]]> The Fallout: New Vegas trailer has gone live, a release date announced, and fans are excited about getting back into the post-apocalyptic world later this year. Does the trailer hold clues about what we can expect in the game? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5464290&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Is A Call Of Duty Movie Really Happening?]]> Would a big screen adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise even remotely surprise you? Didn't think so. But if you want inconclusive evidence that a Call of Duty film might be happening, here are a few scraps. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5374778&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Digital Rentals Built in to PSPgo?]]> Screwing around with the sorting feature on the PSPgo, someone's found there's only one way to arrange games and folders - by their expiration date. Expiration? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5373693&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Analysts Get to Speculating on 360 Slim]]> This is like U.S. presidential elections. No sooner do we have a conclusion to a two-year orgy of rumor and speculation than another immediately begins. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5343302&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New WoW Races Hinted At By Halloween Masks?]]> A set of four Halloween masks discovered in the latest test patch for World of Warcraft has players debating over whether or not they've uncovered the next two races for Blizzards massively-popular MMO. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5318528&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dead Rising 2: Handyman? Cameraman?]]> Dead Rising 2 will not have photography. Capcom's Keiji Inafune was pretty clear about that when I spoke with him last week. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5232765&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This Is How You Get Me Interested In A Transformers Game]]> I didn't want anything to do with the last Transformers game, partly because I'd heard it was awful, but mostly because it featured "movie" Transformers. Which are terrible, spindly things. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5220597&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Square Enix Braces For Vanguard Storm]]> A recent trademark filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office indicates that Square Enix is planning on releasing what appears to be a new title, one dubbed Vanguard Storm. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5213443&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[PlayStation Moving Into The Cloud?]]> Sony may be the latest company to explore the hot topic of cloud computing, the off-loading of software and services to remote servers, based on recent trademark filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5190494&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What's Coming From Microsoft At E3?]]> E3 2008 is less than a week away, and come Monday morning the internets will be buzzing with the latest news from Xbox 360 producer Microsoft. While we know they'll be plugging their biggest titles - Gears of War 2, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Fable II, and Viva Pinata - what big announcements could we see from the latest of the big 3? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5022993&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Is This Image Proof Of Diablo III? Nah...]]> We've been inundated with tips today pointing us to an image that, in some people's eyes, proves that Blizzard is on the cusp of announcing Diablo III. They may very well be, but that image is sadly no proof at all. Work that was attributed by some to "hackers" who weaseled their way into the well-secured depths of Blizzard's web site is more than likely just a ruse, just clever Photoshop work designed to toy with your emotions. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5020458&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[So What's Our Metal Gear Solid 4 Surprise?]]> So Kojima Productions has responded to the review limitation problems regarding Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and that's nice and all, but did you guys catch the top paragraph of Assistant Producer Ryan Payton's e-mail? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5013470&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Folklore Devs Working On Secret Movie Game]]> Movie video game producers Brash Entertainment (Jumper: Griffin's Story, Alvin and the Chipmunks) has signed a deal with Japanese developer Game Republic (Genji series, Folklore) to work together on a game based on a "popular Hollywood film". While we've no idea what movie the game is to be based on, famed Game Republic CEO Yoshiki Okamoto hints at a fantasy theme.
"In collaborating with Brash, we were introduced to a very compelling fictional world and given the freedom to expand it through the game. We are working directly with the creative talent from the film, and feel that the close collaboration will result in an amazing game play experience that immerses the player in an incredible fantasy world."
Incredible fantasy world with a 2010 release? Warner Bros. 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans would certainly fit the bill, with the original film allowing it the "popular Hollywood" film label, and Brash does have an agreement with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Just my speculation mind you. We'll just have to wait and see! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=366904&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Square Enix Bringing "Dragon Quest Party" Stateside?]]> Is Square Enix finally bringing its Itadaki Street series to North America? We've got a hunch it is. The latest entry, known as Itadaki Street DS in Japan, features a guest appearance in the long-running board game series from the Mario universe cast, including Peach, Bowser, Wario and Yoshi. While previous games in the series featured characters from Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, the inclusion of Mario and pals may have the star power Square Enix needs to finally localize it. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=363134&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New Sony, Ubisoft, Square-Enix Trademarks Reveal New Games?]]> Recent filings at the US Patent and Trademark Office may give us some insight into upcoming plans for a number of publishers. While not all filings eventually make it to actual product, there are a few interesting unknowns within. Leading the pack is Capcom's Wolf of the Battlefield which, while unannounced, may be the final name or part of the name of the company's top-down shooter Commando 3. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=355788&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hasbro Readies Risk: Black Ops]]> The last time I played Risk was New Year's Eve, 1999, which I spent with some folks from the local Renaissance Faire, figuring if the world were catapulted back into the Dark Ages, they would be the people to hang with. It went like many Risk games do...two hours of engrossing play followed by people wandering away from the table for various reasons, eventually forgetting we were playing. The game is just too damn long, and manufacturer Hasbro knows this. Their answer to the problem? Risk: Black Ops. It's the Risk you've come to know and love in short bursts, redesigned with a sleek and sexy new look, a new resource system that rewards possession of territorial capitols, and the big change - an objective system. Objectives are tasks such as "Control Europe" that reward a player for completing them. The game starts with four major and four minor objectives from a pool of twelve, and completing any three is considered a win. This changes the face of the game completely! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=352736&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[MicroCenter Dates GTA IV]]> Has a retailer let slip the release date of the next Grand Theft Auto? National electronics chain Micro Center has released a sales circular with the bottom of one page stamped with the Grand Theft Auto IV logo, a few choice pieces of art, and the words, "March 08." That would be a Saturday for those of you who keep track of such things, which is a pretty odd day for such a huge title but certainly not unheard of. The circular warns that new release availability is subject to change, but it seems like an awful lot of black ink to waste on speculation. GameDaily, who broke this particular story, got in touch with the folks at Rockstar to see if they could get some sort of confirmation.
A Rockstar Games representative on Tuesday replied by reiterating that Grand Theft Auto IV "is going to come out during our second financial quarter of 08."
So no help there. With Super Smash Bros. Brawl releasing on the 9th, this could mark the most I've gone out on a weekend since I turned 21. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=344970&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?]]> Ah rumors, how I love you so. Especially when they make as much sense as this one does. Tom Ivan over at Next Generation's blog reports on rumors surrounding the next BioShock. According to what I can only imagine is wildly unfounded speculation, the next game will be a prequel that focuses on the initial fall of Rapture itself, giving players a glimpse at what the utopia looked like before it all fell to pieces and little girls were transformed into walking moral choices. Rumors also indicate that the development of the game will take place at the new 2K Marin studios, and that BioShock creator Ken Levine will not be involved in the project. While of course we take any unconfirmed rumors with a heaping helping of salt, it does sound like the perfect way to explore the BioShock universe without trying to build on the first game's lame endings. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=342204&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Treyarch Taking Call of Duty Back To WWII?]]> The gang at UK pub Gamer picked up on a job listing from Call of Duty 3 developer Treyarch that might point to the series returning to its World War II roots. The posting at Activision's career opportunities page is looking for a level builder to work on an "industry leading First-Person Shooter action war franchise" with serious experience. Later in the job description, Treyarch writes "if you're a fan of World War 2 shooters, then even better!" More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=331645&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 Art Director's Next Vision]]> Moby Francke must feel incredibly powerful at the moment. As Valve's art director on Team Fortress 2, he can look over the industry and point fingers to suckitude with unquestioned justification...a Zeus-like authority. And when he talks about the next project he'd like to do, we genuflect with one ear to the sky:
The next thing I'd love to do is not based on realism, but stylizing with a little more in-depth look to the materials in the world. Instead of just having an impressionistic background, or having highly stylized characters. Making the characters a little bit more believable, even incorporating bold design, getting a little bit more specific.
More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=331286&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Pachter - Rockstar May Split From Take Two]]> Wedbush Morgan analyst always seems like such a mundane title when dealing with the master of video game precognizance that is Michael Pachter. Speaking with Shacknews, the Pachtman puts forth the possibility that Rockstar Games founders Sam and Dan Houser could very well slip from under Take-Two Interactive's wing once their contracts come up in February 2009, much like Bungie jumped from Microsoft. It all comes down to money.
"I don't think that this is an issue of dissatisfaction with Take-Two; rather, I think it is rational to believe that in the wake of the $850 million Pandemic/BioWare deal, high quality developers like Bungie and [Rockstar] North would look to test their market value"
How much do you think a company like Microsoft or Sony would be willing to pay to secure Rockstar's exclusive service? How much would you pay? What if we threw in the magic of Pancake Puffs? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=331077&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[WotC Partners With Stainless Games]]> Wizards of the Coast, creators of Magic the Gathering and holders of the sacred Dungeons and Dragons property are teaming up with the UK's Stainless Games to create an online downloadable video game. Stainless has done several games for Xbox Live Arcade, including Novadrome, Crystal Quest, and most recently Asteroids Deluxe.
"Wizards of the Coast has created many of the most popular brands in roleplaying, trading card and tabletop strategy games" said Patrick Buckland, CEO for Stainless Games. "We're proud to be working with one of the most treasured IPs in the games field in a true partnership which will produce a real gaming revolution later next year."
Let the wild speculation begin! Is it Magic the Gathering for Xbox Live? An online version of D&D with downloadable episodic content and community created modules? We won't know until details start trickling out next year. Until then, something is coming. Hooray for something! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=330781&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nintendo Says 200 Virtual Console Titles By Year's End]]> During Nintendo's presentation at the BMO Capital Markets Conference, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime came armed with the stock slides the company loves to show any chance it gets. Typically, they involved plenty of bar graphs featuring a brightly colored column towering over every other column that doesn't have the word "Wii" underneath it. One of the slides, publicly presented by a NeoGAF member, shows Nintendo planning for some 200 Virtual Console titles available by the end of the year. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=320211&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wii Fit Board Might Work For Tony Hawk, Might Not]]> You may or may not be interested in Wii Fit, but let's face it, no one wants to admit to having a step aerobics board in their bachelor pad. On the other hand, a skateboarding simulator...that could almost not get you laid. In an interview with Eurogamer, this from the Bird Man himself:
I think it's possible to incorporate the Wii Fit board into one of our games, but it would change the control scheme dramatically and we'd have to figure out how to make that work. So I don't know yet.
My guess is that the game would need to be simplified a bit to make this happen, but why not? Do it, Tony (and all the developers who actually do 99.999% of the work). More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=314509&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Is *This* The Super Smash Bros. Box Art?]]> There's been tons of phony or placeholder Super Smash Bros. Brawl box art floating around. But when really neat art recently pops up on big name retail sites (Go Nintendo found it elsewhere), then we think that maybe, just maybe this is the real deal. If not, it's still pretty cool!
More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=296894&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New Nintendo Trademarks - Wii Handle?]]> Nintendo has been busy at the Japanese trademark board recently, registering several new names that could hold a titillating look into future Wii products. Trademarked items include the Wii Body Controller, Mii Contest Channel, Nintendo Magic, Wii Handle, and something called Soma Bringer. Now the Wii Body Controller is probably the Wii balance board with a better name, and the contest channel speaks for itself. Nintendo Magic? The ability to make something called the Wii a commercial success? Powerful juju there. Soma was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, Vedic and Persian cultures with hallucinogenic properties, so I am going to assume the Soma Bringer is a drug delivery device. Could be wrong. Finally we have Wii Handle, which intrigues me somewhat. Perhaps a unique user name for your Wii to do away with the cumbersome friend code system? I won't get my hopes up. It's probably just a carrying handle for your Wii. Guy can dream though. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=296201&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Was Square Enix Terrified of Own Original IP?]]> Back at the Square Enix Party (a delightful time), I got a look at Square Enix's Subarashiki Kono Sekai (AKA "It's a Wonderful World"). The game was developed by Kyoto's Jupiter Corporation, which also brought us Picross DS. The game is a totally original IP, based on Final Fantasy character designer Tetsuya Nomura's creations. Though, the characters don't look all that FF, but rather, have an urban edge. The game itself is interesting and difficult as players must concentrate on both screens (sometimes at the same time!) during play. In short, the game is somewhat risky for the conservative Square Enix — but a commendable risk. Oddly enough, the game wasn't reviewed in Famitsu when it was released last July. Next-Gen's Tim Rogers has a theory about that: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=293387&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Korea Getting New Elite Beat Agents Songs?]]> Nintendo of Korea is localizing a trio of games into Hangul: Elite Beat Agents, Picross DS, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. NoK is handling the translating duties, so it looks like the games will get proper releases. (Good news for Koreans traditionally neglected by Nintendo!) What is intriguing is the Elite Beat Agents release. Will it have Korean popstars like BoA or Rain or will it stick with the Sum 41 and the Ashlee Simpson? I sure hope not. For Korea's sake. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=286577&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New New Xbox 360 Chip Incoming!! Not Yet!!!]]> Smaller. Cheaper. And hopefully cooler. Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing will 45-nanometer processors for video game consoles, but won't go into production until late 2008 or 2009 as designs are being finalized. According to Charted's president and CEO Chia Song Hwee: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=284700&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[UK Retailers Price Unpriced Xbox 360 Elite]]> First American retailers let it slip that the 60GB PLAYSTATION 3 was getting a price drop, and now their British counterparts spill the beans that the Xbox 360 Elite is getting, well, priced. European sellers HMV, Play and GAME are all pricing the still unofficially priced Elite at £329.99 (US $676) when it drops on August 24th. (Yes, everything is expensive there!) When questioned about this leaked price, Microsoft replied that they have "nothing to announce at this point." Hey, why announce anything when retailers are doing it for you?! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=279608&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rumble Sixaxis In Developer's Hands?]]>
We've gotten in several tips involving this developer diary posted a few days ago on IGN, showing the folks at Free Radical polishing up the Haze demo that was shown at the Ubisoft gamers day back in late May. At the beginning of this lengthy, relatively entertaining video we see Haze being demoed to the press using a standard Sixaxis, while at around the ten minute mark we are shown two separate developers testing the game and the controller they are using is mysteriously blurred out. Could it be that Free Radical already has their hands on the rumble ready PS3 controller? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=276014&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New Bruce Lee Game Being Planned?]]> Xbox game Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon, not so good. In fact, it was pretty bad. With a misopportunity like that, you'd think that someone somewhere would be working on a Bruce Lee game. Perhaps an adaption of one of his classic flicks or a versus-style game. According to his daughter Shannon Lee: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=272562&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[WipEout Gonna Wipe Out PlayStation Network?]]> Whaddaya think? Sony working on WipEout for the PS3? Ha! That would be like Nintendo working on Mario Kart for the Wii. When asked if a PS3 version would be PSN only, Sony's WipEout Game Director Tony Buckley (pictured) said: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=270407&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Scottish Girl PWN3D By Animal Crossing]]> An little 11-year-old girl in Inverbervie Scotland and her mother were shocked when one of the colorful characters in the child's Animal Crossing DS game had called her a 'fucking cow'. As children these days are taught the 'screenshot or it didn't happen' rule from an early age, they were lucky enough to capture the precious moment for UK's Metro news. Of course it has to be user-input, seeing as the text is in blue, but how on earth did it get in there? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=259617&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rumor: Wii Launching Early?]]> Okay, okay. I hear you, no one's going to do a surprise launch right? Especially Nintendo. What's the point? We all know what happened with Sega's surprise Saturn availability announcement. So why the speculation? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=206059&view=rss&microfeed=true