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Cabin in the Woods and the Horror of Video Games
It was a dark and stormy night. (It was a violent and war-torn night.) It almost felt like a horror movie. (It almost felt like a video game.) The cabin in the woods seemed quiet. Too quiet. Surely all sorts of monsters lay within. It seemed like a good time for a spoiler warning. (The…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 4, 2012 -
Into Each Generation, A Slayer Is Born
Hello Kotaku. Welcome to your Thursday night open thread. Who’s this sitting next to me? Oh, that’s just Mr. Pointy. Say hello to the readers, Mr. Pointy! Here, from the internet, are some things to talk about. Man, I can’t believe this is official Obama merch – Also, I want one. If Aaron Sorkin had…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
From Uematsu to Lucasarts: A Kotaku Melodic Mix-Tape Roundup
Ever since we started Kotaku Melodic, our own video master Chris Person has been creating lovely Mixtapes featuring various themes, composers, genres and games. I’ve loved every one of them, and I thought this week would be a good time to share his first seven mixtapes in one place. Here now, the first seven volumes…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
The Elder Scrolls Online‘s Massive Soundtrack Could Unite All of Tamriel
Today, Bethesda officially announced The Elder Scrolls Online, which will allow players to enter the vast land of Tamriel. I agree with the five things that Mike said he’d like to see in the game. But the moment I heard the announcement, I coudn’t help but imagine that the game might include the music of…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
How A Video Game Rock Band Made Me Long for Winter in Toronto
I’ve only been to Toronto once, and it was in high school for a band trip. I think we went to “Medieval Times”? But the New York-based chiptune/rock band Anamanaguchi makes me want to go back. Not for any big event or anything, just to sort of slack off and wander around. Maybe get into…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
Let The Books Take You To “Tokyo”
The first time I heard DVA’s lovely soundtrack to Botanicula, I thought it sounded like The Books. Here’s “Tokyo,” one of the most famous tracks from their 2003 album The Lemon of Pink. Which, obviously, you should totally own.
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
Chiptunes, Schmiptunes: Embracing The Human Side of Video Game Audio
We’re living in something of a golden age of chiptune music. The last five or so years have seen a popularity explosion for the classic electronic sounds that most gamers associate with the games of their youths. The bleeps, bloops, and grinds of chiptune music have evolved from a technical necessity to an aesthetic choice.…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
Company of Heroes 2 Comes Out Next Year, Moves to WWII’s Eastern Front
Relic’s popular Company of Heroes will be out next year, according to scans of PC Gamer magazine posted at Polygon. This confirms rumors of its development and will make Mr. Luke Plunkett one happy camper.
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
Meet Call of Duty‘s New Foreign Bad Guys
In the futuristic 2025 setting of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the United States has become locked in a second Cold War with China due largely to a shortage of rare earth elements, which are vital in the creation of a lot of the technology and advanced military hardware we use today. In the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 3, 2012 -
A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Dolph Lundgren Action
That one’s for you, Kotaku. Hope you’re having a great Wednesday! Welcome to the open-thread. If you’ve watched that video (and you should), here are some other things you might read and talk about. Space is never anything less than amazing – Wow! A pretty hilarious version of the Pledge of Allegiance – Dark! But…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
There Will Actually Be Women in the Next Call Of Duty
Guns were always a given for the next Call of Duty. Women? We really did not expect them. And yet when I saw the game in action last week, there they were. Women. Two of them in the press demo alone! Ye gods. I went down to Call of Duty: Black Ops II developer Treyarch’s…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
One Way Video Games Are Like Prison
Over at Grantland, the occasionally notorious but always thoughtful writer Tom Bissell has weighed in on The Witcher 2. He is… not impressed. In fact, after 6 hours with the game, he decided he’d seen enough. “What?” you may blurt, spitting gravy flecks all over your laptop keyboard. “Six hours?? That’s not nearly enough time…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
Why Do Boss Fights Even Exist?
For this week’s Burning Questions, Kirk and Jason talk about one of the oldest traditions in video games: boss fights. Why do they exist? How do they reflect real life? Are they relics of a bygone era? What games shouldn’t have had them at all? My goodness! Those sure are some… Burning Questions Kirk: Why…
Kirk Hamilton & Jason Schreier Published May 2, 2012 -
The World Deserves A Perfect Strangers Video Game. Now, It Has One.
The wind and haze I’m bound for better days. It’s my life and my dream, Nothing’s gonna stop me now! You hear that, world? Nothing’s gonna stop me now! I think that Perfect Strangers‘ theme song embodies so many of the best things about people, a celebration of can-do spirit and optimism. It’s the kind…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
Explosive, Horse-Laden Screengrabs From Black Ops II‘s First Trailer
So, how about that Black Ops II trailer? Pretty explosive stuff. Now that you know more about the game itself, I thought it might be fun to go through some image-grabs from the trailer, just to tell you what I’m seeing there and how it lines up with that I saw of the game last…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
Black Ops II‘s ‘Strike Force’ Mode Adds a Branching Narrative With a Tactical Twist
Every past Call of Duty game has featured a rigidly linear single-player campaign. They’ve gotten shorter and shorter as the years have gone by, too—the last few games have featured campaigns that have lasted merely 4-6 hours. Treyarch is aiming to change that with Black Ops II with the inclusion of “Strike Force,” a new,…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012 -
48 Things That You Should Know About Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Last week, I headed down to visit with Treyarch in Santa Monica to get an extended look at Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Our visit was entirely hands-off, and consisted mostly of a series of in-game demos of missions from the single-player campaign, as well as a new open-ended single-player mode called “Strike Force.”…
By Kirk Hamilton Published May 2, 2012
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