Because All Dishonored Needed Was a Machine Gun (And More Superpowers)

As Kirk and Jason noted last week, Dishonored is in many ways an “old-timey” classic, but there’s more to that idea than just its design. Because it’s a singleplayer game, with no ladderboards or auction houses, you can install “trainers” for the game that let you cheat. In the clip above, you’ll see just what…

Samus and Link Walk Into a Cosplay Convention…

A meeting of two of Nintendo’s biggest stars at the recent Igromir 2012 show in Russia is just the start for this week’s Fancy Pants, which also features stunning outfits from Tekken, Mass Effect and the non-furry side of Pokémon You’ve got to admire the Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation costume below as well. Crafting accurate…

This Guy Sculpted Some of Your Childhood’s Most Cherished Toys

If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you probably don’t know Scott Hensey by name, but you’ll know his work. Because you probably owned some of it. He’s one of the all-time great toy sculptors, a man whose job was to shape and define the action figures that made up so many childhoods…

I Want to Drink Myself to Death in This Nerd Bar

The idea of a “nerd bar” isn’t new. You’ll find examples of them all over the world, many of them with a distinct gaming slant. But many are also a little too one-dimensional. Games are great, duh, but they’re not the only thing in the world. So were I in Paris, I’d be sinking my…

This…Isn’t…Sparta!

Due on Steam in 2013, Apotheon is an indie action RPG by a small three-man team. Not only set in Ancient Greece, but sharing the period’s art style as well, it’ll include both a singleplayer campaign (with an “open world”) along with multiplayer combat modes. Apotheon [Official Site]

What Dishonored’s Corvo Looked Like Before He Got That Fancy Mask

As you’d know if you were reading Fine Art last week, Dishonored was originally intended to be a game set in 17th century London, rather than the whalepunk fictional universe it ended up creating for itself. The decision to switch settings wasn’t made instantly; there had been time for some art to be drawn up…

Arrested Developers Were Working on New Areas For DayZ

Following up from last week’s release, and to answer questions people have had in the wake of them, the team working on the standalone DayZ game have put out more screenshots showing off the interior sections. Answering criticisms that the interiors looked a little empty—even though they were clearly marked work-in-progress! – DayZ creator Dean…

The Wii U’s First TV Commercial is Awful

Nintendo has its work cut out for it with the Wii U once the initial, and inevitable first wave of early adopters dies off. They say lightning never strikes twice, and given the original Wii’s success with the mainstream was white hot lightning, you’d be forgiven for thinking the company couldn’t possibly pull it off…

It’s official: PAX Australia will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 19-21 July, 2013. Tickets here

The Week in Games: Meadow of Honor: Warfarmer

What is this week’s biggest release? Is it Forza Horizon or Street Fighter X Tekken on the Vita? Is it The Unfinished Swan or Skylanders Giants? Is it Medal of Honor: Warfighter?. Or is it the game that feeds a land, raises a hard-working generation, and bestows upon a nation the greatness it needs to…

Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine, and Decode This Assassin’s Creed Image

As Assassin’s Creed‘s is basically predicated on brainwashing and an enormous conspiracy theory, it’s the perfect subject for the kind of viral clue-hunting alternate-reality game that surfaced on the game’s official site this past week. On Friday, the game—“Hacked History”—reached 100 percent completion. That is, everyone spotted all the anomalies presented in three historic paintings.…

As Time Runs Out on the Xbox 360, Look For a Conservative Gameplan from Sports Video Games

Army, Navy, Air Force, I haven’t played with or against a service academy in years in NCAA Football. This year, the game added parachutists to deliver the ball to the 50-yard line at Michie Stadium—and I’m told play-by-play man Brad Nessler now pronounces Michie Stadium correctly (it’s MIKE-ey, not “Mitchie”). All positive steps forward, fine.…

This screenshot appears to be a glimpse of The Abyssal Forge, Darksiders II‘s first DLC, and a hint it’s coming soon.

No, EA Sports has not Quietly Killed Named Rosters in Its College Football Video Game

“Roster Share,” a service in which NCAA Football 13 players trade edited rosters over EA Sports servers, has been down for a few days on both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. This has given rise to conspiracy rumors that EA has spiked the feature, especially as it’s tied to a use-of-likeness lawsuit brought…

ChrisWarcraft’s Weekly NFL Quest, Level Seven: Acquire the Plumage of the Crimson Songbird

Football is a role-playing game. That’s how Chris Kluwe, the Minnesota Vikings punter and noted World of Warcraft and RPG fan, is approaching it. Each week in the NFL, ChrisWarcraft characterizes his upcoming game in terms of an MMO quest. We’re going to chart his progress and see how fast he levels up. Last week,…

Skylanders Giants: The Kotaku Review

Thanks to the new Skylanders Giants‘ Lightcore technology, which makes certain toys in the action figure-powered sequel blossom scintillating colored lights, my two 16-month-old children have discovered how to push in my brilliant reverse baby gate to get to the delicious plastic figures lurking behind it. Thanks for that, Activision. Now about your new game……

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Sexy Video Game Halloween 2.0

Halloween is 10 days away, and this lingerie warehouse’s costume series of sexed-up, dumb-as-hell ripoffs of video game characters is this week’s theme. Designed to “appeal to” gamers (if by “appeal to”, one means “titillate”), the lack of imagination behind them is still palpable. Really, no Sexy Samus? Sexy Chell? And if they’re doing sexy…

Modders Bring PlayStation’s All-Stars to Super Smash Bros. Brawl

From the moment the concept leaked around Thanksgiving last year, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale has been slapped with labels like “PlayStation Smash Bros.” So, OK, fine, here you go. A bona fide Sony Smash Bros., courtesy of four Super Smash Bros. Brawl modders. The modders—ExorcistRain, Frusciante, KTH and Kingskull95—have delivered a Smash Bros. with all…

Sunday Comics: You Can’t Look It Up on GameFAQs, Either

Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Penny Arcade by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik published Sept. 15.—Read more of Penny Arcade Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published Sept. 15.—Read more of Awkward Zombie…

BioShock Infinite‘s New Trailer Brings You the Beast America has to Offer

Here is “The Beast of America,” the latest trailer BioShock Infinite has to offer, going live moments ago via Facebook. Supposedly stitched together according to fan preference (I voted to see Songbird, Zeppelins and Handyman in the trailer’s Facebook promotion) it’s 100 percent in-game footage. The opening looks somewhat familiar, if only momentarily. Handyman features…