Michael McWhertor

Konami’s Gamescom 2010 Press Conference Live!

Konami is kicking off its Gamescom 2010 press conference with a greeting from the affable host Thomas Sauermann, who warns us that we’ll be hearing more about Pro Evolution Soccer, Def Jam Rapstar and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow today. And? Well, we’re about to find out. Konami’s Gamescom 2010 press conference kicks off now… Click…

Bulletstorm Unleashes Hail Of New Media

People Can Fly, Epic Games and EA showcased new gameplay of the hyperviolent alien world shooter Bulletstorm at Gamescom today, illustrating what a quad-barreled shotgun can do to flesh and bone. If that trailer was too loud and brash for you, enjoy nine new Bulletstorm screens in quiet serenity in our gallery. They’re thick and…

How Virtua Tennis 4 Plays In Move Motion Controlled 3D

Sega offers a new perspective on the Virtua Tennis series for its next outing, a new title that touts two key PlayStation 3-specific features, stereoscopic 3D visuals and PlayStation Move motion controls. So, how’s that work? A lot like Wii Tennis, actually. Going hands-on with Virtua Tennis 4 for the PS3 at Gamescom today, I…

PlayStation Store Update: You May Feel A Slight Need For Speed

Budding Mavericks, Geese and Icemen will want to re-fund the wallet this week, as Top Gun leads the list of new PlayStation Store games for North American PS3 owners. Three new PS3 demos also provide high speed thrills. Demos for Joe Danger, H.A.W.X 2 and NHL 11 will give everyone a taste of something to…

Crysis 2 Nano Edition Is Big, Official, For ‘The Ultimate Crysis Fan’

Crytek’s next first person shooter adds the option to spend an obscene amount of money on a video game, thanks to Crysis 2‘s “Nano Edition,” a special package that comes complete with backpack. Yeah, remember that leaked Crysis 2 bag? That’s the Nano Edition of the game, different from the “Limited Edition” release of the…

Crysis 2 LE Screens

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Review: Grime Story

Partners in crime, Kane and Lynch, meet in Shanghai for one more score. An arms deal goes—how else?—horribly wrong, resulting in death, double-dealings and grisly torture. Kane & Lynch 2 made me sick, perhaps my favorite part. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days tells the gritty, foul-mouthed and bloody tale of Lynch’s life turned upside-down…

Super Scribblenauts Brings Stinky Trolls, Vampiric Dogs & More To Gamescom

The “more” from that headline refers the hyper-active vikings, powerful cheetahs and tiny dragons alluded to in this new Super Scribblenauts trailer, released as part of WB’s Gamescom hype. In addition to getting our hands on the game’s multiple control options and its rainbow telephones, we’ll be playing the game (again!) this week to see…

How APB ‘Torpedoed’ Developer Realtime Worlds

The developer of Crackdown and APB, Realtime Worlds, was recently hit with layoffs. Members of the APB team were axed, as was much of the team developing social gaming software Project MyWorld. So, what happened to the promising studio? According to a commenter at Rock Paper Shotgun going by the name ExRTW, claiming to be…

Your First Look At Red Faction: Battlegrounds

The first downloadable Red Faction game was officially named and detailed earlier today, but publisher THQ is making its latest game announcement officially official with new Red Faction: Battlegrounds media. The Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network game is coming in 2011, courtesy of developer THQ Digital Studios UK and Volition. Four players can go…

PlayStation 3 Slim Packs On 40GBs [Update]

The cheapest version of Sony’s thinner PlayStation 3 is now 40GB fatter in North America, a “just announced” improvement now shipping from retailer GameStop. The better news is that it’s still $299 USD. GameStop is carrying the upgraded version of the console now, seemingly a replacement for the base 120GB model that has been on…

New Mortal Kombat Arcade Comp Listed, Yanked By Retailer

Online retailer ShopTo may have outed the Mortal Kombat team’s plans for a new collection of some of the series most fondly remembered games by revealing the Mortal Kombat Arcade Compilation. According to ShopTo’s listing—spotted by CVG and quickly pulled—the PlayStation 3 title will include Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.…

Red Faction Battlegrounds Screens

So Long, Midway, And Thanks For Smash TV

The Midway logo goes to its final resting place as employees pack up, clean house and make the move to their new home at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. As seen on Twitter. R.I.P.

Hasta La Vista, Kotaku

I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle. Failing that, I need you to get into this thread and terminate this week with extreme prejudice (read: stimulating conversation). Next time we see each other, Kotaku readers, I’ll be on German time. Only the finest German beers, sausages, rouladen, sauerkraut and potatoes can make me…

LittleBigPlanet 2 Beta Test Inbound

There’s a LittleBigPlanet 2 beta on the way for a select group of lucky PS3 owners, but beyond that details are scarce. Keep an eye peeled!

Let’s Just Call The Weekly Japanese Hardware Battle Even

The battle for weekly console dominance in Japan, where Sony and Nintendo, not Microsoft, rule the roost, was a wash. Even Steven. Neck and neck. Dead heat. OK, Nintendo did have a little bit of a lead. The battle of the Nintendo family versus the PlayStation family was pretty close though. 61,259 consoles and handhelds…

What’s Next For Left 4 Dead 2?

Valve will be injecting life into Left 4 Dead 2 in the form of featured community maps for the PC. The developer says it plans to begin hosting bi-weekly community campaigns on its own servers, starting with “Two Evil Eyes.” Valve’s Chet Faliszek writes on the official Left 4 Dead blog that the company will…

Can Video Of Tony Hawk Shred Make You A Fan?

You may be older than the target market for Activision and Robomodo’s next Tony Hawk game, but perhaps video of Tony Hawk Shred will bring out the kid in you. First footage of Shred in action certainly makes it look like a capable entry in the series. The biggest question mark is how well that…

Albion’s Adventures Continue In Fable: The Balverine Order

It’s a book! For Fable diehards with a thirst for some off-game fiction—courtesy of prolific writer Peter David—there’s Fable: The Balverine Order. It’s the rare paperback that lets players unlock a unique item in a video game. Coming this October from Ace Publishing, Fable: The Balverine Order does more than just spin a fantastical yarn.…