Brian Ashcraft

I Would So Play This Fake Pacific Rim Video Game

Pacific Rim never got an 8-bit Nintendo game. Why? Because Guillermo Del Toro wasn’t making big Hollywood movies during the 1980s, that’s why. But what if he were… Okay, title screen up there. Ignore the 2013 copyright and pencil in 1987. Do it. So, now kaiju are on Earth, threatening human existence, blah, blah, blah.…

Japan’s Pastry Beds Are a Dream Come True

Ever wanted to go to sleep on fluffy bread? Or curl up in creamy sweets? Now you can—sort of! Japanese online retailer Felissimo is selling tasty-looking sleeping bags, pillows, and bedding that wouldn’t look out of place in a bakery. There is “Cream Pocket Bread.” And “Thick Slices of Japanese Cushion Bread,” which is served…

Just a Russian Hovercraft Landing at a Crowded Beach, That’s All

A Russian hovercraft made an unexpected stop at a packed beach, while out on a tactical mission. Thankfully, no one was apparently hurt. Everyone, though, was surprised. According to Business Insider, the beach apparently belongs to the Russian military. So, that would mean the question isn’t what a hovercraft is doing on this beach, but…

Drag-On Dragoon 3 has been delayed to improve quality. The PS3 game was originally slated for release on October 31 in Japan. According to Square Enix, its new release date is December 19.

Nausicaä 2 Sure Seems Like It Could Happen

The anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released in 1984. For the past few years, there have been rumblings about a sequel. But now, more than ever, it feels like that the long overdue sequel could happen. Here’s why. Note: This article contains spoilers about the Nausicaä manga and anime. Nausicaä of…

The Best Pokémon Reenactment of the Summer

Some Pokémon characters are fairly easy to bring to life. Other characters are quite difficult and certainly no day at the beach. That is, unless you are already at the beach. The above image is a recreation of Dugtrio, a Mole Pokémon, facing off with Machamp, the multi-armed macho Superpower Pokémon. The reenacted version isn’t…

No, This Final Fantasy Character Didn’t Say “F**kball”

Well, I don’t think he did. This new trailer for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is a little over two minutes. But the last several seconds are what might raise eyebrows. Skip to around 1:50 to see, er, hear what I’m talking about. While it sounds like Sazh is saying “blasted fuckball,” I believe he’s…

Japan’s Stupidest Photo Trend: Climbing into Things

Many Japanese photo trends have been cool. Really cool! They’ve gone viral and spread beyond the country’s borders for good reason. This one, though, is anything but cool. It’s stupid. In the past month or so, select members of the country’s youth have been photographing themselves after they’ve climbed into things, usually electrical appliances. It…

So Many Pokémon Cheaters Entered Online Tournament

Last month, an official Pokémon wi-fi tournament allowed Pocket Monster players from all over the world a chance to compete. For a large number, it was a chance to cheat. According to The Pokémon Company, the 2013 Global Showdown saw a whopping 1,558 cheaters. These players didn’t use regular in-game Pokémon or special rare Pokémon…

Korean McDonald’s Employee Taunted a Customer with Spit

Ask those who work or who have worked in fast food, and many will tell you that, yes, spit burgers sadly exist. But rarely have they existed in such a bizarre way. Earlier this month, Chosun.com (via Hachima) recounted the story of a McDonald’s customer who ordered home delivery. The customer, a graduate student surnamed…

This Simple Animated Film Might Make You Cry

Tekken, the Japanese comedian who named himself after the Namco fighting game, is back again with another animated short. It might make you all weepy. Maybe not! Previously, Tekken released an anime short called “Furiko” (or “Pendulum”), which featured a Muse track and even led to the comedian working with British rockers on a music…

Here Are the Xbox One’s Launch Games

Microsoft confirmed the the Xbox One’s launch line-up. It’s over twenty games strong. If you were wondering what games you can pick up at launch, read on. Courtesy of Xbox.com and barring any last minute delays or surprises, this is the list of what they call “launch day” games: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Ubisoft,…

Fighter Within Lets You Punch People in the Face

Ubisoft’s upcoming Kinect game Fighter Within for Xbox One puts you in a fighting game. Literally. It’s out this holiday. Check out the trailer above. The game is an Xbox exclusive, it seems. First the game is headed to Xbox One, and then Xbox 360. Fighter Within – Gamescom Trailer [PlayTheGame] To contact the author…

Now that’s dedication. Call of Duty Ghosts will have dedicated servers for Xbox One, Microsoft revealed. To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft

Europeans Get FIFA 14 For Free if They Pre-Order Xbox One

Today, Microsoft announced that FIFA 14 would be bundled with the Xbox One at launch in Europe. For free! But wait, there’s a catch: You gotta pre-order. The game will hit the Xbox 360 this September and the Xbox One at a later date. European gamers who pre-order the Xbox One will get FIFA 14…

Like Peggle? Well Peggle 2 is an Xbox One launch title. And Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is hitting the console next year. Both are coming to Xbox One first.

Cobalt is headed to Xbox One, Microsoft announced today. Cobalt is a platformer developed by Oxeye Game Studio in collaboration with Mojang of Minecraft fame. The game is currently in alpha and can be downloaded for PC and Mac. via @Graeme Selvan [Twitter] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find…

The Next Fable Is Called Fable Legends

There’s a new Fable! Lionhead Studios is working on an exclusive new entry in its action role-playing series. Called Fable Legends, the game is headed to Xbox One as an exclusive. You can play with up to three friends via co-op or alone with three A.I. companions. The game also lets you play as the…

Japanese Banana Art Is So Damn Appealing

Darth Vader. A Xenomorph from Aliens. Attack on Titan. That’s not mentioning the various other characters as well as animals, too. They’ve all been brought to life in amazing banana sculptures. This is the work of Keisuke Yamada, a banana artist Kotaku first profiled in 2011. To make these sculptures, Yamada, an electrician by trade,…

Watch Mike Tyson Play Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! for The First Time

Glass Joe is the first character you face in Punch-Out. He is, without a doubt, the easiest opponent. Anyone can beat him. But can Mike Tyson? The famed champ had apparently never played the 1987 Nintendo boxing game he made famous. Until recently, that is. Tyson finally played it on Fox Sports and was even…