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Better Red Than Dead
As Kotaku transforms into Kotaku After Dark, let’s enjoy the transition with a little off-topic conversation. Though, when the conversation may touch on The Matrix Online, the line may begin to blur. Stay with me! See, this weekend, I opted to watch portions of The Matrix Revolutions, an entry in the Wachowski… siblings trilogy that…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
ReviewsCastlevania: Harmony of Despair Review: Share In The Despair
The heroes of a handful of 2D Castlevania games come together to tackle old foes in a new way in Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Can the normally solitary, exploratory experience of recent “Metroidvania” games make the double-jump leap to multiplayer? Castlevania: Harmony of Despair borrows five vampire-slaying heroes—Alucard, Shanoa, Soma Cruz, Jonathan Morris, and Charlotte…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
New Vanquish Trailer Likes To Play Gruff
Do you like your action heroes gravel-voiced from chain-smoking, battle-worn and gruff? Do you dream of shooting rebellious Russian robots in space? Platinum Games’ Vanquish, even without its robo-dog, might be your cup of tea. Shinji Mikami, creator of Resident Evil, God Hand and more, is trying his hand at a third-person shooter with Vanquish,…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
New Deus Ex: Human Revolution Screens Black, Gold & A Little Old
The next Deus Ex game, now in development at Eidos Montreal, will be dark, glowing with gold light and, occasionally, feature a hint of seafoam green. We know this by looking at “new” screen shots of Deus Ex: Human Revolution These purportedly new shots of the Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 game due next…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
The 8-bit Version of DJ Hero Comes Complete With Chiptune Mashups
The man responsible for the 8-bit version of zombie shooter Left 4 Dead has turned his “de-make” skills to another recent franchise—Activision’s DJ Hero. Pixel Force: DJ Hero, as it’s known, is musically true to its 80s roots. The chiptune mash up you hear in the first trailer for Eric Ruth’s latest retro creation blends…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
The Next Borderlands Add-on May Have Just Been Seriously Spoiled
Gearbox Software’s loot-centric first-person shooter Borderlands recently got an update, one that added Steam achievements and new hardware support. That update also may have laid out, in extreme, spoiler-filled detail, the next downloadable expansion for Borderlands. According to contributors to Gearbox’s online forums, that new Borderlands patch featured a folder chock full of potential details…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
Bungie Is Done With Halo: Reach, Now Focused On ‘New Universe’
The next chapter in Bungie’s development history is well underway, according to its new publisher Activision. With Halo: Reach having “gone gold,” the team responsible for Halo (until now) is shifting its focus. Activision execs said during today’s investor call that “the majority of the Bungie team has moved into their new space and is…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
True Crime: Hong Kong Exported To 2011
Activision did its part to thin the typically obese late year release schedule today, delaying True Crime: Hong Kong to next year. Originally planned for release this fall, the PS3, PC and Xbox 360 game will hit in 2011. Why? According to Activision, the delay was granted “in order to give the development team more…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
Sexy Sengoku Samurai, Cute Vocaloids Storm Japan’s Sales Charts
What does Japan like this week? Feudal Japanese fantasy battles in the form of Sengoku Basara 3 and rhythm games starring vocaloid Hatsune Miku. Yep, shirtless samurai warriors and sexy singing robots are just what Japan needed more of. The PlayStation 3 wins this week’s software war, thanks to Capcom’s Sengoku Basara 3, which moved…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
How Activision Pissed Off Pro Paintballer Greg Hastings
Activision has lost a fan in Greg Hastings, the paintball playing pro who lent his name to two Activision-published games. According to Mr. Hastings, the mega publisher not only tried to “steal” his franchise, but also his identity. Hastings, who also has a game to promote in Greg Hastings Paintball 2—this one’s published by Majesco—tells…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 5, 2010 -
Appetite For Distraction
Good evening, Kotaku readers. Come, join us in this post where we open our minds, our threads and maybe even our hearts to the things not necessarily video game related (like New Yorker cartoons). Did anyone out there 100% Achievement Unlocked 2 like I did today? And did you see these re-captioned cartoons from The…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
Report: Fable III Will Not Work With Kinect (At Launch)
Peter Molyneux, the main man behind Fable, dropped some good news and some bad news about the next game in that series today: Fable III will not support Microsoft’s Kinect controller when the game ships later this year. But Molyneux says that Kinect support—in some still unknown form—will come to Fable III at after launch,…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
The Killer Robot Dog That Almost Made It Into Vanquish
Vanquish, Platinum Games’ high-speed futuristic shooter for Sega, left some fascinating concepts on the cutting room floor. One notable deletion was protagonist Sam’s best friend—a robot dog that launched missiles, provided mobile cover and more. Borrowing a page from another Sega game, Shinobi sequel Shadow Dancer, it appears that Sam would have had faithful four-legged…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
Racer Blurs The Finish Line Between Real World & Video Games
“Interactive video game installation” Racer may not have the most creative name, but its implementation—part video game, part real world race—is delightfully inspired. This arcade game combines a sit-down cabinet, RC cars and “lots of cardboard” beautifully. Conceived by Malte Jehmlich and taking inspiration from PlayStation series WipEout, Racer puts the player behind a remote…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
Nintendo Lets You Paint Happy Little Trees On Your DS This Fall
Want to use your Nintendo DS as a virtual canvas on which to paint, a virtual art studio in which to learn? Good, because Nintendo of America will release Art Academy for the DS this October. Nintendo will be bundling the formerly DSiWare-only apps Art Academy: First Semester and Art Academy: Second Semester, throwing in…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
The Beautiful Anatomy of A Video Game Controller
What lies beneath the plastic skin of your PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 controllers? If concept artist Mads Peitersen was designing the gamepads we play with, they’d be bony, fleshy living things with teeth. Peitersen’s anatomical paintings of the DualShock and Xbox 360 controller (and the iPhone!) are awesome works of art, but they’re also…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
The PS3 Bundle Best Buy Tried To Keep Secret
If you’re finally ready to jump into PlayStation 3 ownership and plan on doing so with a copy of Madden NFL 11, wait for the bundle. That previously leaked package (perhaps a Canada-only thing) is here in the flesh. There’s a PSP Madden 11 bundle also in the works, which has been officially announced. Expect…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
Achievement Unlocked 2: Revenge of the Pastry Pooping Pachyderms
The original Flash game Achievement Unlocked was a groundbreaking milestone in crossing virtual accomplishments off a list. Never has staying alive for 30 seconds or moving to the right felt so rewarding. Until now. Until Achievement Unlocked 2. Armor Games has scratched the itch of achievement gathering once again in a new adventure starring a…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
I’m Starting To Suspect ‘freddiew’ Is Using An Aimbot…
Now we know how Freddie Wong, star of many a YouTube gun fight, is able to land so many head shots. From the same group of filmmakers (that are inexplicably not making awesome, big budget action movies) responsible for Modern Warfare: Frozen Crossing, the real life Portal gun video and many more fine short films…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 4, 2010 -
K Monthly – July 2010
Welcome to the July 2010 edition of K Monthly, a look back at some of the best original coverage, including reviews, previews, features, weekly columns and more from Kotaku. How did Kotaku spend its summer season? By visiting the San Diego Comic-Con for one, covering all things video games, comic books, toys and pop culture…
By Michael McWhertor Published August 1, 2010
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