Kotaku: Swords

Frostmourne For $379 Seems Cheap Now

Mike Fahey — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:40:00 MDT

Those of you who railed against the $379 price tag for the Epic Weapons official replica of the cursed World of Warcraft sword Frostmourne might want to reconsider after seeing what folks paid for a chance at the first 100 numbered weapons. 1,012 users paid the non-refundable $429 entry fee for the Frostmourne auction - that's $434,148 - with the top 100 bidders in order receiving swords 1-100. The top bidder? $20,700 - over 54 times the price of the sword. Suddenly the prospect of gathering up $379 doesn't feel so daunting anymore. Sure, it won't be the official #1 Frostmourne, but I'd trade a giant foam hand and my imagination for $20,700 any day of the week. I'll save my money for when they get around to their Simple Dagger replica.

Frostmourne Auction [Epic Weapons via Blizzplanet]

Frostmourne Makes A Lovely Gift

Mike Fahey — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:40:24 MDT

For those of you unfamiliar with World of Warcraft lore, Frostmourne is the legendary runeblade that stole the soul of Prince Arthas Menethil, causing him to kill his father, shatter The Frozen Throne, and ultimately merge with the Lich King into an uber powerful being, destined to become a raid boss somewhere down the line. Now Epic Weapons is readying the release of the Forstmourne replica, 47 inches of Japanese milled stainless steel, cast metal, and leather. The weapons comes complete with a lovely display mount, a limited edition poster, and an embedded authenticity microchip with a reader to help assure people you didn't make the weapon yourself in your garage. As far as replicas go it isn't cheap, running $379.00, but it's a small price to pay for the sword that completely tore Azeroth a new asshole. Frostmourne is now available for preorder, with a May 1st release date that eerily mirrors a certain Kotaku writer's birthday. *whistles innocently*

Square Enix Cuts Down Sword Pirates

Mike Fahey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:20:18 MST

Odds are many of you already own one or more Final Fantasy replica weapons - and that frightens me - but at least they are generally of the more shoddy, unlicensed sword replicas you were likely to find on the cheap via eBay or Bob's Discount Cutlery Emporium. Now Square Enix is taking steps to get those sharp, pointy objects out of the hands of fans, having filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California against those whole would infringe upon their intellectual property. At least four manufacturers are named in the suit, which came about after the US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol seized a crate of counterfeit swords designed in the style of famous Final Fantasy weapons. Square Enix investigated, and while many resellers ceased their rampant reselling, the companies targeted by this lawsuit refused to cooperate, calling down spiky-haired justice upon them.

Squeenix's general counsel Yasuhiko Hasegawa offers an apology of sorts to fans who lived for this sort of crap.

While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience.

Now the companies, who have not been named specifically, will have to go to court, where Square Enix lawyers will take on their lawyers in classic, turn-based RPG style.

SQUARE ENIX Files Federal Lawsuit Against Alleged Infringers of FINAL FANTASY Franchise
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ — SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., a Tokyo-based leading digital entertainment content company (Square Enix), announced today that it had filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California against alleged infringers of Square Enix's intellectual property. The lawsuit names at least four wholesalers of unlicensed sword replicas and their principals, which have willfully infringed four videogames and one CG-animated film in Square Enix's FINAL FANTASY(R) franchise. Additional defendants may be added to this lawsuit. By filing this lawsuit, Square Enix is stepping up its anti-piracy enforcement with aggressive initiatives against individuals and organizations involved in the theft and unauthorized use of the company's intellectual properties. This lawsuit follows multiple confidential settlements with various retailers of similar infringing items, each of which involved the payment of a substantial financial penalty.

The current lawsuit is a result of cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol, whose agents seized a crate of counterfeit replica swords. These seized swords had been designed to replicate the unique swords featured in Square Enix's FINAL FANTASY franchise. Square Enix conducted a thorough investigation to identify the primary wholesalers and retailers of these unauthorized products in the United States. The targets of the current lawsuit have refused to cooperate with Square Enix.

"We are actively pursuing those who commit intellectual property infringement against our company," said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, Square Enix's General Counsel. "Any illegal activities, including the sale and distribution of unauthorized replica merchandise and counterfeit jewelry, and the unauthorized copying of Square Enix games, music, movies, images, and other intellectual property, will be prosecuted. While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."

Mobile's Lara Croft?

Mike Fahey — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:00:06 MDT

"Gentlemen, may I introduce you to Phoenix Shadowalker", begins the press release from Glu Mobile, announcing it's new mobile game available later this month, Shadowalker, or Shadowwalker going by the press release heading. Mistaking us for gentlemen was your first mistake. Assuming that some sultry model in a leather jacket and a mini-skirt holding a sword was going to ruin our on-again, off-again romance with Lara Croft was the second. We are gamers, Glu Mobile, and we have hot women with swords falling all over us all the time. We can't walk down the street without a walking hottie arsenal falling in step behind us. It's just how we roll. We've come to terms. Besides, mobile gaming already has a Lara Croft. Her name is Lara Croft. May we introduce you?

Shadowwalker Struts Her Stuff
Gentlemen, may I introduce you to Phoenix Shadowalker - the new videogame heroine ready to out-sauce Lara Croft as the number one pixellated female icon.

As the eponymous star of the new mobile phone title released this month, hack and slash your way through over 20 levels of classic platform gameplay, in a spooky shadowy world in need of rescuing from hordes of invading ghouls.

Developed and published by Glu, a leading publisher of mobile games, Shadowalker will be available across all games-enabled mobile phones. It boasts graphics and gameplay that matches the best handheld videogames, offering a rich game experience for experienced and casual gamers alike.

New Red Steel Trailer Shows Great Improvements

egauger — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:20:41 MDT

Today is full of videos, for which I apologize. It's just what the feeds doled out last night.

Brand new as of the 14th, this Red Steel trailer is full of the new control scheme, good music (hopefully in-game), and and undoubtedly exaggerated gestures on the part of the "gamer". But this footage gets me stoked about being given more opportunity to play video games in a way that utilizes more than my thumbs.

But check out the totally un-bushido way that the hero stabs that ninja once he's already disarmed. For shame.

The gleaming white mini-katana (I know it has a real name but none of my Japanese-speaking friends are talking to me) in the background hints at a custom wiimote from my dreams. Eliza Gauger

Click here for full-quality version of the above video [IGN]

Kratos' Twin Swords on eBay

Brian Crecente — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 15:00:33 MDT

Wood weapons crafter EasilySuede (don't worry, I haven't heard of them either) has a pair of swords up for sale that are "inspired by the award-winning video game, God of War."

The two walnut swords are 8-inches wide and 30-inches long. Both come with 40-inch long bridle-leather "chains", though I don't think it would be a good idea to try and pull the Blade of Artemis with them. Hey, I wonder if they come with fishing hooks, so you can "attach" the chains.

Wouldn't it be awesome if someone got a pair of these and just went ape shit with them on video. I totally need another Star Wars Kid fix.

The swords will set you back $185 and take about two months to craft.

ES Wooden *KRATOS' SWORDS* wood toy sword GOD OF WAR [eBay]