Kotaku: April Fool's Day

New Duke Nukem Screen (Har Har)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:00:16 MDT

Today, April 1st, 3D Realms released a new corporate logo plus new Duke Nukem Forever concept art. That, after the jump.

According to 3D Realms:

This is a new piece of conceptual art. One thing we weren't happy with in the teaser from December was the pig cop design. Shortly after the video was released, we happened upon a really hot new artist by the name of Alex Huenick. Here's Alex's take on the classic pig cop.

April Fool's Day or not, when pigs fly, yeah, I believe it.
DN4EVAR Screen Shot [3D Realms Thanks, Michael!]

NetDevil Half-heartedly Pokes At April Fool's

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:00:00 MDT

I'd like to say I saved the best April Fool's Day post for last, but then I'd just be fooling myself. The bad news is, all Jumpgate Evolution and LEGO Universe developers NetDevil managed to pull together for this festive day was a logo swap accompanied by a brief announcement.

Today, NetDevil announces a new name change to NetAngel. This new company name establishes a clearer link to our commitment to make immersive and socially responsible massively multiplayer online games. This change takes effect on April 1st, 2008.

Bleh. The good news? All the time they didn't spend going the extra April Fool's Day mile is time spent honing LEGO Universe into the best LEGO MMO it can possibly be. Always look on the bright side, that's what I say.

Net~~Devil~~Angel Home Page [Official Site]

Mister Chief Visible From Space!

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:40:36 MDT

Either there has been some impressive organization between the hardcore Halo 3 community in the Congo, Uganda and Tanzania or the boys at Bungie are pulling a fast one on us. Considering that it's *sigh* still April 1 Pacific Time, we're guessing it's the latter. Kudos to the Halo teamsters for their subtle and cheery geek map.

Bungie Online [Bungie - thanks, Bradley!]

LEGO Halo Online And On Time

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:20:05 MDT

If you missed it the first time, 1UP's coverage of LEGO Halo—which actually debuted about a month ago in the April issue of EGM—is now online, on April Fool's Day, for your mock-up viewing pleasure. No, it's not real, in spite of the genuine looking pair of screen shots, and that fall release date isn't happening. It's a respectably sound idea regardless, as I would expect half of everything will be LEGO-fied within the next decade. Someone at Microsoft and LEGO has to be seeing the profit potential on this crossover.

Previews: Lego Halo [1UP]

Amazing Zelda The Movie Prank

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:00:00 MDT

There are a lot of splendid jokes hitting the net today, a lot of bad ones too, but this wonderful Zelda the Movie trailer created by IGN has to take the cake. I for one am happy it's a prank, Link, a real Link, wearing that silly little green hat is the last thing I want to see in a movie theater.

Legend of Zelda Movie Trailer Premiere Your dreams realized. [IGN]

Sheng Long: We Won't Get Fooled Again

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:40:03 MDT

Clearly, this April Fool's Day thing has gone too far. Joke's over, people. We simply can't revisit our painful teenage years, when so many of us were legitimately fooled by EGM's legendary Sheng Long gag while loitering near the Waldenbooks magazine rack.

Street Fighter IV producer Natsumi Shiozawa adds insult to mental injury with today's update to the official blog on the game, "revealing" that Sheng Long will finally be playable, but only after a game-long streak of perfect wins. Surely Capcom wouldn't cruelly toy with our emotions again... would they? I'm off to contemplate this and violently sob.

New Street Fighter IV Unlockables! [Capcom Blog]

The Kaketakumentary

abarenblat — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:00:00 MDT

Happy April Fool's Day everyone! Finally I get to introduce myself. I am Adam Barenblat, successor to Tori Floyd and the second intern for Kotaku. I do understand Tori will be one hard act to follow and I will be a little different. Instead of writing, my internship focuses on bringing you the Kotaku reader engaging and awesome video content. So I am proud to present to you my first small assignment on this April Fool's Day, The Kaketakumentary.

Kaketaku

That was fun... Now back to your regularly ...

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:55:00 MDT

That was fun... Now back to your regularly scheduled program. Keep your eyes out for Intern Adam's first every Kotaku video later today for Kaketaku's last hurrah.

Cake Decorator's League Announces 2008 Pro-Icing Tournament Schedule

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:04:00 MDT

The Cake Decorator's League announced the locations and dates for 2008-2009 North American professional frosting league matches today, with the pro-cake icing qualifying competitions kicking off this June in Wisconsin. That will give the Milwaukee Frost the home field advantage against the Boston Creamers, the first official match to kick off the '08 pro cake decorating season. You may remember that the Creamers drafted Loren "P-Bag" Friberg—last year's Lambeth Cup winner—after he became a free agent at the close of last season. Should be a good match up.

The CDL's sixth season will commence with a record eight teams, including the LA Candlewaxers, New York Royal Icers, Miami Moist, Chicago Chocolatiers, Seattle Bundters and Dallas Meringue who will be joining Boston and Milwaukee. Teams will be competing in speed icing, wedding cake time trials and Super Mario World cake competitions that will require decorators to adhere to the CDL standards.

A community day is planned prior to the event, with a massive FLAN party for aspiring dessert makers. Details and rule changes for the '08 season at the official CDL site.

Gingerbread: Tapping the Casual Cake Market

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:01:00 MDT

Some hardcore cakers (coughFaheycough) will tell you that Gingerbread cakes aren't in fact cakes. Well that's insane. Take for instance this amazing Companion Cube cake created by surprise birthday cake given to Game Cake's reader Fred Zeleny by his mom. Sure there's no frosting, really. Sure it lacks toppings. (Not even a whisp of fan-fave Ganache). But it's sweet, you eat it, and it's about a game. I think what Zeleny's mom has taught us all is that the audience for game cakes is much broader than what the big cake companies will have us believe. Sure the triple-A Mario cakes will always be top sellers, but that doesn't mean you can't have a success with something as simple and down-to-earth as gingerbread.

Gingerbread Companion Cube [GameCakes]

Cake? Check. Cross-Stitch? Check.

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:59 MDT

Cakes, cakes are great, but if you ask me, cake-related craft is even better. Kotakuite LonelyKitten just sent us in this wonderful game/cake/cross-stitch her mother put together for her, which not only features a few of my favourite things (ie cake, spoons and love hearts), but some special slime as well. The piece is vertical, so hit the jump for the full version.

Hooray! Kotaku Purchases GameCakes.Com

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:58 MDT

It's a wonderful day in the history of video game cakes! Back at GDC 07 when I first approached Crecente about my idea for an all video game cake website, he told me that it was a great concept, and that it was destined for great things. Now, a year and a month later, GameCakes.com proudly becomes a wholly-owned member of the loving Kotaku family. I'm so excited! I never thought when I first started the website that things would skyrocket like they did.

From here on out, GameCakes' unique coverage of all things interactively epicurious well be bolstered by Kotaku's in-depth, up to date coverage of the video game cake scene, backed by their industry clout and trademark wit and charm.

Rejoice, for a new age of gaming cakes is upon us!

Crap, Kotaku Purchases GameCakes.com [GameCakes.Com]

Kaketaku Teeth-On Impressions

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:57 MDT

The pink and green frosting of this single-layer, fancy-top sheet cake hides a delicate yellow sponge filler that blends well with it's decoration.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of frosting, it actually makes my teeth hurt, but I couldn't get enough of the Kaketauke spread. While the base sheet cake was mediocre at best, the raised K was formed with delightful, Twinkie-like cakettes that melted in the mouth.

I suspect Kaketaku may be a work in progress, but if the bakers keep true to their vision, I suspect it could become a shining example of next-gen cake creation technology.

Atari 2600 Icing Tech Demo Proves "Normal Frosting" Textures Possible

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

We were pretty excited to see this Atari 2600 cake show up in our Cake Tips line, showing off a proof of concept of the icing advancements shown at the recent Cake Developers Conference. Sure, you're probably aware of our distaste for black icing, but the iced texture tech from the developers at Cakes By The Pound have made us forget about the black toothed cake party hangover that we hate so much. The team is more of a casual cake dev, but it's clear they've got hardcore appeal. Thanks to Jeff and Gabriel for the heads up!

Sometimes Simple Is Best: 1UP Mushroom Cake

Maggie Greene — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

What an elegant little game cake! We see a lot of cakes here at Kaketaku (naturally), ranging from the sublime to the bizarre, and this entry is one of the more elegant and understated I've seen. The little beauty not only looks pretty, but sounds delicious (chocolate buttercream under the sugarpaste icing and raspberry creme filing? Sign me up). The creator has even posted the recipe and a nice visual how-to for those of you who prefer not to set off into uncharted culinary territory without a little help.

1up Mushroom Cake [A cat in the kitchen]

Game Pies, Fact Or Fiction?

Mark Wilson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Label this as mega rumor for now, but if a reliable Kotaku source is correct—and we think they are—this is the first leaked press shot of an upcoming game pie. Yes, you read that right, game pie, not cake. We realize it's like saying we have acquired a shot of the Loch Ness monster or McWhertor in Wal-Mart jeans, but trust us, we don't put our reputation on the line for every teenager that sends us some store-bought pie with Mario painted on with icing.

We have some emails out on the matter and will keep you updated as the story unfolds.

Forget White Tiers, Have A Console Wedding Cake Instead

Maggie Greene — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Wedding cakes, even the most elaborate ones, tend to be reasonably boring: tiers, white or off white, flowers, topper. Why not spice your wedding up with a celebration of just how geeky you are and buck the routine of 'same old, same old' wedding cakes?

Console Wedding Cake [Flickr]

New Cake Screens Leaked

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Courtesy of an anonymous tipster, here's the first shots of a new cake in development. Yes, it's early days, and yes, I'm sure they'll add a bit more polish when it's done, but in 2008, I expect cake bakers to be bringing the next-gen shit, not this tired old spoons and frosting crap. Though, to be fair, I guess the multilayer shots look more promising, as it's been too long since we got our mouths on a good, old-fashioned lemon layer cake.

European Cake Release Delayed

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Sorry, Europe. While Japan and the US scoff down slice after delicious slice of cake, a European release date has yet to be announced, sparking fears that they'lll miss the summer cake-eating season all together. Most industry pundits now expect the cake to be baked sometime around Christmas. Bummer. Anyone who can't wait that long should know that a packet of FreeBaker mix (be sure to add 2 extra egg whites!) will let you import Japanese and/or American ingredients, but there's no guarantee of these working in future baking tray releases.

Topping Death Match Final: Fondant Versus Ganache

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

It's time for the final round of our cake coating death match! Only two confectionery contenders remain standing from our initial field of thirty cake toppings: fan-favorite fondant, which gives a cake that smooth, professional look, and the surprise challenger, ganache. Who'd have thought that plucky ganache, the chocolate cream creation from the mid 1800's would have toppled the more versatile butter cream? Well topple it did, and now it all comes down to this...the icing on the cake, as it were. Make your vote be heard, faithful Kaketaku readers!

Game "Decorated" Cakes Aren't Game Cakes

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

This is not a video game cake. Here at Kaketaku, we are constantly getting submissions like this, and quite frankly I am getting sick of it. Any Publix baker can make a plain vanilla sheet cake and paint Mario on top of it with colored frosting. Hell, I could make a sheet cake and paint my ass on top of it but you wouldn't see it being posted on a sex cake website. Effort, people. You have to build a video game cake. Shape it Mold it. Sure, pixel cupcakes are just tiny frosted cakes, but the come together to form something. Effort was put into composition. If you're going to create a square cake and paint something on top of it you might as well just buy some Betty Crocker and stick the DVD case of your favorite game on top of the frosting. Some of our commenters argue that video game cakes started off as simple frosted sheets, and I agree...but unless you are throwing a retro kitsch party than that shit doesn't fly anymore. Just my two cups of powdered sugar.

Confectionery Mods: Pac-Man Cookies

Mark Wilson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Surfing the forums for breaking news this morning, we came across this wicked cookie mod from MasterDarkXSugarZero39 in which he took one normal sugar cookie and, with two to three hours of sweat and toil, transformed it to very closely resemble one of gaming's most iconic characters. So close, in fact, we can't remember if that's the cookie picture above or the Pac-Man photo intended for the side-by-side comparison.

We won't lie. The instructions are for advanced modders only. But if you're up for the challenge, hit the jump for the full step-by-step instructions.

Intermediate Recipe
1. Buy sugar cookies
2. Cut little Pac-Man wedges

Advanced Recipe (TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK! WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY!)
1. Buy "break and bake" sugar cookies
2. Break
3. Bake
4. Cut little Pac-Man wedges

Enjoy!

Most Exciting Cake Clip Today

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

This post is a lie. This post is a lie. This post is a — blah, blah, blah. Alright, we get it.

Objection! THIS is the Greatest Cake Ever

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Born of marzipan and frosting, this Phoenix Wright cake shows how game cakes don't have to be all about complex desert layers. Sometimes a baker can deliver without a lot of cake fanfare. Notice the smooth white backdrop supporting those stunning high-res figures. It's all about the character development people. All about the characters.

[Thanks Joe]

Delicious DDR!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Dance Dance Revolution makes you sweat. Cake makes you fat. This? This looks yummy. Created by blogger Lafemmereaper, this 20cm Dance Dance Revolution cabinet fruitcake (yes!!) is covered in marzipan and fondant icing.

According to Lafemmereaper:

I wanted the icing to be black, however I settled for grey - the black colouring got so messy (as I watched somebody else get black staining on their hands...that wouldn't wash off for two days...)
It still took me three weeks just to get it to the right grey colour.

Before you DDR freaks criticize that the speakers are not meant to be that way, I was trying to stay true to the machine, but icing bags are awfully hard to control when you are learning to decorate a cake for the first time. The arrows on the screen were all piped on when the cake was standing up - ie. it was vertical. I also realise that the red "bars" (those 3D curvy bits at the front) should have a black bit on them, but I've left that off as it was too complicated to stick on (the black icing didn't want to stick to anything.)

Thunderous applause!

DDR Cabinet [That Girl's Site]

Dead Space Cake Bullshot?

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

I was pretty psyched to read about the Dead Space team's recent grossest-cakes bake-off. The folks worked around the clock to try and out do one another with a bit of frosting, cake and ganache.

The goriest cake by far is the Severed Head Cake created by the team's Michael Condry. The cake features a severed head, a fondant covering and fondant saw blade. Inside the vanilla cake is blood berry sauce. The final effect proves that Condry is a master of the trade... or is he?

MTV Multiplayer recently uncovered news that the over the top severed head is in fact a rubber mask. Say it ain't so. How many times do Game Cake makers have to be caught touching up their cakes with smoke and mirrors before they realize all we care about is what's on the inside?

Do These Freshly-Baked Cakes Get You Excited For EA's 'Dead Space'? [MTV Multiplayer]

Japan Goes Bananas For New Banana Cake

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Japan does not like portable caking. Japan freakin loves portable caking. Evidence: the launch last night of the latest portable cake sensation, which drew crowds of hundreds to stores across Akihabara for midnight openings. While it's already been available for years in chocolate and vanilla, and was relaunched last year as a limited edition sponge cake, the promise of a banana cake variation was just too much for the die-hard, with most stores selling out before they could satisfy the midnight crowd, let alone the fresh batch of campers who turned up before regular opening hours.

First in line, first cake in belly. Yum yum.

CakeStation Store Update: The Cupboard Is Bare

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Sadly, not much in the way of premium content in today's CakeStation Store update, with much of the week's content padded out by the latest batch of updates for Tom Clancy's Cuban Cinamon Crisis 2. Fans of the series will find a carrot cake recipe ($3.99), a Sgt. Jack Rutgerson baking tray skin ($1.99) and a couple of candle arrangement plans (FREE) waiting for them. Those who aren't fans of the series? For you, not much.

Games and Demos
Everyday Frosting ($8.99)

Expansions & Add-ons
Tom Clancy's Cuban Cinamon Crisis 2: Carrot Cake Recipe ($3.99)
Tom Clancy's Cuban Cinamon Crisis 2: Sgt. Jack Rutgerson Baking Tray Skin ($1.99)
Tom Clancy's Cuban Cinamon Crisis 2: Mexico City Hotzone Birthday Candle Arrangement (FREE)
Tom Clancy's Cuban Cinamon Crisis 2: Baghdad Bake-Off Birthday Candle Arrangement (FREE)

Videos
Chocolate v Caramel Mud Cake Showdown Throwdown 2009
Pro Evolution Ice Cream Cake 2008
Imagine: Cakez

Lord of the Rings Online Kicks Off April Fool's With The Battle of Amon Hen

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:20:00 MDT

It may be March 31 on the Kotaku Tower desk calendar, but it's April 1 somewhere in the realms of The Lord of the Rings Online. Turbine has decided to make with the massively-multiplayer hilarity, announcing that a new playable race, the Fowl-People, would join the currently playable Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits, bringing new epic quests and new housing options (coops, henhouses, etc.).

The jokes are too good to spoil here, so make your way to the official site. But pee before you do. We can't have your LOL-derived incontinence on our hands. This is sure to be just a mere speck on the landscape of puns, gags and sidesplitters to be delivered this April Fool's, so brace yourself for all comers.

The Battle of Amon Hen [LotRO]

Sony Claims FFXIII April Fool's Prank

brownlee — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:40:07 MDT

Square's being sneaky. After last week's pervasive rumor that Final Fantasy XIII was coming not-so-soon to a PS3 probably-not-near-you, Sony have now kinda-sorta denied the rumor, claiming that it was a premature April Fool's Day prank.

While there have been numerous rumors about Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix has never released any information about the title. The recent online article stating that the title will be exclusive for PlayStation 3 and shown at E3 is not based on any official information obtained by us. I hope readers will remember April Fool's day is tomorrow and many Print and Online outlets pull pranks ever year, before they get their hopes crushed by a joke.

1UP denies that it's an April Fool's Day prank, rightly pointing out just how incredibly lame of a prank that actually would be. Anyway, there's pretty much no doubt that Final Fantasy XIII is coming to a PS3. This is just standard PR boiler plate for dealing with a premature leak: "Deny, deny, deny." Expect to hear more about FFXIII at E3, no matter what Square claims.

Square Responds To FFXIII Rumors [1UP]

DS Light, DS Write and DS Heavy

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 09:23:49 MDT

DS Lite, light, wright, whatever. Japanese Nintendo site N-Styles covered three product releases for April Fool's. There's the made-to-order 16-ton DS Heavy, the ball-point pen DS Write and the white LED affixed DS Light. Joking aside, the DS flashlight sounds pretty useful for finding your way around in the dark. Seriously.

DS Light
DS Write
DS Heavy [N-Styles]