Every Toaster Is Just A Game Console Waiting To Happen

As I pondered the recent and lovely modding work of Finnish artist Jarno Kotavuopio, I pondered the perfection of toaster as video game console. Such a simple and elegant device, with a classic aesthetic that outshines any true console. Plus it makes toast, which is delicious. Jarno’s orange and silver NEStoaster, one of two works…

Today’s selection of articles from Kotaku‘s reader-run community: Why Kirby Canvas Curse is My Favorite Kirby Game • Solving Donkey Kong Country’s Great DK Island Mystery • Microtransactions Have Legitimized Casual Games TAY Classic—TAY Open Forum—Beginner’s Guide To TAY Follow them here.

Kanye’s Making A Video Game About His Mom’s Journey Through Heaven

Fresh from his blockbuster performance at the Grammys, rapper, producer, songwriter, professional husband and game designer Kanye West has revealed that his next game project will allow players to guide his late mother to the highest gates of heaven. I say latest game project because Mr. West is no stranger to the rigors of game…

New Tricks Help Runners Shatter The Halo Legendary Speed Record

As of November of last year the world record time for completing Halo: Combat Evolved on Legendary difficulty was 1:29:59. In this video a group of four speedrunners demonstrate techniques that shave a full 22 minutes off of that time. A group effort by a group of Halo speedsters which includesformer Legendary record holder Andrew…

I Just Took A Screenshot Directly From My Xbox One Dashboard

Members of Microsoft’s Xbox Dashboard Preview program are now enjoying the ability to tap a button twice or say “Xbox take a screenshot” and create a still image suitable for making your dashboard wallpaper—and not much else at the moment. The ability to actually share any of the screenshots taken via the Xbox One dashboard…

The FMV-tastic indie spinning limousine simulator Roundabout is now available on Xbox One. Stephen Totilo said it was “fun.” Luke Plunkett called it a “Masterclass in FMV.” Leo Wichtowski spoke about it at length in his soothing voice. Ringing endorsements all ’round!

Today’s selection of articles from Kotaku‘s reader-run community: Dungeoncrawling: Dark Souls • Goose house Live at Youtube Space Tokyo – Recap • The Music Game: My interview with Richie Branson • Spacemon: A Pokémon Tabletop Story, Vol. 2 – Chapter 12, Chapter 13 TAY Classic—TAY Open Forum—Beginner’s Guide To TAY Follow them here.

This Week In The Business: Taking Aim At Metacritic

QUOTE | “Nobody here ever bothers about Metacritic. We think of it as irrelevant, quite frankly. We only concentrate on what the users think.” – Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley, explaining why they don’t worry about Sniper Elite getting low scores from reviewers Elsewhere in the business of video games this past week … QUOTE |…

‘Realistic’ Smash Bros. Clapping Video Is The Dumbest Way To End Friday

You made it to the end of another week. Congratulations! Your mother and I are proud of you. And so are all of these Super Smash Bros. characters, who will now clap “realistically” at you for five minutes. Just watch (with sound on). It’s as great as it is dumb. GrumpOut created this video that…

Blizzard Testing Diablo III Microtransactions, But (Phew) Only In Asia

Diablo III has changed a lot over the years, dropping a much-loathed auction house and gaining all sorts of balance overhauls, enemies, and entire new areas. Now, however, it could be looking at a change of a very different sort: real money microtransactions and a new in-game currency to support them. Patch 2.2.0, which will…

Kirby And The Rainbow Curse: The Kotaku Review

Tip: you might want to scroll down…. way down. Keep scrolling down…!

Worth Reading: Real-Life Hadoukens, Questioning Game Length, And More

Two scoops of Worth Reading in one week? Gosh, we’re lucky. What better way to celebrate than an in-depth investigation into how fighting games have infiltrated real-life fighting, a considered take on the value of game length, and lots more? You’re just one click away, buddy. There used to be a time when I had…

Indie Dev Cancels PAX East Booth Over Security Concerns

Giant Spacekat, developers of space adventure game Revolution 60, announced this weekthey cancelled PAX East booth space due to safety concerns. The studio has since spoken with PAX organizers and responded to criticism over the fact that its head of development, Brianna Wu, still deciding to attend PAX East and appear on several panels. In…

Twitch just announced TwitchCon will be happening in San Francisco on September 25 and 26. It’s co-produced by Twitch and ReedPOP, the folks who put on PAX events all year round. More details, including how to buy tickets, will be announced in due time.