An Album That Looks Like A Badass Old Video Game

Ghidoragh is the name of a New Zealand band who just put out their first EP, called Threat Level Ultra. It’s fantastic. Not just because it’s inspired by video games, and has a badass Roger Dean-inspired cover art reminiscent of old Psygnosis art, but because they skipped releasing it on vinyl or CD and are…

When Losing A Game Actually Means Something

Death or defeat in a video game is normally something to be glossed over, brushed aside as you continue (or repeat) a stage on your way to inevitable victory. A quick “GAME OVER” screen, maybe a prompt or two, then you’re back into the action. Where’s the realism in that? The sense of consequence? Life…

Ultra Street Fighter IV Will Be Out In 2014

The update to Street Fighter IV that spilled out yesterday now has a name: it’s going to be sold in a complete pack as Ultra Street Fighter IV, which adds five new fighters to the game, along with a range of tweaks. Four the five fighters have been announced. They’re Rolento, Poison, Hugo and Elena.…

Awesome Tattoo Looks Like Suit Of Armor

Dmitry Bronya is the man responsible for this incredible tattoo, which looks less like a heart or Koi fish, and more like something that’d protect you from a maniac swinging a giant blade. I normally look at tattoos and think that while it looks cool now, in 10, or 20, or 30 year’s time, it’ll…

Crazy Mario Kart Cosplay Features…Famous Race Driver

Sebastian Vettel is the defending Formula 1 world champ. You could argue that makes him the best race driver in the world. But as we all know, skill alone means squat in a game of Mario Kart. Vettel took part in the German edition of the Red Bull Soapbox Race over the weekend, dressed as…

Where Gaming Meets Jackass (And Humiliated Humans)

That’s how new show Saigo No Senshi is billed by its creators. And…it’s pretty much on the money. People play games, games result in stupid challenges, the challenges result in physical pain. Sounds simple, but as with most kinds of shows of this type, it all hinges on the chemistry and humour of those involved.…

A Guide To Fighting Game Words You Might Not Understand

As the business end of Evo 2013 approaches, and spectator numbers swell, there might be those among you who want to watch the action go down but have no idea what people are actually talking about. This handy guide, by the folks at Shoryuken, should help. You’ll especially want to check out the “What on…

This upcoming remake of Rise of the Triad will get a “Ludicrous Development Kit” stocked with classic assets, letting users make levels that look like they came from 1995. The mod kit will be available after the game’s launch on July 31. This video explains what to do with it.

Martian Manhunter and John Stewart Are Coming to Injustice

Long anticipated—practically since the game’s release—Martian Manhunter was at last confirmed for Injustice: Gods Among Us as a downloadable addition to the fighting game’s roster, along with a John Stewart Green Lantern skin. NetherRealm Studios announced the new fighters at EVO 2013 today. When Injustice polled fans for their preferences for additional fighters back in…

Smash Bros. Survives Ban, Becomes Biggest Fighting Stream In History

It’s a good thing Nintendodidn’t follow through with its reported attempts to ban streams of Smash Bros. Melee from this year’s Evo fighting game tournament. Because it just became, for the time being at least, the biggest fighting game stream of all time. At its peak during the game’s finals held earlier today, over 130,000…

Custom Difficulty Gives an Honest Challenge—and Leaves Time to Rally

I move through the stages of difficulty in a sports video game like the stages of grief. Expert, Pro, Hard, Medium and Easy might as well be named Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. In the past, I’ve started somewhere between anger and depression before moving on to acceptance. A couple weeks ago, Forza Horizon‘s…

The Week in Games: Western Dynasty

What can we say, it’s the middle of summer. This is the slow season for new releases. The week’s big highlights include Dynasty Warriors 8 and Shin Megami Tensei IV arriving in North America on Tuesday, Monday • Need For Speed Most Wanted All DLC Bundle (PC) Tuesday • Turbo: Super Stunt Squad (360, PS3,…

Happy 30th Birthday to Video Gaming’s Most Famous Brother

Today, according to Nintendo, is Luigi’s 30th birthday. The company says Mario Bros.—which introduced Mario’s taller sibling—was released July 14, 1983—a day before the Famicom console launched in Japan. Strangely enough, I have a vivid memory of this game’s debut. My family was on vacation in August 1983, going up the Eastern Seaboard. I actually…

Valve Opens ‘Pipeline’ to High Schoolers Interested in Making Games

Valve, makers of 2007’s Half Life 2: Episode 2, is reaching out to teenagers interested in games development through “Pipeline,” a program being administered by the company’s own interns. “[W]e are frequently asked questions by teenagers about the videogame industry,” Valve wrote on the project’s Web site. “‘What is it like to work on videogames?…

Moneysaver: Steam Summer Sale Day 4 Breakdown [Updated Monday 10:30am]

Dealvalanche. Steam Sale Day One | Steam Sale Day Two | Steam Sale Day Three | Current Moneysaver | GTAV PS3 Bundle | Vote for Monaco, and FEZ would be a repeat anyway, not that I don’t love me some FEZ. • Community Sale Left 4 Dead 2 ($5) | Repeat • Flash Sale PES…

The Life. Love. Game Design Challenge to increase awareness of teen dating violence has named its winners. The contest is run by Jennifer Ann’s Group, founded in memory of Jennifer Crecente, the niece of former Kotaku editor-in-chief Brian Crecente. She was murdered by a classmate the day after Valentine’s Day in 2006.

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Grand Theft A-Hole

We had a thin week for timely exploitables, but this piece of art from Grand Theft Auto V caught my eye. It’s like it was made for the ‘Shop Contest, and it’s your challenge this week. The sister is almost totally unobstructed, as is our surly gamer up front, and his head is easily swappable…

Bohemia Interactive, makers of ArmA II, has reset all of its user’s passwords in light of a security breach that exposed their login details. Bohemia assures that no credit card information was involved in the breach, and that the passwords themselves were encrypted. Still, users must request a new one here.

Watch EVO 2013 Streamed Live, Right Here

The Road to EVO—a series of tournaments leading up to the biggest fighting game tournament of the year—is coming to a decisive close. It’s time for the Evolution 2013 tournament, which starts today in Las Vegas, and we’re here to serve you all of the livestreams available to make you feel like you’re sitting right…

Sunday Comics: Critical Miss

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 July 10. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Penny Arcade by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Published July…