<![CDATA[Kotaku: in]]> http://tags.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: in]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/in http://kotaku.com/tag/in <![CDATA[Older Ratchet Games Unlock Bonuses In New One]]> One perk that an old Ratchet game unlocks in the forthcoming Ratchet sequel is useful. The other perk, is not.

Insomniac Games has kept to the Ratchet series' tradition by making the newest installment on the PlayStation 3 aware of players' activity in the older ones. Having played — and reviewed — the new Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time using a final retail copy, I was able to see how my save files for the last two games, 2007's Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and 2008's Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty, affect the new game.

I had completed both previous PS3 Ratchets and had the following perks activated automatically when I started the new game:

-My Tools of Destruction save file classified me as a returning customer when I visited A Crack In Time's weapons-vending kiosks. I was given a discount. Thanks to the lower prices and my collection of new bolt money throughout the new game, I found myself lacking money to buy the next available item in the game only once.

-My Quest For Booty save unlocked the pirate hat you see my Ratchet avatar wearing atop this post. The avatar appear in the game's community section, which displays a variety of player accomplishments and stats, shows leaderboards for many of those accomplishments. Players can customize their Ratchet avatar or look up the records and avatars of their friends. The avatar is essentially a visual shorthand for some of the things you've accomplished. For example, the pistol that Ratchet is holding in that shot looks as it does in the game, where I attached mods and selected its paint job.

Those are the unlocks I found so far that relate to the earlier Ratchet games, confirmed by a Sony representative. If I find any more I'll let you know.

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5387776&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Maxis Hit With Job Cuts, EA Confirms]]> Word from Electronic Arts today is that Maxis, the studio behind The Sims and Spore, suffered layoffs today. No word on how many people were affected. EA described the cuts as an attempt to "focus" the studio.

"Often in the video game industry, the size of a studio fluctuates in response to business conditions," an EA spokesperson wrote in an e-mailed statement. "In this case, EA has taken action to reduce the workforce at Maxis as we focus the business and focus Maxis. EA remains fully committed to Spore and other IP within Maxis, with games planned for launch in the next few months, including Spore Hero, coming to the Wii for the first time, and Spore Hero Arena on the DS. All eligible employees will receive severance and outplacement assistance."

The layoffs were in the Emeryville studio, which is Maxis headquarters and the base of operations for Spore development. The Sims franchise, which was born at Maxis, is built out of EA's Redwood Shores offices, where The Sims 3 was created by the Sims Studio team.

Layoffs at Activision's Raven Software were also confirmed today.

We'll have more on this story as it becomes available.

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5346384&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Has Mandatory Install]]> Word has it that upcoming PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 requires, like a lot of PS3 games do these days, a mandatory install. Sign of the times!

Apparently, the install will be 5120 MB (5GB). So those living in Japan who plan on buying the game next month, make sure you've got the extra space or be very, very sad. Just like these children.

Mandatory install confirmed for Yakuza 3 [PS3center]

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5141612&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rygar Taps Hard Gay For Beefy, Oiled-Up Game Promo]]> Tecmo's Japanese marketing team has recruited "entertainer" Hard Gay to help promote the upcoming Rygar: The Battle of Argus in Japan. Over there, they call it Argos no Senshi: Muscle Impact and use CAPS LOCK.

A half-assed Rygar-cosplaying man, capable of pounding the entirety of the Kotaku staff into oblivion, gave it his all in the name of product promotion, dispatching low-ranking HUSTLE entertainment wrestling stars with his plastic diskarmor. A slew of "wrestling" exhibition matches look to have taken place, involving liberal use of PVC outfits and faux fighting.

That's what we gather, anyway. Then some dance routine lead by Razor Ramon Hard Gay occurred and photos were taken. It was weird, but also spectacular. We recommend eyeballing the entire fiasco.

テクモとハッスルエンターテインメントがコラボレート! お台場で「アルゴスの戦士 ハッスルインパクト」を開催 [Impress Game Watch]

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5107131&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Tales of... Tofu Curry?]]> Tales of Hearts is Namco Bandai's latest entry in the Tales series — though this time Namco Bandai is releasing two versions. One is a realistic CG version, and the other one is cutie anime version. If that wasn't enough (it's not, really), Namco Bandai's Tales team has joined forces with Circle K convience stores to offer Tales of Hearts mabo curry. This edible promotion isn't out of left field: Apparently mabo curry appears in game as a power-up item. Priced at ¥500 (US$5.17), the limited edition dish is available from December 9 to December 22 at Circle Ks across Japan. Chow down!

これで体力回復!?「テイルズ オブ」のマーボーカレーがついに発売 [GA Graphic via はちま起稿]

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5098457&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This *Might* Help Your Akihabara Shopping]]> What seems like every week or so, I get emails from readers asking where they should go in Akihabara. While I don't mind answering emails, here's a book I can point them to: The Best Shops of Akihabara. It's forty pages of an English-language manga-style guidebook. As a nice bonus, the book even points out which retailers are capable of helping customers in English — a major plus for non-Japanese speaking tourists. It goes for US$10 and is in PDF format. So yeah.

Akiba Guide [Official Site via alafista]

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5076819&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Subotron Seeks Female Artist In Residence]]> From the awesome Subotron Shop, a retro gaming museum/store in Vienna, Austria comes word that they are currently looking for female applicants for their spring 2008 artist in residence program. The chosen entrant will receive free studio space at the museum and money to cover their expenses. The topic of this year's residency is Gender & Gaming and all applications must be turned in by December 14th. Past alumni include indie game designer Januz, street artist Space Invader, character designer Ryoskuke Tei, gameboy-sequencer Oliver Wittchow and that irrepressible troubadour, Jonathan Mann aka Game Jew.

Sounds like an amazing artistic opportunity and a chance to see some beautiful country to boot. To get all the skinny on requirements and such, check out the Subotron website which is presented in both English and German.

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=326081&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart]]> Good news for multi-billion dollar revenue making hardware manufacturers! This week's Japanese hardware sales chart, courtesy of Media Create, shows that everyone had a pretty decent week. Well, at least better than last. This week may signal the end of the Wii's low point, as Super Mario Galaxy is due to influence next week's sales.

The PlayStation 3 has narrowed the weekly sales gap between it and Nintendo's console by some 9,000, a marked improvement from the 90,000 unit disparity from the springtime. Even the old 360 is hangin' on to 3,000 territory. Is the playing field leveling somewhat in Japan?

  • Nintendo DS Lite - 76,243
  • PSP - 59,792
  • Wii - 27,502
  • PlayStation 3 - 18,785
  • PlayStation 2 - 11,698
  • Xbox 360 - 3,718

Weekly Sales [Media Create]

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=317928&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Gamestop Reactivates PS3 Trade In Deal]]>

An anonymous Gamestop tipster has informed us that Gamestop/EB is revisiting their PS3 trade in deal that was available for a short time a few months ago. With your trade in of a fully functioning PS2 with cables and controller, a second Sony PS2 controller and an 8mb Sony PS2 memory card, you will receive $100 dollars off your purchase of a PS3. As the 20 gig Ps3's are no longer readily available (and apparently will no longer be available at all), your trade in will most likely have to go towards the 60 gig version.

As I remarked in my article in January on this same subject, $100 off still isn't enough to make me want to part company with my trusty old PS2. Flynn De Marco

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=248643&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Week in Games: TMNT Edition]]> Damn, there a ton of games coming out this week. There were more than I could reasonably list here, so I put together a list of some of the highlights for you. I'll be picking up Cooking Mama: Cook Off to provide a nice balance to my relentless bloodletting in God of War II, but everything else will have to wait...even the Turtles. Flynn De Marco

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=245119&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Week in Games: God of War II Edition]]> After weeks of waiting and seeing pretty much the entire game in clips, God of War II is finally here. Not to much more terribly interesting but since I'll be spending all my time with Kratos anyway, I shan't need to pick up anything else. Hopefully, I can manage to stretch this one out until Bioshock comes out, but at six months I don't think that's very realistic. Flynn De Marco



]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=243387&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Isn't it romantic?]]> Otaku Love.jpg

Guess this is what they call having your cake and eating it too.

]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=123887&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Pacman Eats Dish Dirt]]> PACSPONGE.JPG

Asked the wife to pick up some sponges at the local supermarket here in Japan, and this is what she brought home. God only knows what they have to clean the toilet...

—B.A.


Pac Man Guitar [Kotaku]

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