Still Mostly Optimistic About AMC’s The Walking Dead

I’m on the record saying that I’ve been disappointed by AMC’s treatment of The Walking Dead. The books are better. The video game is much, much better That said, I’m more optimistic about the upcoming season than the past ones, largely because it will recreate my favorite storyline from the books and introduce Michonne, my…

GameStop has, nationwide, sold out its preorder stock of deluxe Wii U models, says Fahey. Basic bundles are dwindling.

Obsidian’s “Project Eternity” RPG Kickstarter has already raised $630,000—halfway to its goal in less than a day.

This Isn’t The Black and Gold Deus Ex: Human Revolution You Remember. It’s Glitchier. Prettier. Better.

So “better” might be subjective. But while I absolutely adored Deus Ex: Human Revolution as it was, I would totally play this pop art version of it. It’s also making my heart ache to play the game again. We saw some screens of the shadow glitch last month, but you can see it above in…

Here Is EVE‘s In-World Memorial to Its Statesman, ‘Vile Rat’

As has been written before, Sean Smith of the U.S. State Department also was a deeply committed presence inside the world of EVE Online, as well as outside it, serving on the unique Council of Stellar Management, a governing body selected by its peers and convened in the real world. Smith was killed Tuesday in…

Francis is Back, and He is Pissed at the Wii U

Francis, the vox fulminati of gamers worldwide, has contemplated yesterday’s formal unveiling of the Wii U’s price, specifications and launch lineup and offers this cogent analysis of its shortcomings, plus the phonetic pronunciation of “TVii.” It evidently has less memory than his nonexistent wristwatch. And, in probably the most humiliating slam, “Apple charges less for…

Cliff Bleszinski Was A Drama Geek In High School (And Other Fun Facts About The Gears Of War Creator)

Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski did a cool Q&A on Reddit today. It’s a great read! But in case you’re in a rush or you don’t feel like going to Reddit, here’s one of my favorite excerpts. Redditor cheesiepoofs asks: 1) How did you get to where you are in the videogame industry? How…

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Pays Tribute to Slain Diplomat and EVE Online Gamer

In a memorial service today for four American diplomats assassinated in Libya earlier this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Sean Smith, a consular officer for the United States who also served as a diplomat in EVE Online and as a member of that MMO’s real-world governing body. In her eulogy, Clinton…

For a While There, Wreck-It Ralph Barely Looked Human

I’m a sucker for watching a character visually evolve over time. It’s almost like looking at alternate lives that a fictional character could’ve embodied with slightly different personalities. For example, you can see how Spryo the Dragon seemed to have an entirely different attitude in these early designs And though the movie’s not quite out…

President Obama Returns to Madden—Through In-Game Advertising

President Obama may not be in Madden NFL 13‘s Super Bowl celebration ceremony but that doesn’t mean the POTUS can’t buy his way back into the game. Ads for his re-election campaign are popping up in the game’s multiplayer menu, but only in targeted states. Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and Virginia are the…

Fantasy Drafts Are Again a Reality in Madden

A server-side update has returned the fantasy-draft option to Madden NFL under its new Connected Careers mode, but only for online leagues. Still, anyone present in a league before it begins is able to participate in a draft of all of the NFL’s active talent, remaking and rebalancing each of the NFL’s 32 franchises. Fantasy…

You Can Play Black Mesa Right Now

The mega-ambitious, long-in-development Half-Life remake/tribute Black Mesa is finished, and you can download it from Gamefront right now and give it a whirl. You’ll have to follow the instructions on the Gamefront page, as Black Mesa requires that you install the 2007 Source software development kit. In the video above, you can see a comparison…

Waiting for September 25 for LittleBigPlanet Vita? GameStop is selling it right now.

The Wii U Start-Up Screen Is Like Nothing Ever Seen On Consoles Before

Nintendo talked a lot about the Wii U yesterday, but there was one big topic they didn’t cover: the Miiverse, the console’s version of a social network. Turns out you’ll see it as soon as you boot up the Wii U. In fact, according to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, who sat down with…

Zynga Hits Back Hard At EA Over Sims Copyright Suit [Update]

Remember when EA sued Zynga? Well, the FarmVille makers aren’t just going to lie down and take it. They’re back in the ring and swinging like never before. EA’s aggressive, incendiary lawsuit claimed that Zynga’s The Ville ripped off EA’s own The Sims Social. Zynga has filed three documents in response: A motion to strike,…

Build Your iPhone 5 Game Wishlist with The Week in Gaming Apps

There’s a brand new iPhone selling out all over the world today. If I ordered one right now, I wouldn’t receive it until January2016. I guess I’ll keep myself occupied with this week’s gaming apps. Only four this week, and I blame myself for that, because it’s my fault. Having been filling in for the…

Resident Evil: Retribution: The Kotaku Movie Review

Here’s a not-so-big secret: most Hollywood adaptations of video games are not very good. Why? The reasons are numerous, but the most obvious one is that they’re totally different mediums, and so much is lost in translation. The end result is usually something that leaves neither fans of the games nor those who simply enjoy…

The Triumphant Resurrection Of A Vanishing Video Game Move

You’re crouched in the dark. You can hear two guards talking; they’re just around the corner. If they spot you, you’re as good as dead. Best to remain in the shadows, unseen. You creep up to the corner, slowly. You’ll need to get a glimpse of your enemies to best plan a way around them.…

Developer Gets Why Gamers Scoff at iPhone 5, but Says It’s an “Awesome Gaming Device”

The iPhone 5 could potentially be a big step up for mobile gaming. But lots of video game enthusiasts still think of the mobile landscape as a backwater to be snickered at. You might think that Firemonkeys executive producer Rob Murray—who makes the Real Racing series for Apple’s iDevices—would be offended to hear that. But…

Here’s How The Wii U Could Make RPGs Better

I am not a game designer. I have made games before, but they were not very good. My talents lie elsewhere. So when I write about games, I consciously try to avoid offering my own suggestions for what their designers should have implemented or cut. My job is to critique what’s there, not talk about…