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  The Glory Days of SquareSoft (*Not* Square Enix) Recaptured in Rap

  Remember the glory days of SquareSoft, when the role-playing giant could seemingly do no wrong? Richie Branson does, and he’s got a little song about it. Want to hear it? Here goes. Branson’s letter to SquareSoft is riddled with suggestions on what franchises he wants to see resurrected, and what character crossovers would have fans…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2012
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  Watch This, Play This Begins Now

  Stuff to play, stuff to see, here comes Watch This, Play This. Confused? Read this

  By Tina Amini Published March 7, 2012
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  Gamers Are Now Angry at BioWare Because of An Image in Mass Effect 3 (SPOILER)

  Fans have expressed outrage at the apparent reveal that developer BioWare used a stock photo as the basis for one of Mass Effect 3‘s main characters. Angry gamers sent a barrage of e-mails to Kotaku‘s tips hotline last night with links to the stock photo and the spoilery reveal from the action-roleplaying game, which was…

  By Jason Schreier Published March 7, 2012
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  From Final Fantasy IX to Cruis’n World: 10 Classic Designs That Need Revisiting

  In today’s design-minded edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter DrZaius looks at design elements of ten gaming classics (well, nine and Madworld) that could help spice up some of today’s titles. This has been boiling up inside of me for some time. This is the top 10 list of game designs I’d like to…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2012
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  GDC Notebook: Day 2: Al Gore in Deadwood, Super Mario What?

  A second day of the Game Developers Conference ended sometime in the blurry evening several hours ago. The day had started pure of heart for me—a panel of game developers lobbying for the creation of romantic video games—and ended with the bang of corporate spectacles for massive and/or noisy new games. In the middle of…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 7, 2012
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Rush to the safe zone and stock up on video game discussion points with like-minded survivalists in Kotaku‘s official forum, Talk Amongst Yourselves. Reader Benevolence brings us today’s Left 4 Dead 2 TAYpic, along with these words of wisdom: “It ain’t right for a man to be ridden like that.” You too can mix video…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2012
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  New Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy Games Could Be Headed to Vita [UPDATE]

  British retailer Play.com has accidentally leaked the names of four upcoming PlayStation Vita titles, according to a news report published today. Update 2: In a statement to Eurogamer, Play.com confirmed that the above image is fake. Update: Some folks have questioned the validity of this image. More information below. A tipster sent gaming website Eurogamer…

  By Jason Schreier Published March 7, 2012
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  World of Warcraft Lures Lapsed Players Back with Cataclysm Upgrades and High Level Characters

  What does it take to lure a lapsed player back to World of Warcraft? With subscription numbers slowly-but-surely dropping, Blizzard launches the new Scroll of Resurrection program, granting returning players a free upgrade to the Cataclysm expansion and an instant jump to level 80 — they just need to be asked. Current World of Warcraft…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2012
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  Obey Gabe Newell. Do It.

  San Francisco’s 4th Street is covered in Gabe Newell. The Game Developer’s Conference is in full swing, and the iconic Valve boss’s mug is splashed on poles, garbage bins, and newspaper stands. It’s like gaming’s own version of the Obey sticker campaign, but Gabe’s either saying Half-Life 3 or Steam console. I can’t tell which.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
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  Map Packs? Bah! Battlefield 3 Changes the Game with Three Themed Expansion Packs

  Eschewing the normal practice of releasing intermittent “piecemeal” map packs, DICE intends to deliver three completely new experiences to Battlefield 3 players this year in the form of a trio of expansion packs, delivering new game modes, “innovative” gameplay, and unique environments with each release. It’s maps plus! Judging by the official descriptions, each of…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Online Gaming Officially Makes You an Internet Addict in Korea

  The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) in South Korea released the results of last year’s survey aimed at studying the causes of internet addiction. The Ministry conducted the study from October to December 2011, which was just around the time when Korean news began to report on school violence. The possible link between…

  By Chi Lee Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Is This Anime Outfit Fashionable? Or Just Freaky?

  The photo was snapped in Tokyo’s hipster neighborhood Harajuku. I haven’t seen anyone dressed like this in Japan (and most people online in Japan also seemed surprised). The photo is making the internet rounds with some people saying this get-up looks cool. The guy might even be wearing a hug pillow! The look is interesting,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Just Look at All These Metal Gear Shirts

  To mark the 25 anniversary of Metal Gear, Konami is teaming up with Uniqlo for a line of Metal Gear t-shirts. They’ll go on sale Apr. 16 at Uniqlo stores across Japan. This isn’t a first for Metal Gear. During MGS4‘s release, there was a line of Uniqlo shirts. Have a look at some of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Sony Ramping Up PlayStation Suite

  PlayStation Suite is Sony’s concept that “certified” PlayStation games will be available on Sony’s mobile devices. Today, Sony revealed that it “will offer a more streamlined content development environment for content developers—from large game development companies to small, independent shops.” A closed beta launched last fall, and the upcoming open beta will incorporate feedback to…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
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  Peter Molyneux Is Leaving Lionhead Studios and Microsoft, Will Finish Kinect Fable

  Peter Molyneux, one of the most respected video game developers in the world and one of the top creative minds on the Xbox team, is leaving Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, Kotaku has learned. “It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Cosplaying as a Curvy One Piece Character Ain’t Easy!

  Japanese pop singer and AKB48 member Miku Tanabe loves cosplay. Some characters are a snap to dress up as. Others are not. “I love doing it,” blogged Tanabe, “but cosplaying large-chested characters is so tough!” Tanabe is dressed as notoriously curvy One Piece character, Boa Hancock. One cosplayer had better luck. Last fall, a Macau-born…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Colonel Sanders Sure Looks Like Hell

  In Japan, Colonel Sanders is an iconic part of pop culture. There are Kentucky Fried Chickens across the country. In front of each shop, there’s a glasses-wearing Colonel Sanders statue. And boy, can they ever look scary. Don’t believe me? Above is the Colonel from the Akihabara KFC. When it recently snowed in the geek…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  This New Japanese RPG Has Soul

  Rather, make that, “Sol”. Dubbed Sol Trigger, this Japanese role-playing game is Imageepoch’s upcoming title. It features character design from Shuji Sogabe of Persona 4 (the comic) and God Eater fame and a game scenario from Kazushige Nojima, who wrote Final Fantasy VII and Kingdom Hearts. Big names! Sol Trigger is slated for the PSP…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  All You Need to Punch a Stranger is a $9,000 Watch

  An old man in the subway car near the seats reserved for the elderly, the handicapped, and pregnant women, grips the rack above with one hand; next to him is an older hiker, weighed down by heavy gear on his back, who carries his jacket, a second bag, and his age like a shield in…

  By Chi Lee Published March 7, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Ladies Come for the Comics, Stay for the Pornography

  Men aren’t the only ones reading adult comics and watching adult videos. (Shocking, I know!) In Japan, there are mature manga and porno flicks for females. Yet, women might feel reluctant to walk into their local convenience store and flip through dirty mags or rent X-rated DVDs at the video store. Good thing there are…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2012