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  In Week Two of the Vita vs. 3DS Showdown, Guess Who Lost?

  On Dec. 17, Sony released the PS Vita, its PSP successor. The PS Vita is a fine machine (read Kotaku‘s review). In its first week, Sony sold over 360,000 Vitas. But during the machine’s second week, sales plunged to approximately 72,000 machines sold. That’s fewer than the PSP, which came in second in hardware sales…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  The (Actual) Best Game Music of 2011: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

  And so we come to the end of our “Best Game Music of 2011” series, where tradition dictates we crown a victor. I’m only half-serious, of course; it’s all but impossible to say what the best anything is, and that’s doubly true of something as ephemeral and subjective as music. But all the same, Jim…

  By Kirk Hamilton Published December 29, 2011
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  Fund Runes of Ashmore, and Help Design Part of a Advance Wars/Zelda Hybrid

  Most game developments projects soliciting funding on Kickstarter make contributors into producers, fronting money to help creators achieve their vision. The guys at Adanac Entertainment are configuring the fund-raising efforts for their in-development RPG Runes of Ashmore a little differently. Runes of Ashmore will feature turn-based, tactical combat and the player’s actions will affect the…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 29, 2011
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  While I Pondered…

  Teeny Cartridge | Look how tiny the Vita’s Memory Stick is. Soooooo tiny that Action Figure Edgar Allan Poe wants to use it to write creepy poetry on. Donate Some Cash to Help Classic Arcade Titles Enter Video Game Valhalla Those of us that remember them still miss the arcade emporiums of yore, even is…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 29, 2011
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  A Year in NSFW

  2011 is coming to an end. Best of lists and worst of lists, it’s time to look back at the year that was. Not all of 2011 was something you could enjoy with polite company—and especially not at work. As Kotaku did in 2009 and 2010, here’s a look back at 2011 NSFW-style. These aren’t…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  New Skyrim Mod Helps You Lead An Army Of Children

  Have you ever had a hypothetical argument with someone over who could beat up the most children at once? Well, Robbazdid, and he decided to see how many children it would take to kill the monsters of Skyrim. Surprisingly it doesn’t take many.

  By Chris Carolan Published December 29, 2011
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  I Agree with This Little Girl about Pink Things

  In the above video, little Riley goes off on the way toys are marketed to kids: blue and superheroes for boys, while girls get pink and princesses. While she’s specifically talking about toys (she is in a toy store), I agree with so much of what she says. And so much of what she says…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  Lets Play With the Vita’s ModNation Racers: Road Trip

  Among the games loaded up on the Playstation Vita Sony lent us last week there was one game I had very little interest checking out. Once I did, I couldn’t stop tinkering. ModNation Racers: Road Trip is the portable, very malleable take on ModNation Racers. On its surface it is a kart racer that has…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 29, 2011
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  Hope You Like Final Fantasy XIII-2! There Will Be DLC.

  Back in late 2009, Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama wrote on his blog: “The world of Final Fantasy XIII is starting from here on out.” It hinted that FFXIII DLC was on the horizon. It wasn’t. And Toriyama apparently apologized later for the lack of FFXIII downloadable content. Now that the game’s sequel, Final…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  Finish the Year Strong Talking About the Skyward Sword Finale with the Kotaku Game Club!

  Welcome back to the Kotaku Game Club. Today we’re wrapping up our discussion series on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and 2011. Since we’ve all (hopefully) completed the game, let’s talk about the game’s final dungeons and the ending. Since we’ll be discussing the entire game today, including the ending. Players who haven’t finished…

  By Mike Epstein Published December 29, 2011
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  Here’s a Man Using a 3DS To Look Up a Virtual Skirt

  In Konami’s love sim New Love Plus, you can once again talk with virtual girls. Since the 3DS features a gyro-sensor, you can also move the handheld around and see things. Hello fan service? Japanese news site Rocket News tested online claims that you can use the motion tech to see things you shouldn’t in…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  The Dragon Age Anime Looks at Least as Entertaining as Dragon Age II

  The full trailer for the Dragon Age anime we spoke about earlier this month has been making the rounds. it’s 106 seconds easily as enjoyable as any 106 seconds I spent trudging through BioWare’s sloppy sequel. It’s all about the Gackt for me. Once the subject of Ashcraft-teasing jokes on my part, the girlish Japanese…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 29, 2011
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  In Star Wars: The Old Republic, Press Binoculars to Your Forehead

  Binoculars? Aliens don’t need no stinking binoculars—especially when they have red eyes. As reader Peter pointed out, Star Wars: The Old Republic, like any game these days, has its fair share of bugs, but nothing that he’s found yet to be game-breaking. Some, such as this, aren’t glitches. They’re features Developed by BioWare, Star Wars:…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  The UK’s Ministry of Defense Wants Simulators As Good as Battlefield 3 or Modern Warfare 3

  It’s no secret that today’s soldiers train on all manner of video game-style simulators. In the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, British servicemen use Virtual Battlepace 2 as part of their regimen. VBS2 is a product of Bohemia Interactive, who also made the first Operation Flashpoint game and now produce the ultra-realistic ArmA shooter sims…

  By Evan Narcisse Published December 29, 2011
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  You Cannot Eat this Nintendo 3DS. Sorry.

  Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater is coming to the Nintendo 3DS as Snake Eater 3D. To mark the occasion, the game is getting a very special Nintendo 3DS. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima provided a first sneak peek. According to Kojima, this is the first snakeskin embossed Nintendo 3DS. Of course, it’s not covered with…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011
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  Let’s Play Through The PS Vita’s Entire Escape Plan Demo

  The Playstation Vita’s Escape Plan is a charming, clever side-scrolling puzzle game sure to win over the hearts of anyone considering a Vita purchase. In the game you need to maneuver Laarg and Lil through a labyrinthine series of puzzle and trap-laden rooms. Players swipe at the two characters, tap the screen and tickle the…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 29, 2011
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  VVVVVV Spells Victory for the Final Nintendo Download of 2011

  The Nintendo Download ends the year on a high note with the release of Terry Cavanagh ‘s indie darling VVVVVV on the 3DS eShop, adding a 3D twist to the game’s already twisted gravity platforming. If the 3DS does nothing more than get a few indie PC greats into the hands of the masses, then…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 29, 2011
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  Let’s Play Through the Entire Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Vita Demo

  Even the mainstays of a Playstation platform, games like Hot Shots Golf, sing on the PS Vita. Sure, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational feels like it sort of tacked on the touch and motion controls, but the core gameplay of this golf game remains as fun as any of the titles in the franchise. It’s…

  By Brian Crecente Published December 29, 2011
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  Skyrim is Filled with Memorable Characters, Like That One Guy

  In today’s memorable edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Eatplaysleepmore thinks he’s found a major character flaw in Bethesda’s latest masterpiece. Do you agree? Just how forgettable are these characters? I just finally finished Skyrim, kinda had to deal with some massive issues to finish it though (one of the unlucky PS3 copies). Story…

  By Mike Fahey Published December 29, 2011
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  Salute Comiket’s Cosplay Insanity: Day One

  In Tokyo, Comiket, aka Comic Market, kicked off on Dec. 28. It’s not only the biggest self-published comic book convention in Japan, it’s the biggest in the world And where are comic books, there are nerds. And where there are nerds, there are cosplayers. First held in 1975, Comiket is now a biannual event, drawing…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011