Kotaku: vga

Capcom Gives Out 200 E-Tanks to Thirsty VGA Goers

Owen Good — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:30:00 MST

Capcom-Unity trucked down to L.A. for the Spike Video Game Awards and staged a big E-Tank giveaway to pimp Mega Man 10. Check out what the happy campers got!

Well, in addition to the E-Tank energy drink , they also got a sweet t-shirt and commemorative box. Plus they were served buy a guy in a short-order getup, complete with paper hat.

Capcom-Unity says the first fan they served had been waiting in line since 10 a.m. More than 200 boxes were given away. Did any of you get one? What did this stuff taste like? Or did you even drink it?

Rounding Up the Winners and Videos from the VGAs

Owen Good — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:00:00 MST

I'll respectfully disagree with Geoff Keighley, the announcement of Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 doesn't quite deliver the "biggest surprise premiere!" thrill he told us to expect. Granted, the Spike Video Game Awards have a history that is all of seven broadcasts long.

It just seems a little soon for this. So soon, Left 4 Dead players have announced they're boycotting it. Hey-oh!!! OK, that's a groaner; at least it wasn't half as awkward as Stephen A. Smith last night.

Anyway, the 2009 Video Game Awards did hand out some hardware and pimp some new games. We've already posted the Batman and Medal of Honor trailers, and the Halo: Reach opening cinematic. Here are the rest of the major videos from last night's broadcast (via Gametrailers), with a list of all of last night's award winners at the bottom.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Debut Trailer

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands Debut Trailer

Spec Ops: The Line Debut Trailer

Green Day: Rock Band Debut Trailer

Crackdown 2

UFC 2010 Undisputed Debut Trailer

Deadliest Warrior Debut Trailer

Tron: Evolution Debut Trailer

True Crime Debut Trailer

Winners at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards:

• Game of the Year: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• Studio of the Year: Rocksteady Studios
• Best Independent Game: Flower
• Best Xbox 360 Game: Left 4 Dead 2
• Best PS3 Game: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• Best Wii Game: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
• Best PC Game: Dragon Age: Origins
• Best Handheld Game: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
• Best Shooter: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Best Fighting Game: Street Fighter IV
• Best Action Adventure Game: Assassin's Creed II
• Best RPG: Dragon Age: Origins
• Best Multiplayer Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Best Individual Sports Game: UFC 2009 Undisputed
• Best Team Sports Game: NHL 10
• Best Driving Game: Forza Motorsport 3
• Best Music Game: The Beatles: Rock Band
• Best Soundtrack: DJ Hero
• Best Original Score: Halo 3: ODST
• Best Graphics: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• Best Game Based On A Movie/TV Show: South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
• Best Performance By A Human Female: Megan Fox (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
• Best Performance By A Human Male: Hugh Jackman (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)
• Best Cast: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
• Best Voice: Jack Black (Brütal Legend)
• Best Downloadable Game: Shadow Complex
• Best DLC: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
• Most Anticipated Game of 2010: God of War III

Spike Video Game Awards 2009 [site]

Halo: Reach Trailer Dates Multiplayer Beta for Spring

Owen Good — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:00:00 MST

These two minutes come from the opening cinematic of Halo: Reach, establishing the story of Noble Team, assigned to defend the planet. An accompanying press release announced the multiplayer beta - invitations included in Halo 3:ODST - begins Spring 2010.

The New Mass Effect 2 Cinematic Trailer [Corrected]

Owen Good — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:30:00 MST

Correction: I misidentified this as a trailer from the 2009 Video Game Awards. While it is new, it is from the IGN Ultimate Video Game Gift Guide, which aired on Fox before the VGAs.

Mass Effect 2 [IGN]

From the VGAs: Sequels Announced for Force Unleashed, True Crime

Owen Good — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:30:00 MST

At the Video Game Awards, Samuel L. Jackson just took the stage (describing himself as a "bad ass motherf—-er") to announce Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2.

The trailer featured a Vader vs. Yoda voice over, Starkiller fighting a beast muuuuch larger than a Rancor, but no gameplay, and no release date. Earlier in the day a Kotaku tipster emailed us describing exactly this trailer. The tipster said the game is being developed internally at LucasArts and will be out in late 2010. "It is everything the first game could/should have been and a lot lot more (online support!)" the tipster wrote.

Earlier, if you guessed that the mystery spike VGA teaser from late November, and the deep cover detective game set in Hong Kong that it depicted, was in fact Activision's True Crime, then give yourself a gold star. The game is being developed by United Front Games.

From the VGAs Mark Hamill Hints at Arkham 2 [Updated]

Owen Good — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:00:00 MST

Kotaku's Michael McWhertor is in L.A. for tonight's video game awards, where Mark Hamill told him he was asked to do a trailer for a sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum. Update: Looks like that game has been announced.

That really didn't take long. The show opened with the announcement of Batman: Arkham Asylum 2. A url for the game: Arkhamhasmoved.com was given, but as of 6 p.m. Mountain Time I was still getting 404 errors for it.

Early Video Outs 'Green Day: Rock Band'

Owen Good — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:00:00 MST

Not sure if this is the "biggest surprise premiere in VGA history" we've been promised, but MTV put up a "Green Day: Rock Band" video dated three days into the future, then pulled it. Embed code still works, though.

As you can see, the band's rocking out to "American Idiot" with note highways, band shots, the works. And then as if to drive home the point, the title card Green Day: Rock Band slams over it at the end. Sounds rather definite to me. I guess we shall know if this is for-sure real or not in about 90 minutes, right?

MTV Shows

MTV Teases 'Green Day: Rock Band' [Joystiq]

UFC Undisputed 2010 to Debut at VGA Awards

Owen Good — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:00:00 MST

THQ's acclaimed UFC 2009 Undisputed is up for a Video Game Award, which make's Spike's broadcast this Saturday the perfect time to debut the mixed martial arts title's highly anticipated sequel.

The awards show will feature the first ever gameplay footage of the UFC Undisputed 2010, plus commentary from top UFC fighters. A news release from THQ says "the footage will be introduced through a special UFC guest appearance." I just hope it's not a scripted bout with whomever's presenting.

Following is a teaser trailer that went up earlier today; it doesn't give up much of anything to expect in UFC Undisputed 2010.

Mysterious New 2K Games Shooter Teased By Spike [UPDATE]

Stephen Totilo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:20:36 MST

The Spike TV Video Game Awards will once again double as as an autumnal E3 as new games are revealed, new trailers unveiled. Halo: Reach is coming. As is whatever this game is, teased first on Kotaku in video below.

Thoughts? Theories? Is it Ken Levine's new game? Is it BioShock 3? Is it related to anything that shows up in Google when you type in 2K Games and Dubai? We here at Kotaku can only speculate about the secrets the VGA people are holding onto. They won't tell us anything.

The name of the game and gameplay will premiere during the VGAs on December 12 at 8pmET/PT on Spike. A Halo: Reach trailer is also scheduled for the broadcast.

1up.com reports that this is a teaser for Spec Ops and we can now even watch an August-posted TV commercial for it.

One Man's VGA Picks

Owen Good — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:35:00 MST

How long until our generation starts a VGA pool, the way Oscar pools are now run? Here are my picks for tonight's honors. Choices that have already been named by rumor are marked.

Update: My picks for what will win run first. My picks for what/who should win are bracketed.

Note: • = Named as a winner in the rehearsal.

Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto IV [Gears of War 2]
Studio: Media Molecule [Bethesda]
Shooter: Left 4 Dead• [Gears of War 2]
RPG: Fallout 3 [Fallout 3]
Fighter: Soulcalibur IV• [Smash Bros. Brawl]
Sports: Shaun White Snowboarding• [Same]
Handheld: God of War: Chains of Olympus [Same]
Best Graphics: LittleBigPlanet [Same]
Adapted Game (TV or Movie): Lego Indiana Jones• [Holds nose, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]
Music Game: Rock Band 2 [RB2]
Driving Game: Burnout: Paradise• [Burnout Paradise]
Action Adventure: Grand Theft Auto IV [Metal Gear Solid 4]
Team Sports Game: FIFA 09 [FIFA 09]
Soundtrack: Grand Theft Auto IV [Not nominated: Bionic Commando: Rearmed]
360 Game: Gears of War 2 [Gears 2]
Wii Game: Boom Blox• [Smash Bros. Brawl]
PS3 Game: Metal Gear Solid 4 [LittleBigPlanet]
PC Game: Left 4 Dead• [Left 4 Dead]
Original Score: Fallout 3 [Fallout 3]
Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead• [Left 4 Dead]
Performance by a Male: Michael Hollick (Grand Theft Auto IV)• [Jason Zumwalt, Grand Theft Auto IV]
Performance by a Human Female: Debi Mae West (Metal Gear Solid 4) [Debi Mae West, MGS4]
Big Name in the Game, Male: Kiefer Sutherland (COD 4)• [Don't care, bullshit category]
Big Name in the Game, Female: Jenny McCarthy (Command & Conquer Red Alert 3)• [Ditto]
Independent Game: Braid [Braid]

More Leaks from the VGA Rehearsal

Owen Good — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:10:00 MST

In addition to the Gears 2 rumor, attentive spies listening to the VGA rehearse logged a slew of award winners. We can verify that some actual announcements slipped out, but can't specify which.

According to the eyes and ears at PrimoTech, this is some of what what you can expect tonight. Note: We can't vouch for the accuracy of individual items, just that the rehearsal cam did spill some legit information. So some of this can't be considered verified. But the fact the rehearsal cams went silent about an hour ago is a big indicator. My commentary is in brackets.

Special Announcements
• Gears of War 2 ‘Combustible’ Map Pack available on Xbox Live Marketplace 12 PM Pacific/3 AM East TONIGHT
• EA debuts Dante’s Inferno title, coming in 2009 (See Variety)
• Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten’ available as downloadable Rock Band album in March

Award Winners
• Best Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead (Valve)
• Best PC: Left 4 Dead (Valve)
• Best Fighting: Soul Calibur 4 (Project Soul)
• Best Driving: Burnout Paradise (Criterion)
• Best Portable: Professor Layton (Level 5)
• Best Wii: Boom Blox (EA Casual)
• Best Individual Sports: Shaun White Snowboarding (Ubi Montreal)
• Best Female in a Game: Jenny McCarthy as Tanya in Red Alert 3 (EA Westwood)
• Best Game Based on a Movie or TV Show: Lego Indy (Traveller’s Tales)
• Best Performance by a Human Male: Michael Hollick as Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto IV)
• Big Name in a Game: Kiefer Sutherland (Call of Duty: World at War)
• Gamer God Inductee: Will Wright (Sim City, Spore)

Appearances
• Marisa Miller presenting. [Geoff Keighley told Major Nelson it's tied to the Gears 2 announcement].
• LL Cool J presenting ‘Best Shooter’
• Peter Moore presenting Fight Night Round 4 [confirmed]
• Neil Patrick Harris presenting ‘Best Indie Game’ [Doogie Howser: Day of Crisis?]
• Eliza Dushku presenting Kieffer Sutherland as ‘Big Name in Game’ winner
• Kim Kardashian presenting first footage of EA’s Dante’s Inferno
• Tony Hawk presenting Game God Inductee Award to Will Wright [Name of award and recipient confirmed by Keighley to Nelson]
• Geoff Keighley presents Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned DLC
• Jerry Stiller makes a cameo for some strange reason [to Air the Grievances?]

Miscellaneous (this sounds like they caught comedy bits or scripted lines. Commentary is Primotech's):
• Plaxico Burress named ‘Best Shooter’ [LMFAO]
• Jack Black is all zany with his Xbox 360 headset! How zany!
• Talking Spore creatures are somewhat fond of Will Wright
• Dante’s Inferno is “based on a book or something.” This perturbs Kim Kardashian a great deal.

Live Winners and News from The Spike 2008 Video Game Awards Show

Gears 2 Map Pack Drops After Midnight

Owen Good — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:55:00 MST

So, Spike TV was screening its rehearsals. Someone (not us) saw it and says tonight's big news for Gears 2 is a bit ... anticlimactic. Like, it's a map pack, available on XBLM at midnight.

"Gears of War 2 ‘Combustible’ Map Pack available on Xbox Live Marketplace 12 PM Pacific/3 AM East TONIGHT." Or, so says Primotech, one of a few spying on a VGA rehearsal that mysteriously went silent around 6 PM eastern. Take this rumor with a grain of salt, but, really, if that's the ultra double super secret announcement no one could talk about ... I now know how Ralphie felt when he finally got his Ovaltine decoder.

Either way, you can tune in for the final reveal to see if this gets the rumor smash or not. The 2008 VGAs are live at 9 EST, 8 CST, 7 Crecente, and are tape f***ing delayed on the West Coast.

Live Winners and News from The Spike 2008 Video Game Awards Show [PrimoTech]

Your Half-Assed Viewer's Guide to Tonight's VGAs

Owen Good — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:00:00 MST

Geoff Keighley went on Major Nelson's podcast to tease a bunch of details for tonight's Video Game Awards. Working from his info, here's some tips on what to watch for, if you're tuning in.

• Marisa Miller, who just got done prancing for Victoria's Secret, and will cavort on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, is going to be involved in this ultra-double-secret announcement about Gears of War 2 tonight.

• "Xbox fans are really gonna like how (host Jack Black) opens the show. There'll be a big surprise, how he opens the show," said Keighley.

• First gameplay footage for God of War 23. (How the hell did I typo that one as 2 ... I'd be less embarrassed if I took my dick out in church. At a wedding.) Exclusive premiers and trailers also for Uncharted 2, Mafia II, Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and the Damned, Terminator Salvation, Watchmen: The End is Nigh, and Jack Black's own Brütal Legend. Keighley said there will also be announcements regarding unnamed games no one even knows about yet.

• "Every segment will have a new world exclusive," Keighley said. "Every five to seven minutes." Sounds good, but aren't there supposed to be some awards handed out?

• Peter Moore will unveil Fight Night Round 4, we knew that. But Gametrailers says it features "a virtual bout between two legends of the ring." I'm halfway hoping that means the boxers themselves are playing the game, but it probably just means gameplay footage. Either way, let's hope the fighters are new and/or interesting.

• Performance by 50 Cent.

• Boldface names live in attendance include Cliffy B and Hideo Kojima. Will Wright will receive a lifetime achievement award.

All these world exclusives, announcements and trailers are exciting and interesting, and will no doubt make for hellacious grist for the coming week (and cause GameTrailers to go into exclusive orgasm overload.) But ... I mean, aren't they gonna like give out awards for games people are actually already playing and stuff?

Anyway. The sixth annual Video Game Awards are on Spike TV tonight at 9 p.m. U.S. Eastern time, 7 p.m. Crecente.

NOTE: This broadcast WILL BE tape delayed on the West Coast. Pacific time viewers can tune in at 6 p.m. local only. Speaking as one, that, in two words, sucks ass.

Major Nelson Podcast #302 [Major Nelson, thanks Kyle M.]

Jack Black Craps Ping Pong Balls for VGA

Owen Good — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:00:00 MST

Jack Black's hosting Spike's 2008 "Video Game Awards" (their quotes, not mine). Here are a couple promos goofing on mo-cap. Being clever works. Poop jokes always work. And ping-pong peepees = can't-miss crowd pleaser.

Death by eagle? Oh come on, Jack, don't make me beg you to do a Falcon Punch. Come on, you down with OP IP? UPDATE: For some reason, GameTrailers moved or took down the original, plus the death sequences, so we now have the versions hosted at Spike's Web site. But on the jump there's a third GT promo video featuring more ping pong ball-shitting.

The 2008 VGA are next Sunday, 9 PM EST on, of course, Spike TV.

Jack Black Special Attack Promo [Gametrailers]

No Painted Nearly Naked Girls, But Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:00:00 MST

Last year's Spike Video Game Awards uses nearly naked ladies instead of envelopes with paper to announce the winners. Hardly traditional, the VGA had woman painted with game motifs walk on stage. But what about at this year's show?

Spike TV's Casey Patterson has told game blog Multiplayer that the painted ladies won't be back. Continuing, she adds, "For any Spike show we do know that guys want to see beautiful ladies." But just not painted ladies. This year, it sounds like there will be ladies, but ladies wearing wings — “heavenly ladies”?

What's wrong with just opening an envelope and reading something off a piece of paper? Like, it seems to work okay for the Oscars...

Painted Naked Women Won’t Return To Spike Video Game Awards, But... [Multiplayer]

eBay Game Auctions Get "Regulated"

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:30:00 MDT

If you've ever bought action figures or comics or anything like that on an auction site, there's a fair chance it's been graded/appraised by a third party. This lets the buyer know that someone who's not the seller has independently vouched for the quality of the item in question. Well, if you're selling or buying games, you've now got the same option, as the first games to have been examined by Video Game Authority have popped up on eBay over the past week. For $25, the VGA will grade your game, then seal it inside a hard plastic, tamper-proof shell, which instantly lets buyers know the condition of the game. Useless if you're just after a sealed copy of GTAIV (especially considering the $25 fee), but if your online purchasing habits lean more towards boxed copies of Chrono Trigger, this looks like its worth a look.
First VGA Graded Games Hit eBay [GameSniped]

Spike VGAs: Nominees Announced

geoff — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:00:00 MST

Yes, the game of the year discussion is already beginning! Spike is hosting its 5th annual Video Game Awards this December in Las Vegas, and this morning the nominees were released on Spike.com. What's in contention for Game of the Year? Orange Box, Halo 3, BioShock, and Mass Effect. Don't agree with the nominees? Blame Crecente and this here guest editor, who are both part of the judge advisory panel. For all full list of all the nominees, check after the jump. Watch the show Sunday, December 9 at 9 PM to see if this year's host can pronounce my last name correctly.

Game of the Year BioShock Halo 3 Mass Effect The Orange Box
Best Shooter
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Halo 3
The Orange Box

Best Action Game
Assassin's Creed
God of War
Super Mario Galaxy
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Best Rhythm Game
Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Jam Sessions
Rock Band

Best RPG
Eternal Sonata
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Mass Effect
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

Best Driving Game
Colin McRae: DiRT
Forza Motorsport 2
Need for Speed ProStreet
Project Gotham Racing 4

Best Military Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
World in Conflict

Studio of the Year
Bungie Studios
Harmonix
2K Boston / 2K Australia
Valve

Best Graphics
BioShock
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Crysis
Mass Effect

Breakthrough Technology
Crysis
Halo 3
Portal
Rock Band

Best PS3 Game
Heavenly Sword
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Warhawk

Best Wii Game
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario

Best Xbox 360 Game
BioShock
Halo 3
Mass Effect
The Orange Box

Best PC Game
BioShock
Crysis
The Orange Box
World in Conflict

Best Individual Sports Game
skate
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Virtua Tennis 3

Best Team Sports Game
Madden NFL 08
NBA 2K8
NHL 08
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007

Best Handheld Game
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Best Game Based on a Movie or TV Show
The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
The Simpsons Game
John Woo Presents Stranglehold

Best Soundtrack
BioShock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Rock Band

Best Original Score
BioShock
God of War 2
Halo 3
Mass Effect

Best Multiplayer Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Halo 3
Rock Band
The Orange Box

Most Addictive Game Fueled by Dew
Halo 3
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Orange Box
Wii Sports

Spike 2007 VGA Nominees Announced

geoff — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:00:00 MST

The Spike TV Videogame Awards are coming up on December 9. Over at Spike.com they've posted the list of this year's nominees, decided on by a panel that includes Kotaku's own Brian Crecente and this week's guest editor Geoff Keighley. For Game of the Year, the nominees are Orange Box, Mass Effect, BioShock and Halo 3. Check out all the other nominees over on the official site.

VGA Nominees Announced [Spike.com]

Clips: Leeeerooooooy Jenkins VGA Ad

Brian Crecente — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:00:50 MST

Will there ever be a time when Leroooooy Jenkins is played out?

Yes, yes there is. It's the time between the first laugh-out-loud funny commercial for the Video Game Awards show, seen above, and the derivative crap seen in commercial number two and three on the jump. Repeating, of course, is what kills Leeeeeeeeroy Jenkins. Brian Crecente