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Splinter Cell Studio Head Wants Games to Grow Up
Jade Raymond is currently head of Ubisoft’s Toronto studio, which is hard at work on the next Splinter Cell game. And yet, while she clearly enjoys games as a blockbuster spectacle, Raymond wants games to strive to be more. Speaking with Eurogamer in a lengthy interview, Raymond calls on the industry, her own studio included,…
By Kate Cox Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
Gears of War Creator Says Japanese Games Should Be More Social
In an interesting interview published by Gamasutra on Friday, Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski gave some advice to Japanese developers: add more multiplayer. “My advice to Japan is that in a disc-based market right now, you cannot [ignore multiplayer],” he said. “I’m not saying tack multiplayer onto every game… there’s a billion different ways…
By Jason Schreier Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Diablo III Starter Edition Lets You Play Before You Pay
Too terrified of a little clicking to put your money down on Diablo III? Perhaps you can talk someone out of a Diablo III Guest Pass and gain access to the free Starter Edition, AKA the purgatory of the undecided. Much like it did with StarCraft II, Blizzard is releasing a fancifully-named demo for its…
By Mike Fahey Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Welcome to Kotaku’s official forum, known affectionately as Talk Amongst Yourselves. This is the place where we gather on a daily basis to discuss all things video game and existential. Want to talk about new games, old games, games that aren’t even out yet? Knock yourselves out! Just like Chell did against GLaDOS, Angry Impoverished…
By Evan Narcisse Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
Steam Codes Are Now Officially Coming To GameStop
As Kotaku reported last week, GameStop will indeed be selling Steam codes, the retailer said in a press release today. The program is called Steam Wallet and codes will be available at $20 or $50. You’ll be able to use them to access Steam’s “more than 1,800 titles,” GameStop said. You can buy them in…
By Jason Schreier Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
Maybe the PlayStation Orbis Will Play Used Games After All
Used games: you love them, need them and want to marry them. Publishers and developers blame the second-hand market for lack of innovation, saying the money they don’t see from used games would let them be more creative. Reports that the next consoles from Sony and Microsoft wouldn’t support pre-owned games only fueled this fiery…
By Evan Narcisse Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
Pikmin 2 Makes Its North American Wii Debut June 10
Nintendo’s Selects line of $19.99 Wii titles expands by two next month, when Mario Power Tennis joins the long-awaited North American release of New Play Control Pikmin 2 in retailers “games too inexpensive to be in the case” sections. One of the best alien plant-based real-time strategy games ever created, Pikmin 2 originally hit the…
By Mike Fahey Published May 14, 2012 - Reviews
Sizing Up China’s Home Video Game Console, the CT510
China’s first foray into creating a mainstream video game system is a solid try in the right direction, except the system isn’t a game system, it’s an Online Multimedia Motion-sensing Device. The eedoo CT-510 already exceeded my expectations when I first saw it, it did exactly what it set out to do, entertain while providing…
By Eric Jou Published May 14, 2012 - Kotaku East
Welcome to Your Retro Gaming Dreams
Super Potato. I’ve been to the Akihabara branch a whole blot—I’ve been to the Osaka branches of this gaming retail chain even more. I’ve seen tons of Super Potato photos. I’ve taken tons more. Yet, I’ve always liked the photos Danny Choo of Culture Japan takes (they’re usually quite nice), and this batch of Super…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 -
Kotaku EastLet’s See What Kind of Alchemy This JRPG Opening Holds
Have a look at the latest entry in the Atelier series of Japanese role-playing games with the opening of Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Twilight Land. The game is out this June in Japan on the PlayStation 3.
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 - Kotaku East
Meet The Cat Hair Girls
Whether it been interesting outfits or make up, Tokyo’s Harajuku is famous for its inventive fashion. The latest trend, according to the Japanese media? Cat ear hair. For years, “cat girls” have been popular in Japan. The trope is ubiquitous in Japanese video games, manga and anime. But now, otaku (geek) culture is melding with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 - Kotaku East
This Life-Sized Lupin Figure Is Over $6,000 and Looks Crappy
Professional crook Fujiko Mine has her own new Lupin anime. In it, she looks sexy and fantastic. This new life-sized Fujiko figure, though, does not. Online retailer AmiAmi lists this life-sized Fujiko’s price at ¥504,000 (US$6,300) and calls it “high quality”. I call it “overpriced garbage”. Pre-orders for the figure start this summer. It goes…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 - Uncategorized
How Chinese Browsers Are Aiming for the Big Leagues
Unity Technologies and Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd announced last month of an agreement which will allow over 400 million Chinese Internet users to access Unity3D-powered 3D games through 360 browsers. Qihoo’s 360 browser along with its 360 anti-virus software are immensely popular in China. So popular in fact that according to Baidu.com’s statistics that…
By Eric Jou Published May 14, 2012 - Kotaku East
Would You Like To Pilot the Life-Sized Gundam? Virtually?
Yahoo! Japan is running an auction that will give one lucky winner the chance to virtual pilot the one-to-one scale Gundam in Tokyo’s Odaiba. Don’t get too excited just yet. You don’t actually get to sit in the cockpit. The winner will get his or her image displayed on the one-to-one scale’s virtual cockpit. Thus,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 - Kotaku East
Angry Birds Pork Products, How I Wish They Came With Scrambled Eggs
China has some very interesting culinary habits some of which folks from the west will find just outright whacky. One slightly normal but definitely strange habit is the Chinese love for pork products, and in particular the ham sausage (火腿肠). Now Rovio and Chinese pork products producer, JoyCome, have partnered together to bring Angry Birds…
By Eric Jou Published May 14, 2012 -
Kotaku EastYou Don’t Have to Rip Out Your Spine for an English Translation
Because the folks at PlayStation Japan kindly posted one! Here is the Soul Sacrifice presentation in English for your listening pleasure. In it, there is game imagry, Japanese game people, and flashing lights. Who doesn’t love flashing lights?
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012 -
Kotaku EastThis Nightmare Car Crash Looks Like a Video Game, But It’s Real and Awful
It looked like Grand Theft Auto, but it was very real—and almost very deadly. Last week, a Hyundai YF Sonata pulled out of traffic and went tearing down the street, weaving through traffic, and piling into a stopped car. Ten people were injured (the driver broke ribs, while the passenger’s vertebrae was damaged), and the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2012