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  Take a Look at the Guns and Gear that You’ll Get for Pre-Ordering Mass Effect 3

  Back when Mass Effect 2 was a single-player only experience, fancy armor and special weapons didn’t count for very much. Sure, they helped you in the game’s campaign mode but that was a finite, non-competitive experience. But, now that co-op multiplayer’s coming to BioWare’s sci-fi threequel, the usual slate of pre-order bonuses may give you…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 4, 2012
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  Things Get a Lot Darker in These New Max Payne 3 Screens

  Some of the previous looks at Rockstar’s upcoming hard-boiled shooter showed off series hero Max Payne out in the sunny environs of Sao Paulo, vacation shirts and all. But these new screens put the night back in the franchise’s signature noir look, even if Max sports a Hawaiian shirt. You’ll see the former NYPD officer…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 4, 2012
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  Japan’s Biggest Selling Cosplay Costumes of 2011 Were…

  Some cosplayers make their own outfits. Others shell out cash for them. Japan’s largest cosplay costume emporium is Cospa. And the retailer listed its biggest selling outfits of 2011. Westerners might not be as familiar with these costumes as many of them are from adult, Japan-only computer games, light novels, and anime. Some, however, should…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 4, 2012
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  The 2012 Year in Games… a Preview That Has My Jaw on the Floor

  Finish playing the best games of 2011. Then tape this to your refrigerator. This is a preview, of some of the biggest and/or most interesting games coming out in 2012 (with a heavy bias toward big-company consoles and handheld releases, since that’s what gets announced earliest). January brings us Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, Xbox 360,…

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 4, 2012
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  Could This Country Muck Up Diablo III‘s Worldwide Release?

  In South Korea, the games of American developer Blizzard are huge. StarCraft is a national pastime, and the upcoming Diablo III is eagerly awaited. However, the country’s governmental Game Rating Board could rain on Diablo III‘s launch. It is reluctant to give the game the rating necessary for a South Korean release. According to The…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 4, 2012
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  What’s Wrong With Exploiting Design Flaws in Online Games?

  With players dancing their way out of trouble in BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic, commenter Raso719 wonders what’s the big deal about taking advantage of sloppy programming to gain an advantage in today’s Speak Up on Kotaku Back in Star Wars Galaxy me and a friend use to kill level 80 Krayt Dragon as…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 4, 2012
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  Temple Run Hauls Ass like a Modern-Day Pitfall

  When you think back to Pitfall, the lead character in the classic Activision game didn’t seem like he was in that much of a hurry. Granted, the Atari 2600 didn’t create speedy animations but it seemed like Pitfall Harry was straight-up leisurely. I distinctly remember taking the time to line up jumps from alligator head…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 4, 2012
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Welcome, belatedly, to January. You may talk here about video games all you want. We’ve got a new lead image for this month. It’s George Stubbs’ Cheetah with Two Indian Attendants and a Stag, submitted by TAY all-star Pan1da7 What do you do with a new TAYpic? This: Please do your best—or your worst—and submit…

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 4, 2012
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  Is the 3DS Lite Coming Out Next Spring? Wonders a Japanese Magazine

  Japanese magazine Nikkei Trendy put forth a question that’s nagging us all: is Nintendo releasing a 3DS Lite? In a recent issue of the publication that looks at 2012, Trendy wrote, “To increase the 3DS’s install base, there’s a possibility for a lighter version that addresses the handheld’s weak points, the thickness and the battery…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 4, 2012
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  The Rebirth of Microsoft Flight Simulator Will be ‘Free’ on PCs this Spring [UPDATE]

  Microsoft’s rebirth of their hallowed Flight Simulator series, Microsoft Flight is finally coming out, over a year since we started seeing videos of it. It looks quite nice, it’s on PC and it’s free… kinda sorta. The official word is: After downloading “Microsoft Flight” for free, players can jump into hours of exciting gameplay on…

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 4, 2012
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  Throw a Tattoo (Sort of) On Your Xbox 360 Avatars

  Once the province of sailors and other burly he-man types, skin art’s gone mainstream. Even BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk got an Old Republic tat and that’s guy’s not edgy at all. Tattoos now get seen as just another component of personal style, albeit one that’ll be with you once you get wrinkled and cranky. So it…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 4, 2012
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  How to Send a Star Wars Fan Insane

  BattleTroll 3 | If EA really cared about money, this would happen. Via Sex, Drugs & Pokemon There was a Famicom Game About the Leader of the Soviet Union You expect, and will find, old games for the Famicom where you play as a soldier. Or a pilot. Or an athlete. What you don’t expect,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  Greet the Morning With Fantastic Blizzard, Halo Fan Art

  Artist Toby Lewin, who took third place in 2011’s Blizzard fan art contest, wondered if we’d like to share some of his other work. Sure Toby. We’d love to. While he does his own proper concept art and design work, it’s his fan art we’ll be look at this morning, which in addition to Blizzard…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  It’s Like League of Legends. Only, For the iPhone.

  Apple’s iOS platofrms are no stranger to games that borrow heavily form existing properties, so to see a League of Legends clone – called Legendary Heroes – pop up should surprise nobody. Well, OK, maybe it should, because LoL’s style of game isn’t one you’d expect on the iPhone or iPad, yet here it is.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  This Sci-Fi Indie Adventure Game Looks Great

  As someone just playing through the awesome Gemini Rue now, news of A Science Fiction Saga, another indie sci-fi adventure game, is very welcome. Not only does it look amazing (especially given its the work of a single developer, David Ostman), but old-timey fans of games from studios like Sierra will appreciate (or dread!) the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  Some of the Best Cosplay of 2011 Turned Into a Beautiful Little Movie

  While we look at cosplay on a weekly basis, cosplay cinematographer and conventioneer Angel James de Ocampo has taken a more annual approach, and compiled this amazing video showcasing some of the best costumes and cosplayers he shot during 2011. We’ve seen Ocampo’s work before, but this piece is something else. Well, maybe the music…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  Ennio Morricone: Il Triello

  The West on the silver screen isn’t the West at all without composer Ennio Morricone’s memorable scores, most notably for Sergio Leone’s masterpieces like A Few Dollars More The most memorable of all, though, and one you’ve heard on countless commercials and comedies since, is The Good, The Bad & The Ugly from the movie…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  LEGO StarCraft Battlecruiser is Terrifyingly Detailed

  LEGO Thor? Check. LEGO Siege Tank? Check. LEGO Terran Battlecruiser? Yup, we can now say check to that one too. LEGO builder Sven Junga has constructed this amazing Terran Battlecruiser, the Hyperion, which in StarCraft II Jim Raynor’s flagship. If you see the Thor in the images and think it looks familiar, it is; Junga…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
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  Old Republic Lets You Dance Your Way Out of Trouble

  Want to see the best exploit of 2012 (so far?) Look no further than new MMO Star Wars: Old Republic, which literally lets you dance your way out of trouble. If you’re being attacked by anything, from the lowliest enemy to the grandest boss, all you need to do is start dancing – triggered by…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012
• Culture

  The Blinding Character Art of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

  If you’ve played (or even seen) recent fighter Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and thought, well, that character art sure is lovely, I wonder where I can get high-res versions of them all, you’ve got taste. You’re also being looked after today by Capcom, who in a pleasant surprise (this doesn’t happen very often) has…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 4, 2012