Stephen Totilo

Kane & Lynch Devs Were “Bystanders” To Gerstmann Review Fiasco

Jeff Gerstmann, longtime game reviewer and one-time Kotaku podcast guest, is widely seen to have been fired from gaming site GameSpot in 2007 due to his negative review of Kane & Lynch. That game’s developers consider the episode “sad.” Blame GameSpot for firing a reviewer possibly due to the content of his reviews? Blame publisher…

Writer Identifies “The Pixar Of Video Games”

It’s not Nintendo nor Insomniac. Reporter Jamin Brophy-Warren declares that The Maw and Splosion Man development studio Twisted Pixel has Pixar’s knack for creating memorable, unreal characters with which we can empathize. Argument here: The Pixar of Video Games [Slate]

Teen Drops 150 Pounds With Video Game-Inspired Diet

Taylor LeBaron weighed nearly 300 pounds when he was 14 and has lost half of that, thanks, he told the Today Show, due to a strategy he got from video games. LeBaron told the Today Show that he tackled his weight loss as if he was confronting a series of enemies in a video game.…

My Gaming Decade

Numerous recent retrospectives showed that, from 2000-2009, video games changed. But how did you change alongside the games of the 00’s? I’ve compiled My Gaming Decade. You go next. 2000: A year removed from grad school, I bought The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, which would prove to be my favorite game ever. 2001: I…

Talk Amongst Yourselves

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NPD Instant Analysis: Things You Should Note

Do not risk discussing video game sales figures without having a few talking points. As always, Kotaku has some instant sales analysis, to help you explain why Mario beat Zelda, why the 360 is in third place and more. But! Before you read this analysis, be sure to brush up on the just-reported December video…

First-Person Tetris Might Make You Queasy

I just tried playing Tetris in first-person which probably doesn’t play out the way you expect it to. If you don’t get too sick playing first-person games, give it a try. It’s free to play in a browser and, aside from potentially making players dizzy also has a night-time mode. Both interesting touches. Be safe,…

At Last, Blinds For Gamers

Unexpected gaming angle in catalog advertising fancy blinds. [As seen by a certain Kotaku editor who can’t currently play games during the 2-3pm hour on weekends because it’s too bright and he has no blinds in his new home yet.]

Man Defeats His Achievement Points Addiction, Almost

I used to work with Jason Cipriano, back when he was obsessed with Achievement Points. I heard from him yesterday and he’s cleaned himself up. Kicked the habit. Jason admits over at MTV Multiplayer that, yeah, he kind of took things far back in the old days of his Achievement mania and that the hankering…

Despite Rise In Game Quality, EA Boss Faces Fierce Doubts

If gamers most care about whether games are any good — not whether stock prices are rising — then what to make of charges the EA’s current boss might be the wrong man for the job? FIFA was better last year. Left 4 Dead was good. Dragon Age was an acclaimed role playing game standout.…

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To-Do In NYC: Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom Nintendo Store Event

Because the Nintendo World Store always does their fun event days on weekends, Capcom’s claiming a Saturday later this month for some Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars festivities. The company’s official U.S. blog indicates that the Wii fighting game’s launch will be celebrated with the giving away of swag, the signing of autographs by the…

Microsoft’s Game-Making Program For Kids Goes To PCs

Last year, Microsoft launched Kodu, a picture-based programming language, on the Xbox 360. It was such a simple programming language that the company made me a game on it in 10 minutes. Now, that platform has come to PCs. As far as I can tell, this might the first game-programming language inspired by a three-year-old…

Cops: Man Promising To Sell World Of Warcraft Characters Cheated Gamers

Florida police have accused a 23-year-old Clearwater resident with taking $760 from at least two people and not providing the World of Warcraft characters he promised in exchange. The Associated Press reports that, in 2008, Christopher Bouffard allegedly accepted the payments from at least two people in exchange for World of a Warcraft characters. But,…

This Week In Video Game Comics

The “unthinkable” happens in a Sonic comic that hits U.S. comics shops today. Also, on the heels of last week’s Mass Effect comic release, EA gets two more comics out, both tied to early 2010 games. Click the thumbnails for more information. Dante’s Inferno #2 Written by Christos Gage. Drawn by Diego Latorre. Summary Via…

BioShock 2 Director Explains Vita-Chamber Changes, Backtracking Prohibition

Our recent previews about BioShock 2 have raised some questions among fans and skeptics of the series. How has the series’ resurrection system been tweaked? And why can’t players backtrack to earlier levels in the new game? We got answers. Yesterday, BioShock 2 creative director Jordan Thomas walked me through how the Vita-Chambers will work…

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Jeff Gerstmann Takes Your Calls During A Very Special Episode of This Week’s Podcast

Tomorrow, Kotaku makes its podcast transition to CBS Radio. Better audio quality! Toll-free call-in number! Crecente and me together again. And special guest Jeff Gerstmann, Giant Bomb game reviewer extraordinaire. Start thinking of questions. Our move to CBS Radio makes Kotaku Talk Radio a featured part of the Chat About It selection of talk shows…

Nintendo: CEO’s Comments On DS Successor Were “Misinterpreted”

Last week, a Japanese newspaper quoted Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata saying that the successor to the Nintendo DS would have better graphics and a motion sensor. Today, a Nintendo spokesperson told Kotaku he didn’t say that. “Mr. Iwata did not make any comments regarding the functions of Nintendo’s future hardware systems,” Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo of…

Video Games Let Down Mike Tyson On Live TV

If you are Mike Tyson, the former baddest man on the planet, and you are appearing on WWE’s Monday Night Raw, make sure that the boxing video game running behind you doesn’t show Muhammad Ali thrashing you. The blurry image above shows Tyson confronting WWE wrestler Shawn Michaels on Monday Night Raw last night. Tyson…