Kotaku
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only in brazil
Brazilian Government Bans Counter-Strike, EverQuest, Fun
The South American nation famous for its ability to create great soccer players, attractive swimsuit models and land that used to be rainforests has brought the banhammer down upon two of the world's most popular online games. Both Counter-Strike and EverQuest, each now nine-years old, were said to promote "the subversion of public order, were an attack against the democratic state and the law and against public security" by the judge enacting the ban.
According to the AFP report on the matter, the prohibition on selling CS and EQ was actually passed in October of 2007, but was only recently enforced by PROCON, the national consumer protection agency. Good work, Brazil. Glad all of your problems are sorted out now that the video game police are tackling the tough issues!
Members of the Kotaku Brazilian Connection wrote in to let us know about the ban. Their letters are after the jump and provide some insight into the local video game market. More »
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game violence
Russian Man Killed Over Lineage II Clan Grudge
Lineage II turned deadly in Russia late last year, where two members of warring clans meeting face-to-face in the city of Ufa resulted in violence and death. A 33 year-old member of the Platanium clan named Albert agreed to me a 22 year-old from the rival Coo-clocks Clan (*sigh*) in persona following a nasty PVP session that left the former dead. During the meeting Albert was brutally beaten, later dying from his injuries on the way to the hospital. Upon his arrest, the young man expressed no remorse - simply explaining calmly why Albert had to die. The alleged killer has now been charged with murder.
What's worse is this isn't the first Lineage II-related death in Russia. Back in January one player stomped another to death while he was trying to break up a fight sparked during a real life meet-up.
What's even more crazy is that members of the Coo-clocks continue to harass the dead man's family, going as far as to threaten the life of his sister. That's some pretty insane clan loyalty right there if you ask me. One isolated crazy I can understand, but once a member of your clan beats a man to death...that's generally when you want to back off on the team spirit. Hit up the link below for the full story. More fuel for the fire.
Online game rivalry ends with real life murder [Russia Today via Game Politics]
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insanity
Duke Nukem Forever Trailer Hits Tomorrow
This just in from George Broussard over on the 3D Realms Forums:
"Last Saturday we had our annual company Christmas party. It was a lot of fun as usual but it featured one special surprise. It turns out that several people had been secretly working late nights and into the wee hours of the morning preparing a special video for those at the party. They created a short teaser for Duke Nukem Forever.
After seeing the teaser we thought it was something we should share with all of you and while it's just a teaser, rest assured more is coming.
Tomorrow, Wednesday the 19th, around noon CST, we will release the first teaser trailer from Duke Nukem Forever. To tide you over until then, here is a screen shot taken from the teaser.
Thank you for being fans of the game and for your continued patience.
I'd like to thank the people on the team that worked so hard to create this teaser and the friends of 3DR that helped create it (Jeremy Soule and Julian Soule, Frank Bry, Jason Evigan and of course, Jon St. John)."
That's right, it's the end of times. Now translating that from 3D Realms Central Time that means we should be checking out the video around 2 p.m. Mountain, 2027.
Teaser Video Coming 12/19/07, Noon CST [3D Realms Forums, thanks Caine36 ]
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legal
Thompson: Kotaku Superfluous
Actually Jack "Texas T" Thompson didn't really call the site superflous, rather he was referring to his latest suit against us. Wait, suit against us? I must have lost track of one of them, I didn't realize any were still standing.
According to Game Politics the "Kotaku case" against the state of Florida was dropped after Thompson withdrew the case just days after the presiding judge set a date for oral arguments.
Instead Thompson appears to be putting all of his
nutseggs in one basket, the gay porn case basket, named that because Thompson's most recent submission for the case featured graphic pictures of men having sex.Says Thompson about the Kotaku and gay porn cases:
The Huck case is superfluous, as the other case is the one that has the relief I want and need.
I'll leave writing the kicker to this fun little story to you, the reader.
Jack Thompson Quietly Bows Out of Other Bar Lawsuit [Game Politics]
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nes
More Damn Cakes
Okay people, apparently we are going a bit cake crazy as of late. I am scared to open my inbox for fear of cake spilling out all over the place, making me spend hours scraping frosting off of press releases and screenshots. Take this one, for instance, from Kotakuite Adam's wedding rehearsal dinner. More » -
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ps3
The 99 Cent PS3 Auction
That $9.99 PlayStation 3 auction that McWhertor mentioned earlier ain't nothing. Earlier this morning a Kotaku reader slapped down a Buy It Now bid on a PS3, 2 free games, an extra controller, and free shipping on top of it, all for the bargain price of $.99. Less than one American dollar! More » -
ps3
PS3 eBay Insanity Wrap Up
We get a lot of tips from our readers who tell us about zany eBay auctions where someone's scalping their PlayStation 3 with the help of a topless girl or, say, with the help of a topless girl. They may not all be winners, but altogether, they make for a good time. More » -
ps3
Nine Months Pregnant, In Line For PlayStation
(I promise that this is the last insane PlayStation 3 line-up story I personally will post today—the rest of the crew will hold it down, posting news about humans acting like animals for a video game console. After that, I'm squirreling away to the Best Buy in West Hollywood to watch the midnight launch festivities go down. Keep in mind, I'm not getting a PS3 tonight, so don't be jealous. But look for me. I'll be the guy with the eggs.) More » -
xbox 360
Man, Xbox Survive Nasty Crash
A poster at the official Xbox forums tells the harrowing tale of his near-fatal (to his 360) crash, in what he describes as a "testament to the 360". More »5:00 PM on Thu Nov 16 2006
By Michael McWhertor
3,009 views, 24 comments -
psp
No More Games on Planes?
Looks like the best place to play portable gaming just got all anti-gamey on us. Following the arrest of 21 people Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up a plane, the UK officials have banned passengers from taking electronic items on board planes. More »
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1-10 of 10 for "insanity"
