PSY’s Newest Video Banned for an Odd Reason

PSY’s video for “Gentleman” is getting plenty of play online. However, on Korea’s biggest television network, it’s banned. The reason might seem rather unusual. In the first six seconds of the “Gentleman” video, PSY strolls down a street and kicks a traffic cone. That’s why the video is being banned on the Korean Broadcasting System,…

See What Censorship Has Done To These Manga

The late great George Carlin once famously spoke of words that cannot be said on television (Well, basic cable at least). Japan, too, has its own list of words and phrases that are taboo. As of last count, there are over 350 words and phrases deemed “problematic” if used on air. While none are legally…

Nvidia’s good at blowing stuff up. In this video, we can see them apply that to games—in this case, Adhesive Games’ currently-in-open-beta mech shooter, Hawken. From rock chunk-clouds and swirly, shiny particles to full-scale level destruction, it’s all there, and it all looks fabulously chaotic (and crazy fun).

There Might Be a New Metal Gear Solid Collection

Yesterday, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima tweeted out this picture. He wrote that he was in the process of checking whatever was in it. He didn’t say what. However, the Korean Game Rating Board might have. As of yesterday, the Korean Game Rating Board posted an entry on something called “Metal Gear Solid The Legacy…

Few Humans Can Play Video Games Like This

One man. Two Dance Dance Revolution pads. No shoes. What follows is nothing short of amazing. The DDR player’s name is TAKASKE, and he is Japan’s barefoot arcade wonder. ゲームはスポーツだなｗｗｗｗｗｗ [ぴょんそく] Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every…

Your Rival in Ace Attorney 5 is a Criminal

Ace Attorney 5‘s Japanese release date has been confirmed for July 25th. Defense lawyer Phoenix Wright is back, but his old rival, Miles Edgeworth is not. Taking the side of the prosecution this time around will be a criminal prosecutor. Not a prosecutor of criminals, but a criminal who is a prosecutor. Capcom has released…

Reus is a gorgeous 2D god game for the PC that lets you command giants (and dictate the lives of puny humans). Abbey Games, the developer, has announced a release date of May 16 in the trailer above. It’s been almost exactly seven years since the last Black & White release, so… please be good.…

Have a Look at China’s Monster Hunter Online

Capcom is teaming up with Tencent Games for Monster Hunter Online, which is aimed at the Chinese market. What’s kind of surprising is that the game runs on the CryEngine 3. Have a look above at the game’s trailer. Monster Hunter Online [Tencent Games via Ruliweb Thanks, Cat Mario and MasterLinkx!] Kotaku East is your…

How Japanese Anime Brings Gaming Hardware To Life

Over the years, countless video games and video game consoles have appeared in Japanese anime. Sometimes, they are part of the story. Other times, they’re just games. It depends, really. This month, as new episodes are being broadcasted in Japan, fans are noticing when game machines pop up in anime. For example, people online were…

True Love Is Dressing Your Dog Like A Star Wars Animal

These four costumes are real products, not late April Fools gags. You can preorder them now, and one day soon, your dog (or capybara) can look just like a beast of burden from the Star Wars universe. The Bantha is good, because it blends into many dog’s natural colour schemes, but boy, as a former…

How Many Times Can You Use LEGO Bricks Before They Break?

It’s an important question. LEGO may be durable, but it is not invincible. One day, you’ll put two pieces together – or pull two pieces apart – and one will fail. Which is fine. That’s existence for you. Birth, life, death. For humans, we know what to expect. 75 years is a good run. But…

Whore Of The Orient’s Development Studio Has Reportedly Been Closed Down

According to sources from KMM’s games division, the team currently working on Whore of the Orient with L.A. Noire creator Brendan McNamara, is being shut down after the game’s publisher withdrew support. A source contacted Kotaku earlier today with the news, and more have apparently come forward to MCV Pacific confirming the closure. Multiple sources…

Not Sure If This Cartoon Chell Is Cute Or Crazy

Brazilian illustrator Rayner Alencar drew this amazing picture of Portal’s Chell, which will satisfy my urge to see a Dreamworks animated version of the series while I wait for Alex Zemke to finish up the other Dreamworks-looking Portal project, his animated short The Cake Is A Lie [Rayner Alencar]

When Video Game Artists Get To Redesign Comic Book Superheroes

If you read comics, it must be like getting the keys to the candy store. “Hey, artist, do you and your team want put your stamp on some of the most iconic heroes on the planet?” The answer would probably be yes. And the results, at least in this case, are surprisingly good. The pieces…

Report: Xbox Staff Working On Microsoft “Smartwatch”

According to a report on The Verge, former Xbox and Kinect staffers have for a year been working on a “wrist-worn device” for Microsoft. The watch, which the report says began life as an Xbox accessory for fitness games, has a 1.5-inch display. No idea on just what the device would do – whether it’s…

The Evolution Of The Video Game Controller

Pop Chart Lab will soon be selling this excellent poster charting the history, and evolution, of the humble video game controller. It’s not the first one of these to turn up, but it’s the most comprehensive, taking the time to include just about every major peripheral under the sun. There’s even room for the Wu-Tang…

The First Google Glass Videos Make Life Look Like A Video Game

You could tell from the marketing video, but now that a handful of Google Glass units are out in the hands of early adopters, it’s confirmed: the device is going to make other people’s lives look like a video game clip. Gizmodo has collected a few of the very first consumer videos taken using Google…

It’s Not Quite a Magical Girl Transformation, But It’ll Do, Mewtwo

Yesterday, Patricia posted a fan animation showing the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo changing into his recently-revealed new form via an elaborate ‘magical girl’-style sequence. The official version we just received from the Pokémon Company? Not far off. Set it to a little music, toss a skirt on him, and you’ve got a party when Pokémon X…

Iron Man 3 on a Budget Gives Shell-Head a Much-Needed Haircut

Iron Man has one more movie left before they reboot the franchise and shit out another three. My hopes are not high for Iron Man 3, in other words. But as our friends from Table 8 Productions point out, (we featured The Avengers on a Budget one year ago) it’s all about managing expectations. Because…

The SEGA Console That History Forgot

When it was at the peak of its powers, something strange happened to SEGA. They started releasing new things all the time. The SEGA CD, the 32X — consumers got a little confused and jaded so by the time SEGA actually released its next ‘proper’ console, the SEGA Saturn, people were loath to care. But…