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CultureTotal RecallThe End of a Game Should Be a Reward, Not a Chore
WARNING: This post contains mild Modern Warfare 3 spoilers. Video games are all about the carrot and the stick. You endure repetitive tasks in order to receive just enough of a reward to compel you to complete more repetitive tasks. Why, then, do so few games ever let you get your hands on the carrot…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 22, 2011 -
UncategorizedAn In-Depth Look At Character Customization in The Old Republic
We’ve seen what Master Fahey did with his character, and now Total Biscuit has posted a video taking an in-depth look at the various races and character classes in BioWare’s upcoming Star Wars MMO The Old Republic. He breaks down the classes and the race restrictions (for example, a Cyborg can only be a bounty…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Never Leave Your Potato Unattended at Double Fine, Lest It Become Art
Today, Double Fine art director Lee Petty (project lead on Stacking, among other things) tweeted the picture above, saying “This is what happens if you leave things on your desk at Double Fine…” Apparently designer Jean-Paul LeBreton brought in a potato and left it lying around, only to find a fake art-gallery tag posted it…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Welcome to Taco Town, Population: You
Greetings one and all, and welcome to Kotaku‘s pre-Thanksgiving Monday open thread. Where will you be spending the holiday? And what games will you be playing? Feel free to talk about ’em, or anything else. Here are a few conversation-starters for you: Here is a hilarious infographic of the best Jason kills from Friday the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
For Just $67,000, These Guys Will Make a Custom Video Game About Your Life
Oftentimes it feels as though my life has video game-like qualities. Mind you, it wouldn’t be a very interesting game, but I’d love to see my commute to the burrito shop or my time spent at a desk writing… about video games… rendered into a custom video game. Actually that might be a bit too…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Two New Perspectives on Nolan North, Video Gaming’s “It” Voice-Actor
Any way you slice it, it’s been a good year for Nolan North. At this time last year, the ever-present voice actor had become something of a go-to joke—people had cottoned to the fact that his voice was featured in 50% of the video games that had been released that year (slight exaggeration), and had…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Four Ways The Mainstream Press Fails at Covering Video Games
It’s been evident for a while now that the many in the mainstream (read: non-gaming) press maybe don’t quite know how to cover video games. Evidence of this is in every well-meaning but ill-informed radio segment, every weird newspaper column, and especially in every terrible Fox News talking-heads segment. Gaming has been A Very Big…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
At Long Last, Chrono Trigger Will Come To iOS
The “at long last” in the title there is maybe a liiitle bit joking—after all, we’ve had several versions of Chrono Trigger available for some time now, from the original versions to the Wii virtual console and the Nintendo DS, through the many versions that are playable through emulation. I’ve played through the game a…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
That Is One Ugly Gamer Shirt
Ugly Christmas Sweater T-Shirt? | This Threadless shirt was inspired by “bad sweater Christmas parties,” we’re told. These Are A Few of My Favorite 2011 Games With the holidays rounding the bend and the big shopping season about to kick off, now’s a great time to start thinking about what to buy that gamer in…
By Brian Crecente Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
What Do You Hoard In Skyrim?
It’s time to be honest about this: we may wax poetic about how we play Elder Scrolls games for the epic quest, the giant map, and the sweeping vistas. But a lot of folks only play the game for the sweet, sweet hoarding. In a world as huge and detailed as that of Skyrim, there…
By Kirk Hamilton Published November 21, 2011 -
UncategorizedThis is the Most Evil EverQuest II‘s Freeport Has Looked in Years
From the generic fantasy city of the original EverQuest to the grungy spires of EverQuest 2, the city of Freeport has never quite captured the spirit of being the home to everything evil on Norrath. Until now, that is. EverQuest 2 game update 62 hits early next month, bringing with it the return of Overlord…
By Mike Fahey Published November 21, 2011 - Reviews
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: The Kotaku Review
Despite only visiting it once in my adolescent years, I’ve never forgotten the Cradle of Aviation Museum in the suburb of Garden City. Row after row of majestic aircraft stood next to each other, shiny but defunct evidence to the pivotal role that Long Island played to the science and practice of aeronautics in the…
By Evan Narcisse Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Toys R Us Super Sale Includes Free Skylanders
I just finished saying that Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure was one of my favorite games of the year and now I find out that Toys R Us is giving away a copy to people who pick up the Red Nintendo 3DS Mario Bundle. The Skylanders deal begins at 8 a.m. on Monday with a limite of…
By Brian Crecente Published November 21, 2011 -
UncategorizedIs This the Ultimate Time-Lapse Tour of Skyrim?
YouTube video director Wren the Reaper tore himself away from Falcon Punching people into bloody smears to create this stunning three minute tribute to the glory of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. If you’re away from your gaming system and cannot play, find consolation here. What you’re seeing is the end result of 40 hours…
By Mike Fahey Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Gamer Husband: Free To A Good Home
A frustrated Utah woman listed her Call of Duty-playing husband on her local Craigslist as free to a good home, “if acceptable replacement is offered will trade.” “I am selling my 22 year old husband. He enjoys eating and playing video games all day. Easy to maintain, just feed and water every 3-5 hours. You…
By Brian Crecente Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Infinity Blade II Won’t Be One of those 99-Cent iOS Games
Infinity Blade II, the big sequel to one of the most acclaimed games on the iPhone and iPad will cost $6.99 when it is released on December 1, according to the game’s creators. Games for iPhone and iPad usually go for a dollar or two, but Epic Games and Chair, the developers of the game,…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
What Difference Did Going Free-to-Play Make for DC Universe Online?
We know that DC Universe Online‘s recent switch from subscription-based MMO to free-to-play added one million subscribers to the game in one week, but what does one million free players mean to the bottom line? How’s a 700 percent increase in daily revenue, for starters? Sony Online Entertainment head honcho John Smedley hit Twitter this…
By Mike Fahey Published November 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
World of Warcraft ‘Law Enforcement Guide’ Supposedly Reveals What Blizzard Would Tell the Cops about You
As of mid-2009, the creators of World of Warcraft were retaining the IP histories of its users indefinitely and was drawing the lines about what information about its players that it would—or could—reveal to law enforcement personnel, according to a document released on Friday. The ins and outs of how Blizzard Entertainment would respond to…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 21, 2011