- Kotaku East
Transformers Make for the Cutest Japanese Family
Despite being only eight minutes per episode, Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time is possibly the funniest anime this season. One of the latest episodes, “Disaster Drill,” features the titular Seki-kun playing house with robot action figures that look suspiciously like Transformers. Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time is the story…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2014 -
Kotaku EastThe World’s Most Dangerous Fireworks Festival Looks, Well, Unsafe
As far as fireworks festivals go, they don’t get much more dangerous than this. Held annually in Tainan City, Taiwan at the end of Chinese New Year, the festival features thousands of bottle rockets launched from a “beehive” to cleanse evil spirits and bring good fortune. No wonder this has been called “the most dangerous…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2014 - Uncategorized
Diddy Kong Joins The Battle In Super Smash Bros. Wii U
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is out today, and to celebrate this, Masahiro Sakurai revealed the next member of Super Smash Bros. Wii U‘s roster: Diddy Kong. I was really hoping for a Cranky Kong reveal, but Diddy Kong will do as well. Looking at his hands, I’m pretty sure he’ll be a flexible character.…
By Gergo Vas Published February 21, 2014 - Kotaku East
Imaginary Boyfriends and Girlfriends Are the Best
They are! They don’t forget things, break your heart, or act annoying. They also don’t exist, but don’t hold that against them. These photos were taken by photographer Lin Xi, who said he’s inspired by anime and manga, and appeared on China’s micro-blogging service Sina Weibo around Valentine’s Day. The images were viewed thousands of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2014 - Kotaku East
Here’s Something You Don’t Usually See at Japanese Console Launches
Over the years living in Japan, I don’t ever recall seeing anything like this at a console launch. Nope. I’ve never seen a group of young people in glow-in-the-dark hockey masks, waiting for a console. Not once. Spotted by Japanese site Inside Games, these are actually pop music singers. They’re members of a new idol…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2014 - Uncategorized
The Video Games That Contain Art. Literally.
No tired old arguments here today. Today, we’re looking at the examples of video games that contain works of art. The Video Game Art Archive is a collection of instances in games where some of the greatest paintings in history find their way onto bitmapped walls. There are also collections of original art you can…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2014 - Uncategorized
Soon, You Can Buy A Real Mario Kart
This isn’t an action figure, or some random capsule collectible. This baby is a “full size” 6V ride-on Mario Kart, and is ready for you to try and cram your butt into. Of course, it’s designed primarily for kids. But given the franchise’s history, and the fact it’s got an open seat, I’m sure the…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2014 - Culture
The Art Of The Future, The Art Of The Past
Romanian artist Ioan Dumitrescu has been busy since we last some of his work. Very busy. In the two years since his last feature we’ve got a complete new gallery, mostly of some terrific sci-fi environment pieces that he’s done for games like Crysis 3 and Gears of War: Judgement. You can see more of…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2014 - Uncategorized
A Porn Star, Grand Theft Auto V And Jetpacks
Rockstar’s games are no strangers to mystery and intrigue, but some believe there’s a puzzle (or five) at the heart of Grand Theft Auto V that’s been keeping people guessing for months. GTAV is set in the fictional state of San Andreas. The last game set there included a jetpack, which Grand Theft V seemingly…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2014 - Uncategorized
Time To Despair: you should read this excellent Gamasutra interview with a couple of producers on Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. In it, they talk about Japanese culture, the idea behind some of the characters and themes in the game, and more.
By Patricia Hernandez Published February 20, 2014 -
UncategorizedGoogle’s New Phone Could Change The Way We Play Games
Hey, it’s Johnny Lee! You might remember Johnny from his pioneering motion work with the Wii Remote, which got him hired by Microsoft to help build Kinect. Well, Johnny’s now with Google, and his new project is even cooler. That headline might sound corny, but it really could. You’ll see why in a second. Johnny…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2014 -
UncategorizedBlacksmithing In The Elder Scrolls Online Is Complicated
In other massively multiplayer online role-playing games, blacksmithing involves find a forge in town and clicking about a bit. In The Elder Scrolls Online, you’ve got to kill some tigers first. Well, you don’t have to kill the tigers. You could probably just bypass them altogether and run for the dungeon entrance, or have someone…
By Mike Fahey Published February 20, 2014 -
Uncategorized‘Twitch Plays Pokémon’ Looks Even Sillier In Real Life
When thousands of people try to control a single character at once, like in the ‘Twitch Plays Pokémon’ stream, things can look a little…erratic.No matter what he tries to do or where he tries to go, the main character, Red, practically looks drunk. Obviously, Twitch players should never have control of a real person. Or…
By Patricia Hernandez Published February 20, 2014 - Reviews
Maingear Pulse 17 Ultra-Thin Gaming Laptop: The Kotaku Review
Well, that’s it. Maingear’s ultra-thin Pulse 17 has sealed my fate — I am completely ruined for thicker gaming laptops. There was a time when the size of a gaming notebook didn’t matter so much. Three or four years ago a portable gaming rig that was nearly two inches thick and weighed close to ten…
By Mike Fahey Published February 20, 2014 -
UncategorizedWhen Mario Meets Seinfeld
What would happen if you mashed up Mario and Seinfeld? Well, something like this, probably. Aside from turning Super Mario Bros. into an existential sinkhole, the combination of Seinfeld and Mario brings up some questions, namely: 1. Who does Princess Peach think is spongeworthy? 2. Did Toad really kill Birdo with toxic glue attached to…
By Chris Person Published February 20, 2014 -
UncategorizedMeet The Game Makers Who Actually Enjoy Reading Internet Comments
Rex Crowle and Christophe Villedieu don’t say the kinds of things most of the video game developers I’ve ever spoken to say. For example, when they’re feeling down they… go to Twitter to see what people have to say about their game. Really? I get that their recent game, the PlayStation Vita adventure Tearaway, was…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 20, 2014 -
UncategorizedAmazing Dad Builds Elaborate Mission Control Center For His Kid
Now here’s a clever (but complicated) way to get your kid excited to finish their homework: build them a mission control center under their desk. At least, that’s what this man—who is clearly gunning for some sort of father of the year award—did. And if you’re keen on doing something like this, good news: the…
By Patricia Hernandez Published February 20, 2014 - Reviews
The Lego Movie Videogame: The Kotaku Review
Is the Lego Movie Videogame for you? It probably is if you can bring yourself to enjoy the following politically-controversial, looping video: How about this one? Really, what else needs to be said when assessing a video game other than the line: “You can play as Shakespeare and Batman.”? That says it all. Or at…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 20, 2014
