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CultureTotal RecallA Super-Spy Intro Worthy of Solid Snake
Since I had not played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater until recently, I had also not seen its introductory credits sequence and accompanying movie. How? I ask you. How had I not seen this? This song, performed by Cynthia Harrell, was a classic almost from the moment the game was released. When the song…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 15, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallThis Video Digs Into Our Love Affair With 8-Bit Art
You don’t have to be a regular Kotaku reader to know that “8-bit” has become one a hugely popular aesthetic. 8-bit art, 8-bit music, 8-bit everything. This terrific mini-documentary at PBS goes in-depth into the origins for the trend, pulling together all manner of artists familiar with the movement, from Dr. Octoroc to Anamanaguchi to…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
I Haven’t Read Enough of These ‘Must-Read’ Books. Have You?
Between films, comics, tv, and a professional-grade diet of video games, I don’t have nearly as much time to read novels as I once did. It’s a real drag. I was equal parts happy and stressed to read Flavorwire’s list of 30 books everyone should read before turning 30. I already done turned 30, and…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Goodbye, Metal Gear Online
The end of Konami’s stealth-meets-shooting multiplayer offering is nigh. It never became an persistent online juggernaut like Halo or Call of Duty but it did manage to grab a dedicated core of players. And those people? They may not be dealing with it too well, if the picture above is any indication. Call it denial,…
By Evan Narcisse Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
It’s a Good Weekend to Try Tera for Free
Now that my review of En Masse Entertainment’s slightly game-changing MMO Tera is in the can, you might find yourself wanting to give the game a try. And like magic, Tera is now offering a seven day free trial. What can you do in seven days? With Tera‘s newly-launched seven day trial you can play…
By Mike Fahey Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedHitler Recaps the Week in Video Games
Godwin’s Law states that “as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” As basically all video game discussion takes place online, let’s just cut to the chase and give der fuehrer’s take on recent topics of interest to gamers. It’s been a month since we checked…
By Owen Good Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Backhanded Box Quotes: ‘Gears of War with Normal Size People’
Welcome to “Backhanded Box Quotes,” a collection of super pissed-off user reviews from people just like you! Whoa, whoa, don’t take that personal. Inversion Released: June 5. Critic: JayDeth (Metacritic) • “[S]ome things explode and suddenly your playing Gears of War with normal sized people. Yay?” • “[V]ery very bland and no one will ever…
By Owen Good Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedLessons in Double-Speak, from Native Speakers
The major controversies, disappointments and outrages of the preceding week all seemed to share one trait: They contained some eye-rolling levels of double-speak and ulterior meanings. The issues themselves have been gummed to death, and I really don’t wish to rehash those arguments. But we’re talking about debates that could have been better served, and…
By Owen Good Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Meet the Most Passionate Gamer of Them All
Meet PASSIONGAMER4CHANGE. As the capslock might suggest, he’s not only a man with unfettered passion, but also a man on a mission. A mission to help establish gaming as the most important medium of our time, capable of making us cry—the ultimate metric for Something As Profound Art. I like to call him by his…
By Patricia Hernandez Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedLooks Like Valve is Working On A Left 4 Dead Prequel After All [UPDATE: No, They Aren’t]
Despite some vague-ish comments from Valve that this wasn’t the case, a video turned up on the Payday: The Heist YouTube channel indicating that Valve is working in some capacity with PayDay developers Overkill on something called No Mercy, which will explore the origins of the zombie virus from Left 4 Dead. The video was…
By Kirk Hamilton Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
A Father’s Day Bike Race in NYC, from the Makers of Grand Theft Auto
The folks at Rockstar Games are bicycle-crazy, as Brooklynites who sees people decked in Rockstar jerseys zipping by can attest. This Sunday, Rockstar sponsors their annual Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic. Details to watch in person or online at Rockstar’s site
By Stephen Totilo Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedTwo Dozen All-Time Greats Available in Madden 13, with More to be Unlocked
News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming: • Madden NFL 13‘s new “Connected Careers” mode will allow gamers to play as one of several all-time greats—rated according to their rookie seasons—or run a team as one of seven hall-of-fame coaches. There are 27 players and seven coaches in all, but some…
By Owen Good Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedA Handshake-Only Deal Pays Off for FIFA and an Unlikely Champion
EA Sports is well known for licensing partnerships, especially exclusive ones that command quite a premium from the publisher. Yet in one of its timelier, and more unusual ones, no money changed hands. The label, through its FIFA franchise, of course, is the official games partner of Manchester City, recently crowned champion of the English…
By Owen Good Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedThis is Only a Launch Trailer for Heroes of Ruin If You’re in Europe
Square Enix’s four-way online multiplayer Diablo-esque action role-playing game Heroes of Ruin is out today in Europe and the UK for the 3DS, so they can enjoy this launch trailer. North Americans are free to ignore this until next month.
By Mike Fahey Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Return of the Revenge of the Week in Gaming Apps II: This Time It’s Portable
Now that E3 2012 is slowly fading to bitter, disappointing memory, it’s time to return to those things that consistently bring us pleasure, day in and day out. And when we’re finished drinking it’s time for some gaming apps. I wouldn’t say we skipped a week as much as we missed a week filled with…
By Mike Fahey Published June 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedWhew, Epic Mickey 2 Gets Its Co-Op and Camera Right
Epic Mickey was a game that fought against itself. Oh, I really, really wanted to fully embrace Warren Spector’s love letter to Walt Disney’s creations. But the continual struggle against the game’s camera meant that the Wii exclusive undercut all its charm with severe control problems. So I breathed a strong sigh of relief during…
By Evan Narcisse Published June 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Is 99% Complete
StarCraft II‘s next expansion doesn’t have an official release date yet, but its creators say it’s almost crossed the finish line. Speaking to lead designer Dustin Browder in a phone interview this afternoon, I asked how close the team was to completing the game. “We are 99% done,” he told me, “but that last 1%’s…
By Jason Schreier Published June 15, 2012