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  Why Is Tales of Vesperia an Xbox 360 Exclusive?

  In the West, Tales of Vesperia was released on the Xbox 360. Only. In Japan, it was released on the Xbox 360, forcing Japanese people to buy Microsoft’s console. Then, a year later, it was released on the PS3. But why? “Microsoft paid for the exclusivity the same way Sony paid for having Heavy Rain…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  The Best LEGOs in Life are Free-to-Play

  LEGOs are like a fine wine, they get better with age. But also like fine wine the finest LEGOs can get pretty pricey, especially if you buy in bulk. Thankfully, you wont have to sell your house or your dignity to get your LEGO fix anymore. LEGO massively multiplayer computer game LEGO Universe goes free…

  By Sam Winstrom Published June 21, 2011
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  Meet the Heroes of Okabu

  Okabu knows it’s not easy being green, but they sure do make it look appealing Okabu looks like one of the most charming games coming to the Playstation Network this year. Gamers play cooperatively as two members of the ancient race of Cloud-whales, Kumulo and Nimbe, who set out to save their race and their…

  By Sam Winstrom Published June 21, 2011
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  Dungeons & Dragons Co-Creator Honored With Public Monument

  It’s been announced that a public monument will be built to honour Dungeons & Dragons pioneer Gary Gygax in a park in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. [GMF]

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2011
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  Is This the World’s Oldest Battlefield Player?

  Jaap is sixty six years old. He’s retired. He likes gardening. Oh, and Battlefield Apparently, he’s looking for friends. The video was uploaded by a 30-year-old TV editor and director—which is why the clip looks so slick. But is it viral?

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  Assassin’s Creed: Revelations‘s U.S. Special Edition Keeps Costs Low, Omits Encyclopedia

  Last week, we ran through the details of the Animus Edition of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, an expensive GameStop-exclusive version of the game that runs 100 Euros and gets players a bunch of things, including a bonus Vlad the Impaler mission and an actual Assassin’s Creed encyclopedia. We wondered if Americans will get the same thing.…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 21, 2011
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  The Wii U Won’t Blow Away Rivals

  Nintendo showed an impressive Wii U tech demo at this year’s E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles. There have been rumors that the Wii U is more powerful than current gen hardware. But when pressed, third party developer Ubisoft struggled to explain how powerful the machine is. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto is more specific. At E3,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  Help Teach A Fellow How To Play The World Ends With You

  Reader SecretMoblin has turned back the clock to 2008 in order to play The World Ends With You. And what better time to try this unconventional gem than what could easily be the twilight days of the DS’s lifespan? He’s got one problem: the combat’s driving him nuts. Think you could lend him a hand?…

  By Drew Cohen Published June 21, 2011
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  Alice: Madness Returns is Less Curiouser and Curiouser, more Averager and Averager

  The semi-sequel to American McGee’s Alice arrived last week. A timely return to a gothic wonderland, or is too late, too late for a very important date with our hard drives? Come on, down the rabbit hole with you and let’s find out… Alice 2 is, I think, pretty much what an only casual observer…

  Alec Meer | Rock Paper Shotgun Published June 21, 2011
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  Mass Effect 2 Statue Made out of Wire by Some Dude’s Wife

  Kotaku reader Shockwaver (not his real name)[1] wrote, letting Kotaku know that his wife is big Mass Effect. Proof isn’t in the pudding, but this Mordin Solus statue. “She spent about 20 hours building it first out of a wire frame, and then out of modeling clay and painting it and it’s a bit over…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Welcome to Talk Amongst Yourselves: a place to take a deep breath, recline in your swivel chair, and contribute to some friendly games-related conversation. A tip of the hat to user ak-blanc – peace! for today’s atmospheric, undersea TAYpic. Makes me wonder what other locales I would’ve liked to have seen in Rapture. If you’d…

  By Drew Cohen Published June 21, 2011
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  For $4, New Case Adds More of a ‘Video Game’ Tone to L.A. Noire

  At the price of just a few dollars L.A. Noire gamers can see what this spring’s gently-paced acclaimed detective adventure would have been like if it was more of an action game. A new downloadable arson case, Nicholson Electroplating, presents L.A. Noire at its action extreme. I played the case this weekend in advance of…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 21, 2011
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  Zombie Highway Makes you a Highway Superstar

  Originally released on the iPhone and iPod Touch in 2010, the fact Zombie Highway just got updated with a native iPad version means it’s definitely worth another look. You can ignore the “zombie” part in the title; this isn’t yet another zombie game where you’re running around in the dark looking for ammo. It instead…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2011
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  Two Men in Leather. Outside.

  I’m With Leather | TOKYO, JAPAN: Game designers Goichi Suda and Akira Yamaoka step out. (Photo: Lockerz) Duke Nukem Forever : The Kotaku Review Duke Nukem Forever begins in a casino bearing the Duke’s name. While slowly making your way through this marble-clad tribute to a hero of decades past (I hesitate to use the word…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  Great Ads, If Not Great Games, Coming to the Xbox 360 Kinect

  Soon Xbox 360 gamers will be able to get some use out of their Kinect: Interacting with a new suite of multimedia advertising set to hit the console and its $150 peripheral next spring. The new ads will enable gamers to send Tweets and emails about their favorite ads to their friends and family just…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 21, 2011
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  Teenager Arrested on Suspicion of Hacking. Possible LulzSec Connection?

  According to the BBC, a 19-year-old male was arrested in Essex. Scotland Yard wouldn’t confirm if the arrest was connected to a LulzSec attack on a police website, but did confirm it was followed a string of denial of service attacks. This suspect is apparently believed to be LulzSec’s leader. [BBC]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
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  Report: Skype Coming to PS Vita

  Skype is available on the PlayStation Portable, but with Microsoft’s Skype acquisition, the future of Skype seemed to be up in the air. Skype on the PS Vita was apparently revealed at a recent PS Vita event in Brazil. Kotaku followed up with Sony for clarification. A Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson told Kotaku that there…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011
• Reviews

  Duke Nukem Forever: The Kotaku Review

  Duke Nukem Forever begins in a casino bearing the Duke’s name. While slowly making your way through this marble-clad tribute to a hero of decades past (I hesitate to use the word “fighting”), you’ll pause to sign autographs. You’ll get a blowjob. You’ll control a remote control car. Twice. You’ll complete a “puzzle”, you’ll do…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2011
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  Star Fox 3D Barrels Into Stores In Mid-September

  Star Fox 3D, which is out in Japan next month, will be released in the West in September. It’ll be out on the 9th in Europe, while Americans will get their hands on it on September 11. [Eurogamer]

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 21, 2011
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  Professor Layton Will Be a Social Game for Mobile Phones

  Today, Professor Layton studio Level-5 is teaming with Japanese phone game company DeNA to make a new social game called Professor Layton Royal. [Kotaku Japan]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 21, 2011