You know what I'll tell you. I will look like I'm full of shit if I tell you... I went to the bathroom, and the person next to me was Bill Gates. So, I had more than eye contact. Well, no contact. No, no, there wasn't any contact, right. But, you know, it's kind of a weird situation. You're kinda like, 'I know this guy.' There was no bodyguard or nothing there... That's a true story.

...as i walked in the door Uwe Boll was standing right there. So i had to go over and say hi, i grabbed the attached pic of myself and him and made sure to thank him for pissing off videogame fans everywhere. He mubbled something in German and i heard a few shit and fucks coming out his mouth. ...he is quite a nice guy. I picked up his autograph and walked into the theatre.

I asked Inafune-san a question,
so I'll quote myself and him verbatim:

Me: "Itsu Dead Rising 2 ni tsukae ni hajimemasu ka?"

Inafune: "Mokkai"

There you have it. My Japanese was bad, so I said "tsukae" instead of　"asobu." But then again, a meaning of "tsukaeru" means "to be　serviceable" or "to be useful" so I guess I sounded a little mean. I apologize for my horrible Japanese mistake.

On Thursday at the comic-con my brother and I wear walking to the hospitality suite in the nearby Marriott hotel when I noticed an older man in an expensive suit standing next to some black car. I found him to seem strangely out of place, and thought "hey, it's a guy-in-a-suit"(In a slightly pejorative fashion). After I passed the man I hear someone come up to the vehicle; feeling curious, I turned to look,only to see everyone's least favorite director of videogame-to-movie adoptions, Uwe Boll. He expressed relief to the old man, whom I assume was his chauffeur, and quickly entered the car. I pulled out my camera to take a picture, however it takes about five seconds for the camera to start up, and by that time Uwe was already in the car with the door closed. While such a picture would be of little value, I suppose I figured it would have been nice to have a picture to go with this email.

You're in Vienna. Your big time PSP game is getting a Christmas touch-up. How do you celebrate? Deface property! And then after that, scribble on small Austrian children. Here's super nice Tsutomo Kouno inking out a scene on a display at Subotron Shop, a retro-gaming and game culture shop in Vienna. Brian Ashcraft

Kouno Goes Drawing Krazy [Fanboy, Thanks newq!]

Microsoft's J Allard isn't only too cool for periods and shift keys, but also hair. Even fake hair is too cool for J. And when manly things like HONOR and PRIDE are on the line, J says "meh."

Backstory: 2003. Newsweek N'Gai Croal is doing something I'm legally not allowed to (talk with Jallard). A gentleman's agreement was reached. Recalls Croal:

The bet: whether the PSP would reach worldwide shipments of 10 million units within the same 12 month span of time it had taken the PS2, give or take 3 months. We took the pro; Allard, the con. If we were correct and the PSP hit its mark, Allard would wear a dreadlock wig for the entire month of May, including the week of E3 2006. But if Allard were right and the PSP missed our agreed-upon milestone, he would get to shave our dreads. Onstage. During the Xbox E3 2006 press conference. In front of 1,500 attendees.

Sony hit that mark, E3 came and went and Jallard balked. Just like every time he wusses out when we try to contact him. Remember J, we don't think you are a COWARD or a LIAR for not holding up your end of the deal. A former fatty, yes, but yellow? Nooooooooooo. Brian Ashcraft

J Allard Won't Wear A Wig [Newsweek via Game Break]

The front row is still empty.

It wasn't a few minutes ago, I was sitting right in the middle of it: Front row seats to Gamers' Day.

But then came the tap on the shoulder and a polite "You can't sit here."

So now I'm about five rows back and pushed to the side. I'm pulling out my tiny laptop, settling in when Stephen Totillo, MTV's ace gaming writer, leans across the aisle and politely introduces me to the guy I'm sitting next to.

"David do you know Brian from Kotaku? Brian this is David Jaffe."

Jaffe... Jaffe... Jaffe? Oh, that's the guy I've been cyber-stalking for more than a year.

I smile, say hi. He goes to shake my right, broken paw, but I slip him my left.

"Sorry, right's broken."

I can't tell you how many people I've slipped that girly half handshake to today.

He says he knows Kotaku, reads it.

I let a few seconds pass before deftly sticking my foot in my mouth and freaking him out with equal alarcity.

"You know, you're really not that pretentious."

I notice the look on his face and quickly follow up.

"Do you know about Google News searches?"

Now he also looks confused. I have that effect on people.

"Well, more than a year ago I created a search for your name and I've been tracking you... I figured that you and CliffyB were sorta... out there. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I like CliffyB, he's a nice guy."

Someone from behind us temporarily rescues Jaffe from my ravings. He looks relieved until a sheet of paper is thrust into his hands. There's a stick figure drawing on it. Underneath is scrawled the name Kratos.

Jaffe smiles, politely. The voice behind me says "You can throw that away."

"No, now I have to keep it." I think he means it. Jaffe, I'm starting to realize, is painfully polite.

He folds the sheet up and tucks it away and then turns back to me, looking, I kid you not, as if he actually wants to carry on the conversation and not run screaming from the room.

"So," I continue, blithely, "I figured that maybe I could sorta cyber stalk you and use what you say to other people as part of our Kotaku Stalku stuff."

He's still smiling.

"But what I realized is that you really aren't that bad. You're really not pompous....I just say that because I know you've worried about it before. About how you come across on your blog. Don't. I've been watching for more than a year and you're really not that out there."

Jaffe, still smiling, says he's gotten over that.

"I just needed to develop a thicker skin."

I ask what he's up to now. "Are you speaking here?"

"Yeah, about my game. Criminal Crackdown."

"I'm going to have to blog that you know," I say as I pop open the laptop.

"Now? Are you writing right now?"

"Yeah, do you want to say something?" I thrust the laptop into his hands. He types up a short message and then the presentation starts and he hands me back the computer.

"Can I cuss on your site?"

I smile.

Brian Crecente

Capcom has supplied game site Next Generation with a Q&A which hopefully clear up some of the confusion (and heartbreak) regarding Clover Studio's shuttering. Capcom states that the subsidiary was liquidated because it would be better to have all the R&D resources in a single company. The fifteen staff members still working in Clover Studio will be transfered to Capcom R&D. Moreover, all the Clover copyrights will revert to Capcom.

Okay. But, what about Clover game designer Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil creator)? And Okami producer Atsushi Inaba? Here's an excerpt from the Capcom questionnaire:

Q: We've heard that the famous creators such as [Resident Evil creator] Mr. [Shinji] Mikami, [Okami producer] Mr. [Atsushi] Inaba and [Devil May Cry director] Mr. [Hideki] Kamiya have quit, is this true? Why didn't they come back to Capcom?

A: Mr. Mikami had already left Capcom in November 2005 but signed on a separate contract with us. Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya have also left Capcom in June and July of this year respectively. Naturally, we had hoped that Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya to come back to us, however, both of them told us that they wanted a new challenge at a new environment. As far as Capcom's concerned, now all the resources should be used more effectively and more efficiently since they are centralized.

Q: Can you tell us more about Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya? We've heard that they are setting up a new company.

A: Since they are not our employees any longer, we can't answer this question.

Q: Don't you think of Mr. Mikami's departure as a huge loss? Who's going to produce Resident Evil series from now on?

A: We have a signed contract with Mr. Mikami separately. In any case, we have many creators that have worked on Resident Evil series titles and have enough knowledge of the series. Mr. Mikami will also work in our R&D. By the way, Mr. Takeuchi is producing Resident Evil 5 (he's worked on the original Resident Evil).

So, if the Clover game rights and the Clover Studio employees are reverting to Capcom, that means that it's just Inaba and Mikami who are severing relations with Capcom. Right? Brian Ashcraft

Capcom Q&A [Next-Gen]

Snapped and sent our way, that's producer Jade Raymond (Assassin's Creed) and game designer CliffyB (Gears of War) backstage at X06. Young and pretty, working on killer titles and proud owners of good dental hygiene. Yep, we're insanely jealous.

That begs the question: Which one are you more excited about? And we're talking about their games here, kiddos. Brian Ashcraft

Major Nelson was able to find some WiFi and is crouched backstage of X06. He promises to attempt a liveblog of the event, so I'll be following his comments and posting them here with my own thought(less)ful prose. Keep it here for live stuff.

From the Major:

Chris Lewis has just taken the stage, and is talking about past X0 events.

Banjo and Kazooie coming to Xbox 360.

Xbox 360 is driving overall console sales in Europe.

As of today, based on third-party data Xbox sales represent nearly 60% of home console revenue in Europe - a five-fold increase over last year.

We launched the original Xbox in 16 European markets. Today we're bringing even more gamers in the region into the Xbox community, including South Africa, where Xbox makes its debut this weekend, to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, where Xbox 360 will be available in time for Christmas.

Doom was just confirmed for Live Arcade.

Oh, oh, it looks like the embargo just exploded. Someone leaked the pre-presser press release onto several sites. I'll be putting our stuff up now.

Jump to the main page for everything.

Brian Crecente

X06 Liveblogging [Major Nelson]

When Microsoft's eXtreme hipster J Allard said we were "kinda creepy," he had underestimated us. We are totally creepy. There are four of us staking out four different hotels in the greater Tokyo area, waiting for a glimpse of J's shiny noggin, searching for the scent of his pricey trainers. Mike, thought he had found Allard, only to have his heart broken. Repeatedly. Brian Ashcraft

Previous: Where Is Our J?

We like J ("No Period") Allard. A lot. At E3, we made sure to book the same hotel and followed him closely. For days. When he gained weight and started to look like Uncle Fester, we worried. So we were so OMG jealous when Gizmodo's Brian Lam interviewed the eXtreme dude on Microsoft's new music player. We did what anyone would and immediately scanned the interview for the part where J talked about us:

Giz: You have a track record for Cool at Microsoft. And the Kotaku guys, they practically stalk you. So, indulge us with some fantasies. Suppose you're in charge of the company. What would you do differently.

J Allard: I wouldn't change much. There are already bright, passionate people at Microsoft who understand digital music, and games, and who are tired of seeing complacency...Maybe I'd hire a bodyguard. The Kotaku stalking thing is kind of creepy.

"Kind of creepy?" J, it's TOTALLY creepy. Brian Ashcraft

Interview Here [Gizmodo]

Godfree from Gamertag Radio swung by a Major League Gaming dealio in Orland, Florida, where he kicked it with pro gamers and Dawn Wells, AKA Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island . Why was Mary Ann marooned at this MGA event? She's muttered something about a "three hour tour" and refused to tell how the Professor could make radios out of coconuts and where Ginger kept all her evening gowns. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Flickr]

Here, a Japanese gamer has assembled his collection of gaming great's signatures for all to see (gallery after the jump). Included are the likes of Mario maker Shigeru Miyamoto, Sonic creator Yuji Naka, Hudson's human mascot Takahashi Meijin, Namco founder Masaya Nakamura and Nintendo's resident odd-ball Benimaru Itoh!

While I am indifferent to the whole autograph thing, Weekend Editor Mike McWhertor is not. He loves collecting signatures. During E3, we actually had to take pens, pencils and crayons away from the boy to prevent him from stalking. Yet, that proved futile. In a fit of rage, Crecente rubbed the Nintendo Reggie signature right off Mike's DS, which led to shouting, crying and the requisite group hug. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [GK.Cool]

This must be one of the signs of the apocalypse. Wrestler Hulk Hogan hosted Pokemon Day in New York's Bryant Park. The event featured playable demos of upcoming Pokemon DS games and adults wearing funny costumes. What's next Hulk Machine, birthday parties? Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Joystiq]

Just hours earlier, Mega Man creator and Dead Rising producer Keiji Inafune endured sitting in a folding chair for an extended period of time while grown men in shorts talked at him in a foreign language. Kotakuite Dan was on the spot, sending us a wonderful description and pics of the event. Hit the jump for the full account and a photo gallery. Brian Ashcraft

My friends and I arrived at the mall at around 3:30, with a line already forming around the EB Games entrance. When we went inside, the clerk greeted us with a "Dead Rising?" When we let him know that we were looking for the game, he let us know that all of the copies for non-preorders were taken already, but to check back at around the time of the signing to see if their shipment had come in. Luckily, a voice from the back room piped up and told us that there were plenty of copies that had just arrived, so we picked up our games and headed to the end of the line.

While we were waiting, someone who some people in line claimed was Major Nelson was handing out free XBox 360 shirts, thanking us for supporting the 360. The shirts were nothing special, just a tiny 360 logo on a plain white shirt, but it was better than nothing, and gives me yet another piece of gaming attire to throw on the pile. A couple different media sources were filming the event - one was definately Capcom, and one was probably MS, and they would intermittently tell us to throw our copies of the game in the air for some photo ops.

So when the doors finally opened, they let people in five at a time to get their games signed. When I got to the man himself, I got my game signed, plus a tattered copy of my Capcom Design Works book. It looked like Inafune was obliging all kinds of autograph requests, as I saw someone with an autographed copy of Mega Man II walk out of the place with his cartridge signed.

Pics Here [Flickr] Thanks, Dan!

Rallying all Kotakuites living in the Pacific Northwest! Today, from 4PM to 6PM, Mega Man creator and Dead Rising producer Keiji Inafune will be at the EB Games in Redmond Town Center to scrawl his name all over copies of the 360 zombie slasher. Here's the details:

WHEN: Tuesday, August 8, 2006

4:00pm - 6:00pm

WHERE: EB Games at Redmond Town Center

16495 NE 74th Street
Redmond, Washington 98052

425-895-8331

Any readers that send in pics of the event would be appreciated. Though, any readers that send in pics and autographed copies of Dead Rising would be more appreciated. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Ozymandias]

For some, this will come as a shock. Mario isn't voiced by an actual Italian guy. It's hard to believe because his voice sounds so authentic that it puts Chico Marx's Italian stereotype stick to shame. Instead, Mario's in-game chatter is brought to life by journeyman actor Charles Martinet, the guy that played Arnie the Dinosaur in Nine Months. Here's Charles wondering around the Comic-Con last weekend. Reader Tim snapped the photo and said:

Charles was really nice! People were going up to him requesting a Mario voice mail message, and he would happily do it.

Thereby emotionally scarring legions of bug-eyed, mouth-gaping children. And kiddos, there ain't no Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, either. Brian Ashcraft

Learn About Charles [Official Site]

It wasn't only Kojima's doppleganger that was making the rounds at Comic-Con. To promote Halo action figures, the game's developer Bungie rolled out a man in a Master Chief suit and some other dudes in t-shirts and jeans. Kotakuite Victor was on hand and has this to report:

They had the Master Chief w/ a Bungie rep walking around all morning promoting the autograph signing at 12pm today w/ 10 members of Bungie ( game programers & art designers) They were setup at the Joyride Booth ( Halo Action figures) and signing autographs, I was able to chat w/ them a bit, all I got was the the game is coming along smoothly and is definetly on track for a "2007" release. And one guy said he's programming all the Covenent "interior" levels for Halo 3... Wish I got more out of them...

So do we, but you did well, Victor. Brian Ashcraft

Victor says that Brent Lewis (Writer), Lorraine McLees (Creative Director), Lee Hammack (Art Designer), Tom Doyle (Art Designer), Isaac Hannaford (Art Designer), Robert McLees (Art Designer), Jean "Moebius" Giroud (Halo Graphic Novel Artist) and some other dudes with shitty handwriting were signing autographs.

Don't blame hipster Xbox creator J "James" Allard for turning pale and pudgy. He's been squirreled away, giving his heart and soul to Microsoft's "secret" iPod killer. Subsistence means a steady diet of Jolt cola and Combos cheddar cheese crackers, and the opportunities to emerge from his work hovel have been few. Here is J in a rare moment, enjoying the fresh air, wearing a sweater hoody and looking like Uncle Fester. The other smiley person? Why that's former G4 television host Laura Foy. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [GamerTagRadio]

More Moore Here [UK:R]