An emoticon future: check out this thought-provoking video by PBSoffbook, where they look at the history of the emoticon and where they are going. I for one want the future of language to be with ebooks and bots, but, y’know. Off-Topic is our nightly open thread where we show you something interesting beyond the world…

If Dota Were A Fighting Game…

…then it might work a little like this video by Chris Le The footage isn’t of an actual game, though, unlike the 2D League of Legends fighting game—not that that makes it any less cool! Obviously, you can see some Street Fighter influences in here, as well as Marvel vs Capcom. Neat. The video is…

Riot Changes Its Mind, Will Let League Pros Stream Rival Games

Riot Games has done an about-face on their policy blocking contracted players in their League of Legends Championship Series from streaming rival games. As came to light earlier this week, Riot’s existing Championship Series contract bars players from streaming any of a number of other games during the extent of the contract. Included games include…

​What’s Your Game Streaming Channel?

Now that the PS4 (and soon, the Xbox One) offer built-in streaming capability, the world of online video-game streaming got a big injection of new users. Maybe you’re one of them? I was playing Assassin’s Creed IV this past weekend and decided to start streaming… and a couple button presses later, there the game was,…

You did good, PA Report. Penny Arcade’s editorial operation, the Penny Arcade Report, is shutting down after a two-year run. Led by Ben Kuchera, the crew there worked hard to do quality reporting and writing about video games and pop culture. Their successes are numerous, and the outlet will be missed. Good luck to all…

Let’s Solve A Murder In Broken Sword 5

It always ends up with murder in Broken Sword It’s been a long time since we’ve had a Broken Sword sequel, but thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign we can now all gently point & click our way through a spate of horrible murders in Broken Sword 5: Serpent’s Curse. It’s obvious this sequel takes…

It’s Time For Star Citizen To Get Organized

A massive number of space sim fans have generated nearly $34 million in crowdfunding for Chris Roberts’ Star Citizen. Now they’re all just milling about, waiting for the game to be finished. Soon they’ll be able to mill about in large groups, thanks to the impending launch of the game’s Organization System. Organizations are just…

Disney Buys Indiana Jones

Mickey Mouse now owns both Han Solo and his whip-bearing twin Indy—Disney has purchased the rights to the Indiana Jones franchise from Paramount, the film group that distributed the first four films in the beloved action/adventure series. Variety’s got the scoop. Disney can now produce and distribute new Indy movies. Get ready for Indiana Jones…

In case you’re still holding out hope that the “Fallout 4 teaser” website is real, here’s Bethesda finally saying something: “PSA: If you don’t hear it through an official channel like this, assume all rumors and speculation are false.”

EverQuest‘s Ambitious Mission To Take On Minecraft

When you build something in the open-world sandbox game Minecraft, you can share it with your friends. You can invite people to hang out in your little world of blocks and pigs, or can put your creation on YouTube, to be admired and posted on Kotaku for the world to see. But you can’t sell…

The Stomping Land not only looks prettier since last time we saw it, it also has new artand gameplay videos you should check out—like this one, where you coordinate with other hunters to lasso a dino. Oh, and there’s a playable build coming sometime soon. Excellent.

The Seven Most Annoying Types of Gamers

You spend enough time online, you notice some patterns—characters of sorts, specific sorts of people that continually reappear. Sometimes, these stereotypes are pleasant. And sometimes, god, the types of people you come to meet online can be irritating. Dorkly has drawn up what they think are some of the most annoying gamers you’ll find online—from…

Bigby who? Is he the guy next to Jack? The second episode of Fables, Smoke & Mirrors, is almost ready for prime time, so Telltale Games decided to call in a little star power to finish the job. That handsome blond fellow? He’s Jack, aka Jack Frost, aka Jack the Giant Killer, aka not really…

​Call Now and Get a Great Deal on Next-Gen Video Game Pictures!

Poor Peter Clatworthy—the guy who paid £450 (USD$735) for a picture of an Xbox One—has been the butt of many an internet joke. This video, while verging a bit on the mean side, is one of the best. VideoGamerTV’s TV shopping show parody nails the frantic hucksterism of channels like HSN and zeroes in on…

If Driving On The Moon Is This Hard, I’m Amazed Anyone Survived It

The latest “Real Driving Simulator” lets you really simulate driving on the moon. So here’s how to unlock the “Lunar Roving Vehicle LEV-001 ’71” in Gran Turismo 6, as well as a glimpse into the dangers of life on the Moon. If you want to unlock the lunar rover and do some sweet moon jumps,…

Razer Peripherals, Link Between Worlds, PSN Money, PS3 Bundle [Deals]

Careful, the prices on these Razer peripherals today are… sharp. Get your favorite gaming mouse and more before these deals dull. Razer DeathAdder 2013 Gaming Mouse ($42) | Amazon Razer DeathAdder 3500 PC Gaming Mouse ($40) | Amazon Razer DeathStalker Expert Gaming Keyboard ($48) | Amazon Best Buy not only has slightly discounted Playstation Plus…

Ubisoft Survey Ponders An Assassin’s Creed-Free Pirate Franchise [Update]

Now that Ubisoft has made not one but two pirate-themed games in the Assassin’s Creed universe, a survey being sent out to fans (and through them to IGN) wonders if players wouldn’t just be fine with a straight-up pirate game. My main criticism of both Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and therecently released mobile follow-upis…