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  Video Games Are Easier Than Ever, Yet Harder To Manage

  If you’ve played games for more than a decade, you’ve undoubtedly witnessed the ongoing evolution of the medium. Some see technology as the primary driver, and there’s no question games look and sound better than ever. The rising tide of tech has lifted all boats, making it possible for even a small team of developers…

  Michael Abbott Published February 21, 2012
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  Notre Dame Basketball Player Quits Skyrim, Becomes a Star

  Surging college basketball player Jack Cooley doesn’t attribute his recent success to some sort of miracle or an act of God. Nor does he blame nonsense like “hard work” or “dedication.” Nope — he did it by quitting video games, according to an article published last week by The Chicago Tribune “Never get Skyrim,” Cooley…

  By Jason Schreier Published February 21, 2012
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  Right At Home On Hoth

  More like AT Ice-T | AT-AT ice sculpture made with a chisel and chainsaw. Seen this weekend in Bend, Ore., photo by Bill Linn..) The Call of Duty Game That Never Was I love behind-the-scenes insights into the making of my favorite games. Although I usually watch or read them after I’m finished with a…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published February 21, 2012
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  The Call of Duty Game That Never Was

  I love behind-the-scenes insights into the making of my favorite games. Although I usually watch or read them after I’m finished with a title, instead of before one is released, I enjoy reading and watching the stories of the production itself. Any successful game, large or small, takes a remarkable amount of coordination and dedication.…

  By Kate Cox Published February 21, 2012
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  BioWare’s Boss Defends Harassed Writer

  Yesterday we posted about Jennifer Hepler, one of BioWare’s writers who has unfortunately been receiving a lot of hate over the Internet. Today BioWare’s co-founder, Dr. Ray Muzyka, defended her (see statement above). In an effort to further support their employee, Muzyka posted that BioWare will be making a $1,000 donation in Hepler’s name to…

  By Tina Amini Published February 21, 2012
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  Mass Effect 3 DLC Pops Up Early on Xbox Marketplace, Spoils Plot Point [UPDATE]

  A listing on the Xbox 360 marketplace may have inadvertently revealed one of the first pieces of downloadable content for upcoming sci-fi role-playing game Mass Effect 3 — and spoiled a plot point from the game. Warning: Minor spoilers about the nature of one of the game’s DLC packs follow. Mass Effect 3: From Ashes,…

  By Jason Schreier Published February 21, 2012
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  Atlus Bringing Persona 4 Arena to U.S. This Summer

  The Persona developer confirmed rumors from last week, saying the Persona 4 fighting game will hit PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at some point this summer. [Atlus]

  By Jason Schreier Published February 21, 2012
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  Activision Removes French Games Journalists From Alleged Blacklist

  Remember that purported Activision blacklisting of French website Gameblog that had everyone up in arms over the weekend? And that comment by Activision that said everything was just a big misunderstanding? Well, whatever that misunderstanding was, it’s been cleared up. Gameblog reported that they received a call today that effectively resumes communications with Activision. Editor-in-chief…

  By Evan Narcisse Published February 21, 2012
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  PS3 Mass Effect 3 Will be Available Digitally on Day One

  Mass Effect 3 will be arriving on the PS3 as a day-one digital download. Digital pre-orderers will get an in-game rifle and a PlayStation theme as a bonus.

  By Kirk Hamilton Published February 21, 2012
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  Besieged By Hackers, EA Tries To Stymie FIFA Phishing Scams

  Giant video game publisher EA and its most popular video games are rich targets for hackers and scammers, but the company is determined to fight back and protect its users, EA’s number two executive tells Kotaku Gamers should also try hard to protect themselves, chief operating officer Peter Moore advised, especially in light of rampant…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 21, 2012
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  New Modern Warfare 3 Prestige Levels Hitting Xbox 360 Today, PS3 Next Week

  The latest Call of Duty will get 400 new ranks and 5 new prestige levels for Xbox 360 today and PlayStation 3 on February 28, Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling said today. PC users got’em last week. [Robert Bowling]

  By Jason Schreier Published February 21, 2012
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  Sharknife 2: Double Z Might Have the Best Superhero Origin Ever

  I’ve been waiting a long time for more Sharknife. Corey Lewis’ east-meets-west adventure series seethes with video game logic in the same way that the Scott Pilgrim books do—from label-mate Bryan Lee O’Malley. I first read the adventures of the skateboarding robo-ninja hero in 2005 and have been pining away for a sequel ever since.…

  By Evan Narcisse Published February 21, 2012
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  The Panel Discussion Dozen: 12 Comics That Will Suck the Blood Right Out of You This Week

  If you’re here in the Panel Discussion programming block, you might be a lapsed comics reader, trying to find a way back to the JLA Satellite. Or you might someone killing time until you pick up your weekly Wednesday pull list. Or maybe you’ve said goodbye to dozens of longboxes to embrace the promise of…

  By Evan Narcisse Published February 21, 2012
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  A Love Letter to Tim Schafer

  Luke’s Note: What better place than Panel Discussion to introduce Mr. Zac Gorman, who we’ve caught in a bottle and forced to draw beautiful comics for us once a month. Comics like this one. If you’re not up to speed on the whole “what happens next” bit, see here You can see more of Zac’s…

  zac gorman Published February 21, 2012
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  Panel Discussion Starts Now

  Are we still pretending that comics and video games don’t have anything to do with each other? Not anymore, we’re not. Welcome to Panel Discussion, where the focus will be on comic books and sequential art, whether they connect directly to video games or not. Confused? Read this

  By Evan Narcisse Published February 21, 2012
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  Rumor: This Could Be A Teaser for a Cancelled Strider Game

  Before its demise, gaming studio GRIN was working on new entries in the Bionic Commando and Strider series, Spanish gaming website Anait Games reported today Anait Games says the above trailer, found on the website of Spanish animation studio 23 Lunes, is actually a teaser for the cancelled Strider game, which Capcom had reportedly commissioned…

  By Jason Schreier Published February 21, 2012
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  Here’s Where You Can See Indie Game: The Movie

  After the film’s award-winning showing at the Sundance Film Festival, the folks behind Indie Game: The Movie have opted to turn down traditional distribution deals and take it on the road themselves. Possibly to a city near you! The list of venues that they’ve announced so far is at the bottom of this post; if…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published February 21, 2012
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  Drums! Dragons! Decent Graphics! Must be The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360

  The latest trailer for the coming Xbox 360 “Enhanced Edition” of The Witcher 2 is a percussive lil’ thing, featuring lots of intercut action, as well as at least a glimpse of one of the trademark steamy love scenes and a forest tableaux that just screams “See? The game looks fine on the Xbox 360!”…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published February 21, 2012
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  Game Critics Say Asura’s Wrath is Definitely One to Watch

  In Asura’s Wrath developer CyberConnect2 aimed to create a game that played like Japanese animation. Judging by the early reviews, someone forgot to tell them that you don’t actively play Japanese animation. Protect Heaven and Earth from the forces of the Gohma and what do you get? Your wife dead, your daughter kidnapped, and yourself…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 21, 2012
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  The Secret World Gets Significantly Less Secret When It Launches June 19

  Funcom’s eagerly anticipated supernatural real-world MMO The Secret World reveals its secrets on June 19. Originally slated for an April release, the developer plans to use the extra time for more polish and beta testing.

  By Mike Fahey Published February 21, 2012