- Kotaku East
The Year in Kotaku East
Here at Kotaku East, we’re all about stories. Whether it’s amazing, cool, weird, or hilarously stupid, if our Eastern friends have a story to share, we make sure to tell you all about it. And this year certainly had more than enough tales of all four types. What follows is just a small sample of…
By András Neltz Published December 27, 2013 -
UncategorizedMajora’s Mask Looks Better When It’s Broken
Majora’s Mask is an acquired taste. One I’ve never fully acquired, sadly (the time limit is TOO STRESSFUL), but I’d be keener on the game if it was this broken in its natural state. Vinesauce showed us what a busted copy of Ocarina of Time looked like earlier in the year; as you’d expect, a…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 27, 2013 -
UncategorizedFor Christmas, Grand Theft Auto V Was Covered In Snow
Grand Theft Auto Online ran some Christmas DLC on December 25. You could get custom clothes and gear, but by far the biggest impact – and most impressive – was the way the normally-sunny Los Santos was buried in snow Shame this was for one day only! It’d be great if you could toggle this…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 27, 2013 - Uncategorized
Nintendo’s Online Services Still Broken, Pokémon Apps Delayed
Following Japan’s lead, Nintendo of America has postponedthe launch of the Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter “due to a large volume of traffic to the Nintendo Network service”. Here’s the full statement from Nintendo: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company International have postponed the launch of Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter – two software applications that…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 26, 2013 - Culture
What The New Lara Croft Could Have Looked Like
Brenoch Adams worked for years as a senior artist on Eidos’ Tomb Raider reboot. While you’ll see pieces from all over his portfolio in this showcase, what’ll probably be of most interest are the pieces from early in Tomb Raider’s development, showing what the new/old Lara Croft could have looked like. The middle image is…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedTurn Your Human Face Into A Video Game Character
FaceRig is a piece of software that will use your webcam to track your face (and facial movements) then transform it into something a little (or a lot) less human. Its makers say it’ll work across popular platforms like Skype and Twitch, while you’ll also be able to use the program to make animated clips.…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedHey, It’s A Good Tomb Raider Movie!
This fan film stars Lara Croft, but there’s as much John McClane on show here as there is British archaeologist. It’s not often I’ll say this about a fan project, but this is pretty damn good. Sure, there are limitations – even the leap above has its cuts and edits – but these guys give…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedVideo Games Charity Raises Over $10 Million
That’s not a typo. That’s ten million dollars Gaming for Good, a charity established and fronted by celebrity gamerBachir Boumaaza, aka Athene, has this week passed the significant milestone. At time of writing the group’s tally stands at $10,035,284. If you’ve never come across Gaming For Good before, it works like this: developers and publishers…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedInterrupting Cow Is Easily My Favorite Assassin’s Creed IV Glitch
Did you know cows like playing checkers? Apparently, they do. For all its good qualities, Assassin’s Creed IV does have its share of glitches. As much as I liked the intense, apocalyptic one Luke shared a few weeks back, this one, shared by Vincent Caravella, is my new favorite. I guess we know what the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Vote For Kotaku‘s 2013 Reader’s Choice Award
We’re nearing the end of our Game of the Year conversations here at Kotaku. This year, we opened up nominations to readers, and figured that we might as well also let readers vote for their own choice from among the nominations. Below, find a poll for each of the games put forth in our nomination…
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedSeemingly Impossible GTA V Stunts
The following words appear at the end of an incredible new video filled with four minutes of amazing Grand Theft Auto V bike, car and plane: “No cheats or mods were used to perform the stunts”. Wow. The video features the amazing feats of the Nomad Union crew. The video was uploaded to Machinima. We…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
RG3 Gave The Redskins’ Offensive Line Xbox Ones for Christmas
Without anything else to hand off for the rest of the season, benched Washington Redskins franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III rolled up to Redskins park earlier this week with a sedan full of Xbox One consoles for the offensive line that let him get sacked 38 times this year. It’s the season of giving, even…
By Mike Fahey Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
No Cat Should Be Without A Mario Warp Pipe Climbing Box
Cat Mario, meet Mario cat. Redditor Collinferal had a friend with a bored cat. With $140 in materials and his carpentry skills, he made her a magnificent Mario-themed toy that will keep said cat occupied for minutes. As the owner of two cats, I am constantly looking for ways to keep my feline friends from…
By Mike Fahey Published December 26, 2013 -
UncategorizedThe Funniest TV News Screw-Ups Of 2013
“I’m Ron Burgundy. Go f**k youself, San Diego.” I know, it has nothing to do with video games. But this 2013 TV news blooper reel from NewsBeFunny is just too good not to share. I can’t begin to name a favorite. Steve captured a few highlights in GIF form: [Via SuperPunch]
By Kirk Hamilton Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Rockstar Support is replying to as many people as they can about the GTA Online money hackers. No news since Tuesday, but the gist remains the same. Hackers are gifting people unwanted gobs of in-game money, seemingly making recipients vulnerable for game bans. Rockstar’s position, since Tuesday, from their Support Page, is what they’ve had…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Nothing Stings Quite Like Getting The Wrong Console For Christmas
It’s tough getting a game console for Christmas, because, sometimes, you get the wrong one. Given that the PS4 and Xbox One were two of the hottest gifts for this year’s holiday, Twitter is now full of people talking about the consoles. In many cases, they’re talking rather grumpily about the console they actually wanted.…
By Steve Marinconz Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Games Criticism Is Flawed And/Or In A Golden Age.
Two views on the state of games criticism over at The New York Times. Here are excerpts: Laura Parker’s essay Game Theory: BioShock Infinite and Video Game Reviews BioShock Infinite aimed to be a game that engaged its audience by posing questions about human nature. We know this because we were told as much. But…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Strange And Wonderful Mirrored Video Game Cover Art
What the hell am I looking at here? It’s the strange imagery that’s produced by taking a familiar piece of cover art, splitting it in half and duplicating one side on the other. Imgur user Fryeguy43 has uploaded a gallery of twisted game art flip-takes. Highlights include Tommy Lasorda as Bill Clinton: Saints Row IV‘s…
By Mike Fahey Published December 26, 2013 - Uncategorized
Will Paying For Video Games Become a Weird Thing To Do?
I happily pay for video games. You might, too. But so many people enjoy the increasingly popular free-to-play model of video games. So many people don’t pay to play. Is gaming going to be reaching a moment when many, many potential gamers just don’t want to pay. I tossed this idea into a conversation I’ve…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 26, 2013
