British Retailer GAME Admits It’s Worthless, Prepares to Enter Administration

After an extended struggle with finances that resulted in the year’s hottest titles skipping store shelves, the GAME group prepares to enter administration, as the video game retailer’s board accepts the fact that “there is no equity value left in the Group”. What could be the end for one of Europe’s largest video game retailers…

South Korea and the Missing Video Game Section

The Korean peninsula, June 2009. I could feel electricity in the air. I was excited to be here. I got settled, and I plugged in my Xbox 360’s power cable to an adapter that I bought for $10 at the airport. That went into the outlet in the wall and two seconds later, I heard…

Chinese Gangster’s Photos Show Cars, Cash, and Beatings

A Chinese gangster apparently left his phone lying around—and these are the results. The photos, via website Shanghai Ist, show a love of German sports cars, stacks of cash, sneakers, and beating people—and beaten people with sneakers. More vanity and cruelty in the link below. Pics from a Chinese gangsters phone [Imgur via Shanghai Ist]

Can a Ziplock Bag Protect an iPad from Water?

Important question! Because some folks want to use their iPads while in the tub—or washing vegetables. These are fearless folks who aren’t afraid of possibly ruining their electronics—or getting shocked. Japanese site Get News, who pointed this out earlier today. アマゾンで高評価の『ジップロック』のレビューに異常あり？　利用用途が「iPad入れ」「PSP入れ」ばかり [Get News]

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Insert 100 Yen and Watch This Trailer

I’ve been involved with 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience for a while now, and it’s a delight to see how the project is coming along. It’s come so far since the initial pitch trailer I appeared in, and I was happy when they signed me on to appear in the full-length flick. It really…

If This 3-Minute Anime Doesn’t Make You Cry, You Have No Heart

It’s called “Furiko” (or “Pendulum”), and it was recently featured on Japanese variety show. It’s only three minutes long, and it’s making people all weepy. The anime was drawn by the Japanese comedian Tekken, who named himself after the fighting game. It did not bring me to tears, because I have no heart. Obviously. You?…

Don’t Try To Sell Dragon Quest Beta Copies, Square Enix Warns

Eagerly anticipated role-playing game Dragon Quest X is in beta. And like with most things eagerly anticipated, there are those hoping to make a quick profit. One beta tester put a copy up on Rakuten Auction. Earlier today, Square Enix’s legal department posted a message in the auction’s comment sections, saying that being a beta…

Former Miss Korea Becomes Game Character (It’s Not What You Think)

Kim Sa-rang, a Korean actress (Secret Garden) and the 2000 winner of Miss Korea, has entered into mutual symbiosis with MMORPG DK Online: The Legend of Dragon Knights. Kim agreed to model for a DK Online photoshoot and commercial, and there are further plans for Kim to lend her voice as an NPC in the…

Final Fantasy Creator Working on Three New iOS Games

In a statement released to Kotaku, Hironobu Sakaguchi said, “I’m working on three new games on iOS.” He plans on posting updates as he progresses. No word on what Sakaguchi’s mustache is working on. Maybe a Last Story sequel? Mistwalker [Official Site]

Beloved Children’s Characters Deformed and Disfigured

In Japan, every pre-school kid loves Anpanman. The superhero has a head made of bean paste bread. All of his fellow heroes are made from bread, too. Anpanman is too cute. Currybreadman is cute. Whitebreadman is cute. Melonbread-chan is cute. All the characters are cute. This Anpanman cosplay, however, is horrifying. It was spotted at…

Chinese Hotel Lets People Pee in Japanese Soldiers’ Mouths

Japan and China have a long, messy history. A Chinese hotel in Heilongjiang province doesn’t seem to be making that any better. It is apparently sporting urinals that are supposed to be Japanese soldiers with their mouths open. For dudes to pee in. Website Japan Probe thinks the urinals might be depicting characters from Chinese…

Korean Baseball Players Are Walking Video Game Advertisements Now

In a press conference on March 19, Nexon (Maple Story, Kart Rider) revealed its official sponsorship of popular Korean baseball team the Lotte Giants. How popular is “popular,” you ask? If the figures in this article from last year are correct, the Lotte Giants’ popularity is Batman serious business, and here’s the kicker: Starting from…

Lap Up the Persona Porno’s Title

If it exists, there is a porno of it. Since Japanese role-playing game Persona 4 exists, there is a porno of it. The studio behind the movie, TMA, released pre-order info, which includes the flick’s name: Perofera (ペロフェラ). “Pero” refers to “licking” or “pero pero” (ペロペロ), while “fera” is short for “fellatio”. This movie doesn’t…

Dynasty Warriors‘ Odd Nintendo Cosplay: The Promotional Trailer

Link and Samus outfits are coming to upcoming 3DS game Dynasty Warriors VS, allowing Dynasty Warriors characters from that game to dress up as…Nintendo characters. That’s kind of strange, but whatever. To see the outfits in motion, jump ahead to the 1:58 mark. 3DS「真・三國無双 VS」プロモーションムービー [YouTube]

Hide the Kids. Osaka Is Overrun with Crazy (and Cute) Cosplayers.

Yesterday was not only a national holiday in Japan, it was also the eighth annual Nipponbashi Street Festa stamped Osaka. Nipponbashi is Osaka’s geek district—much like Akihabara is for Tokyo. Cosplayers turned up in colorful outfits, dressing as characters from their favorite manga, anime, and video games. The street was closed to cars, and otaku…

How the New Wolverine Movie Could Piss Off Japan

As far as comic book heroes go, Wolverine is rather innocuous. Big claws. Awesome sideburns. Nothing really offensive about him—well, save for the surly attitude and the slicing people in half. This poster, however? This could make some in Japan livid. That is, if it hasn’t already. This is rumored to be the teaser poster…

Kotaku East Starts Now!

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

This Splinter Cell Live-Action Series is so Good You’ll Think It’s Official

Building off a very fancy short released a year ago, there’s now a very professional web series based on Ubisoft’s stealth series Splinter Cell. It’s called Splinter Cell: Extinction, and is made by Companion Pictures. It has nothing to do with Ubisoft whatsoever, as they’re very keen to point out, but given how slick the…

Mass Effect’s Epilogue Reveals Forbidden Love, Softball Scholarships

SPOILERS AHEAD. Since Mass Effect 3’s ending doesn’t really do the greatest job of telling you what happens next, fans are filling in the gaps. Some are doing the wrong thing and being totally serious about it. Others are giving the game an Animal House-style, 80’s comedy epilogue. Which, now that it’s here, I’m just…