Alessandro Ituarte made this retro version of Campo Santo’s promotional image for Firewatch.

Anyone Who’s Ever Loved A Pet Should Watch This

I posted this week’s special Brawl in the Family video comic in today’s edition of Sunday Comics, but I felt it needed a place of its own. As a friend put it, this is the tragedy of pet ownership spoken in the vernacular of video games. And that’s why I spent half the day reading…

This weekend also marks the 5th birthday of one of the most popular titles in mobile gaming history. Lima Sky’s Doodle Jump has been downloaded more than 150 million times since its 2009 launch, appearing on Android, iOS, Windows Phone 7 and 8, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 and Symbian. Such gleeful hopping.

Pi Ain’t Nothing Special

As Kotaku‘s new weekend editor I am now off Thursday and Friday, so I missed the celebration of Pi Day on 3/14. I felt bad about it. Then I saw Vihart‘s latest anti-Pi rant. Now I feel much better, thanks to colored markers rapidly sketching out Pi’s overwhelming plainness. I think the whole affair is…

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: The Pokemon World Cup

Welcome to my first official Kotaku ‘Shop Contest. I would have gone with something fluffy and light for my first go round, but when the most important soccer event in the entire goddamned universe is threatened by Pokemon, there can be only one response. In case you hadn’t heard, Japan is bringing Pokemon to the…

The 1980s Are Back To Help You Beat Super Mario 3D World

Travel back in time once more to the 1980s, a magical age when video game tips and tricks were delivered by warm, friendly voices over tinny television speakers, and no one called you names for needing help beating a Mario platformer.

Final Fantasy Artwork Auction At Gallery Nucleus

Gallery Nucleus is hosting a Final Fantasy art exhibition and online auction: FINAL FANTASY X/X2 HD GAME LAUNCH EXHIBITION / SIGNING March 15, 2014 – March 26, 2014 Opening Reception / Mar 15, 2:00PM – 8:00PM TODAY! Online Bidding Opens / Mar 15, 2:00PM Bidding Closes / Mar 26, 11:00PM

Sharpen your image editors — the Kotaku ‘Shop Contest returns tomorrow. The legacy of our previous weekend editor will live on in every background you mask out and every pixel you bend to your will. Until that fateful day, I leave you with my personal favorite ‘Shop Contest entry from years past.

Activision Is Almost Finished With Skylanders: Swap Force Toys

The next wave of Skylanders: Swap Force figures hit Toys’R’Us this weekend, leaving hardcore collectors and impressionable youngsters only two more reasons to get out of bed in the morning until the next game is announced. What’s the point of it all? Man, Activision and Toys for Bob really love to drag these things out,…

The Cookie Dough Oreos Are Lying To Us. Why We Don’t Care.

The recently released (and recently reviewed) limited edition Cookie Dough Oreos do not contain actual uncooked cookie dough. What they do contain, is a clever bit of mental marketing called ‘permission’. Permission is the art of using certain cues to convince the consumer that, while the product they are putting into their mouth does not…

The PlayStation 4 Is Now $50 More Expensive In Canada

If you live in Canada and are thinking about picking up a PlayStation 4, yesterday would have been good day. Today Sony Canada raised the console price from $399.99 to $449.99 Canadian, with similar increases applied to peripherals and first-party games. Market watchers should have seen it coming. At current exchange rates, $399 Canadian is…