BioWare Is Working on a Modified Mass Effect 3 Ending

Calling criticism of Mass Effect 3‘s ending “incredibly painful,” the co-founder of BioWare, the studio behind the game, said today that changes for the game’s conclusion are in the works. He promises an update on those plans next month. “Since the game launched, the team has been poring over everything they can find about reactions…

Final Fantasy Meets Mass Effect In This Amazing DLC Crossover

This is what happens when Final Fantasy XIII-2 characters wear Mass Effect space suits. The Japanese magazine Famitsu reports that the above pictures are part of a downloadable content pack that will bring armor from BioWare’s popular sci-fi role-playing game to Final Fantasy XIII-2 next week. No word on when or if this crossover will…

When Will a Modern Military Shooter Let a Woman Lead the Charge?

Will we ever see a Call of Duty game with a female protagonist? Commenter Nameloi wonders if the modern military shooter genre will ever give females a starring role on the battlefield in today’s Speak Up on Kotaku. Will there ever be a modern military game with a prominent female character(s)? This is something that…

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Balance Was Just Tweaked a Tad

Mass Effect 3‘s multiplayer balance settings have been tweaked. If you’re the kind of person who wants to know that the Claymore Shotgun’s “Damage increased from [152.8-191.0] to [167.8-206.0]”, then read the official update. The stick thread is updated regularly.

Talk Amongst Yourselves

Welcome, wanderers, 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, game where you draw things? Knock yourselves out! This TAYpic by Snufkin puts the Hunters from…

Madden‘s March Cover Madness Features 31 Teams and the Rams Ain’t One

There are 32 players representing thirty-one teams—that’s right, one franchise has no representative—in the second edition of Madden NFL‘s fan-voted playoff for the cover of the video game. It’s possible there may be two teams with no candidate in the contest before it’s all over, too. Befitting a promotion that opened as NFL free agency…

Manila Counter-Strike Match Ends in Murder

A round of Counter-Strike at an internet cafe in the Philippines capital of Manila turned deadly on Monday, when a member of the losing team was murdered after an argument over the payment of approximately seven dollars in winnings. According to authorities the friendly wager of 300 pesos took a decidedly unfriendly turn, with a…

The Most Beautiful, Amazing Thing a Video Game Can Do? Be Really Frickin’ Hard

Too easy. If there’s one complaint that gets lodged almost universally about modern-day video games, that’s it. All the hints and dialogue prompts smothering today’s playable experiences betray a wobbly-kneed insecurity—”b-but what if they don’t g-get it?!”—on the part of those folks who sent games out in the world. And, even worse, incessant hand-holding insults…

British Retailer GAME Admits It’s Worthless, Prepares to Enter Administration

After an extended struggle with finances that resulted in the year’s hottest titles skipping store shelves, the GAME group prepares to enter administration, as the video game retailer’s board accepts the fact that “there is no equity value left in the Group”. What could be the end for one of Europe’s largest video game retailers…

South Korea and the Missing Video Game Section

The Korean peninsula, June 2009. I could feel electricity in the air. I was excited to be here. I got settled, and I plugged in my Xbox 360’s power cable to an adapter that I bought for $10 at the airport. That went into the outlet in the wall and two seconds later, I heard…

Chinese Gangster’s Photos Show Cars, Cash, and Beatings

A Chinese gangster apparently left his phone lying around—and these are the results. The photos, via website Shanghai Ist, show a love of German sports cars, stacks of cash, sneakers, and beating people—and beaten people with sneakers. More vanity and cruelty in the link below. Pics from a Chinese gangsters phone [Imgur via Shanghai Ist]

Can a Ziplock Bag Protect an iPad from Water?

Important question! Because some folks want to use their iPads while in the tub—or washing vegetables. These are fearless folks who aren’t afraid of possibly ruining their electronics—or getting shocked. Japanese site Get News, who pointed this out earlier today. アマゾンで高評価の『ジップロック』のレビューに異常あり？　利用用途が「iPad入れ」「PSP入れ」ばかり [Get News]

Love Gallery

Insert 100 Yen and Watch This Trailer

I’ve been involved with 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience for a while now, and it’s a delight to see how the project is coming along. It’s come so far since the initial pitch trailer I appeared in, and I was happy when they signed me on to appear in the full-length flick. It really…

If This 3-Minute Anime Doesn’t Make You Cry, You Have No Heart

It’s called “Furiko” (or “Pendulum”), and it was recently featured on Japanese variety show. It’s only three minutes long, and it’s making people all weepy. The anime was drawn by the Japanese comedian Tekken, who named himself after the fighting game. It did not bring me to tears, because I have no heart. Obviously. You?…

Don’t Try To Sell Dragon Quest Beta Copies, Square Enix Warns

Eagerly anticipated role-playing game Dragon Quest X is in beta. And like with most things eagerly anticipated, there are those hoping to make a quick profit. One beta tester put a copy up on Rakuten Auction. Earlier today, Square Enix’s legal department posted a message in the auction’s comment sections, saying that being a beta…

Former Miss Korea Becomes Game Character (It’s Not What You Think)

Kim Sa-rang, a Korean actress (Secret Garden) and the 2000 winner of Miss Korea, has entered into mutual symbiosis with MMORPG DK Online: The Legend of Dragon Knights. Kim agreed to model for a DK Online photoshoot and commercial, and there are further plans for Kim to lend her voice as an NPC in the…

Final Fantasy Creator Working on Three New iOS Games

In a statement released to Kotaku, Hironobu Sakaguchi said, “I’m working on three new games on iOS.” He plans on posting updates as he progresses. No word on what Sakaguchi’s mustache is working on. Maybe a Last Story sequel? Mistwalker [Official Site]

Beloved Children’s Characters Deformed and Disfigured

In Japan, every pre-school kid loves Anpanman. The superhero has a head made of bean paste bread. All of his fellow heroes are made from bread, too. Anpanman is too cute. Currybreadman is cute. Whitebreadman is cute. Melonbread-chan is cute. All the characters are cute. This Anpanman cosplay, however, is horrifying. It was spotted at…

Chinese Hotel Lets People Pee in Japanese Soldiers’ Mouths

Japan and China have a long, messy history. A Chinese hotel in Heilongjiang province doesn’t seem to be making that any better. It is apparently sporting urinals that are supposed to be Japanese soldiers with their mouths open. For dudes to pee in. Website Japan Probe thinks the urinals might be depicting characters from Chinese…