• Kotaku East

  Lady Gaga Just Out-Cuted Japan

  Sorry, Japanese pop stars. Tonight, you were defeated. You had a worthy adversary. But you were no match in a ridiculous cute battle with Lady Gaga. In English, “kawaii” is typically translated as “cute,” but abroad, it’s become shorthand for teeth-hurtlingly adorable anime, manga, and video game characters, as well as ridiculously colorful fashion. (In…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
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  Kotaku East

  Watch Us Play Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

  Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was released last week in Japan. As we’ve noted before, Lightning Returns is a massive departure from the previous games in the XIII series with fast-paced action and an open world to explore. But how does it work in action? Check out our video to find out. Lightning Returns: Final…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  For a Limited Time, This Cafe Will Kick Hentai Customers

  Some cafes serve good coffee. Others have delicious sweets. For the next three days, this cafe will dish out pervert attacks. Located in Akihabara, Tokyo’s geek district, Cure Maid Cafe is being converted into Punishment Cafe (おしおきカフェ or oshioki kafe) for the next three days. This is part of a promotion for iOS game Punishment…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  Five More Fall 2013 Anime That Are Totally Worth a Watch

  With the winter holidays coming up, you may find yourself with a little free time and no anime to watch. Luckily, this season has several excellent anime you should already be watching. But what if you’ve already watched those? Well, luckily those aren’t the only great anime to come out this season. Outbreak Company Currently…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  Perhaps The Cutest Pokémon Goods I’ve Ever Seen

  In Japan, there are loads of Pokémon-branded goods. Some of them look fine, some of them don’t. These, however, are something special. The Pokemon Center, a chain of Pocket Monster shops in Japan, is collaborating with Shinzi Katoh, a designer who does all sorts of goods. In his thirty-year career, he’s apparently designed over ten…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  The Beauty of Japan’s Abandoned Ruins

  Japan’s “haikyo” (廃墟), or “ruins,” are fascinating. They provide a look into a world which time forgot, but French photographer Jordy Meow hasn’t. Meow has been cataloging haikyo across Japan—from a deserted love hotel in Chiba to an abandoned theme park in Nara. The photos, courtesy of DailyGeekShow, are hauntingly beautiful: If you like Meow’s…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
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  Kotaku East

  Oh Come On, Russia’s Freaky Mutant Looks So Fake

  But that doesn’t mean it’s not scary! Last month, an “unknown creature” filmed climbing up an apartment building in Russia appeared on YouTube channel papotimes. You can watch the clip below. If you dare. And earlier this week, the video got a second wind, reappearing on another YouTube channel and website Before It’s News as…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
• Uncategorized

  Playstation Plus 1 Year Membership With Bonus Video Credit For $30

  Never one to be outdone, Amazon has thrown in $5 instant video credit to make their version of the $30 Playstation Plus membership just slightly sweeter. Enjoy. [Amazon] The Best Black Friday Gaming Deals The Best Black Friday Deals Follow Kotaku Deals on Twitter to never miss a deal. Get in touch with Shane Roberts…

  By Shane Roberts Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  First Look at Lupin III Live-Action Movie Actor in Costume? Maybe!

  There’s a live-action Lupin the Third movie being made in Japan. Master thief Lupin is being played by Japanese actor Shun Oguri. Here’s what is being called the first look at him in costume. The image surfaced on 2ch, Japan’s largest forum, and looks to originally be from a Chinese social networking site. It might…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2013
• Uncategorized

  Playstation 3 Bundle With The Last Of Us And Arkham Origins $180

  Here’s the long-awaited eBay undercutting of this awesome PS3 Bundle.

  By Shane Roberts Published November 29, 2013
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  Uncategorized

  Black Friday 2013: Brawls, Trampling, Shootings

  To those out looking for a bargain, Black Friday can seem like the best day of the year. Which it might be. If it wasn’t for all the fighting, and trampling, and tazing, and stabbings, and shootings. Come on, America. Is a cheap TV, $99 tablet or a free pair of socks with every purchase…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 29, 2013
• Uncategorized

  Playstation Vita For $150 [Updated]

  Amazon has made their exclusive Playstation Vita bundle available, which packs in Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, Retro City Rampage, The Walking Dead, 400 Days, and a 4GB Memory Card for $175. An excellent start to your Vita library. [Amazon] Update: When it rains, it pours. Here’s eBay’s Playstation Vita deal for…

  By Shane Roberts Published November 29, 2013
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  Uncategorized

  When Making a Brawler, You Must Consider… Tail Physics

  Oh man. Look at that tail sway. Truly a thing of beauty, isn’t it? All made possible thanks to tail physics. Not much time has passed since the last video update on the progress of indie brawler Overgrowth , but let’s face it, tail physics are important. Brawlers need ’em. Especially animal brawlers with fat…

  By András Neltz Published November 29, 2013
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  Uncategorized

  How Many Gaming References Can You Squeeze Into a Two-Minute Song?

  Lots! Eric Fullerton, whom we’ve had the fortune to meet before, returns with a song about… um, gaming references. Basically it’s a bunch of quotes. From games. In song. But it’s good! You should give it a listen. If gaming nostalgia had a theme song, this pretty much would be it. Welcome to the Warp…

  By András Neltz Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  Expect The Phantom Pain When Lots of People Have PS4s

  Excited about Metal Gear Solid V? Wondering when the main part, The Phantom Pain, is coming out? Game creator Hideo Kojima recently named a launch window for the game. It’s incredibly vague. Hideo Kojima was in New York for the release of the PlayStation 4 earlier this month and was approached by Weekly Famitsu about…

  By Toshi Nakamura Published November 29, 2013
• Uncategorized

  Playstation 4 And Xbox One Black Friday Stock

  Keep this post bookmarked to let us keep you updated with next-gen console availability both online and in-store. Playstation Plus 12-Month Subscription ($30) | Amazon The Best Black Friday Gaming Deals The Best Black Friday Deals Follow Kotaku Deals on Twitter to never miss a deal. Get in touch with Shane Roberts onTwitter or by…

  By Shane Roberts Published November 29, 2013
• Kotaku East

  Smash Bros. Director’s Job Would Kill Me

  You’ve heard the stories of games where famous producers are involved in name only. Such is definitely not the case with the upcoming Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Smash Bros. for Wii U Series creator Masahiro Sakurai is nothing if not a hard worker, but as his column in Weekly Famitsu reveals, his involvement…

  By Toshi Nakamura Published November 28, 2013
• Uncategorized

  Playstation Plus One Year Membership For $22 [Updated]

  At midnight ET eBay will have a year of Playstation Plus, the second best value in gaming behind the Humble Bundle, for a ridiculously low $22. This is the lowest price ever for the membership, and quite possibly the lowest we’ll see it before next Black Friday. The rush to buy this is going to…

  By Shane Roberts Published November 28, 2013
• 

  Esports

  League of Legends, Turned Into Final Fantasy VII… Has Potential

  Would it be possible to transform League of Legends into a JRPG, specifically, Final Fantasy VII? The answer is yes! Thanks to Brazilian YouTuber Pato Papao, we now have a highly detailed LoL / Final Fantasy crossover fan-video, with the appropriate dances, moves and skills. There’s also plenty of extra little tidbits for those who…

  By Gergo Vas Published November 28, 2013
• Uncategorized

  ​What Game Have You Felt The Most Conflicted About?

  Our attitudes towards games are very rarely cut and dry. Even in a wonderful, perfectly engineered game, you can still have lingering doubts. Likewise, you can fall in love with a game that is broken, yet does something very special. Conflict happens, and that’s okay. I’ve felt it when playing Grand Theft Auto V, a…

  By Chris Person Published November 28, 2013