Patricia Hernandez

Newsflash: Everyone Should Be Able To Cosplay As Whatever The Hell They Want To

Dedicated cosplayers will tell you that the real spirit of cosplay is supposed to be about having fun, making friends, paying homage to your favorite characters, and perhaps even about challenging yourself. Even so, some cosplayers demand absolute ‘accuracy’ when it comes to cosplay: and this can make things turn ugly. What if, for instance,…

Developer Who Called Borderlands Character Racist Is Now Out Of A Job [UPDATE]

This weekend, we reported that some players took umbrage with Tiny Tina, a character from Borderlands 2 and how she used “black lingo.” Gearbox was receptive to these players, listening to their concerns and even offering to change the character in future updates should they be convinced that Tina’s dialogue was racist. Mike Sacco, a…

The New PlayStation and Xbox Loom In The Horizon. Not Everyone Is Excited.

Following the PS4 announcement tease, the Internet seemed to explode in excitement. After spending the last few years with the 360 and the PS3, these reactions are understandable: it’s like a collective “FINALLY!” But not everyone is excited, not exactly. Kotaku readers explained why in an informal poll over in Talk Amongst Yourselves. Here’s a…

Responding To Rumors, Microsoft Says Halo Isn’t Coming To Steam

This weekend, many noticed something curious: some Halo titles were listed in the Steam registry. Some assumed this meant that these titles were coming to Steam. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, that’s not the case. “We currently do not have plans to release any ‘Halo‘ titles on Steam,” said a Microsoft spokesperson to Kotaku. Skeptical?…

Skulls of the Shogun: The Kotaku Review [UPDATE]

I want to tell you that Skulls of the Shogun is excellent. I want to tell you the game is fantastic, and that it has some of the best writing this year so far. I want to tell you about how lovingly crafted it is, about the small details it includes. I want to tell…

Playing Grand Theft Auto As An Angry Bird Looks Like A Blast

Oh, Grand Theft Auto mods, you never cease to amaze me. Here’s footage by taltigolt of someone playing as Red Bird… in Grand Theft Auto IV. Naturally, knocking stuff over happens. And, eventually, guns. Hey, man. They’re angry birds and the citizens of Liberty City sure don’t help by being rude! Grand Theft Auto IV…

Borderlands 2’s Writer Says He’ll Change Tiny Tina If She Conveys Racism, As Some Players Think [UPDATE]

Today, an argument broke out on Twitter between Anthony Burch, lead writer on Borderlands 2, and a few players who think that Tiny Tina is a racist character. The issue, as some folks saw it, was that Tiny Tina appropriated African American lingo. See above video, which showcases Tiny Tina dialogue, if you want reference.…

Brains Are Weird. Let’s Look At One Singing And A Different One Forming A Thought.

I’ve been jamming to Sivu today thanks to this intriguing yet eerie video up above. It’s data collected from MRI scans… while he sings. Weird contrast, too: heartfelt song, detached visuals. There’s also this video of a fish forming a thought by The Epoch Times, which, just… wow. What does our brain look like when…

Dueling In Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Looks Equal Parts Ridiculous And Hilarious

There’s a duel mode in Chivalry now, thanks to the latest update. And boy is it a doozy, or it was while in beta: take a look at Criken2 here, who shows us how to duel like a champion/idiot. For the presidents. You’ll even learn advanced tactics, like psyching your enemies out and tricking them…

The Deadliest Predator: The Joy Of Being A Hunter In Crysis 3

I’m perched atop a crashed airplane, weapon at the ready. My eyes dart across the map, searching for a target. No, no. Not just a target. My prey They are not my equals, you see. They are CELL operatives with nothing more than laughable guns. Me, I’m a hunter. A predator. I use a bow.…

He Got Paid to Kiss a Supermodel. Because Webhosting.

Take a look at this Superbowl ad by Go Daddy. Or not. But yeah, go ahead and take a look. The commercial is a part of the “smart meets sexy” campaign, and it apparently took forty-five takes to get “right” according to Adweek. More: prior to this version, there were “indecent” takes that were rejected…

Geeks Don’t Get Bullied Simply For Being Geeks. There’s More To It Than That.

You know the stereotype: the sensitive geek, intense in his/her passion, becomes a magnet for bullying, ridicule and harassment. And all because they’re a geek! Well, no, actually. That’s not it, not exactly. Yes: being earnestly passionate about something will mark you. The problem with being honest about what you like is that it makes…

PBS Off Book takes a look at E-Sports and competitive gaming: this is a good 101 on that scene, if you’re curious!

They Patrol Our Streets In Search For The Notorious Not-A-Game: It’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Game Police

Some people act as if gaming as we know it is in danger, and all of these new experimental titles—Proteus, Dear Esther, Dys4ria, Twine games, amongst others—are to blame. Usually, it’s what people designate as ‘art games.’ Sometimes, if you’re in the middle of a “but is it a game” discussion, you can almost imagine…

Now We Can All Pretend Our 3DS Is A Pokédex

I’ve never used the Pokémon compendium known as the Pokédex much in the Pokémon games, but the idea of having a physical Pokédex is still really cool. Sure, you could buy a toy Pokédex, or, you can put a decal on your red 3DS to make it look like one instead! If you think the…

Pissed-Off Jonathan Coulton Fans Review-Bomb Glee‘s ‘Baby Got Back’

If you head on over to iTunes and check out Glee’s version of Baby Got Back, you’ll find a swarm of unhappy reviews from Jonathan Coulton fans. That’s what happens when you rip a song off, I guess. To quickly recap, for those of you not in the loop: earlier this month we wrote about…

Necromorphs Are But One Of Isaac Clarke’s Headaches In Dead Space 3

Isaac Clark, as you might imagine, wants nothing to do with necromorphs—the horrific reanimated corpses of the dead and much of what you shoot in the Dead Space franchise. So why does he find himself fighting them yet again in Dead Space 3? In a word, Ellie—but let this new story trailer for the game…

Stop Trying To Use ‘Companies Exist To Make Money’ As An Argument. Just Stop.

You’re expressing an opinion on something—maybe DLC, maybe DRM, maybe microtransactions or online passes. Something controversial where it’s clear that a company is taking advantage of customers. You have worries. You’re upset. Enter the Apologist Gamer, here to invalidate your concerns. “Companies Exist To Make Money,” they’ll stupidly say—as if this fact wasn’t obvious, as…

A Gorgeous Digital World That You Can Explore Starting Today

Last year, I wrote about the beautiful digital island found inside of Proteus. Proteus is an exploration game where the world is reactive to the player. Stones will hum as you walk by. Frogs will sing to you. I’d tell you more but it’s best that you experience it yourself; there’s nothing quite like it.…

Gamers Also Like Cheetos and Fedoras, According To Facebook’s New Search Tool

Graph Search debuted recently—it’s Facebook’s social search—and some of us have had the chance to try the beta out. Taking a cue from the Actual Facebook Searches Tumblr, here are a few fun searches I conducted about people who ‘like’ video games on Facebook. Click for full size. And, for the record: the sidebar will…