- Uncategorized
Mutated Australian Possum Now Named “Pikachu”
Last month an orphaned possum was handed in to a wildlife rescue service in Melbourne. Born with a “genetic mutation”, its bright colour scheme has earned it a very fitting name: Pikachu. The Age reports that the possum—remember, Australian possums are not American possums—has a specific mutation that “results in low levels of melanin”, meaning…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 2, 2018 - Uncategorized
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Doesn’t Ship With A Manual, So A Fan Made One For Everyone To Print
Nintendo games don’t ship with paper manuals any more. Bad news for anyone who likes to learn from their lap on the fly, but OharaLibrarianArtur is here with the perfect workaround: they made their own, and it looks just like the real thing. While this may seem like a lot of work to go to for…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 2, 2018 - Uncategorized
Removing The Film From A 30-Year-Old Console Is Satisfying And Horrible
The Sega Master System was available in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and this particular console has existed since then with its anti-dust film intact. Until now. Reddit user the_starship posted a video in the Game Collecting subreddit showing the plastic removal, and it makes me feel Some Feelings. On…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 - Uncategorized
Caesar III‘s Best Mechanic Is Pissing Off Your Boss
I’ve been playing Impressions Games’ 1998 classic Caesar III this week. While I love it for a lot of reasons (some of which are nostalgia related), what has really got me excited is how much you can piss off your boss. Caesar III is a game that puts you in the shoes of a city…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 - Uncategorized
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is another entry in the giant robot combat series, and it looks pretty cool. A new trailer premiered at MechCon this weekend, and you can watch it here. PC Gamer reports that the game will release on September 19, 2019.
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 -
CultureReceiver Speedrun Is A Masterclass In Efficiency
In a world of simple video game guns, Receiver is a game that makes guns complex. Originally released in 2013, it’s still a unique experience, and speedrunner meanwhile_0 has trivialized it by beating it in 10:06. What I find so impressive about the speedrun is that it really does make the game look incredibly easy.…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 - CultureShop Contest
‘Shop Contest: Agent 47’s Vacation
Agents: this week it is your task to show your co-worker 47 what it is like to “have a good time.” That’s right, it is Agent 47’s vacation week, and I want him to see the sights. Agent 47 of Hitman fame is no stranger to world travel, but I think he might be a…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 - CultureSplitscreen
Why Obra Dinn Is One Of The Year’s Best Games
On this week’s Kotaku Splitscreen, we implore you to not miss Return of the Obra Dinn, a phenomenal game and contender for 2018’s greatest. First we dive into why Obra Dinn is so great, also taking some time to dissect Hitman 2, the Sega Genesis Classics collection, and other games we’re playing. Then it’s time…
By Jason Schreier Published December 2, 2018 - Uncategorized
Sunday Comics: Boomerang Maester
Hello! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published November 26. Read more of Awkward Zombie Corpse Run by Alex Di Stasi. Published November 29. Read more of Corpse Run Double XP by…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 2, 2018 -
UncategorizedDeveloper Shows How To Write Good Game Dialogue Using Blade Runner
At last month’s AdventureX 2018 conference, game developer and Inkle Studios co-founder Jon Ingold offered a practical skills workshop about writing better dialogue for games. It involved a lot of Blade Runner. In the talk (which has now been uploaded to YouTube), Ingold claims that game writing isn’t always the best, especially when put up…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 -
UncategorizedAnodyne 2 is looking very cool and very weird. In a video released this week, developer Sean Han Tani revealed that the game’s 2D and 3D worlds are connected by a mechanic that asks the player to shrink down and “clean” the inside of enemy bodies. Anodyne 2 will release in 2019.
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 - Uncategorized
The developers of Battlefield V are looking into rebalancing the game’s time-to-kill and time-to-death. In a post on the game’s official Reddit, the devs wrote: “We’re seeing players die too often/too quickly and get frustrated because of it. So, we’re looking at how we can improve the experience for new players and veterans alike.” While…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 - Uncategorized
Frosty The Snowman Is Probably A Lich
In a thread on the Dungeons & Dragons Reddit forum, user KiddBlack floated an idea: What if Frosty the Snowman is actually a lich? What if that joyful fella is actually an undead wizard of immense power. We investigate. KiddBlack’s initial diagnosis of the relationship between Frosty and lichdom is compelling: The “old top hat”…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 -
UncategorizedGod of War‘s Blades of Chaos Are Cool Even When They’re Made From Foam
If you’ve ever thought about what it would be like to swing the mythical Blades of Chaos around your head on chains wrapped around your arms, YouTuber Odin has you covered. Oddly, there are some spoilers about God of War in this video. Be aware! The Blades of Chaos are, of course, the Spartan protagonist…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 - CultureShop Contest
‘Shop Contest: Ocarina Appreciation Station, Winners!
Last week I asked all of you to help me celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ocarina of Time, and you did some excellent work. It takes a lot of commitment to create a game centered on tooting a little oval woodwind, and yet it is a game that has continued to resonate with audiences for…
By Cameron Kunzelman Published December 1, 2018 - Esports
A Team Who Has Barely Ever Played Rainbow Six Siege Made It Into The Latest Tournament
A group of students in Norway thought it would be funny to sign up to compete in Rainbow Six Siege, a game they’ve barely played, at one of the region’s biggest seasonal esports events, DreamHack Winter 2019. The stunt worked: Due to a shortage of signups for the event, Minigolfgutta (“mini golf boys”) will now…
By Ethan Gach Published November 30, 2018 - Uncategorized
Overwatch Team Saved From Enemy Ult By Basketball
Every time Overwatch players hear Zarya shout her trademark Russian ult line—“Ogon’ po gotovnosti!”—a sinking feeling of inevitability sets in. It means that you and your team are going to be dragged together by a tiny black hole and then lasered down, or obliterated by a ghost dragon or something. There is, however, a hard…
By Nathan Grayson Published November 30, 2018 -
UncategorizedThrowing Knives Continue To Dominate Battlefield V
Battlefield V’s multiplayer moves at a faster pace than any other game in the series. Players run quickly, and action-movie escapades are common. Players also die faster, especially when they encounter the deadliest weapon in the game: throwing knives. The throwing knife is only available to the Recon class. Every class in Battlefield V has…
By Heather Alexandra Published November 30, 2018