Quick Q&A: Why She Thinks Gamers Can Improve The World

Few people have made more effort to speak positively about video games in public than game designer, author, and researcher Jane McGonigal. She’s the opposite of all those people who trash games in the media and, in this week’s Quick Q&A, she’s got four answers for us and one big question for all of you.…

Four Video Game Previews You Shouldn’t Miss

The new Dragon Age game, that looks extraordinary so far; Keiji Inafune’s spiritual successor to Mega Man; five minutes of Pokémon X/Y gameplay, straight from PAX Prime; and Galak-Z: The Dimensional, an over-the-top space shooter. Cycle through our latest on these four new titles.

Here’s what’s going on Talk Among Yourselves, our reader-written blog: GiantBoyDetective tells us about a great-looking choose your own adventure eBook series for those looking to improve their English, and JJTexan takes a look at some interesting Wii Shop games which, though new IPs, are now all but forgotten. And you can always go join…

I Can’t Stop Playing This Hacking iPhone Game

“One more game. Ok, no. Last round. Damnit. Ok…that one didn’t count.” That’s what I sound like playing 868-HACK, a hacking roguelike that came out Friday for iOS from designer Michael Brough. Originally called 86856527 and it was created as part of the Seven-Day Roguelike competition. It’s an incredibly addictive game, one that’s fairly simple…

Let’s Visit Some of the Beautiful Locations in the Next Final Fantasy

Square-Enix has just released no less than five trailers showcasing the locations of Lightning Returns. For a world that’s about to be destroyed, there’s quite a lot of amazing sights to be seen—so let’s dive in! Up above you can see the bustling streets of Yusnaan, the City of Revelry. Here are the Wildlands, dotted…

This Ambitious Mod Aims To Fully Convert Civilization V To Warcraft

Warcraft and Civilization may contain two completely different game worlds with distinct game mechanics, but modder Bamington’s Civilizations of Warcraft mod pack for Civ V—a huge project designed to add as much from the Warcraft universe as possible—fits like a glove. Factions, which were introduced in Warcraft III and WoW, are now civilizations and city-states.…

What? Bravely Default is evolving! On December 5, Japan is getting an updated and expanded re-release of the interestingly-named 3DS JRPG, titled Bravely Default: For the Sequel. Nintendo, who’s publishing Bravely Default in the West, wasn’t able to confirm to Siliconera which version they’d be bringing over next year UPDATE: The game’s official Twitter feed…

Sleep Mode: It’s Labor Day in America. The so-called end of summer. Dear readers, please don’t work too hard. You deserve a rest.

Introducing The Wonderfully Weird Hello Kitty Beer

From toys to snack cakes, Sanrio’s ever-famous cat can be seen peddling everything. Including beer. Now, the Internet and history has shown that Hello Kitty has graced the face of beer bottles before: At one point there was even a Hello Kitty licensed beer which was produced by Becks. However, this time, her feline visage…

Oh, It’s Just a 17-Ton Robotic Bug

A Japanese engineer named Hitoshi Takahashi spent 11 years creating this huge, diesel-powered bug bot from nothing. And now, as he did recently in Ibaraki Prefecture, he shows up in parking lots and amazes everyone. Here, you can see Takahashi when he was 50 years old, starting work on the Kabutom RX-01 in 1998. Alone.…

How to Get Online for Final Fantasy XIV (Eventually)

You know the 1017 error? You do if you’ve been trying to play Final Fantasy XIV! It’s the message for a full server. YouTube user Beingbanana came up with an “easy fix.” Just make sure you have chopsticks, a battery, and your copy of Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. Very important! How to fix 1017 error…

The Evolution of Japanese Schoolgirl Uniforms

Ch-ch-ch-changes. Over the years, Japanese schoolgirl outfits certainly have evolved. How much have they changed? See for yourself. The image spans from the Meiji Era (1868 to 1912) to the modern day. While the 1950s and 1960s didn’t didn’t see huge jumps in style, the last few decades certainly have! This image appeared on Twitter…

Inside Hayao Miyazaki’s Former “Retirement Place”

Did you hear Hayao Miyazaki is retiring? Bummer! Thing is, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard that Miyazaki is retiring. In fact, he’s officially quit Studio Ghibli before, only to return. As a couple Japanese Twitter users have pointed out, Miyazaki has “retired” several times—five times by somepeople’s count or once every three years…

Ever want to open a game bar in Japan? Matt Bloch talks to Japanator about doing just that with his Osaka-based watering hole Space Station. It’s apparently the only foreign-run video game bar in Japan!

Go Forth, Space Knights, And Shoot Blue Lasers

Brandon Liao is an artist at League of Legends developers Riot Games, but today’s Fine Art isn’t about lanes or monsters. It’s mostly about space guns and some incredible sci-fi architecture. You can see more future soldiers and fancy castles at Brandon’s personal site (thanks Concept Art World!) To see the larger pics in all…

Cliff Bleszinski project sneak peek number four. No name for the thing yet, so I’m just going to give it the working title of “The Last of Them”. As shared on Twitter.

Team Fortress 2 Characters Wish One Lucky Guy A Very Happy Birthday

Well, here’s about the best birthday present a boy could wish for. Reader Kevin was at Valve’s DOTA International tournament last month, and while there got in line for some autographs from the game’s voice actors. While waiting for his turn, he had a flash of inspiration His brother Robin, whose birthday was coming up,…

Okay Yeah, Final Fantasy XIV‘s Relaunch Is A Disaster [Update]

From an unfinished mess that no one wanted to play to a highly-polished gemthat nobody can access in just under three years. Way to relaunch, Square Enix. Update: Added information on this week’s coming server expansion and free game time credit. I’ve been incredibly patient. During theearly start last weekend, when Americans and Europeans were…

Stop The Presses: I Think The Next Halo Game Will Be Called Halo 5

Everyone, you won’t believe this. This may come as a shock. I’d like you all to be sitting before I deliver this news: it looks as though the next Halo game is going to be called ‘Halo 5′. I know, crazy right. Halo 5 follows Halo 4, which followed Halo 3, which followed Halo 2,…

PAX Cosplay: Near-Naked Sims Dude, a FemShep Team-Up and Dark Phoenix

It’s been three days of PAX Prime so far and the cosplay greatness just keeps growing. This latest batch of pictures has a great Fallout survivor, two flavors of FemShep and Lady Deadpool. Enjoy these folks’ hard work, folks!