Weapons of Mass Disruption #2: Why Is (Almost) Every Video Game Suddenly Free?

There are three main gaming platforms. The PC, the mobile or ‘smart’ device, and the dedicated games console. Looking worldwide, two out of three are now dominated by free-to-play. On PC we have the world’s #2 FPS by revenue. Nope, it’s not Battlefield 3 but Cross Fire, a low-res free-to-play Counter-Strike clone that’s so popular…

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Classic Apple Game Karateka Makes a Fun but Flawed Return to iPad and iPhone

The original version of Karateka launched on an Apple II two decades ago and helped show that video game design could deliver idiosyncratic, narrative experiences. Back then, both Apple and video games were in their toddler stage, stumbling around trying to figure out what they could do. Now, both the medium and the tech company…

Partygoer: Topless Women at Gameloft’s Holiday Party Says a Lot About The Games Industry

Last weekend’s office holiday party at Gameloft Montreal featured one giant circus performance, complete with acrobats, stilts, and… topless women, according to a few sources. This made at least one attendee rather uncomfortable. I first heard about the party last week, after seeing a tweet by Montreal-based game designer Michel McBride-Charpentier: It seems that there…

ChefVille Tis the Seasonings Event: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re wondering why the Winter Holiday Feast event ended early in ChefVille, with five days left before Christmas, today’s in-game update is your answer. Over the next 12 days, players will have a chance to cook six new holiday-inspired dishes and earn a Spice Stand at the end. This Spice Stand will help players…

The NRA’s Absolutely Unhinged Response to Newtown Condemns Video Games as a ‘Shadow Industry’ that ‘Sows Violence Against Its Own People’

Reports suggested that the National Rifle Association, backed into a corner since a gun massacre last week killed 20 six- and seven-year-olds, would come out swinging at video games and other violent entertainment in a news conference today, and boy, they did not disappoint. Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president, gave a teeth-sucking condemnation…

There Are Two Versions of Halo 4 on iTunes. You Don’t Want Either of Them.

Loaded with official artwork from the Xbox 360 hit and padded with dozens of glowing reviews, the two Halo 4 games that made it through Apple’s strict app approval process this week are, quite obviously, not what they claim to be. Spotted by a reader of AppAdvice, Toan Tran’s Halo 4 and Dung Bui’s Halo…

Battlefield 3 Will End Not With a Whimper But With A Dirt Bike [UPDATE: Video Pulled]

A YouTube user has uploaded the first teaser for Battlefield 3’s newest expansion, End Game. Among other things, the trailer features players chasing each other on dirt bikes, dodging helicopter fire with a dirt bike, and detonating explosives… while on a dirt bike. Dirt bikes! End Game is scheduled to arrive March next year. Battlefield…

Somebody Who Actually Researches Video Games Says Proof that Media Influences Violence Just Isn’t There

The flurry of private citizens and professional pundits opining about what role video games might have played in the awful Sandy Hook shootings probably isn’t going to stop soon. And while commentary has been ranged from inflammatory to poignant, the central issue of whether games influence behavior is far from being a fact. Just listen…

You’ll Want a Red Mage Muppet after Seeing This Final Fantasy Musical

Four years ago today, we featured a video from Brentalfloss—the New York comedian Brent Black—for the very first time. On that anniversary, we’re delighted to bring you what might be his finest work yet, a Muppets musical starring the mages from Final Fantasy. “I’ve been working on this video off-and-on for over 2 years,” Black…

As part of Zynga’s continuing consolidation efforts, Zynga Japan will be shutting down on January 31. [Dr. Zerkan Toto]

Minecraft: The Story of Mojang: The Kotaku Review

You’ve heard it a million times already. How Minecraft is not just some little game about surviving the night and making stuff, but a major milestone for the entire medium. Along with how it has forever transformed the way that games are made, played, even perceived. So on and so forth. But it’s getting to…

The Music in the Fanta Fruit Slam Game is Driving Me Insane

There’s a new Fanta advergame on Facebook and iOS, giving fans of the increasingly popular soft drink a chance to slowly succumb to the madness of its thumping, giggling theme music. Fanta Fruit Slam isn’t all that bad for a game that is advertising the syrupy-sweet fruit soda line. Utilizing Unity 3D, developer Fishlabs Entertainment…

Don’t Send Christmas Cards. Send Awesome Gamer Cards Instead.

OK, so maybe it’ll be too late for Christmas once you actually get your hands on these, but hey, you could always save them for next holiday season. The four cards, made by the talented Game & Graphics (I’ve actually got G&G shirt), don’t just look neat on their own, they also combine to form…

For Every Step Tales of Xillia 2 Takes Forward, It Takes Another Back

Back in June, Bandai-Namco announced that Tales of Xillia, the first Tales game designed specifically for the PS3, would be heading to America, Europe, and Australia in 2013. But while Western fans can do nothing but wait anxiously, Japanese fans have had time to play not only the original game but also its sequel. Tales…

The Best Japan-Only Games of 2012

Japan: The birthplace of Mario, Sonic, Final Fantasy, and Street Fighter—just to name a few. Each year scores of games are made and released here. The best of these come to the West—or rather most of the best do. Each year, a few great titles manage to slip through the cracks for whatever reason and…

Make My Battles Active-Time

I love JRPGs. Since discovering them in the sixth grade, I have played dozens upon dozens of them. But my primary reason for playing them has always been the plot—the epic 40-plus-hour adventure. The battle system, on the other hand, has tended to be rather a boring chunk of useless padding—it’s just something that comes…

Custom Metroid Action Figures Wage Epic Desktop War

Pictured above, two action figures. One, a custom piece based on Figma’s Samus (it’s got stuff like a new head), the other, a way more custom piece showing a Chozo. Both were done by Jin Saotome, a master toysmith we’ve featured here many times before. What’s cool about the Chozo is not just how he…

Behold, A Portal Gun. Signed By Valve.

Let’s say you’re a Valve super-fan. I know I’m reaching somebody out there with that label. And you want to buy yourself something nice. Something Valve-related that nobody else has. Forget lithographs or coffee mugs. You need to get this. It’s a replica Portal Gun signed by the development team. All proceeds go to charity…

There’s Another Deus Ex Movie Coming, And It Looks Amazing

This isn’t an official project. Let’s get that out of the way first. That’s still cooking. This is, believe it or not, a trailer for a fan-made short film, put together by a (relatively) small crew and making the most of some very talented actors, effects people and martial artists/stunt performers. This trailer, and the…