Kotaku: Pictures

Target - No Warcraft? Here, Try This Poorly Kitten

Stuart Houghton — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:40:00 MDT

Gamers - the next time the game you want is sold out, rest assured that Target has got your back.

With their highly experienced games experts in combination with a multi-million dollar expert system derived from US Military AI tech, the retail giant is able to calculate the exact alternative to scratch your gaming itch.

Or not. It seems that at least one store is convinced that if you can't partake of massively multiplayer online action roleplaying in darkest Azeroth via the World of Warcraft Battlechest then the next best things is.. er, looking after sick virtual pets in Paws & Claws Pet Vet 2: Healing Hands.

Sure, its funny this way around, but wait until you see what happens when an old lady goes in to buy Animal Crossing for her six year old granddaughter and ends up coming home with Dead Space...

[Thanks to: Bobby the Best Buy Guy]

Rush's Moving Pictures Hits Rock Band Next Week

Brian Crecente — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:20:00 MDT

Rock Band's Community Zine is live, hitting email boxes international today. We've gotten a slew of emails to say that the little promotional zine is live and packed with interesting Rock Band tidbits.

In this inaugural issue comes news that the Rush: Moving Pictures full album download is coming to Rock Band on Aug. 26. The pack will include the original version of Tom Sawyer, Red Barchett, YYZ, the original Limelight, The Camera Eye, Witch Hunt and Vital Signs.

The zine also includes links to a backstage interview with Rush, a vid of Rush playing their own song in Rock Band on the Colbert Report and another of NAS playing Rock Band on the Report.

Finally you've got links to the Harmonix Developers' blog and a designer's Twitter.

id Would Like Another Doom Movie

Brian Crecente — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:00 MDT

id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead would like to do another Doom movie, perhaps one based on the still in production, and yet-to-be-named, new Doom game.

"Personally I'd like to do another Doom movie, I thought working with it was a blast," he said. "There are some lessons we learned. The best way to do things better is to get the experience."

Hollenshead said that Universal still has the rights for the Doom movie and sequels, so the ball is really in their court on whether another is made.

"We’ll see what happens when we get further along in development of the (new Doom) game and there's more buzz and we share more about what the game will be about.

"As the buzz meter starts to go up that may kind of kick start the guys over at Universal."

Will We See The Ghostbusters Game In 2009?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:00:00 MDT

So Activision doesn't want to publish Ghostbuster: The Videogame (silly, Activision). We've heard that the game isn't cancelled, but what exactly does that mean? Is it even coming out or will it just languish? According to Variety, Sony Pictures, who owns the rights to Ghostbuters and who licensed the IP to Vivendi last year, is working Vivendi "to evaluate various options surrounding the release of the 'Ghostbusters' video game." What's more, Sony adds:

This has presented [Sony Pictures Consumer Products] with an opportunity to reevaluate the game release marketing strategy to potentially coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original film in '09.

So if the game's not out until 2009, who's going to publish? One thing that is for sure is another year in develop should only help not hurt this game.

Ghostbusters game delayed to 2009, but who's publishing it? [The Cut Scene]

The Skinny On Resident Evil: Degeneration

Mike Fahey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:40:00 MDT

I case the Comic-Con trailer wasn't clear enough for you, Sony Pictures has issued an official press release for the upcoming film, being released theatrically in Japan before heading to North American DVD, Blu-ray, and UMD later this year. Here's the official synopsis:

The "Umbrella Incident" that took place in Raccoon City ended with a missile attack ordered by the government intended to wipe out the deadly zombie virus. Following this catastrophe, the Umbrella Corporation’s stock plummeted. This serious blow to the business giant resulted in its complete dissolution. 7 years later, at an airport somewhere in the United States, on an ordinary autumn afternoon, a zombie is unleashed. Now, in an airport beginning to fill with the undead, the horrific disaster is about to repeat itself...

Well that certainly sounds...like every other zombie movie ever created. The difference here? Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy. They really didn't have to go to all this trouble. They could have have just issued a press release that said "Leon. Claire. Zombies. Guns." and we'd be sold.

Sony Pictures and CAPCOM® Introduce RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION
Fans at San Diego’s Comic-Con International Get a Sneak Preview of the All New CGI Animated Feature Film Based on the Popular CAPCOM Video Game Franchise

Comic-Con International 2008
SAN DIEGO & TOKYO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Seven years after the destruction of Raccoon City, the war against the zombies rages on in RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION, a co-production of CAPCOM Co., Ltd. (CAPCOM) and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd. (SPEJ) based on the popular video game and film franchise. Making its theatrical debut this fall in Japan and coming to DVD, Blu-ray™ High-Def and PSP in North America later in 2008, this spectacular, all-CGI animated feature takes the zombie action to a whole new level with its ground-breaking visual effects and thrilling new storyline.

SPEJ and CAPCOM hosted a sneak preview of RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION during a panel and press conference, open to the public, at San Diego’s Comic-Con International in San Diego on Friday, July 25 at 1:00 PM P.D.T. in the San Diego Convention Center (Room 2). During this event, producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi (associate producer of Resident Evil: Apocalypse and video game producer of Resident Evil® 4 and Devil May Cry® 4) and director Makoto Kamiya (special effects director of L: Change The World, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack) presented the worldwide debut of the film’s revealing two-minute theatrical trailer and answered questions about RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION.

SYNOPSIS

The "Umbrella Incident" that took place in Raccoon City ended with a missile attack ordered by the government intended to wipe out the deadly zombie virus. Following this catastrophe, the Umbrella Corporation’s stock plummeted. This serious blow to the business giant resulted in its complete dissolution. 7 years later, at an airport somewhere in the United States, on an ordinary autumn afternoon, a zombie is unleashed. Now, in an airport beginning to fill with the undead, the horrific disaster is about to repeat itself...

Image courtesy PSU

Go!Explore, It Is for the Beautiful People

Owen Good — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:00:00 MDT

Up to now, the only occurrences of a platinum blonde wig and a PSP in the same frame could be found in someone's cosplay Photobucket album. Sony probably saw that and, in the interest of portraying the real people who would really use its Go!Explore GPS gadget and service, came up with the above promo shot. Other photos (found by Pocketgamer.co.uk) are on the jump. Wherever the hell this entourage is going, I half expect them to meet the Dos Equis World's Most Interesting Man when they get there.

PSP Out There, Go!Explore [Pocketgamer.co.uk]

Someone Is Sinking $200 Million In To Pac-Man, Castlevania Movies

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:40:00 MDT

Variety reports that Crystal Sky Pictures has signed a deal that will secure them $200 million USD in financing, money that's going to be used to fund films like Castlevania, a sequel to John Woo's Hard Boiled and among others... *sigh* Pac-Man. While we've known that Paul W. S. Anderson and Sylvain White's Castlevania was back on track, it's been a couple years since we've heard any chatter on the big screen adaptation of Pac-Man. Can it possibly match the fan-made version?

Crystal Sky is currently involved in producing the Tekken movie, a film that we just had our first peek at. We can only imagine that the Pac-Man flick won't be targeting the over-12 demographic, but desperately hope for something live action and thoroughly awful.

Crystal Sky signs $200 million deal [Variety]

Hell for Gamers

Owen Good — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:00:00 MDT

Another reason this is hell? Think of another thing gamers enjoy that requires opposable thumbs.

My vision of hell would be something like no opposable thumbs and nothing to play but Left Behind: Eternal Forces. On Intellivision.

Gamer's Hell [Toufee.com]

Pac-Man, Explained

ogood — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:00:00 MDT

Let's close things out today with this, an attempt to rationalize Pac-Man into an actual narrative: Bottom line, drugs and outer space are a bad combination.

This picture comes from an animation that gets annoying after about like 2 seconds. Turn down your speakers if you have easily startled house pets or children around. Fair warning.

Don't Do Drugs in Space! PLEASE! [ytmnd.com]

Sony Pictures Man Quits To Form Games Studio

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:30:00 MDT

First things first: Yair Landau is perhaps the best name of all time. Second things second: Yair Landau, formerly of Sony Pictures, has left both Sony and the movie business behind, and will instead be focusing on setting up a studio described as "a new games and animation venture to develop and produce content for use across all media." I have my suspicions about vaguely-worded things like that, but hey, how can a guy with the name Yair Landau get things wrong?
Sony Picture's Landau Planning Games Startup [Next-Gen]

Resistance Party = Old Hollywood

Mark Wilson — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:20:43 MST

If you long for the days when Fred Astaire and Grace Kelly took to the stage, dancing and singing amongst...dancers and singers...AND you happen to love the PS3 sensation Resistance: Fall of Man, then these photos are for you. Created with the help of 40 volunteers and Resistance's screen-grabbing tool, this is something really special. More pics:

Champagne fountains are overrated.
And to top if off, there was a special "homage to Burning Man." Ouch. But I have a feeling Master Chief's Spartan armor can handle the Resistance flame war and still manage to sell another bajillion copies before the day is through.

RESISTANCE REINVENTED [threespeech]

First Pics of Resident Evil: Degeneration

fdemarco — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:30:24 MST

Playstation Universe has gotten their hands on some images from the upcoming CGI Resident Evil movie. The story takes place seven years after the infamous Racoon City incident and features an all new storyline. Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy are on hand as the main characters, but can these computer creations out act live action RE star Milla Jovovitch? My vote is a resounding yes.

Check out Playstation Universe for the full gallery.

Master Chief Carved From Snow

Mark Wilson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:20:57 MST

Now that his battle is done, Master Chief seeks other fights. For instance, here we see him stand against global warming, spiting carbon monoxide emissions and the sun's building rays by standing defiant in frozen water. Don't mind his yellow glow. His bloom lighting is under control...it's just that a dog passed by not so long ago. (OK, fine. No yellow, "lemon flavored, we promise" snow was used in the building of this Master Chief sculpture. And his battle against polluters is in no way sanctioned by Bungie or Microsoft. As of now Master Chief is retired and void of any and all sponsorships—which is really too bad. He'd be great with a line of men's wear on QVC.)

Image [via digg]

Force Unleashed SIXAXIS Kinda Debunked

Mark Wilson — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:40:33 MDT

After discovering this image of a mutant SIXAXIS that debuted on the Star Wars: Force Unleashed on the official site, GameDaily followed up with Sony to double check the questionable validity. Dave Karraker from SCEA simply shrugged off the image as a "bad artist rendering."

But just look at the thing! We already knew it was a bad artist rendering—we do have eyes. We want to know if this bad artist rendering represents a real working prototype (possibly with rumble) that might be floating around Sony and third party developers. In other words, what does the "good artist rendering" look like? SCEA Says 'Redesigned' PS3 Controller Leak is Fake [gamedaily]

Diablo: The Movie

fdemarco — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 16:00:00 MDT

In yet another move to capitalize on the recent rise of video game popularity, Blizzplanet is reporting that the Legendary Pictures website is listing a Diablo Movie as "in development" right along side the Clash of the Titans remake and a World of Warcraft film. More details on the project are expected to come at the now sold out BlizzCon in August.

I tried Diablo out years ago and it was my first experience playing a game online with other people. I hate to say it, but it left a pretty bad taste in my mouth about playing games with strangers. The other players were rude and nasty and kept begging me for money and weapons. If I wanted to walk the streets and be bothered for money by aggressive panhandlers, I'd move back to San Francisco. Flynn De Marco

Diablo The Movie by Legendary Pictures Confirmed [Blizzplanet]

Brian Eno's Artwork in Second Life

Kim Phu — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:40:00 MDT

Another concurrent art exhibition both in Second Life and Real™ Life will happen at the end of June featuring Brian Eno's art installation, 77 Million Paintings. According to the Long Now Foundation:

He first created 77 Million Paintings to bring art to the increasing number of flat panel TV's and monitors that often sit darkened and underutilized...
The installation is mesmerizing; comprised of flat panel monitors, running multiple instances of 77 Million Paintings, the kaleidoscopic displays and slow, rhythmic evolution of the artwork create a singular experience for the viewer.

The Second Life venue hasn't been decided yet, but the show is set to open the same day that the art show in San Francisco does. I don't consider myself a critic of Second Life, more like some one who never had that much interest in it. However, given that I can not physically see this exhibit at this time, the fact that it will be available online makes me re-think becoming a Second Life citizen. Besides, it's so much easier to enjoy and analyze the art when you don't have security guards constantly glaring at you as if you had a big, drippy ice cream cone in your hand. Kim Phu

Brian Eno and the Long Now in Second Life [3pointD]

Another Tomb Raider Movie Possibility

Kim Phu — Fri, 11 May 2007 09:40:00 MDT

As with most Hollywood sequels, more time is spent talking about doing one and less time spent actually making one. Tom Raider creator, Ian Livingstone, revealed that Paramount Pictures is considering making a third Lara Croft movie with everyone's favorite one half of that LA icon, Brangelina.

At this moment in time it's still not green-lit, but the signs are there. Paramount have talked about the film for a long time, and I've had meetings with them. They're willing to put a scriptwriter on board. Angelina Jolie has an option to do a third movie. I think when they see how successful Anniversary will be and realise that the world is still in love with Lara, they'll be more inclined to exercise their option.

So another Tomb Raider movie is a post-it note on some intern's cubicle wall over at Paramount and it might be turned into a movie. I feel a big "meh" emerging from the depths of my lungs. Mmmmm-eh. Kim Phu

Jolie to star in third 'Tomb Raider' film? [Digital Spy]

Gallery: DS Style Screens Come Out

Kim Phu — Tue, 08 May 2007 09:40:00 MDT

A while back I mentioned that Square-Enix was coming out with some "practical" games for the DS, and now the screenshots have surfaced for these gems of learning. World Walking series, Why Not Listen to Classical Music on DS?, and Flower Blooming DS: Gardening Life are set to come out, with Flower Blooming with the only semi-confirmed release in Q3 of 2007. These throwbacks to the Nintendo Touch Generation games will unfortunately be released in Japanese, which is predictable, but I often wonder why the only similar game that has been released in English has Brain Age. Not that it is norm, but I know people of my parents' generation who have picked up DSs of their own because they saw it in Costco and now are at a loss for finding other learning games. And, besides going to Costco, their hobbies happen to include travel, gardening, and listening to classical music. I see a market, folks! Let's turn these bad boys into English. Kim Phu

DS Style game screens [Go Nintendo]

Ubisoft Turns Surf's Up Into Game

Brian Crecente — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:00:58 MDT

Why is it that all children's movies have to be turned into video games these days? The latest is an unholy deal between Ubisoft and Sony Pictures to turn animated flick Surf's Up into a game for every system known to man.

Both the game and movie will feature voice work by Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Mario Cantone, Diedrich Bader, and Sal Masekela which won't make it suck any less. I suppose I shouldn't be assuming that this will be a bad game, but do you blame me? Brian Crecente

Clip(s): Japan Gets New, Non-Gaming PS3 Ads

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:00:58 MDT

What do you do when your console doesn't yet have killer games? Advertise pictures! Yes, PICTURES. Like of ~~an old man marrying a young women~~ a father with his daughter (above) or of another old man ~~caught putting a dead body in trunk~~ with his car (after the jump). Two new PS3 commercials that show how well the console handles photo slideshows of old dudes with added music? Welcome to next-gen! Brian Ashcraft

Battlestar Galactica Theme and Pics On XBL

fdemarco — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:00:00 MST

If you just can't wait for the Battlestar Galactica game to make it to Xbox Live this fall, you can content yourself with this BG theme and picture pack now available on XBL. It's available in all Xbox regions so that geeks from around the world can all share in the Battlestar Galactica goodness. Like all themes and picture packs, this one is available for the low, low price of 150 Xbox points. If you'd like to take a peek at what your getting, check it out on DashboardThemes.com. Flynn De Marco

Theme and Pictures: Battlestar Galactica Pack #1 [Major Nelson]

A Pictorial History of Video Game Systems

Mike Fahey — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:40:25 MST

Knuttz.net has posted a pictorial history of the video game console, featuring 71 consoles from the original Odyssey all the way up to the Wii. Titled "Video Game Consoles Evolution", it doesn't feature long, drawn-out histories for each console. No tiresome personal anecdotes like you'd find me writing after every photo. Just 71 crystal clear photographs in chronological order. Simple and clean.

It's a thing of beauty. Michael Fahey

Video Game Consoles Evolution [Knuttz.net - Thanks MrSaturn!]

PS3 Road Trip: El Paso

Brian Crecente — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:00:58 MST

When Sony mailed me the Playstation 3 in Texas, in the middle of a road trip, I figured when else would I have an opportunity to cart around a $600 yet-to-be-released console all over the place and take pictures? So I made the best of the situation. Think of this as the geeky version of the garden gnome. Yes, I'm a dork. Brian Crecente

The PS3 tickles the ivories.

The PS3 taking in the sun, by the pool.

The PS3 preps for a little air time over El Paso.

The PS3 safely cradled for the drive to Las Vegas.

Round-Up PS3 NYC Clips

Brian Crecente — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:41:10 MST

Sony held a Playstation 3 event in New York City Thursday to show off the games and console interface. Gawker's very own Richard Blakeley was on hand to shoot some footage for us. Here's a round-up of the videos he did.

NBA 07
Need for Speed Carbon
Mobile Suit Gundam
Motorstorm
Tony Hawk Project 8
Call of Duty 3
PS3 Music Browser
PS3 Picture Browser
PS3 Movie Browser

Brian Crecente

Sega Tells Teens No "Smooking"

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:22:28 MDT

This was found in a Sega Station sticker picture booth in Shibuya, where the kiddies shop 24-7, party till dawn and have questionable vices like "smooking." Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Japundit]

Warhammer: Mark of Chaos E306 Trailer

brownlee — Fri, 12 May 2006 07:20:19 MDT

The Warhammer guys are really putting Blizzard to shame with their CGI trailers these days. This one for the upcoming PC RTS Warhammer: Mark of Chaos was done by Digic Pictures, who also worked on digitially buffing the abs of a certain pudgy California governor in Terminator 3.

GDC: Through the Eyes of Rocca

Brian Crecente — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 06:00:16 MST

I ran into IGDA executive director Jason Della Rocca at the Game Dvelopers Conference last week. Needless to say, he was a wee bit busy. He just dropped me a line to let me know that he's updated his blog Reality Panic with his thoughts from the show and tons of pictures.

The images do a great job of capturing the feel of the show. Some of my favorites include Will Wright hanging out at a party, CliffyB showing off a picture of his puppy and the 50 bazliion other developers just chilling out.

Despite all of the stuff I was able to see and do, it also highlights the tons of stuff I missed.

The Craziest GDC Ever [Reality Panic]

Check the Silent Hill Movie Teaser

lsmith — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 09:42:26 MST

It seems to preserve the atmosphere of the Silent Hill games, at least with the whole, "weird lighting, girl whispering" business, but it depends on how Roger Avary's script and Christophe Gans directing come together - and we don't see much of a hint at the quality of either from the quick teaser. Looking through the cast list, Boromir (the actor who played him, Sean Bean) is in the flick, so it can't be all bad.

Silent Hill Teaser [The Lovens]
Silent Hill Homepage [Sony Pictures]

The Many Faces of Mario

Brian Crecente — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 14:00:17 MST

Looks like Mario took to the streets last night during their annual West Hollywood Halloween celebration. I love the Mario Karts shot, I wonder if they had any races?

Any pictures of Mario passed out on the street or overturned in a bloody mess of shopping cart steel and broken bones should be emailed directly to me, I've been trying to get dirt on him ever since he started stalking me last year.

BlizzCon Rocks Anaheim

Brian Crecente — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 08:00:37 MST

It looks like BlizzCon was an unadulterated success judging by the picture gallery. Check out that sweet sword, was that the grand prize for the Warcraft III invitational. Man, that's right up there with Atari's Quest for the Five Golden Objects back in the days of Adventure.

Photos [Blizzcon]

Online Gamers Unmasked

lsmith — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:40:18 MDT

Robbie Cooper has a gallery up at BBC News featuring gamers pictures beside their avatars. It's probably not a representative sample, but it's solid photography and these galleries are always interesting. The fourth dude in the gallery is one of the 33 kings in Lineage. How do you get to be a king?

Sticker Picture Cosplay

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:22:29 MDT

Over the weekend, I went over to Kyoto to do some shopping and hit a few game centers. Sure, Nintendo might be making inroads in attracting non-gamers and females, but the layout of yer average Japanese arcade is a good indication of how much further we've got to go.

Realize that there are game centers and there are print club ("puri kura") booth centers. They are separate. Either they are in totally different places or divided by floors in the same building. Men without a female companion cannot enter these sticker puri kura shops. Why? 'Cause there are a ton of young females. While conversely, the arcades are packed with single dudes smoking and playing Gundam. Think you're likely to find a group of females (sans boyfriends) in an arcade, playing Tekken?

This particular center had costumes for sticker pic customers to borrow and pose in. They had police uniforms, maid outfits and nurse costumes. And no, I didn't see a changing room. No wonder single dudes ain't allowed.

We're getting tons of submissions for our Halloween Cosplay competition. Keep them coming!

Mario Kart DS Bundle First Pics

Brian Crecente — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:38:53 MDT

Here they are ladies and gentlemen, pictures of the new Mario Kart DS Bundle.