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Hydro Thunder Hurricane Impressions: Bouncy
Just about everything I know after playing the new Hydro Thunder is what you knew if you read today’s news about the Xbox-exclusive sequel to Midway’s speedboating series. I can add at least one thing: It feels good. Aside from Wave Race: Blue Storm and Wii Sports Resort’s jet-skiiing there haven’t been many chances in…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 26, 2010 -
The Limit
Yesterday we considered that maybe breaking the rules is the best way to play video games. Because — or despite that — game developers have to set limits. So is this Heavy Rain clip, via reader Syptel, a tolerable limit? For those who haven’t played the game, this scene is from the game’s opening chapter.…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 26, 2010 -
BioShock 2’s Newest, Fakest Upgrade
Were I to stab this syringe-shaped pen into my arm, BioShock style,I would not get the “Hemingway’s Helper” gene tonic upgrade, but we would all remember that it was swag to promote the Sinclair Solutions BioShock 2 multiplayer add-on.
By Stephen Totilo Published March 26, 2010 -
The Possibilities, Surprises And Limits of Playstation’s Move According to The Inventor
The PlayStation Move thrives in darkness, could enable a new kind of Greek god game, has 10 hours of battery life, a mystery port and a simple innovation that could be profound. Kotaku learned all this and more earlier this week when I sat down with Sony senior researcher Richard Marks, the man who had…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 26, 2010 -
Reminders: Kotaku In NYC Tonight, Boston This Weekend
Tonight, in New York City, Kotaku is on a games journalism panel. Friday night, in Boston, Kotaku hosts a party. Saturday, at PAX East in Boston, Kotaku has a panel. You’re invited to all three! NYC details / Boston details
By Stephen Totilo Published March 25, 2010 -
Project Natal “World Premiere” Starts This Year’s E3 On A Sunday
The biggest week of video game news for 2010 is beginning to fill up. Just two days after Nintendo revealed that its DS successor, the 3DS, will appear during E3 week. That week now begins on Sunday, June 13, with Project Natal. An Xbox 360 briefing follows. Last year’s Microsoft E3 press briefing included debuts…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 25, 2010 -
The Time Is Right For A Lightsaber Video Game
The man behind the most advanced video game swordplay available today says the time is now right — and the technology is now good enough — for a motion-controlled Star Wars lightsaber video game. Speaking on Kotaku’s live podcast yesterday, Red Steel 2 creative director Jason VandenBerghe said that advances in motion control have removed…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 25, 2010 -
Is The Best Way To Play Games The Subversive Way?
From the moment I broke Mario through the ceiling of Super Mario Bros. World 1-2 to bypass the next few levels of that game, I’ve assumed that an essential part of playing video games is being subversive. I’ve assumed that not following the rules was part of following the rules. I’ve believed that to play…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 25, 2010 -
To Do In Boston: Kotaku Friday Party, Kotaku Saturday Panel
Kotaku is going to Boston to have a party at PAX East, to determine the 10 greatest games of all time and to teach Penny Arcade how to spell. All your planning details are here. KOTAKU: THE PARTY On Friday night, Kotaku friends and foes aged 21 or over are invited to drop by our…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 24, 2010 -
This Week In Comics
None of the non-video game comics hitting shops in the U.S. this week really jump out at me, so let’s stick with the three gaming comics of the week, including Felicia Day’s first issue of The Guild. Resident Evil #4 of 6 Written by Rick Sanchez and drawn by Jheremy Raapack and Ed Benes. Summary…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 24, 2010 -
A Frank And Funny Hour With Red Steel 2’s Top Man
Would you like to hear a developer speak freely about making a sequel to a game that was panned? Red Steel 2’s Jason VandenBerghe did that today, from Paris. You can download one of our best hours of audio now. This week’s episode of Kotaku Talk Radio features frank discussion between Jason, us and some…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 24, 2010 -
“Love” Is The Game That Earns You Respect, Breaks The World Of Warcraft Rules
“My goal is not to make you more powerful than other people,” Eskil Steenberg, the video game developer recently told Kotaku, as he explained which video game design rule he is breaking. “It is to let you be more respected.” Eskil Steenberg’s ambitious video game Love, a game he made by himself, officially launches tomorrow.…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 24, 2010 -
The Next Smart Video Game Only Lets You Kill Once
Seldom in life does someone cackle in front of you like a James Bond villain, explaining how they will deliver your demise. When game designer Chris Hecker did this to me in San Francisco recently, I knew I had him. See, Chris Hecker thought he was clever. And the truth is that Chris Hecker is…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 24, 2010 -
Nine People Want Me To Make Dark Cloud 3
Today I added two more people to the list of individuals imploring me via e-mail to develop Dark Cloud 3. I’m sorry, folks ,but I’m not going to do it. Since the fall, I’ve received nine e-mails from people imploring me to make a sequel to Sony’s Dark Cloud role-playing game series. Here’s a typical…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 23, 2010 -
PlayStation Move’s Minority Report Controls In Action
Two new demos of PlayStation Move, shot by us today, show some of the coolest things that Sony’s Move motion controllers can do. Two weeks ago, we saw Move control games. Today, Move moved windows and made the Eiffel Tower. Kotaku shot these demos in New York City, just hours before Sony was allowing the…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 23, 2010 -
To Do In NYC: Kotaku Talking Games Journalism At NYU
If you’re in New York City on Thursday and would like to see me and other games journalists talk about our profession, come on over to New York University. 721 Broadway, Room 006. 6pm. Details on NYU’s site
By Stephen Totilo Published March 23, 2010 -
Reviews
Red Steel 2 Review: If Only 2006 Was This Good
A skeptical world might not see video games as essential. But we can point to many games that feel worthy of this planet. Games about eating mushrooms, arranging falling blocks, saving the world. However: A first-person shooter with motion-based swordplay? You’d be right to be skeptical. More than three years after the release of the…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 23, 2010
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