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  Canned Laughter Drowns Out What Pigs In Trees Does Different

  Can we cut the crap with Angry Birds satires already? I’m not talking about the direct ripoffs, which you see on Facebook, flash sites and popup ads congratulating you for winning an iPad 3. I’m talking about games whose wink-and-nod visual style, method of scoring, and “story” don’t give themselves enough credit for what they…

  By Owen Good Published August 25, 2011
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  Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome Road Hits Sept. 20, Two New DLC Inbound

  Lonesome Road, the fourth add-on pack for Fallout: New Vegas, will be available for download on Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network and Steam on September 20th. (Xbox LIVE for 800 Microsoft points, PlayStation Network and Steam for $9.99), Bethesda said today. Two additional DLC packs, Courier’s Stash and Gun Runners’ Arsenal, will also be available for…

  By Brian Crecente Published August 25, 2011
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  So, Where the Hell Is Metal Gear: Rising?

  At the 2009 E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles, Konami revealed that it was developing a different spin on the Metal Gear universe. The game was Metal Gear: Rising, and it’s M.I.A. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima wasn’t slated to helm the project, but Rising, which stars Raiden, still looked to be the next big…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  This German Booth Babe Is Judging You

  Well, maybe not you, but judging somebody. And it’s not just a Gamescom booth companion that’s doing the judging, but a news lady and a news announcer. How mean! This clip, which follows some of Gamescom’s more colorful characters, originally appeared on Germany’s RTL Television. I’ve been told the translation isn’t that great, but it…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  First Look at Schoolgirl 3DS Consoles

  As mentioned yesterday, Konami is rolling out limited edition New Love Plus 3DS handhelds. Here they are! The game will be out sometime this fall. People will buy it. And after that, they’ll play it. 『NEWラブプラス』オリジナルデザインのニンテンドー3DSが発表に！【KONAMIカンファレンス】 [ファミ通.com] You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You can also find him on…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
• Culture

  Guild Wars 2’s Art Just Won’t Stop Pleasing Our Eyeballs

  We’ve featured the concept art of Guild Wars 2 here twice before, showcasing the talents of concept artists Levi Hopkins and Kekai Kotaki. Today, then, let’s do it a third and final time. Think of it as a trilogy, with the final act the contributions of the series’ Creative Director, Daniel Dociu. Dociu, born in…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Skyrim Lets You Marry a Dude (Even if You’re a Dude)

  Unlike its predecessor, Oblivion, the next game in the Elder Scrolls series will let you make friends. Some friends can become friends with benefits. And they can then become your spouse. Even if they’re the same gender as you. Given how many games either outlaw this or simply don’t acknowledge it, it’s nice to see…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Aren’t You a Little Short for a Tanooki Trooper?

  One of my favourite Tumblr sites, Game & Graphics, which celebrates great graphic and visual design in games, has decided to go into the t-shirt business. And what a way to start. This Mario x Star Wars shirt is available for €17, and ships internationally. It makes for a rad t-shirt, and in the meantime,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Why Aren’t There Porsches in Forza 4?

  Because EA is evil, that’s why. Kidding! See, EA has the license for Porsche cars, thus, making them available only via a sub-licensing deal. The cars did appear in Forza 3, and featured RUFs, which are tuned, unmarked Porsches. But this time around, no dice. “In the end, however, EA couldn’t see their way towards…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  Somebody Made a Mass Effect Brawler

  Mass Effect is a series that blends a few different gaming genres together. Side-scrolling brawler isn’t one of them, though, leaving room for this fan-made game. It’s called Mass Effect: Dark Corners of the Galaxy, and uses the OpenBOR engine (for fan-made brawlers) to bring the punchier side of Bioware’s galaxy to life. I’ll admit,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Is this Persona Related? Do You Care?

  Tokyo-based game maker Atlus has a teaser site up. It’s yellow, and it’s probably teasing something. [P-Atlus]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  Today, Canada Gets the World’s Best Xbox 360 Bundle

  Starting today, and for a limited time, an Xbox 360 bundle will go on sale in Canada that is, well, better than any other I’ve ever seen for the console. For $300 consumers will be able to grab a 250GB Xbox 360 S along with download coupons for five full games. And those games are,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Fine, Have Four PS Vita Titles

  Today in Tokyo, Konami held a press conference, detailing some of the games it plans to bring to the Tokyo Game Show. It wasn’t a complete list, so there could be some last minute surprises, but before you ask, no, there’s no Metal Gear Solid: Rising on it. Actually, the list is mostly comprised of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  Wolfenstein Game Yanked From European Markets Over Swastikas

  The iOS version of id Software’s Wolfenstein 3D has been withdrawn from sale in two European countries over its use of the Nazi swastika. The game has been pulled in both Austria and Switzerland, according to a tweet from id boss John Carmack, “due to the offensive swastikas”. This shouldn’t be too big a surprise.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Square Enix Totally Cool With Deus Ex Recall

  Earlier today, GameStop pulled all PC copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution from shelves after it was caught opening boxes, removing a promotional code then selling these games as “new”. People were quick to blame GameStop, as is often the case, and while the retailer still shoulders some blame in this (if only for the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  This Basket Case Named Himself After Tekken

  With so many comedians competing for air time, it’s important that they stand out. Thus, Japanese comedians, compared to their Western counterparts, can look unique—extreme, even. When Takefumi Kurashina decided to leave behind his pro wrestling dreams, he shaved his head and wore Road Warriors inspired make-up. He named himself “Tekken’s Old Man.” The look…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2011
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  Another Year, Another Expensive Car Based On a Video Game

  Welcome to 2011. Where not only are video game franchises annualised, but expensive, real cars bearing their branding are as well. The Call of Duty Jeep Wrangler, which was released last year in honour of Call of Duty: Black Ops, will be re-released this year, only now with Modern Warfare 3 branding all over it…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  The World’s Best Half-Life 2 Movie Now Has a Sequel

  Escape From City 17, a 2009 short flick from The Purchase Brothers, was and still is the best piece of fan-made Half-Life cinema we’ve ever seen. Over two years later, it finally has a follow-up. Escape From City 17 – Part Two has the same top-shelf special effects (and reportedly the same shoestring budget of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
• CultureTotal Recall

  The Strange, Sad Case of the North American Super Nintendo

  This week is the, believe it or not, 20th anniversary of the release of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. It’s a cause for celebration, of course, but also makes me wonder why Nintendo decided to bless America with its own “unique” version of the console. When Nintendo released the Famicom in Japan…

  By Luke Plunkett Published August 25, 2011
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  Celebrate Team Fortress 2‘s Quinceañera, Get a Hat

  Because of its popularity, many think Team Fortress 2 sprang to life fully formed without precedent, like Athena from the forehead of Zeus. Or Leonard Part VI. It in fact is a series, one that is now 15 years old. So Valve is giving out free stuff, and as you might imagine, that includes a…

  By Owen Good Published August 24, 2011