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Video Game Companies Really Shouldn’t Send Abusive Text Messages
Maybe they’ve been drinking. Maybe they’re just assholes. Whichever it is, these abusive text messages from major video game companies can at times be painfully unfunny, but at others – ahem, Capcom – be heart-breakingly on the money. These were put together by IGN. We’ve got some of the better ones here, but the full…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2012 - Uncategorized
This Isn’t How I Imagine a Star Wars / Rogue Squadron Pilot to Look
When I think “Rebel Alliance” (or “New Republic”) pilots, I think of people like Wedge. Biggs. Porkins. Maybe even poor old Dack. But that’s a close-minded view based on a decades-old film trilogy! As regular Kotaku readers may already know, in Star Wars’ expandiverse, Jaina Solo – daughter of Han and Leia – ends up…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2012 - Uncategorized
Game of Thrones Totally Needs These Spin-Off TV Series
Like Cheers, Family Guy and, uh, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones is so wildly popular that the idea of a spin-off TV series isn’t as crazy as you might think. Especially when you remember the franchise already kind of has a spin-off already. Getting in ahead of the TV executives, professional writers and fanfic authors,…
Jason Schreier & Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallSuch a Pretty Video, Such a Terrible Game
Ah, Bleeping Relics, we meet again. The Beligan retro crew with a taste for rad hardware (and a very nice camera) are this episode sitting down with Puck Monster, a rather crude Pac-Man clone. Which should be a recipe for five minutes of boredom, but this isn’t about game reviews, or judging companies who choose…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 20, 2012 -
UncategorizedThe Lies McDonald’s Tells Us
Greetings, Kotaku, and welcome to the mid-week open thread. Maybe you’ve seen this video, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at how McDonald’s spruces up its normally ugly food to look good in commercials. Or perhaps not, in which case, check it out. The (maybe?) wild thing here is that McDonald’s themselves made this video. I…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Trades Its Massive Controller for Really Low Review Scores
In 2002 Capcom released Steel Battalion for the Xbox, a mech game so complex it was bundled for $200 with a massive proprietary controller. It didn’t sell particularly well, but Capcom didn’t let that stop them from creating a sequel that will probably sell worse. By combining the Xbox 360 controller with Microsoft’s motion-sensing Kinect…
By Mike Fahey Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
NHL 13 Crowns Its Cover Star at the League’s Awards Night
Claude Giroux, a pivotal figure in the Philadelphia Flyers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, was named the star of the cover of NHL 13 at the league’s annual awards banquet on Wednesday night, prevailing over Pekka Rinne, the Nashville goalie, in a fan-voted contest. Giroux won out after an extremely long—March 29…
By Owen Good Published June 20, 2012 -
UncategorizedIf Minecraft Had a High-Tech Physics Engine
One of the charming (and most would say, integral) things about Minecraft is the game’s floaty, particular physics engine. But what if it had a “proper” next-gen physics engine? This video, made in Blender 3D, seeks to show that very thing. It also wonders “What would happen if a couple hundred Minecraft dudes all tumbled…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
Syndicate Developers Knew They Wouldn’t Please Everyone, Or Possibly Anyone
Early this year, Starbreeze Studios and EA launched Syndicate, an FPS reboot of a 1990s tactical classic. The game met with decidedly mixed reviews, and although some players enjoyed it, in terms of sales it’s mostly gone down as a flop. Speaking with Edge, Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark said he and his studio were proud…
By Kate Cox Published June 20, 2012 -
UncategorizedWhy Do We Love StarCraft II More Than Diablo III?
For this week’s Burning Questions, Kirk and Jason talk about Blizzard games, specifically Diablo III and StarCraft II. Which game do they like better? Do the two games compliment one another? Why is pro-level StarCraft so fun to watch? What would it be like to live in a house made by Blizzard? Is “Eight Legged…
Jason Schreier & Kirk Hamilton Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
Parks and Recreation‘s Manliest Man Honored With His Own Classic NES Cartridge
There may well be no better dude on TV than Parks & Recreation‘s Ron Swanson. The man simply knows what time it is—he understands the value of a glass of scotch and a steak, he’s got a thriving career as a smooth-jazz saxophonist, and he’s a master woodworker. He might not be the kind of…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
NBA 2K13 Starts to Tease its Next Cover Star
News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming: • The second week after E3 is typically when 2K Sports cranks up the hypeotron for NBA 2K, and we’re hearing the engine hum right on schedule. The game’s social media operation is asking people to tweet what they hope or want to see…
By Owen Good Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
How Long Can NCAA Remain Above the Anger Against Madden?
Both are made by EA Sports. Both are American football titles. Both are made under exclusive license, and both come out every year. Speak the name of NCAA Football, and no one brings up NCAA College Football 2K3. But say anything about Madden, and every gamer with a commenting account starts chanting for the ultimate…
By Owen Good Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Best Diablo III Forum Thread You’ll Read Today
This Battle.net forum thread by user Furiant has been making the rounds on the Internet today. It’s pretty entertaining. Give it a read: First, thank you for addressing so many of the important issues in this patch. After playing a couple of quests tonight, however, I’ve realized that the fight against exploiters will never truly…
By Jason Schreier Published June 20, 2012 -
UncategorizedThis Is Why You Shouldn’t Give Pikachu Acid
Although, after he stops completely freaking out, he does take a fascinating trip through space. Those morphing shapes and colors seem delightful, too. It kind of reminds me of that really trippy episode of Xavier.
By Tina Amini Published June 20, 2012 -
UncategorizedStan ‘The Man’ Lee Soaring Gracefully Over New York Might Be the Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Ever Seen
I was initially skeptical about Stan Lee’s cameo appearance as a playable character in The Amazing Spider-Man. Now that I’ve see this video, I might be persuaded to buy an entire Stan Lee game. Stan’s mission to save his script pages, likely written by someone else, is an Amazon.com exclusive preorder bonus for Beenox’s The…
By Mike Fahey Published June 20, 2012 - Uncategorized
Why StarCraft II Still Doesn’t Support Local Multiplayer
In StarCraft, you could play multiplayer games with your friends on local area network connections. In StarCraft II, you can’t. It’s online or bust. This is a decision that has driven some fans crazy, and over the past couple of years, developer Blizzard has received no shortage of flack from infuriated gamers. Sometimes they don’t…
By Jason Schreier Published June 20, 2012