• Kotaku East

  Japan Invading China, and Other Frightening Memories Recreated at a Chinese Amusement Park

  The Eighth Route Army Culture Park in Wuxiang county, China, allows visitors to dress up at Chinese or Japanese troops. And then shoot each other with phony guns. As tensions between Japan and China reach a fever pitch, this US$80 million theme park, which is backed by the local Chinese government, looks to do more…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 6, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  Hope You’re Not Sick of Pretty First-Person Stealth Games Yet

  First Deus Ex, then Dishonored…dare we dream that first-person stealth isn’t just coming back, but it’s coming back better than ever? Let’s. Especially when modders toiling away on the final year of a school project are coming up with stuff that looks this good. Abduction is a CryEngine 3 project that’s loking awfully promising, even…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  Here’s How To Find Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter in Halo 4

  Earlier this spring, Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter goofed around in a Halo 4 voice recording booth, talking about loading crates. The duo are appearing in the game as a special Easter Egg. YouTube user GameFrontDotCom has a quick walkthrough on how to find them and hear their dialogue. You can hear more of their…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published November 6, 2012
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  Reviews

  The Best Gaming Mouse (Clickwheel) I’ve Ever Seen

  When taking Gigabyte’s Krypton gaming mouse out of its box for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Here was a company I normally associate with motherboards and graphics cards with their name on a fancy peripheral, one that promised an awful lot. Silly me. It mostly delivers. WHAT’S IN THE BOX 1x…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  Who Wants to Play Video Games?

  Well? Do you? Visitors to our Facebook page may have noticed something different: a change of banner. That banner is the image above, by British artist Dean Lord, whose other execllent works you can check out here

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  My Khaleesi, You Have Chosen Your Companion Well

  It’s one of the coolest parts so far in HBO’s Game of Thrones series, and it’s now also one of 2012’s coolest pieces of costume work, this couple making the smart decision to attend a party dressed not as Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, but Khaleesi and… the poor horse. Fashionably Geek Reader Halloween Cosplay…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  Defend Your Home and Loved Ones With a Real Skyrim Axe

  Prop builder Harrison Krix is continuing his one-man mission to bring Skyrim to life, one weapon and piece of armour at a time, with this incredible recreation of a Steel Axe from Bethesda’s sprawling RPG. Commissioned by a fan to make one, Krix actually went out and made three, one for the client, one for…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  Who Do Video Game Heroes Love Best? Game Villains, Naturally.

  Mario may be the world’s hero, but without Bowser, does he have a purpose? Would Sonic need to race so far, so fast, without the threats laid by Doctor Robotnik? Artist Dan Matutina illustrates the symbiotic relationship between hero and villain in a series of hearts, pairing rivals together to indicate the one true fact…

  By Kate Cox Published November 6, 2012
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  I’m Playing the Best/Worst Sports Game of the Year, and it’s Killing me

  I love sports. I love video games. That doesn’t mean I automatically love sports video games, because as a non-American, most professional and polished titles don’t really appeal. I love my football games, though, from FIFA to Pro Evo, and that means I’ve also got a soft spot for the Football Manager series, games that…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 6, 2012
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  Xbox Live, Your One-Stop Shop For Angry Dudes

  Look at them. Angry dudes, the lot of them. Well, maybe the Fable guy isn’t. You could say he’s either grimly satisfied or smilingly malicious. The rest, though? Angry dudes. @hunicke [Twitter]

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 5, 2012
• Culture

  The Art of Assassin’s Creed III

  I haven’t had a chance to really sink my teeth into Assassin’s Creed III yet, but it seems there’s a little conjecture over whether it’s a step forwards or a step backwards for the series. Which is an argument for reviews. Fine Art is all about the pretty stuff, and I doubt you’ll find many…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 5, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  Behold, A Man Constructing A Teeny Tiny Fast-Food Meal

  It’s been a week without off-topic posts, and I’ve missed sharing random, cool, randomly cool things with you guys. Here now, an oldie but a goodie—a man assembles a tiny, adorable, oddly sad little fast food meal. I’m sure our friends at Kotaku East would have more to add to this video, but I’ll just…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published November 5, 2012
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  CultureTotal Recall

  The Presidential Election Video Game, Made in Japan

  As Americans prepare to head to the polls, it’s worth noting that one of the most important events on the planet is barely represented in the world of video games. Sure, you get the odd social or joke game released every four years to cash in on the hype surrounding a Presidential election, but on…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 5, 2012
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  Culture

  The Atari 2600 E.T. Video Game Is Still Terrible, Even When It’s Finished in Less than 30 Seconds

  You know the story. Almost everyone who wielded a joystick in the 1980s does: the tie-in game for Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was so unplayably bad that it almost single-handedly sank the first wave of video game infatuation. An experience like that needs to be put in its place. That’s exactly what speedrunners Adelikat…

  By Evan Narcisse Published November 5, 2012
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  Return To New Vegas: The Absolute Weirdest Way To Play Fallout: New Vegas

  Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been returning to Fallout: New Vegas, using the game to patch up downtime between the big releases of the fall. I’ve got a bunch of mods installed, but nothing particularly crazy. But if you DO want crazy, you could always follow Youpi’s lead and make the game well…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published November 5, 2012
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  One of the Greatest Space Games of All Time Returns

  When old-timers talk about the halcyon days of space games, they mention series like X-Wing and Wing Commander. They also, in the same breath—and often before—mention Elite. The pioneering space trading and combat game, first released in 1984 (and which saw an equally ambitious sequel in 1993) remains one of the most expansive gaming experiences…

  By Luke Plunkett Published November 5, 2012
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  The Sad (Funny) Story Of One Side-Scrolling Man’s Quest To Meet His Lady Friend

  It’s a tale as old as time. A man needs to go meet his lady. He sets off, usually to the right. There’s a monster in the way. He jumps on it! What happens next, at least in Marius Fietzek, Benedikt Hummel and Irina Gross’ The Visit, will surprise you. And probably, make you laugh.…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published November 5, 2012
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  Listen To The London Philharmonic Perform An Emotional Mass Effect 3 Theme

  Tomorrow, the London Philharmonic will release their second album of video game music, creatively titled “The Greatest Video Game Music 2.” I really dug the first album, and so the folks working on the record asked if we at Kotaku would like to have a reader poll to pick one of the songs that would…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published November 5, 2012
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  Someone Made Mario Out Of Nintendo Games

  Redditor Mikeshiny made this one Full picture here (click to expand): Pretty damn impressive, though I see some dupes (two Super Mario Bros. 3s!). So can you name all of the games in there?

  By Jason Schreier Published November 5, 2012
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  It Took A Children’s Movie To Show Me That Games Have Finally Grown Up

  Yesterday I sat next to my spouse in a dark and surprisingly luxurious movie theater, watching a childrens’ movie. Aside from a group of four late-teenaged boys across the aisle, we were the only adults in the room not shepherding a flock of kids into their seats. And when, about twenty minutes into the movie,…

  By Kate Cox Published November 5, 2012