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  Biff Tannen Final Four Special: Ohio State Wins the National Championship

  Hey, are you a sports fan on the go? Who has time these days to watch the big game, or bother with messy DVR, or boring highlight shows? With Biff Tannen’s Sports Almanac, we’ll give you the weekend’s biggest matchups before they happen, thanks to these highly accurate peer-reviewed scientific simulations of sports video gaming’s…

  By Owen Good Published March 31, 2012
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  Rampage Movie’s Producers Want “Independence Day-Style” on “a Smart Budget”

  It sounds like the folks behind the film adaptation of arcade classic Rampage are really serious about making it happen. The Hollywood Reporter calls it “a priority for New Line Cinema” and says they’re looking to make “an Independence Day-style picture on a smart budget.” That means lots of Rampage‘s signature trait: Buildings smashed and…

  By Owen Good Published March 31, 2012
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  Google Announces Google Maps — for the Nintendo Entertainment System [Update]

  The undisputed Internet-age leader in April Fool’s hoaxes gets a one-day head start on its latest gag—a brilliant announcement video for “Google Maps 8-Bit,” a port of the popular, well, map service to the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicon. The best part? It’s an homage to Dragon Quest Not only is the video a first rate production—including…

  By Owen Good Published March 31, 2012
• Culture

  This Week in the Business: ‘Dropping a Nuclear Bomb on GameStop’

  What’s happened in the business of video games this past week … QUOTE | “Dropping a nuclear bomb on GameStop.”—Leading games industry analysts react to the rumor that the next PlayStation could block used titles, which could prompt GameStop to avoid stocking it QUOTE | “Engagement with fans doesn’t have to mean letting the lunatics…

  Steve Peterson Published March 31, 2012
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  Why Is Atlus’s Twitter Account a Game of Thrones Spam Bot? [UPDATE]

  Atlus has become one of my favorite video game publishers over the past few years. Not only do they localize almost every role-playing game they develop, they always show a willingness to take risks on crazy ideas—something that is very rare in the gaming industry. That’s why it’s more than a little disconcerting to see…

  By Jason Schreier Published March 31, 2012
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  Sega of America Walloped by Layoffs; Western Publishing Reduces Focus to Sonic and Three Others

  A restructuring in light of steep losses for the quarter ending today means that a lot of people at Sega of America lost their jobs yesterday. But rumors that the entire division is shutting down appear to be unfounded. Some Sega of America employees, on their Twitter feeds and via this post on Reddit, wrote…

  By Owen Good Published March 31, 2012
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  Two for The Show

  Amazon’s 3-for-2 deal expires today, so if you have a couple titles in mind—any platform—this is a good day to use all of those bonus credits you’ve piled up by being such a consistent reader of The Moneysaver. For example, one is now being offered on the next Ghost Recon game, though it is cheaper…

  By Owen Good Published March 31, 2012
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  The Best of Kotaku, This Week

  It’s Edgar Allan Pokémon! Get it? Every battle is just a bunch of fiendish ravens clawing and poking each other’s eyes out, while Edger Allan Poe jots his observations down in the form of poetry. I would very much like to read those poems. I stumbled on this week’s image over on Reddit. Nintendo: new…

  By Tina Amini Published March 31, 2012
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  New Chinese MMO Overdoses on Devil May Cry, Barfs Up DMC

  China’s Tencent Games is releasing a new MMO called Age of Guns. The game features a dual wielding hero that looks like he was plucked from the Japanese character design reject pile. Much of the Age of Guns trailer looks familiar. Like stuff I could have sworn I’ve seen before back when this clip was…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 31, 2012
• CultureTotal Recall

  Fact-Checking Alan Wake’s Writer Cred

  I’ve only played a bit of Remedy’s newest downloadable Alan Wake game—though Evan Narcisse liked it a lot, and I like what I’ve played, too. But then, I have something of a soft spot for Alan, for some reason. The original game sticks with me more than I thought it would; it’s the sort of…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published March 31, 2012
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  CultureTotal Recall

  Good God, Mortal Kombat on Game Gear Had Some Terrible Audio

  I have some fond memories of my Game Gear. I loved that giant hunk of sexy black plastic so much that I forgave its terrible battery life and the other aspects that led to its financial failure. The game I played most was Mortal Kombat, which I was so excited to finally own in some…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published March 30, 2012
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  CultureTotal Recall

  Clue‘s Multiple Endings Confused Everyone Way Before Mass Effect 3

  I love the movie Clue. I’ve seen it over a dozen times. I can quote whole sections verbatim, and any time I feel annoyed by someone, I suffer from flames on the side of my face and heaving breaths. The board game is great, but the movie will always be the Clue that has my…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published March 30, 2012
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  Total Recall Starts Here

  Friday’s Total Recall begins here, so get ready to hop into the way-back machine and go… well… way back!

  By Kirk Hamilton Published March 30, 2012
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  I Give You Money and You Give Me the Doughnut, End of Transaction

  Hi there, Kotaku! Welcome to the last open thread of the week. I hope you’ve had a good week, and that you’re setting up a great weekend for yourself. Here, from around the internet, are some things that you might enjoy reading and gabbing about. A review of The Killing season 2 – sounds like…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published March 30, 2012
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  Here’s Your Exclusive First Look at The Art of Portal 2 Book

  The Portal games have been beautiful, haven’t they? The first one presented a simple, clean aesthetic that worked as a great backdrop to the clever gameplay and snarky humor of Chell’s battle of wits against GLaDOS. Then, last year, Portal 2 took Aperture Science’s glistening white test chambers and destroyed them, letting players roam through…

  By Evan Narcisse Published March 30, 2012
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  What Exactly is a Witcher Anyway?

  Xbox 360 gamers around the world are eagerly anticipating their chance to get in on this whole The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, but does anyone really know what a Witcher is? Of course they do, and after you watch this video so will you. The more accurate answer is that a Witcher is a…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 30, 2012
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  Backhanded Box Quotes: ‘Keep This Piece of Crap to Yourself’

  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. This week, Backhanded Box Quotes wrangles with the disappointment faced by diehard Kid Icarus fans upon the arrival of their long-awaited sequel—and an appeal for calm and reason by someone who sounds…

  By Owen Good Published March 30, 2012
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  The Week in Evil DLC

  Downloadable content. Everyone hates it—but everyone buys it. Yes, even you in the comments, smart guy. Here’s a look at the latest package of extensions and pre-order bonuses designed to crowbar the last dollar out of your wallet. Can you still respect yourself if you buy it? Asura’s Wrath ‘True Ending’ Available: April 24 Price:…

  By Owen Good Published March 30, 2012
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  It’s Time for the Worst Day in Video Gaming: April Fool’s

  Oh, great. April Fool’s is on Sunday. This is the worst day, the absolute worst, in video gaming. The self-publishing capability of the Internet and the concept of viral spread has definitely made this holiday more hazardous for credulous reader and skeptical newsman alike over the past 12 years. But video gaming, as a subject,…

  By Owen Good Published March 30, 2012
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  Anger Management Starts Here

  Let’s blow off some steam. It’s time for Kotaku‘s Anger Management hour.

  By Owen Good Published March 30, 2012