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A Look At Predators
With Aliens vs. Predator already out (and reviewed!), it time to get excited about the next project with Predator in it, the upcoming feature film Predators. Starring Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne, Predators is a sequel to the 1987 film Predator — producer Robert Rodriguez wanted the reboot to be like sci-fi film Aliens was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
Eight Minutes of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Gameplay
Not exactly eight minutes, but close enough. This spring, Stealth series Metal Gear Solid is coming to the PSP. It will look like this. Series creator Hideo Kojima has called Peace Walker a “MGS5-class game”, and it was later revealed that Peace Walker was going to be called Metal Gear Solid 5. Watch this gameplay…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
How Video Games Taught Me Everything About Capitalism
You collect coins. You then use those coins to get extra lives or buy things. Get used to it, because that’s the way the world works. Money has appeared in games for decades now with seminal games like Super Mario Bros. having players collect coins. Players must collect coins to get more lives — meaning,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
Guess This Person Is A Fan
No, a superfan. If you know this game, feel free to say it out loud and pat yourself on the back. Good job! If not, read on. Originally released on the PC in 2005, fantasy sci-fi visual novel Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na was turned into a manga and an anime as well as being…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
A Real Xbox 360 Coffin
When Xbox 360 conked out in the past, folks would send their Xbox 360s to Microsoft in cardboard boxes affectionately called “coffins”. Here is a real honest-to-goodness Xbox coffin. Designed by designer Alexis Vanamois, this Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death coffin is a final resting place for a dearly departed console. There’s even a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
Standing Up To Proposed Virtual Child Porn Legislation
The Tokyo Metropolitan government is moving forward on legislation that sets out to ban provocative “visual depictions” of characters who appear to be 18 years-old and younger. And some of Japan’s most famous manga creators are fighting it. Manga artists Go Nagai, Tetsuya Chiba and Machiko Satonaka appeared at the Tokyo Government Office on March…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
Hey Activision, GDC Is For Developers, Not Strippers
Activision, the company that publishes Guitar Hero and Call of Duty, did not get the memo. The recent Game Developers Conference is not the venue for half-naked pole dancers. Thing is, GDC is for game developers. Not silly PR stunts. To promote triad crime game True Crime, Activision turned part of the San Francisco W…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
Direct Sequel For Final Fantasy XIII?
For the uninitiated, Final Fantasy XIII might seem like the sequel to Final Fantasy XII. It’s not. Each game is its own title, so if there was a FFXIII sequel, it would be FFXIII-2. When asked about the chances of a direct FFXIII sequel, the game’s producer Yoshinori Kitase replied, “In the past three years…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2010 -
No More Kindergarten, That’s It, Kids Grow Up
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft Today was Mini-Bash’s last day of kindergarten. He took the bus to kindergarten for the last time. Starting next week, he has a spring vacation, then this April, he enters first grade. First grade! Unbelievable and somewhat bittersweet. I don’t know if kids grow up too fast, or if we grow…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
Peace Walker Has The Stuff Of A “Masterpiece”
Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima cannot be clear enough. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker isn’t just some PSP game. Oh no. Kojima has called Peace Walker a “MGS5-class game” — it was later revealed that Peace Walker was going to be called Metal Gear Solid 5. The game is all Kojima’s idea and just…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
Is This The Frilliest Plastic Figure Ever?
It very well could be! Here’s Clalaclan Philias from SEGA’s Japanese action role-playing game Shining Wind in what may look like a doily, but actually is not! She’s actually wearing armor and carrying a shield. She’ll kick your ass. The figurine retails for ¥10,290 (US$114) and will be out this July. Frilly ain’t cheap, buster!…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
Rumor: Why Call of Duty Developers Are Sticking Around
With studio heads at Infinity Ward, the developer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its sequel, no longer employed, you’d think all those remaining at the company would be leaving in mass exodus. They’re not, apparently, and here’s why. Sources tell Kotaku that Modern Warfare publisher Activision is delaying paying Infinity Ward employees their…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
Small Differences Between Japanese Final Fantasy XIII and International FFXIII
Final Fantasy XIII on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are different. But that’s not all. According to website Final Fantasy-XIII.net, there are several slight differences between the Japanese version of the FFXIII and the International version: • Vibration: “However, how powerful the vibration is has been changed dramatically,” writes the site. “You seldom feel…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
More No More Heroes Sexy Time!
Honestly. If there was any other time than sexy time. Wii action game No More Heroes is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 with the subtitle Heroes’ Paradise, and it’s bringing saucy character portraits with it. The “erotic portraits” are a pre-order bonus. Previously, Kotaku featured the mango and cherry portraits of game character…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 12, 2010 -
Are You Ready For Ketsui Bullet Hell?
Finally, finally. After a lengthy wait, arcade shooter Ketsui is getting ported to the Xbox 360. Originally released in arcades in 2003, the game has already been ported to the Nintendo DS and mobile phones. The Xbox 360 port is being done by 5pb., a Tokyo-based entertainment company that has released subpar Cave ports in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010 -
My Wife And Japanese Schoolgirls
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft The question I’ve been getting recently a lot is: What does your wife thinking about you doing a book on Japanese schoolgirls? Well, I guess she’s okay with it, because she, you know, worked on it with me. The entire impetus of the book is to find out why schoolgirls are…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010 -
First Look At PlayStation Move With Professional Models and Photoshop
Kotaku has already provided the first ever official, up-close look at the Sony’s PlayStation Move motion-controller. Now, it’s time to look at models pretending to play with it. Can’t wait! The Move will be released this Fall in three options: individually, bundled with a PlayStation Eye camera or bundled with the camera and a PlayStation…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010 -
In Seven Days, Something Will Happen
Maybe you’ll eat a turkey sandwich. Perhaps, you’ll drink a glass of carrot juice. You may even read watch television. The future is endless. The reveal for this countdown teaser is not. Japanese game company CyberConnect2 is running a teasing that is teasing something in seven days. The site simply reads “7 days to go”.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010 -
Five Westerns You Must See Before Dying…
Western game Red Dead Redemption has been delayed from April to May. Those looking to bide their time productively with cowboys, read on. Developer Rockstar needs more time to polish the game, which *fingers crossed* means a better finished product. Still, that leaves us with some dead time this coming April. Kotaku previously posted the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010 -
How Japan’s Push For Babies Helps Gambling
The Japanese population is shrinking. Birthrates have been dropping for the past two decades, and the country needs more babies. The Japanese government is attempting to push through a national child subsidy program. Enter pachinko. The plan, reports Leo Lewis at the The Times, is poised to offer ¥13,000 (US$144) each month for each child…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2010
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