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ReviewsNBA 2K14: The Kotaku Review
It’s possible that basketball fans have been spoiled by the NBA 2K series, which over the preceding four titles has churned out some of the most conspicuous year-to-year improvements from the brutal treadmill of annual sports video games development. Looking back, the highly polished gameplay and presentation that other series would kill for seems almost…
By Owen Good Published September 24, 2013 -
UncategorizedThe Death Star’s Trenches, Through the Eyes of the Oculus Rift
If you think about it, flight simulators, with their fully-realized cockpits and scenic locations, are a perfect fit for the Oculus Rift. So are space sims, for the same reason. Developer Boone Calhoun, realizing this, promptly went to work on an Oculus Rift demo of the Death Star trench run from Star Wars Here’s one…
By András Neltz Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
Seventeen Years of Pokemon in a Single Image
Has it been seventeen years? The time has just flown by. Here’s how the in-game maps have evolved. The above image was uploaded by Japanese Twitter user @Ugusyan and has been retweeted over ten thousand times. ポケモン17年の歴史 [Twitter] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft Kotaku…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 -
UncategorizedSuper Smash Bros. Melee Is Great. But Why Is It Great?
The aptly named Really Freakin’ Clever webseries is back, this time focusing on the second entry in Nintendo’s all-star brawler franchise—Smash Bros. Melee While I agree with the notion that having all these celebrated and massively nostalgic characters in one place is a hell of a selling point, it’s important not to overlook Melee’s rather…
By András Neltz Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
Oh My Goodness, These Trees Look Like Totoro
If you’ve seen the Studio Ghibli anime, you are certainly familiar with Totoro. Did you know there are several trees in Japan that resemble the iconic character? Located in the village of Sakegawa in Yamagata Prefecture, the above tree is nicknamed “The Totoro Tree” (トトロの木 or Totoro no Ki). It’s a cedar tree that is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
Metal Gear Solid V Cosplay Kept Ya Waiting, Huh?
Metal Gear Solid V isn’t out yet. Heck, there wasn’t even a playable demo at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. Until we get our hands on it, all we can do is wait. Good thing there are talented cosplayers to help pass the time. At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Metal Gear cosplay queen Omi…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 -
Kotaku EastChina’s Capital Makes For One Big, Beautiful Toy City
The stereotype is that Beijing is all smog. That, of course, is not true. For instance, there are little toy people going about their business. Little toy cars hurrying to their destinations. And don’t forget the little toy skyscrapers, defiantly reaching into the sky as the music swells in the background. Of course, the video…
By András Neltz Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
These Japanese Wii U Bundles Are a Good Deal
Nintendo is releasing a Wii U Family Premium set. And hey, it looks like a bargain. The 32GB Wii U comes packed with New Super Mario Bros. U, Wii Party U, a Wii Remote Plus, a thirty day pass for Wii Karaoke U, and a Sensor Bar. The bundle is available in white or black,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 -
UncategorizedGot Twenty Minutes? Here, Kick Some Zombie Ass on YouTube
Hellraid, the game which attempts to mix the combat of Dead Island with the setting of Dark Messiah (or Heretic, or Hexen), has a prequel that you can play right now. The catch? It’s an interactive movie. Don’t worry though, it’s lotsa fun. Techland released the choose-your-own-adventure series on YouTube as a lead-up to the…
By András Neltz Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
The Most Blatant Utada Hikaru Ripoff I’ve Ever Seen
Stealing from Utada Hikaru is not cool. But, I guess, if you are going to do it, then dammit, be incredibly obvious like one Korean singer was. Obvious is funny! Back in March 1999, Utada Hikaru released her debut album First Love. It was a smash hit, selling over ten million copies worldwide and spawning…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
How Microsoft Could Be Jumping Over China’s Console Ban
In China, video game consoles are banned. Recently, there’s been chatter than the ban will be lifted. But who needs home consoles when there’s already a workaround: Ditch the game machines completely. This week, Microsoft announced (via WSJ.com) that it was partnering with China’s BesTV to create “family games and related services.” According to Reuters,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 - Kotaku East
Dragon Ball Z in the Best Hair Wax Promotion Ever
One of the most iconic elements of Dragon Ball Z are the orange Dragon Balls. The other is unruly hair. Now you can have both. Japanese cosmetics company Creer Beaute is rolling out Dragon Ball Z Hair Wax in three styles: Natural, Hard, Super Hard. How hard is Super Hard? Over 9000, no doubt! Each…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2013 -
UncategorizedHow To “Ruin” A Grand Theft Auto V Launch With “Spoilers”
Here’s Mega64 trying to ruin a Grand Theft Auto V launch with a very special kind of spoiler. Stick with it. The escape is better than the crime. GTA V MIDNIGHT LAUNCH RUINED BY ME!!!!!!!! [YouTube, via ALBOTAS]
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 -
UncategorizedHope You Like Playing F-Zero Until Your Eyeballs Puke
GameCube games can run on a PC. The Oculus Rift works for the PC. What comes next? White knuckles and sick bags. While the framerate stutters a bit on this particular footage, the fact it’s working should give hope – or fear – to F-Zero fans the world over. If we can’t get a new…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 - Uncategorized
Your Childhood Wishes Its Model Kits Were This Good
Did you make models as a kid? I did. Plastic cement and messy decals were a weekly duo on my kitchen table. I got better as I got older, but even by the time I stopped (at around 14), I could only dream of putting together kits like this. This is the work of Japanese…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 - Uncategorized
Rich Maniac Still Wants To Build A Real Rapture
He’s been trying to get this off the ground for years now, but last week PayPal founder Peter Thiel took one step closer to his dream of building an aquatic utopia populated solely by rich/smart/weird folks “who wish to demonstrate new ways of living together”. So, yeah, Rapture. And we all know how well that…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 - Culture
Awesome Art From A Man Responsible For EA’s “Orange Soldier Glow”
It’s been a design mainstay for some EA games since Bad Company 2, the “orange glow behind a soldier dude” effect about as iconic as modern game art gets. If you want someone to blame/thank for this trend, then Robert Sammelin is a good place to start. You could also, more practically, blame the fact…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 -
CultureTotal RecallA Sad Farewell To The Coolest Fighter Jet Of All Time
Anyone who grew up watching cartoons, or playing video games, or just taking an interest in large, expensive vehicles will be saddened to hear today that the US military has indicated the end is nigh for the fabled A-10 Warthog. Incorrectly labelled “ugly” by some detractors, the fact is the A-10 is the coolest damn…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2013 - Uncategorized
Idiot Steals Car, Blames Own Crime On Grand Theft Auto
Normally, it takes a third party to blame a crime on a video game. A sensationalist tabloid, or a stuffy politician. Not in Zachary Burgess’ case, though, the 20 year-old only too happy to blame his own actions on Grand Theft Auto Police report that early on Saturday morning, Burgess jumped into a car in…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 23, 2013 - Uncategorized
What It’s Like Meeting A Cosplayer Who’s Cosplaying As…You
Natalie Dormer plays Margaery Tyrell on the Game of Thrones TV series. She recently went to her first ever nerd convention, so was suitably warned: there will be people cosplaying there. As you “That was my first convention, my virgin convention experience,” she tells Entertainment Weekly. “Other members of the crew and cast said, ‘Someone…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 23, 2013