Brian Ashcraft

Square Enix’s Mecha Lady Game Knocked Offline, Hacking Feared

Smartphone game Galaxy Dungeon is Square Enix’s attempt to mix card-based action with role-playing game elements. The mecha heroines caught the attention of some gamers, and there was some fanfare when it was recently released. Things seemed to be going well for Galaxy Dungeon. Then, there was a bug—a bug that now looks like it…

This Isn’t Plastic Surgery, It’s Nightmare Fuel

Kids these days! With their computers and fancy software, they get up to all kinds of fun, doing things like freaking out the internet, for example. Oh to be young! Earlier this year, it was a bit of a thing in China for teens to post altered photos of themselves with pointy chins and enormous…

Jailed ArmA 3 developers sent a letter from prison (via Eurogamer).

Lazy People Can Play Real Arcade Games and Win Real Prizes in Real Time

Claw games, crane games, U.F.O. Catchers—whatever you want to call them—are iconic arcade machines. Unlike many other arcade games, claw games don’t get ported. They do now. Netch or “Net Catcher” is an online claw game that isn’t only real time, it’s real. On the site, there are a couple different crane games offering different…

Don’t Build This Model Gun if You Plan on Committing Crimes

In sci-fi anime Psycho-Pass, authorities take out individuals with a high probability to commit crimes. Their weapons of choice to suppress precrime are called the “Dominator” (above) and can only be used on those likely to do illegal deeds. As Otaku News pointed out, Japanese gun model maker Poseidon produced this full-scale Dominator model. A…

Soon, You Can Eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on Japan Airlines

Airplane food sucks, especially in coach. Even when it’s good, it’s so bad. No wonder Japanese air carrier JAL is looking beyond traditional sky meals. JAL wants its meals to be finger lickin’ good. Literally. From December to next February, JAL is collaborating with KFC for what it’s calling “AIR Kentucky Fried Chicken.” Clever! Japanese…

New 3DS XL Bundle with Mario Kart 7 Races Out

Just in time for the holidays, Nintendo is releasing a Blue/Black Nintendo 3DS XL bundle with Mario Kart 7 already installed. It’s out December 2 for US$199.99.

When Your Love of Plastic Beauty Is Mega

The MegaHobby Expo recently rolled through Tokyo, showing off an array of colorful sculptures and statues. This is pure geek heroin. On display, there were upcoming statues from a variety of games, anime, and manga. Japanese site Moeyo was on hand to check things out. Have a look and start filling out your wish list.…

Interested in interning for Kotaku East? Live in Asia? Read This

This Vendetta Against a Popular Japanese Comic Is Utterly Terrifying

Kuroko’s Basketball seems innocent enough. It’s a popular basketball manga that debuted in 2008 and was turned into an anime earlier this year. You wouldn’t think it would incite threats of revenge, letters mailed with strange substances, and a rash of Kuroko’s Basketball cancellations. But it did. Since October, threatening letters have been mailed to…

Iconic Street Fighter Artist Illustrates How the Internet Is Full of Jerks

Ever notice how there’s always people online who seem to know everything? That take pleasure in showing they know everything when they notice mistakes? And then others gang up, too? Maybe you are sometimes guilty of that. Maybe I am, too. Maybe that’s the problem. Akiman, best known for his Street Fighter art, does a…

Konami, once again, reaffirms that Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Xbox 360 isn’t happening.

There’s Now Darth Vader “Energy Cola” Pepsi in Japan

Like everyone, Japan loves Star Wars. It also loves Darth Vader, who has sold everything from smartphones phones to pachinko on Japanese TV. Japan also loves energy drinks. And so, we have this: Pepsi Energy Cola with Vader’s face plastered all over it. The Dark Lord of the Sith actually wants you to “Give yourself…

How to Get an Online Girlfriend (or Boyfriend), a Dating Guide for Japanese Nerds

Single? Looking for love? Spend time on the internet? Have I got a book for you. A Japanese book. With some dirty pictures. But let’s skip those and talk about how we can help you find your Juliet or Romeo. Recently, a book called A Guide to a Truly Correct Net Love Life went on…

You’ll Never Guess How Long Making the Agni’s Philosophy Demo Took

Jaws were on the floor when Square Enix showed the three minute Agni’s Philosophy demo earlier this year in Los Angeles. They were on the floor this weekend when Square Enix once again showed off the tech. To dazzle like that takes time. A lot of time. While showing off the mind-blowing demo this weekend,…

The Colorful World of My Little Pony Cosplay

Any My Little Pony fans in the house? Any, dare I say, Bronies? Friendship isn’t the only magic. Cosplay is, too. Children of the 1980s remember the splash the ponies made when they were first introduced—and are now perhaps pleased to see My Little Pony get the smart animated series it deserves. My Little Pony:…

The Wii Mini Looks Glorious, Lacks Internet and GameCube Games [Update: Canada Exclusive]

Earlier tonight, a teeny-tiny image of the Wii Mini’s box appeared online. Here’s a better look at the console itself. And hot damn, it’s lovely looking. Smaller than the regular console, the Wii Mini has a red casing and a rough, matte finish with a Wii logo dead in the middle. It appears to be…

PSP picture game Photo Kano is getting a PS Vita version and a TV anime, says Famitsu

Chinese Newspaper Believes The Onion, Really Thinks Kim Jong-un Is The Sexiest Man Alive

People’s Daily is China’s newspaper of record. It’s the paper of the Chinese Communist Party—a mouthpiece of the government. And today, it figured out that The Onion is not America’s newspaper of record. If you’ve been on the internet since forever, you know that The Onion is a humor site that satirizes the news. People’s…

Erotic Game Company Parodies Nintendo Honcho

“Iwata Asks” is a regular online feature in which Nintendo president Satoru Iwata interviews developers. Some of the game creators are in-house and some work for outside companies. All of their games appear on Nintendo hardware. None of them feature hardcore pornography. Instead of “Iwata Asks”, Osaka-based erotic PC game company SoftPal launched a “Shacho…