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  Love Is Still One of the Prettiest Video Games, But Now It’s More Violent

  “Have you met Eskil Steenberg?” I ask this question a lot when I go to the Game Developer’s Conference, an annual gathering of more than 15,000 game developers here in San Francisco. You’ve got to meet Eskil, I tell my fellow reporters. The guy is amazing. “You need to.” That’s usually what I say next.…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 6, 2012
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  We can all be friends no matter the color of our overalls or our desperate need to kidnap princesses, as long as we gather daily to discuss video games in Kotaku‘s official forum, Talk Amongst Yourselves. Snufkin did a marvelous job on this Mario-powered TAYpic. I’d hang a print of this on my wall in…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 6, 2012
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  How a Rabid XCOM Fan Became The Designer of Enemy Unknown

  Sometimes there is such thing as serendipity. When Jake Solomon was in high school, he spent all of senior year playing X-COM, a classic sci-fi game series that is part turn-based grid battle, part strategic simulator. He loved the experience so much, he went into computer science so he could make games just like it.…

  By Jason Schreier Published March 6, 2012
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  Don’t Compare This Guy’s Game to Zelda

  The Legend of Zelda is great. And if somebody compared your game to Zelda, then you’d be pretty happy, no? No? While he is a Zelda fan, Darksiders II Creative Director Joe Madureira apparently doesn’t want his game, with its dungeon-based gameplay, compared to Zelda. That’s understandable, I guess—he wants Darksiders to have its own…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
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  Trying to Recapture that First-Time Feeling of “Whoa” in Borderlands 2

  I’ll never forget the moment when Borderlands—a game into which I would pour at least 60, probably 80 and maybe 100 hours—utterly hooked me. I peered through my scope at a slow, stupid, posturing Bruiser and blasted him with my newly acquired electrified sniper. I held the scope view, and watched him spasm and jerk…

  By Owen Good Published March 6, 2012
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  XCOM: Enemy Unknown Puts You in Command of the “Most Elite” Military Force in the History of the World

  Not just anyone can defend the Earth from mysterious aliens in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. This is the “most elite” fighting organization in history, so you can expect at least some sort of written test, maybe a talent competition. It’s the price you pay for being the bestest. While I continue teasing Enemy Unknown lead designer…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 6, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Pirates, Plunder, and One Piece Gaming Booty

  Hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors is infamous for evolving very little—if at all—with each new iteration in the series. The biggest changes seen so far have been to either the cast or the setting. What was at first only about ancient Chinese warriors, now covers everything from Samurai to Gundams—not to mention badass manga Fist of the…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  A Plastic Model Wonderland

  Holy crap, I love plastic models. I’m not very good at them, but ever since I was a kid, I adored building them. My favorites growing up were airplanes (I blame Top Gun) and World War II tanks (I blame cool tanks). Models and Japan are a perfect fit, especially with the country’s history of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  This Alchemist Character Has “Angel Cheeks” and “Angel Chest”

  Rororian Fryxell, the main character of Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, is getting a figurine. Have a look. The in-store promotion for the sculpture promises “angel cheeks”, “angel thighs”, and “angel chest”. Amen? The figure is slated to go on sale this June in Japan. Read more about Rororina (and Atelier Rorona) over on…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Japanese BeatBoxer Takes on Donkey Kong, Blows Minds

  Kotaku’s featured Hikakin before with his Street Fighter and Super Mario renditions. Both times were amazing. He’s back with a Donkey Kong Country beatbox. Likewise, it’s amazing. Meet Japanese “human beatboxer” Hikakin [Boing Boing]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Real Fruit Fuckers? Yep, Orange Peels Having Sex.

  Who knew orange peels could have sex, let alone have orange peel penises? The above photos appeared online in Japan. While not as amazing as the banana sculptures, they are, well, something else. An enterprising individual made orange peel dudes from mandarin oranges. Then, had them do it. Naturally, the Yarnaika Guy popped up in…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  The Diary of a One Piece Virgin

  I know next to nothing about One Piece. In fact, going into the newest Dynasty Warriors game, One Piece: Pirate Warriors, the only One Piece related thing I had seen was the movie Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Cherry Blossom on a date back in 2008. The only things I remember…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 6, 2012
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  The 3DS Nearly Doubled Nintendo DS Sales in the U.S.

  Today, Nintendo revealed that the 3DS sold 4.5 million units in its first year on sale in the U.S. The Nintendo DS, a huge success, sold 2.3 million in its first year.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Chinese Net Cafe Robbery Leads to Fists and Punching

  Two jerks in jackets worked as a team to divert some dude’s attention in a net cafe and then swipe his phone. The thieves were able to snag the phone, but didn’t make a clean getaway. Other net cafe patrons noticed something was up and came to help the victim—and deliver punches. It looks like…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  The New Pokémon Movie Looks Like This

  Like clockwork, every summer there’s a new Pocket Monsters movie in Japan. This summer’s flick is Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo. It’s the fifteenth Pokémon flick, and it will hit Japanese theaters this July. Check out the trailer above. 劇場版ポケットモンスター15周年｢キュレムVS聖剣士ケルディオ｣ [YouTube]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Taiwanese Ladies Awkwardly Holding Xbox Hardware

  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Holding hardware makes pretty much anyone look like a doofus. There really isn’t a “good” or “correct” way to hold gaming hardware. No, scratch that. The correct way is to hold it in your hands as if you are playing. But that makes for crap photo…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  …And Japan Is Getting a New PSP Color

  Thought the PSP was dead? (Or was that the PS Vita? Kidding!) The Sony portable is getting a new, limited edition color in Japan. This is it. The color is dubbed Sky Blue/Marine Blue. That’s right, it’s a two-tone color. And it goes on sale Apr. 26 for ¥17,800 (US$218.48) as a value pack. PSPの新色，ツートンカラー「スカイブルー/マリンブルー」が4月26日に数量限定で発売…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
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  When the Rockstar Met the Nintendo Fanboy

  Fanboys are awful. They can make innocent conversations uncomfortable. Just ask Japanese rocker T.M. Revolution. He is one of Japan’s most recognizable singers. He’s also the proud owner of a new PS Vita. “Just as I’d heard, the screen is huge, and it’s beautiful!” T.M. Revolution tweeted. “It’s also easy to use, and, yep, I…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Kotaku East Starts Now

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

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2012
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  Oh Dear. Mass Effect 3’s Character Import Isn’t Working Properly

  So earlier today I settled in with Mass Effect 3. On the Xbox 360. Popped my disc in, booted it up, went to import my character from the last two games (which I’d preserved over four separate consoles). At first, it went well! There he was, with his decisions and class choices in place. But…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 6, 2012