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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Look out behind you! Welcome to Kotaku’s official forum, known affectionately as Talk Amongst Yourselves. This is the place where we gather on a daily basis to discuss all things video game and existential. Want to talk about new games, old games, games that aren’t even out yet? Knock yourselves out! Here we have a…

  By Evan Narcisse Published May 11, 2012
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  The Dumbing Down of Diablo III? [UPDATE]

  Will I buy Diablo III? Yes. Will I play Diablo III? Yes. Will I play Diablo III more than once? Maybe. Will it matter how I build my character? No. From what I’ve read--and correct me if I’m wrong—if two players have max-level barbarians side-by-side in Diablo III, items and names aside, there will be…

  Jesse Ma Published May 11, 2012
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  And Then The Secret World Got All Naked

  When I first installed and started The Secret World earlier this week, I encountered a tiny graphical glitch: everybody was naked. Not completely naked, mind you. I mean, they all had underwear on, and some of the shirts still showed up. There were just an awful lot of topless women and pantsless men running about.…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 11, 2012
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  Eight Lessons Learned During My First Foray into The Secret World

  The first beta weekend event for The Secret World kicks off today, giving countless players their first tantalizing taste of Funcom’s modern day massively multiplayer paranormal role-playing game, but there are tales of a hidden server — a server where members of the gaming press have had days to explore the dark corners of the…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 11, 2012
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  Someone Did Ask for This: Original Deus Ex Coming to European PSN

  One of the best-loved games ever will be hitting the PlayStation Network, as Deus Ex gets released as a download in Europe next week. Eurogamer cites confirmation from Square Enix that the Ion Storm-developed title will be out on the 16th for £7.99. It’s not clear if this Deus Ex will be the original PC…

  By Evan Narcisse Published May 11, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  A Chinese Girl Group Probably Copied This Addictive Korean Music Video

  Last summer, the sacchrine ditty “Bubble Pop” tore up the Korean internet. The video went viral and it stuck in everybody’s brains—more so in some people’s. Korean superstar Kim Hyun-a of pop group 4Minute (and formerly of Wonder Girls) released “Bubble Pop” on her first mini album. The video was supposed to be a radical…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Japan’s Remote Controlled Cockroaches Will Invade Your Kitchen

  RC cars? Been there, done that. Planes? Old hat! But cockroaches? *leans forward* These are “Gokiraji”, which is a wordplay on “gokiburi” (cockroaches) and “rajikon” (remote-controlled). Charge them via USB, and then they can be controlled via an infrared remote and make your skin crawl. Watch in the video as they scurry about, with LED-lit…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  When DLC Runs Amok and Loses Control

  In Japan, one company has embraced the DLC business model more than any other: Bandai-Namco. To anyone who has ever thought a piece of DLC was a bit pricey would be screaming in rage if the Japanese prices for Bandai-Namco DLC were to become the norm. Click through the gallery to see some of the…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Plants vs Zombies Getting Two Chinese Editions

  PopCap Games is bringing two Plants vs Zombie games to China: Plants vs Zombies Great Wall Edition and Plant vs Zombies Kingdoms. The Great Wall version takes place on the Great Wall and features Chinese zombies. [China Daily]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  The AKB48 Anime is the Textbook Definition of “Pandering”

  Allow me to start off with a euphemism. I am not exactly the biggest fan of the Japanese pop-idol group AKB48. This presents me with a problem. With 12 number-one singles since 2009, the popularity of AKB48 in Japanese culture is to the point where I can enter my local 7-11 and buy anything from…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Are You an Erotic Person? Find Out Right Now.

  Here’s yet another optical illusion making the internet rounds. This one states that only “erotic people” will see the circles move. Can you? Actually, pretty sure everyone can! And that’s not because everybody is sexy time. Sending optical illusions like this via Twitter has been “the thing” in Japan for a while now, usually prefacing…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Why Aren’t There Official Akira LEGO?

  Because, damn, there really should be. This do-it-yourself LEGO take on Kaneda’s bike from Akira was spotted by Hobby Media‘s Francesco Fondi, and it’s fantastic. The bike is the work of Ghimuretto San, a famed Japanese LEGO builder. Hobby Media‘s Fondi discovered it at the recent Treasure Festa This year, an official one-to-one scale Akira…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Cooking Rice, Old School

  If you live in Japan (or, well, Asia), you have a rice cooker. If you don’t own one, get thee to a store and buy one. But, if you want something non-tech and have access to lots of firewood, there’s a work around. Last week, I went way into the mountains with some friends and…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Mastering the Art of Young Popstars in Skimpy Costumes

  In Bandai-Namco’s Idolm@ster series, you take on the role of a music producer and create and manage a group of teenage popstars. By mixing Japan’s idol and video game cultures, it is no surprise that this series has a fanatic following among Japanese otaku (geeks). But is this following deserved, or is The Idolm@ster nothing…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published May 11, 2012
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  First Details about Rovio’s Follow Up to Angry Birds

  Game studio Rovio is working on a follow up to its wildly successful Angry Birds. Today on Finnish television, Rovio honcho Mikael Hed gave the first details about his studio’s upcoming title. According to Finnish news network YLE Uutiset, the game is called Amazing Alex, and it is based on intellectual property Rovio purchased from…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Nintendo Ending Its 3D Television Service for the 3DS

  Last summer, Nintendo’s 3D television service “Itsu no Ma ni Terebi” launched in Japan. It featured short two-minute 3D clips that were free and exclusive to the 3DS. Today, Nintendo announced that the service is ending in Japan on June 20. The 3DS, however, will continue intermitted distribution of 3D videos for 3DS owners—a good…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Sony Hits 30 Year Low

  Things have been better for Sony. But now, things are not good. In Tokyo trading, the company hit a 31-year low after it failed to miss forecasts. [Bloomberg]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  When Underwear Reflects Society

  This year, like every year, the Japanese arm of underwear maker Triumph showed off its latest concept bra. The concept bras are always stunts. They’re not intended for sale—even though, some in the Western media mistakenly think they are. The bras are always themed, and usually relevant to current news or trends. This year’s concept…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Japan’s Biggest Web Forum “Facilitating” Drug Trafficking

  Online in Japan, the vast majority of game news first hits 2ch. And it’s not just games—so much news is shared through 2ch threads. It’s a wealth of information. It’s a wealth of rumors. Apparently, it’s also a wealth of drugs. Last December, word broke that 2ch could be covered in illicit substances. There were…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Kotaku East Starts Now!

  Kotaku East runs from 4am to 8am Eastern. For more info about Kotaku East click here

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2012