- Uncategorized
Mass Effect 3 Ditched By Troubled European Game Stores
U.K.-based retailer GAME will not be stacking any of publisher Electronic Arts’s March games, including Mass Effect 3, it said today. In a statement on its website, the retail chain said it is “not in a position to supply [its] customers with Mass Effect 3,” although it “may” stock copies of the game in the…
By Jason Schreier Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
My Commander Shepard Has a First Name, It’s…
What’s in a name? To the John and Jane Shepards out there, not much, but to those that prefer customizing their Mass Effect heroes picking the right name can make all the difference in the universe. In today’s Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Salari wants to know how you name your role-playing game characters. With…
By Mike Fahey Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
Leap Day Talk Amongst Yourselves
We won’t be able to discuss video games in Kotaku‘s official forum on February 29 again for another four years, so make it count, people! Today’s TAYpic comes from rabid TAYpic creator Pan1da7, who reminds us that it’s time to select the new TAYpic image for March! That’s right, it’s time for a new TAYpic…
By Mike Fahey Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
Even Banana Peels Can’t Stop This Real-Life Mario Kart
Now you, too, can drive around your very own Mario Kart-themed Mario Kart. Assuming you’re 27-year-old Nathanial Stehley, who won himself a life-sized kart racer as part of a GameStop rewards program Nintendo sent out these pictures last night of Stehley receiving the grandiose prize, complete with a comically sized key and a comically sized…
By Jason Schreier Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Latest Game of Thrones Screens Cover New Ground
While Cyanide Studio’s Game of Thrones role-playing game will take players to plenty of familiar locales, it also features original settings created to fit in with existing A Song Of Ice And Fire lore. Welcome to Castlewood. You might not find it in the books or television series, but Castlewood plays a key role in…
By Mike Fahey Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Not-So-Good Ship Fireflower Might Be the Most Triumphant LEGO Video Game Creation Ever
After months sequestered in his secret underground lair, LEGO artist Baron von Brunk emerges with a massive Super Mario Bros. 3 airship that rivals any other block-meets-pixels creation I’ve seen. Behold its glory. Okay, so he probably doesn’t have an underground lair (though you never know, he is based in Queens, New York). What Baron…
By Mike Fahey Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
Pac-Man Returns to Television in 2013, and He’s Bringing Friends
One of the most iconic characters in video game history gets another shot at small screen glory in 2013, when the Avi Arad-produced 3D animated Pac-Man: The Adventure Begins makes its Disney XD debut. So who’s this cute little round girl with the pink streaks? What took you so long, Avi Arad? We’ve been waiting…
By Mike Fahey Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
It’s Mass Effect 3. Go Figure.
Effect | TOKYO, JAPAN: As seen at a recent Mass Effect press event. (Photo: azixero | GameWatchImpress) Are These Doom 4 Screenshots? These images, supposedly from Doom 4, have popped up. It seems they were inadvertently spilled by the portfolio of artist Thao Le, a senior environmental artist at id Software (and since taken down).…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
Japanese Cops Crack Down on Darth Vader
When Darth Vader showed up in Osaka to march about and promote the 3D Star Wars flicks, it was glorious. When he did the same in Tokyo, it was glorious, too. That is, until the cops showed up. This past weekend, Darth Vader and his Imperial Stormtropper, the Japanese Garrison of the 501st Legion, strutted…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
Yes, Ghost and Goblins Online Really Exists. It Needs Testers, Too.
Live in Korea? Want to play Ghosts’n Goblins with a friend online? Capcom and Korean publishing partner Seed9 Games offer you Ghosts’n Goblins Online. They are looking for testers for its second closed beta test, which will run from March 6 to March 11. You have until March 4 to sign up. Capcom says that…
By Chi Lee Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
When You Love Games So Much, You Dress Up as Them
Ask cosplayer Motiusagi about her favorite games, and she’ll rattle off titles like Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted, Red Dead Redemption, or her favorite, Final Fantasy XII. Then there’s Persona, Catherine—the list is seemingly endless. “I’ve been playing games since I was four,” Motiusagi, a former bikini pin-up, recently told Kotaku. “My dad was a huge gamer,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
They Say this Earthquake Town Is Haunted
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and ensuing tsunami destroyed the town of Ishinomaki. Nearly a year has passed. Kids might be back at school, reconstruction might be underway, but things will never be the same—not with all those the town lost. “If you know someone who was killed, and the death was so sudden,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
From Generic Bullet Fodder to Distinguished Heroes: Koreans in Video Games.
“Are you a North Korean?” I’ve been asked this question as often in America as I’ve been asked by Koreans if I own a gun, because all Americans own guns. The answer to both is “no”. The two questions are too absurd to be borne, and the answer to both questions is obvious, but if…
By Chi Lee Published February 29, 2012 - Uncategorized
Yakuza Designer Now Has More Incentive to Never Leave Sega
Toshihiro Nagoshi has undergone many changes while at Sega. His latest? He’s now slated to become Sega’s Chief Creative Officer. Good news, because he said he’d never leave the company. [Famitsu]
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
Every Korean Gets Wi-Fi. For Free.
On February 28, LG U+, the mobile and telecommunications subsidiary of one of Korea’s largest conglomerates, has made it possible for anybody living in South Korea to access free Wi-Fi services, regardless of carrier subscription. All you have to do is register for an ID with LG U+ and you can connect to LG U+’s…
By Chi Lee Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
Squid Character Recreated with Real Squid. She Is Not Cute.
Squid Girl or Ika Musume as she’s known in Japan is a popular Japanese manga and anime. The character is funny and cute. This real-life Squid Girl recreation, while funny, sure as hell ain’t cute—with her blue tentacles replaced with real tentacles. It’s the Uncanny Valley of food characters. Or something. イカめしめ作ったったwwwwwwwww [オタクニュース] (Top photo:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 -
Kotaku EastMan Builds One Piece Slingshot. He Shoots It, Throws It, Scares Me.
Joerg Sprave doesn’t just build slingshots, he builds them and then shoots (slings?) them. His latest creation? A slingshot that will look familiar to any One Piece fan. In One Piece, of its characters, Usopp, used a long staff called a kabuto. Joerg recreated this weapon and then tested it out. Be sure to stick…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012 - Kotaku East
This Is The Ugliest 3DS Ever
It really, really is. It’s horrendous. And I say this as someone who thinks both the 3DS and the Dragon Quest character Slime are well designed. Starting May 31, this Ice White Nintendo 3DS is being bundled with the 3DS version of Dragon Quest Monsters, a 3D release of the 1998 Game Boy Color game.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 29, 2012