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CultureOdds and EndsThe World’s First ‘Skateboating’ Game Looks Rad
Skateboarding is cool and all, but it’s been around for a long time. I’ve played plenty of skating games. I need something new. Something like Wave Break, a skateBOATing game that combines ‘80s era visuals, boat grinding, and animals into one rad-looking package. Wave Break is currently being developed by Funktroniclabs. Based on a trailer…
By Zack Zwiezen Published June 4, 2021 -
CultureReport: Balan Wonderworld Creator Yuji Naka Is No Longer With Square Enix
Yuji Naka, former Sonic Team head and recent creator of the platformer Balan Wonderworld, is no longer with Square Enix, according to reports in Sonic Stadium and IGN. He apparently departed the company in the twilight of April. Naka, of course, gained prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to his work as a…
By Ari Notis Published June 4, 2021 -
CultureWhat Are You Playing This Weekend?
The weekend is for dressing up in colorful spandex outfits and fighting crime alongside your besties. Failing that, you could probably just play a video game with the same premise. Yeah, I plan on digging into the Switch-exclusive DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power, the game based on DC Comics’ groundbreaking girl-positive superhero cartoon and…
By Mike Fahey Published June 4, 2021 -
OpinionImpressionsAnyone Could Be Struck By Lightning At Any Time
In VVVVVV developer Terry Cavanagh’s new Roblox game, Anyone could be struck by lightning at any time, anyone could be struck by lightning at any time. Your job is to not be. But you will. It’s inevitable. You can jump. You can run. You can swim. You can dress up in the weird pseudo-MAGA outfit…
By Mike Fahey Published June 4, 2021 -
CultureCosplayIncredible Dead Space Cosplay Even Animates Isaac’s Iconic Health Bar
A cosplayer on Reddit is being praised for their meticulously faithful Dead Space costume—right down to the glowing spine. Redditor SunlightofAstora, who goes by Johnny Goodwill in meatspace, posted a video of himself on the r/gaming subreddit clad in space hero Isaac Clarke’s iconic Engineer RIG hazardious environment suit. The video shows off the suit’s…
By Jonathan Lee Published June 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanCup Noodle Will No Longer Have Stickers Close The Lids
If you’ve ever bought Cup Noodle in Japan, you are familiar with the plastic sticker that’s used to close the lid after hot water is added. In Japanese, that sticker is called futa-dome shiiru (フタ止めシール) or “lid-stopping sticker” or better yet, “lid-fastening sticker.” Nissin, the company that makes Cup Ramen, will no longer use them…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanLife-Sized Slowpoke Plushie Going On Sale In Japan
Priced at 49,500 yen ($450), a life-sized Slowpoke will be available for pre-order later this month. Who wouldn’t want that? This is a Pocket Monster with its own messed-up theme song, postal truck, and mailbox. Everyone loves Slowpoke. As the official Japanese site explains, the plushie measures 25 inches high, 29.5 inches across, and 59…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanTaito Releasing Mini Arcade Cabinet Filled With 40 Games
Taito have unveiled a new mini arcade cabinet called the Egret II Mini, designed after Taito’s 1996 Japanese full-size cabinet. The mini version is packed with 40 games, dating from 1978’s Space Invaders to arcade titles from the 1990s. Have a look below at the games that have been announced so far. Ten more games…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
CultureOdds and EndsNike Has Made Some “Anime” Sneakers
Similar to the “Gamer” tributes from 2020, Nike is launching a new line of sneakers called Nike And The Mighty Swooshers, which is going to be based entirely around anime. The shoes won’t be specifically licensed; again, like the “Gamer” sneakers, they’ll just be inspired generally by Japanese animation, though look close enough (at things…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureChaotic Scenes At Nvidia GPU Restock
A combination of pandemic-driven shortages and the planet’s increasingly gruesome fascination with crypto-mining means it’s hard getting your hands on a new graphics card at the moment. And if you were wondering just how hard, look at this line-up—and resulting crush of humanity—outside a Micro Center store in Dallas. The video below, captured by PrestonALewis,…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureInjustice 2 Mobile Celebrates Pride By Having Players Beat Up A Queer Character
The mobile version of DC Comics’ fighting game Injustice 2 found itself in hot water earlier today after announcing an in-game challenge meant to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The problem was that the event tasked players with beating the shit out of Poison Ivy, a canonically bisexual character, hundreds of thousands of times. A strange…
By Ian Walker Published June 3, 2021 -
CulturePalia Could Be The Chill Animal Crossing MMO Of My Dreams
As much as I love storming castles, raiding dungeons, and waiting for rezzes, sometimes I just want to go online and hang out in a peaceful setting. New community simulation MMO Palia, with its fishing, farming, exploring, and decorating, might just fit the bill. Palia is the first game from Singularity 6, a Los Angeles-based…
By Mike Fahey Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureOdds and EndsResident Evil Village Vs. Resident Evil 4: The Best Merchant
In one corner, a large, helpful man who sells weapons and cooks meals. In the other corner, a mysterious figure who has a lot of good things on sale today, stranger. He also might be infected? It’s time to figure out who’s better: The Duke from Resident Evil Village or The Merchant from RE4. The…
By Zack Zwiezen Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureWhy Everyone Is Playing Knockout City, A Multiplayer Dodgeball Game
Knockout City, the recently released multiplayer dodgeball game about dodging dodgeballs, has apparently clocked more than five million players, publisher EA announced today. No matter how you slice it, that figure is nothing to sneeze at. Now, consider that the game hasn’t even been out for two weeks. Yeah. “Holy shit” is right. You might…
By Ari Notis Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureARK: Survival Evolved Wraps Its Story With Doctor Who’s David Tennant
ARK: Survival Evolved, in anticipation of its upcoming Vin Diesel-led sequel, is closing out its overarching story with the release of today’s expansion, Genesis Part 2. Oh, and Doctor Who is in there, too. Although ARK may look like just another survival game on its surface, developer Studio Wildcard has spent the last six years…
By Ian Walker Published June 3, 2021 -
CultureTwitchThe Most Viewed Twitch Hot Tub Stream Yet Is Also The Most Cursed
At this point, there are more parody hot tub streams on Twitch than actual hot tub streams—so much so that one now holds the distinction of being the most viewed hot tub stream of all time. Credit where credit’s due, though: Minecraft megastar George “GeorgeNotFound’’ Davidson at least went out of his way to make…
By Nathan Grayson Published June 3, 2021 -
OpinionImpressionsEarth Defense Force: World Brothers Is EDF Meets Lego, And Mostly Works
Released last week with little fanfare, World Brothers is a spin-off of the big-shooting Earth Defense Force series in which players collect cute voxel-built warriors based on cultures from around the world. Only a few of these blocky caricatures are horrible. Known for its tongue-and-cheek humor and low-budget vibe, the Earth Defense Force series proper…
By Mike Fahey Published June 3, 2021 -
OpinionImpressionsA Medieval Micromanagement Sim Is Tearing Up The Steam Charts
I didn’t expect to play five hours of Going Medieval in one sitting right after installing it. I spotted the game on Steam’s top-selling charts, it looked neat, and I gave it a try. Suddenly, after what only felt like a few minutes, I looked up at the clock and realized I had spent hours…
By Zack Zwiezen Published June 3, 2021 -
Tips & GuidesFinal Fantasy VII Remake Save Transfers Are A Mess
On June 10, Final Fantasy VII Remake, a game about wearing all the hottest styles out of the 2012 Paris Fashion Week, will land on PlayStation 5. Good news: You’ll be able to transfer your save data over from the PlayStation 4 version. Bad news: The process is, and you’ll never believe this, kind of…
By Ari Notis Published June 3, 2021