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CultureTotal RecallNi No Kuni Isn’t Miyazaki/Ghibli’s First Video Game Appearance
Much has been made, and rightly so, of the involvement of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli with Level-5’s PS3 RPG Ni No Kuni (out this week in Japan). It’s helped the game look amazing. While it’s a welcome partnership, though, it’s not the first time the animation legend, or his studio, have turned up in a…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 25, 2011 -
Culture
The Beautiful, If Stabby Art of the Assassin’s Creed Series
With Assassin’s Creed Revelations out recently (and starring in its own Fine Art), I thought it’d be a good time to take a look back on some of the incredible art from the series we’ve yet to feature here on Kotaku. The pieces you’re about to see are the work of three men: Maxime Desmettre,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 24, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallGood Lord, World of Warcraft Is Old
In an industry where games barely even a month old are slashed in price then swiftly forgotten, World of Warcraft is an exceptional, well, exception. The game, which turned seven yesterday, was first announced back in 2001. For it to be still played today isn’t just mind-exploding, it’s a testament to how addictive and successful…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 24, 2011 -
Culture
Art From the Command & Conquer Game That Never Was
Totilo’s story yesterday on what might be a Command & Conquer action game got me thinking about Tiberium, the promising yet ultimately ill-fated shooter EA once had planned for the strategy universe. While the game was cancelled because it was shaping up to be a bit rubbish, that certainly had little to do with Tiberium’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 23, 2011 -
Culture
The Colourful, Robotic Art of Killzone 3
It’s funny, considering Killzone 2 was so bleak, Killzone 3 remains one of, if not the best-looking game on the PS3, an explosion of vibrant colours and, amazingly given the franchise, style. Part of that is thanks to the guys at art studio Karakter, who we’ve featured here before, but it’s also down to the…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 22, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallThe End of a Game Should Be a Reward, Not a Chore
WARNING: This post contains mild Modern Warfare 3 spoilers. Video games are all about the carrot and the stick. You endure repetitive tasks in order to receive just enough of a reward to compel you to complete more repetitive tasks. Why, then, do so few games ever let you get your hands on the carrot…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 22, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallSonic’s Creator, the Nintendo Console and the Kid With the Awesome Theme Song
Last week wasn’t just the tenth anniversary of the Xbox. It was the tenth anniversary of the North American release of the Nintendo GameCube as well. While the system was home to my favourite game of all time (Wind Waker), and because of the time in my life in which it dominated it ranks as…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 21, 2011 -
Culture
Live by the Sword
The final Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the U.S. effectively closes out the major release calendar for North America. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is available on the Wii today. WWE 12 arrives for PS3, Wii and 360 on Tuesday. Downloadable content for Batman: Arkham City and Gears of War 3 arrives Tuesday and Wednesday,…
By Owen Good Published November 20, 2011 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: Easy Does It
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published Nov. 14.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published Nov. 17.—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Penny Arcade by…
By Owen Good Published November 20, 2011 -
Culture
The Concept Art of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
So, the final tale in Ezio’s saga, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, was out this week. Now’s as good a time as any, then, to look at some of the wonderful concept art from the game. These dramatic pieces are the work of Martin Deschambault, an artist at Ubisoft who’s also worked on games like Assassin’s Creed…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 18, 2011 -
Culture
The Game May Be Dead, But the Awesome Helicopter-Fighting Art Lives On
Tae Young Choi used to work at Midway Games. Before Midway went belly-up, they were working on an open-world superhero game called Hero Choi did some amazing pieces for that game, and as you’ll see in this gallery, also worked on Midway games like Stranglehold and Area 51 While both Stranglehold and Area 51 were…OK,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 17, 2011 -
Culture
Sadly, This LEGO Game Looked Better On Paper
There was a lot of hype for the ill-fated LEGO Universe. Mostly because it was an MMO using LEGO, but also because the early stuff people saw of the game looked amazing. The final product rarely met those expectations, and will be shuttered on January 31, 2012. While the game will soon be gone, though,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 16, 2011 -
Culture
This North Korean Hamburger Looks Pretty Damn Gross
I love burgers. Perhaps you love burgers. When I go to Los Angeles for E3, the first thing I do? Go to In-N-Out and eat burgers. When I go to the Tokyo Game Show? The first thing I used to do was go to Pakutch and eat burger (that is, until it sadly closed). But…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 16, 2011 -
CultureTotal Recall
The Xbox Was As Close As We Got To A Dreamcast 2
The Xbox is ten years old this week. For those who have enjoyed playing games on either the original console or its successor the Xbox 360, it’s a time for heartfelt congratulations. For Sega fans, it’s a time for warm, if slightly tragic, reflection. By the time the Xbox was released in November 2001, Sega’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 16, 2011 -
Culture
Holy Crap, the Assassin’s Creed Art Book is Amazing
The Assassin’s Creed series, a long-running favourite here on Fine Art, finally has a coffee table book worthy of its production values with the franchise’s fancy encyclopaedia. I got my hands on a copy today, and while it’s not just an art book, the concept and promotional pieces dominating the pages certainly make that the…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 15, 2011 -
CultureTotal Recall
When Pokémon and Magic Cards Went to War
They don’t seem that similar aside from the fact they’re printed on cards, and they were never really competition, either, but in October 2003 that didn’t stop the companies behind Magic Cards and Pokémon battling somewhere other than the tabletop or the schoolyard. This story begins in the late 1990s, when role-playing giants Wizards of…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 14, 2011 -
Culture
Living by a New Creed
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations headlines the final big blowout week of releases for video games in the pre-holiday runup. Other notable titles this week: Super Mario 3D Land, out today; the Halo: Anniversary HD re-release; new entries in the Need for Speed and Rayman franchises; Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom and the romping good-time Saints Row: The…
By Owen Good Published November 13, 2011 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: Everything but the Girl
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published Nov. 7.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published Nov. 78—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Penny Arcade by…
By Owen Good Published November 13, 2011