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The Super-Expensive Special Edition For Grid 2 Hasn’t Sold Yet
We’ve reported about the $190,000 worth Mono Edition for Grid 2, where the added bonus was not just some fancy cosmetic DLC, but a high-performance car. And although the game came out in May, guess what, no one bought this super-special edition yet. Videogamer points out this in the light of the newly announced special…
By Gergo Vas Published August 12, 2013 - Uncategorized
Chinese Gamers Say Plants Versus Zombies 2 Is Ripping Them Off
Since it was released in China almost two weeks ago, PopCap’s latest Zombie versus vegetation tower defense game, Plants versus Zombies 2: It’s About Time has been well received. Despite that, many of PopCap’s Chinese fans are upset, claiming they feel “gouged” by the games in-app purchasing. PopCap’s original PvZ was a big hit in…
By Eric Jou Published August 12, 2013 - Uncategorized
New Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Screenshots Show A Shiny World
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD, the inevitable remaster of one of the most popular Final Fantasy games and its direct sequel, is shaping up nicely! Square-Enix just released a large number of new screenshots, teasing smooth menus, trophies, summoning and a beautifully colorful Spira. Check them all below. Some of the locations look absolutely stunning. To…
By Gergo Vas Published August 12, 2013 -
Kotaku EastThailand’s Anime Censorship Sure Is Strict
“Censorship level: Thailand” is no joke! Check out just how tough the country’s censorship is. For years now, anime viewers in Thailand have been dealing with ironclad regulations for broadcast dubs—something that fans outside the country have also noticed. But it’s not just anime. On Thai television broadcasts, stations censor alcohol consumption, weapons pointed at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 12, 2013 - Kotaku East
When Cosplay Is Too Damn Hot
This weekend, Comic Market (aka “Comiket”) rolled through Tokyo. How scorching was it? Time to bust out the thermal cameras! Japan’s largest networks featured Comiket on their news variety shows, focusing on the boiling temperatures. The country is being hit with a heat wave that has topped 40°C (104ºF). The high temps are serious; sadly,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 12, 2013 - Esports
These Dota 2 Players Just Won $1.4 Million
The International 2013 Dota 2 Championship has a winner: Swedish eSports team Alliance. The team claimed a top prize of $1.4 million, defeating Ukrainian powerhouse Natus Vincere in a climactic five-game match during the Grand Finals. The International is the largest Dota 2 event of its kind; this year’s total prize money hit $2.8 million.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 12, 2013 -
UncategorizedHey Look, There Are More Mega Evolved Pokemon. Including, Yes, Fairies
Oh yes, there’s more. Last week we saw the reveal of mega evolved Pokemon, like Mega Mewtwo and Mega Blaziken. Today, Nintendo released footage of a few more Mega Evolutions: Mega Ampharos, Mega Absol, Mega Mawile….plus, there’s footage of Mega Kangaskhan from this weekend’s Pokemon World Championships. If nothing else, many Mega Pokemon have some…
By Patricia Hernandez Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
This New Character Lineup Is What’s Cool About Disney Infinity
Disney Infinity comes out a week from today with a host of characters from your favorite Disney franchises. Today at the D23 Fan Expo, eleven new characters and a new Toy Story in Space playset were announced. Look at all of familiar faces, hanging out together. That’s pretty awesome. We’ve got Buzz Lightyear and Jessie…
By Mike Fahey Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
The First 151 Pokémon, Drawn by 151 Different Artists
Three weeks ago, freelance animator Justin Chan put out a call over Twitter for 151 different artists to draw the 151 Kanto Pokémon. Yesterday, Chan published a wallpaper (full-size version here) of their labor, all signed by the artist’s Twitter handle. A collaboration for the Johto Pokémon will begin in September.
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
Live in California? You Can Rent Arcade Cabinets for $75 a Month
If you’ve got $75 a month to burn and live in California, you can get a 250-pound arcade cabinet running a 30-year-old game delivered to your door. This is the service offered by All You Can Arcade, a San Francisco business that opened shop last month. If all goes well, it’ll expand to the east…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Culture
The Week in Games: A Dream Effort
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team on the 3DS kicks off the week of new releases, but it has company coming later in the week. Heist-shooter Payday 2 rolls out on three platforms and the Summer of Arcade continues on Xbox Live with Charlie Murder. Today • Mario and Luigi: Dream Team (3DS) Tuesday • Europa…
By Dealzon Published August 11, 2013 - Esports
See StarCraft‘s World Championship Series’ Semifinals and Finals Live
The final day of competition for StarCraft‘s World Championship Series, America region—begins now, and you can view all of it here live. The day will feature two semifinal matches in a best-of-five format: Jaedong (Korea) against Scarlett (Canada) and TaeJa against Polt (both Korea.) The finals will be contested afterward. Three regions are sending players…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 -
UncategorizedSomeone’s Making a $90,000 Metroid Movie Without Nintendo’s Permission
Didn’t we just go through this with Final Fantasy VII? Someone wants to make a Metroid fan film. They’re raising $90,000. They don’t have any agreement with Nintendo. Of course they don’t. Metroid: Enemies Within launched on Kickstarter on Friday and seeks to fund a 10-minute film pitting Samus against Sylux, the antagonist from the…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Esports
Watch The Biggest Dota 2 Tournament Live, Right Here
Continuing through the weekend in Seattle, we’ll be seeing the top Dota 2 teams from all over the world verse each other in The International—the largest known tournament for the game—for a prize pool of $2.8 million. Grand Finals close the event out this Sunday, but you can watch it all, live and right here.…
By Tina Amini Published August 11, 2013 - Reviews
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: The Kotaku Review
Poor Luigi. Mario’s lanky counterpart is most often defined not by his own merits, but by his proximity to his elder brother. Even in 2013, a year that Nintendo has branded “The Year of Luigi,” the green plumber is more punchline than protagonist, complete with Chaplinesque antics and a tendency to cower behind Mario during…
By Jason Schreier Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Watermelon Warriors
Yeah, I know we’re gonna get about thirty-leb’m-million-thousand Skyrim entries with this, but let’s go for it anyway, because watermelon armor is awesome, and even more awesome when you ‘shop it into a video game. Earlier this week, Bash informed us of the craze, in China, of dressing children in the rind of delicious summertime…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Esports
Catch All the Action of the Pokémon World Championships, Right Here
We’re back for the second day of “Worlds”—the Pokémon World Championships—in Vancouver, B.C. and six champions will be crowned in three divisions across Pokémon’s video game and trading card game. You can watch it all live right here. Final matches are beginning right now. In the video game world championships, junior division, Brendan Zheng (U.S.)…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
Xbox Live Family Subscriptions Convert to Individual Accounts Aug. 27
In preparation for how Xbox Live will function once Xbox One gets here, Microsoft will convert Gold family subscriptions to individual accounts beginning on Aug. 27. Since everyone in the house will now have to pay for a subscription, Microsoft is adding another three months of Gold to anyone affected. It’s all in a notice…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Culture
Sunday Comics: The Shape of Things
Welcome to Kotaku‘s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics, chosen by our readership. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon in the lower right corner. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published Aug. 9. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Penny Arcade by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Published Aug.…
By Owen Good Published August 11, 2013 - Uncategorized
Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: The Karting Dead: The Winners
OK, maybe Kenny’s better off driving a train, and putting him in a go-kart was a bad idea and it got him killed. It was the best we could do! And Clementine, when you’re older, maybe you’ll understand. So just … just look at these ‘Shops, OK. And try to laugh. Especially at EllieRyan’s, our…
By Owen Good Published August 10, 2013