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Angry Birds, the Chinese Pop Song
Liu Dong, or “Jocelin” as she calls herself in English, is making the transition from search engine staffer to Chinese popstar! Her debut tune should sound familiar: It’s apparently a love song called “Angry Birds” (愤怒的小鸟). The song debuted on Chinese search engine Baidu’s music streaming service, Baidu Ting. Jocelin works in human resources at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Even Mice Play in Virtual Worlds, For Science
A psychological study using mice, in place of humans or other mammals, is nothing new. Every high school or college student who has ever taken a low-level psych course knows that for ages, scientists have been running mice through mazes, teaching them to press levers for rewards, and having them perform countless other tiny tasks…
By Kate Cox Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Transformers Prime Rolls Out From TV to DS and 3DS This Fall
Activision’s announced that they’re going back to the Energon well one more time with the just-revealed Transformers Prime title. The game—available exclusively for the Nintendo DS and 3DS—ties into the popular animated series currently running on The Hub cable channel.
By Evan Narcisse Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
A Bad (or Possibly Good) Case of Mass Effect 3 Decision Angst
In today’s spoiler-free episode of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Ducce discusses the anxiety that rises while making game-changing decisions in Mass Effect 3. Is this immersion, or is he slowly going insane? I have for the first time in my gaming life been exposed to pure decision-angst. I have been playing through (what I…
By Mike Fahey Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Talk Amongst Yourselves
It’s Thursday, meaning that you can smell the weekend from here. Hang in there. Until the end of the work week, you can enjoy the talk in 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.…
By Evan Narcisse Published March 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedSuperman Might Be The Best Part of Lego Batman 2
There will be voice-acting in the Lego Batman 2: DC Super-Heroes. That will sound strange if you’ve ever enjoyed the silly warbling that passes for talking in the man hit Lego video games. Stranger still is the possibility that Superman might be the coolest part of Traveller’s Tales ambitious, biggest-ever Lego game. The game starts…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Game Gear eShop Invasion Begins
The first handheld gaming device to go head-to-head with the Game Boy (the Atari Lynx barely counts) reaches out its electronic hand in friendship to its one-time enemy, as three Game Gear games become playable on the Nintendo 3DS. How humbling this must be. It’s okay Shinobi, Sonic the Hedgehog and Dragon Crystal; it’s not…
By Mike Fahey Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Diablo III Is Coming On May 15
Highly-anticipated hack-and-slash game Diablo III will be out for PC and Mac on May 15, developer Blizzard said today in a press release. You can pre-order the game on Blizzard’s website right now. The third game in the Diablo series, Diablo III will be available both in retail stores and digitally via Blizzard’s website for…
By Jason Schreier Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Wasteland 2 Kickstarter Hits $900,000 Goal In Just Under Two Days
Who says people don’t want sequels? Not Brian Fargo. Thousands of backers have borne out the game designer’s assertion that there’s desire for a follow-up to the classic RPG. And they’ve shelled out $966,741 as of this writing to make Wasteland 2 happen. With 32 days left for the funding cycle, it’s even possible that…
By Evan Narcisse Published March 15, 2012 -
UncategorizedThe Game of Thrones RPG’s Combat Does a Fine Dragon Age Impression
You know what would be awesome? A game that played like Dragon Age but featured locations and characters from George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series of books (now a major television series). Watching this combat trailer for Cyanide Studio’s Game of Thrones role-playing game, I’d say that dream might soon be…
By Mike Fahey Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
Final Fantasy Versus XIII? Oh Sorry, Here’s Kingdom Hearts 3D
Weekly Famitsu hit the magazine racks today, and if you picked it up eagerly looking for more information about Final Fantasy Versus XIII in the interview with Nomura Tetsuya (more than just the leaked tidbits of info), well you were probably let down… But if you picked it up looking for information on Kingdom Hearts…
By Toshi Nakamura Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
This English Text Book Is Cruel
Often, you see incorrect English in Japan. It doesn’t look natural. This might be due to a mistranslation or incorrect word choice. Sometimes you see stuff that’s totally correct—perfect. And then there’s this: correct, but oh so cruel. The English corresponds exactly with the Japanese—much to the amusement of many online in Japan. This excerpt…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
You Could Kill That Dragon Easily, If You Just Paid For A Decent Weapon
Samurai & Dragons is an online fantasy game for the PS Vita from Sega. The game system is divided into 3 parts: dungeon exploring, territory development, and territory expansion. A somewhat standard game system with, er, unique art, what makes Samurai & Dragons different is that it will be completely free to play. Weekly Famitsu…
By Toshi Nakamura Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
Lupin the Third, The Hell Are You Doing with That Car?
Lupin from Japanese anime Lupin the Third drives a Fiat 500 in the classic flick Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro. The car is very much part of the character’s lore. No wonder Fiat launched a special limited edition Lupin Fiat 500 in 2008. That’s easy to get your head around! This? Less so. Suzuki…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 - Uncategorized
PlayStation Hacker Arrested for Drug Possession
George Hotz, sued by Sony for hacking the PS3, has been arrested in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The 22 year-old was busted for possession of marijuana. According to website Above the Law, Hotz was on his way to the SXSW conference in Austin when he was stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in the West Texas…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
The Beautiful (and Bloody) Cosplay of Saki Hanamura
Her work is idyllic at times. At other times, it’s risqué and racy. And then it can be downright gory. Say hello to Saki Hanamura. Hanamura is one of Japan’s most well known cosplayers and has appeared in photo discs with a variety of different cosplayers. Her work is equally as varied. “I like mysterious…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
Is Konami Going To Recall Your Girlfriend?
Konami’s New Love Plus is a remake/upgrade of the virtual girlfriend dating game Love Plus, and was released to much fanfare this past Valentine’s Day. As a remake, the game allowed players of the original to import their save data to continue their virtual relationships, and as an upgrade, the game incorporated the 3DS’s capabilities…
By Toshi Nakamura Published March 15, 2012 - Kotaku East
This $400 Steel Battalion Bundle Doesn’t Include a Tank
It does include a jacket, helmet cap, and bag like Steel Battalion character W. Powers sports in the game. There’s also the game’s soundtrack and a book, too. All yours for ¥35,000 or US$420 via Capcom’s online shop for a limited time. イーカプコン限定で [4Gamer]
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku EastReport: Japanese TV Burned Old Man. There Was a Cover-Up.
Japanese television can get extreme: people doing crazy stunts, people getting hurt. According to a recent published report, one network went too far. In 2003, late night Japanese variety show Taikutsu Kizoku: Un Noble Ennuyeux had an old Japanese man walk on fire, calling him “The Rambo of the Orient”. Fuji TV, one of the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012