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  Reviews

  The PlayStation Vita: The Kotaku Review

  If you’re in a hurry, you simply need to know that the PlayStation Vita is a very good portable video game machine that excels in ways that Sony hasn’t bothered to hype. If you’ve got time, well… let’s start with a true story: I recently had the opportunity to look over the shoulder of a…

  By Stephen Totilo Published February 21, 2012
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  Talk Among Yourselves

  You are all royalty. Did you know that? Well, you are here, at least. That’s because this is is Kotaku’s official forum, known affectionately as Talk Amongst Yourselves, where we gather on a daily basis to discuss the joys and wonders of gaming all rolled up into one. PS3 downloadable Fat Princess inspired Pan1da7‘s heiress-hefting…

  By Evan Narcisse Published February 21, 2012
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  These Sexy Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC Outfits Are Completely Justifiable

  Arriving next week alongside the “Sazh: Heads or Tails?” story pack, these two new outfits for Final Fantasy XIII-2 main characters Serah and Noel might seem like a pair of extravagant attempts to acquire $2.99 from players, but they make perfect sense in the grand scheme of things. Take Noel’s Spacetime Guardian outfit, the main…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 21, 2012
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  Reviews

  Syndicate: The Kotaku Review

  The year is 2069. The government as we know it is obsolete. In its place are various syndicates, all racing to develop the most advanced bio-digital implants that allow their host to connect to the dataverse, and even control it. Syndicate is a telling of that story, originally written by Bullfrog Productions in 1993, and…

  By Tina Amini Published February 21, 2012
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  Spec Ops: The Line Deploys June 26, Preorders Get FUBAR’ed

  Cheer up, soldier! 2K Games first foray into the military shooter genre hits retail on June 26 (June 29 internationally), and preorder customers receive a free upgrade to the premium edition in all its FUBAR glory. Man, look at that screenshot. You’d think they were in the middle of an emotionally charged military shooter, desperately…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 21, 2012
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  When Sega Released the Hounds. The iHounds.

  Woof | TOKYO, JAPAN: Back in 2005, Sega Toys released iDogs. (Photo: Shizuo Kambayashi | AP) Crusader Kings II: The Kotaku Review I was playing as the King of England. I ruled for over thirty years, sometimes a tyrant, other times a hero. When I died, I could keep playing, because I was now controlling…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  The Plastic Wonderland of Japanese Arcades

  The recent Amusement Operator Union arcade expo wasn’t only about dancing girls and giant robots, it was also about figurines and prizes. Kotaku‘s Toshi Nakamura and Richard Eisenbeis were on hand to slap buttons and to snap photos of prizes that punters can win from redemption games. Some of the figures were prototypes, while others…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Nintendo Holding Online Press Conference Tomorrow. You’re Invited.

  Nintendo announced today via sloppy handwriting that there will be a “Nintendo Direct” online presentation on Feb. 22 from 9am EST. In Nintendo Direct, the Kyoto-based game maker speaks directly via an online video presentation.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Dancing Girls and Giant Robots! The Arcade Games of AOU 2012.

  Every February, the Amusement Operator Union holds its annual trade show. Much like the Tokyo Game Show, it’s held at Makuhari Messe—right outside of Tokyo—and also much like TGS, it showcases all of Japan’s upcoming games—only this time in arcade form. Other than the incredibly fun Speed of Light, there were several interesting games at…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Wasabi Kit-Kat? Um, Okay!

  Man, I love Kit-Kat. They are truly fantastic. Japan often gets interesting Kit-Kat flavors, such as “pudding” or even tea-flavored ones. The most interesting flavor I’ve seen is “wasabi”, which I spotted when traveling home for the holidays. Wasabi flavored Kit-Kat! I actually didn’t get them. I kind of chickened out at the last minute.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Do Nintendo’s Presidents Have Crappy Handwriting? Or Should We Blame the 3DS?

  Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s president, wears spiffy banker suits. He has floppy hair. His glasses are nice. But how’s his handwriting? On a 3DS? Above is the Swapnote message Nintendo is sending out for its monthly “Nintendo Direct” online presentation in which Iwata and Nintendo directly speak to the internet. The message is fairly simple: “Hello.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Songstress Unloads Racist Rant on Twitter

  America-based singer song-writer Jenny Hyun made a name for herself penning tunes for Girls’ Generation, one of Korea’s biggest pop groups and Nintendo DSi product pitch girls. But this week, Hyun made a bigger name for herself with a racist twitter rant. On Feb. 16, Hyun loaded on Twitter, apparently spewing a diatribe of hate…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Playing the 3DS with…a PlayStation Controller?

  For Monster Hunter, the Nintendo 3DS has a mostly great extra slide pad. Screw that! One Japanese gamer figured out how to use a PlayStation Controller instead. The mod shows just how easy playing Monster Hunter with a dual thumbstick controller is. A snap! 3DS モンスターハンター専用　改造スライドパッド [YouTube via HighGamers]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Cyclops Girl Is the Stuff of Nightmares

  Spotted by Danny Choo of DannyChoo.com, this cosplayer popped up at the recent Wonder Festival, etched herself in our brains, and haunted our nightmares. For more photos, check out Danny’s site below and here for more Wonder Festival cosplay. Wonder Festival Cosplay [DannyChoo via I Heart Chaos via FashionablyGeek]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  Witness Arcade Button-Mashing Madness

  Last weekend, Kotaku East scoured the Amusement Operators Union (AOU) trade show for the craziest game coming to Japanese arcades in 2012. And what we found is a game as fun and simple as it is crazy. Speed of Light is an arcade consisting of nothing but a wall of buttons and a digital counter.…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  George Lucas’ Daughter Could Kick Your Ass

  She really could. She could kick a lot of people’s asses—not just yours. That’s because Amanda Lucas is a mixed martial arts superstar. Lucas began MMA in 2008 after taking Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes. The former dance instructor’s first fight was in May of that year. “I got beat up pretty bad,” Lucas told Sports Illustrated.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Wii Video Service Ending. Bye Bye!

  Launching May 2009, Wii Channel “Wii no Ma” offered videos and family-oriented programing. Today, Nintendo revealed the channel was ending on Apr. 30. Not a surprise with the Wii U coming out. [Wiiの間]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Fighting with Swords and Shields Isn’t Berserk, It’s Awesome

  Exercise is important. Some jog. Others play tennis. In Tokyo, a group of folks don medieval armour, wield swords, and beat the tar out of each other. Welcome to Castle Tintagel, a Middle Ages oasis in a hyper modern metropolis. And when Jay Noyes, Castle Tintagel’s founder, isn’t teaching students the finer points of medieval…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Kotaku East Starts Here

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

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 21, 2012
• Uncategorized

  ARGH, a Half-Life Barnacle for your HOUSE

  German artist Daniel Ritthanondh is the man to thank for this Half-Life-inspired lamp, which will simultaneously light up your room and darken your dreams. As big a Half-Life fan as I am, I could not own this. Wherever it went, I couldn’t walk under it. Ever. That or I’d come home one day and creep…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 21, 2012