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  An Unauthorized Look at the Enigma Behind Grand Theft Auto

  During the mid-1990s, I spent my summers in L.A. I was still in high school and answering phones at a film agency on Wilshire. And in the mid-1990s, super producer Don Simpson ruled Hollywood. Everyone in the movie business had a Don Simpson story. Along with Jerry Bruckheimer, Simpson was the force behind high-concept hits…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
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  The Most Compelling Image I Could Find to Represent This Week’s Nintendo Download

  REMIX! This week sees the release of only two new games across Nintendo’s three platforms, signaling a time of change for the Weekly Nintendo download. Oh don’t worry, it’s not going away or anything. It’s just expanding to include whatever new videos the 3DS is getting in any given week, along with demos released for…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 29, 2012
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  Here’s How the Sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent Will Be Even Scarier

  One of the scariest games in recent memory came in the form of Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Dark Descent. And while there’s a sequel underway—titled Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs—the indie developer’s not the one making it. Instead, Frictional has handed the reins to the next Amnesia period piece scarefest to TheChineseRoom, makers of interactive…

  By Evan Narcisse Published March 29, 2012
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  Kingdom Hearts 3DS’ Opening Movie Mixes Things Up

  New screens from the opening movie for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance show off the game’s dedication to stirring the series’ already convoluted storyline into one large frothy jumble tasting faintly of salt water ice cream. I’ve been wondering which of the two Hikaru Utada opening themes they’d be using to kick off this…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 29, 2012
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  Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is Much More Than Meets the Cover-Based Shooter

  While I loved Transformers: War for Cybertron, at the end of the day I realize it wasn’t much more than a cover-based shooter with robots. High Moon Studios is taking steps to make sure Fall of Cybertron is much more than that. As game director Matt Tieger puts it, War for Cybertron was about proving…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Father Beat Son, Chained Him to a Pole Over Video Games

  In Batt-ambang town, Cambodia, Sok Thoeun got angry at his 13 year-old son after catching him in an internet cafe, playing computer games. The elder Sok forcibly removed his son, Khorn, from the net cafe and beat him brutally. “As well as beating his son, he put chains around the boy’s neck and legs and…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  What Does a Persona Porn Parody’s Cover Look Like? This

  Japanese role-playing game Persona is getting a porn parody. It’s called Perofella, and it’s coming later this spring. Check out that logo! They really nailed that. TMAによるペルソナ4のAV『ペロフ○ラ』パッケージが公開！ロゴ頑張ったｗｗｗｗ [トー速]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Gundam Tofu Is Green, But Not a Mech

  Japan is getting Gundam MS-06 Zaku II shaped tofu. It’s green! It’s actually edamame flavored—hence the green color. And supposedly, it tastes pretty good. Sister site Kotaku Japan previously detailed the side dish, and Japanese website Gigazine did a Zaku tofu…unboxing? Unwrapping? Whatever—you can see pictures in the gallery above. How about that awesome spoon,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Let Hello Kitty Predict Your Death

  Hello Kitty has an array of products—plush toys, stationary, underwear, and, yes, that infamous vibrator. According to website Hello Kitty Universe, there are also Hello Kitty tarot cards. Has the Grim Reaper ever looked so adorable? Put done that scythe and give me a hug! A hug OF DEATH. Hello Kitty Tarot Cards [Hello Kitty…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Who Is More Authentic? Lana Del Rey or Japan’s Virtual Singing Idol?

  The Idea Channel poses this question, and boy is it an interesting one. Watch the above video and decide for yourself! Is Miku Hatsune A More Authentic Pop Star Than Lana Del Rey? [YouTube]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Atelier Ayesha‘s 3D Characters Look So Good, They Almost Look 2D

  The latest game in their Atelier series, game developer, Gust has announced that Atelier Ayesha will be released in Japan on June 28th on the PS3. A series spanning back to 1997, the Atelier series are JRPGs with a bit of alchemy to them. Players go on adventures to gather ingredients to make items that…

  By Toshi Nakamura Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Tokyo Jungle‘s Costumes Border on Animal Cruelty

  As the release date for game developer Crispy’s Tokyo Jungle approaches, more details of the game have been released. The latest info is survival points and a costume feature. Survival points, as they are aptly named, are obtained by surviving the environment. How long your animal avatar has survived, how many calories they’ve consumed, how…

  By Toshi Nakamura Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Suggestive Games and Cute Food! Boys-Love Manga Comes Alive in This Tokyo Bar

  In Japan, there are tons of maid cafes for nerds to patron and gaze at young women in maid outfits. But what about females who aren’t interested in looking at other ladies? Or dudes who don’t like girls? Where are they supposed to go? MiracleJumP in Tokyo’s geek district Akihabara is a “boys love” cafe…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Military Strategy? No, Orgarhythm Is a “Music Strategy” Game

  Takeshi Hirai, the main programmer for Shenmue and the technical director for Space Channel Part 2, is bringing rhythm and tactical warfare together to the PS Vita. Scheduled for release in Japan this summer, Orgarhythm is “music strategy” genre game published by game maker Acquire, in which the player takes on the role of a…

  By Toshi Nakamura Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Lunatic Builds Transformers “Theme Park”

  And I mean “lunatic” in the most admirable and amazing way possible. Under the guidance of sculptor Zhu Kefeng, a team of artists in China have cobbled together around 600 giant statues of Transformers (and some other cartoon characters) and put them all on display at a single location, the “Mr. Iron Robert Theme Park”.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 29, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Japan Doesn’t Really Want Its Own Assassin’s Creed, Either

  Wouldn’t Japan made a great setting for Assassin’s Creed? Beautiful cities, amazing weaponry, and, yes, ninja. The game’s developers begs to differ, saying that Japan wouldn’t make a good AC setting. But what does Japan think? Japan, for the most part, agrees. Sister site Kotaku Japan translated Kotaku‘s article, which detailed Ubisoft’s reasons for not…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  In China, Kids Are Turning into Anime Characters with Pointy Chins and Huge Eyes

  It’s the new thing. Apparently! Young Chinese are uploading pic after pic of themselves looking googly-eyed into the camera, sporting sharp threads, and even sharper chins. The “pointy-style” isn’t just for girls as some guys are getting in on the act, too. The look really started to take off last summer when a girl named…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 29, 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 March 29, 2012
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  GAME Stores Stop Refunds, One Asks Customers Not to be Violent

  GAME, one of the biggest retailers of video game products in the world, is in serious financial trouble. So much so it’s had to enter administration, and part of that deal means the store can’t offer refunds or exchanges on its products. Which looks like it’s making some people walk into the stores and be…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 29, 2012
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  Portal, as a Very Short Cartoon (Well, gif)

  British artist Pinali sets our hearts aflutter with this animated take on Portal’s Chell (in her Portal 2 outfit). I keep thinking, if I watch it long enough, the “camera” will pan across and just follow her as she starts shooting the place up. Portall [Pinalinet]

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 29, 2012