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  Rock Band and Dance Central Creators Getting Down to Vidrhythm

  Harmonix recently trademarked Vidrhythm, which as it turns out is one of the Rock Band and Dance Central developer’s new projects. I’m guessing “rhythm game” and “occasionally confused with that new, weird Final Fantasy music game.”

  By Michael McWhertor Published July 6, 2011
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  Tinkatolli May Be the First Video Game that Gives Your Kids Points for Leaving the Game to Go Outside

  Most browser-based online games desperately want you to keep playing as much as you can—there’s always another level to gain, more of your friends that need persuading to join, items to unlock and buy that will keep you in front of the screen clicking away even longer. The four-person team behind the in-development Tinkatolli seek…

  By Joshua Rivera Published July 6, 2011
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  Man Deploys ‘Madden Defense’ to Beat Murder Rap

  A man on trial in North Carolina for killing his pregnant fiancée says he could not have been the killer, and is using a screen capture from a game of Madden NFL as his alibi. Michael Mead, accused of killing Lucy Johnson, 31, in 2008, showed a “screenshot from the gaming system to a private…

  By Owen Good Published July 6, 2011
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  Do You Believe In Ghosts? Ever See One?

  Meddling Kids | An apparition causes havoc by menacing two people in their kitchen. London Stereoscopic Company Comic Series – 13 circa 1865 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images) Tiny Ships, Tiny Aliens, Tiny Galaga 30th Collection It’s been nearly 30 years since Galaga stormed onto the arcade scene, delivering to fans of fixed shooters…

  By Brian Crecente Published July 6, 2011
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  The Nintendo 3DS is Back on Top in Japan, Thanks to Tales of the Abyss

  Remakes! Japanese gamers love ’em, with further evidence to prove that theory in the form of Namco Bandai’s Tales of the Abyss. That Nintendo 3DS remake of the PlayStation 2 title is currently Japan’s bestselling game. The 3DS role-playing game managed to scare up nearly 75,000 sales in its first week on the market, beating…

  By Michael McWhertor Published July 6, 2011
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  Confederate Army Uniforms Pulled from Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace

  Microsoft removed a Confederate soldier’s uniform and cap from an Xbox Live avatar items collection, following complaints from users about what the symbols represent. The gray uniform and cap, recognizably symbols of the American Confederacy, went on sale in an “American History” collection that featured Revolutionary War-era garb, fireworks, and an Abe Lincoln stovepipe hat…

  By Owen Good Published July 6, 2011
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  Halo, Batman’s Dad and… What On Earth is Pinocchio Doing With His Nose?

  Regular readers of our regular new-comics recommendations round-ups may have noticed that I always list the week’s new video game-related comics, but never recommend them. That’s because I rarely read video game comics. But, hey, maybe you would like them. As is the case each Wednesday, I do have new comics to recommend to you,…

  By Stephen Totilo Published July 6, 2011
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  Reminder: The Game Club Meets Tomorrow at 4pm Eastern!

  Just a reminder for everyone who’s been playing Shadows of the Damned with the Game Club. We’re meeting up to talk about Act 4 at 4pm Eastern on Kotaku! See you tomorrow.

  By Mike Epstein Published July 6, 2011
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  Zynga Serves Pinecone Syrup, Japanese Mayonaise for Office Lunches

  The Wall Street Journal reports on the new tech boom and all of those wonderful perks it brings with it

  By Brian Crecente Published July 6, 2011
• Esports

  Pro Gaming Fans Rush to Pro Gaming’s Defense

  Yesterday, I wrote a post tweaking 27-year-old professional gamer David “Zaccubus” Treacy for his comments in an interview with Alienware, mostly for what seemed like an attempt to blame pro gaming’s lack of success in the mainstream on “cheesy” television productions. It sounded defensive, especially since, well, I don’t see the appeal of eSports at…

  By Jen Schiller Published July 6, 2011
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  Game Store Owner Sentenced To 290 Years in Prison for Making Child Porn

  Leland Beasley, the 43-year-old owner of the Gamestation Sector 19 video game stores in St. Louis County, Missouri, has been sentenced to 290 years in prison for the possession and production of child pornography, videos he recording during all-night gaming sessions at his place of business. In the harshest federal sentence for child porn ever…

  By Mike Fahey Published July 6, 2011
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  Urban Champion Is the Next Nintendo 3DS *Ahem* ‘3D Classic’

  Nintendo is mining its back catalog of 8-bit hits for re-release on the Nintendo 3DS. Two games, Excitebike and Xevious have been released—the latter only in Japan—as part of Nintendo’s 3D Classics line. After that… Urban Champion If the name Urban Champion isn’t ringing any bells, it’s a Famicom/NES head-to-head beat ’em up dating back…

  By Michael McWhertor Published July 6, 2011
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  2010’s Big Piracy Busts Netted Probation, Fines, Millions in Seized Games

  U.S. video game industry anti-piracy efforts last year led to more than 40 criminal cases and at least two convictions, the Entertainment Software Association reported today. The rundown of the industry’s anti-piracy efforts were reported in the association’s 2010 Annual Report released this week. In it, the non-profit outlined law enforcement training sessions it had…

  By Brian Crecente Published July 6, 2011
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  Gun-Toting, Serial-Robber Stalks Florida Game Stores

  Pembroke Pines police are on the lookout for an armed woman who robbed three GameStops in the past three days, firing shots during the last robbery. The woman, said to be in her 20s to 30s, robbed GameStops in Miramar and Pembroke Pines On July 4 and today, police say. Two of the robberies occurred…

  By Brian Crecente Published July 6, 2011
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  Get Left 4 Dead 2‘s New DLC Early By Crossing the Streams

  Valve’s asking players to test Left 4 Dead 2‘s Cold Stream campaign. If 20,000 players finish it by Sunday, they’ll release the Dead Air campaign early! Coincidentally Left 4 Dead 2 is on sale for $5 on Steam. [L4D.com]

  By Sam Winstrom Published July 6, 2011
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  Take Pity on a Newbie Today

  Last night on the way back to my apartment in New York’s Lower East Side, I saw a crowd of men standing around two motorcycles. I’m a fledgling rider myself, as well as newly returned to the city. I’d spoken to these guys a few times before and did what I typically do when I…

  By Joel Johnson Published July 6, 2011
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  Canabalt, Sword & Adventure Time!

  What happens when the creators of Sword & Sworcery meets the man behind Adventure Time? Green screen insanity, Canabalt high scores and Austin independent game collective, Juegos Rancheros hosted a talk with Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP‘s Kris Piotrowski and Craig Adams. The entire talk was hosted by Adam…

  By Brian Crecente Published July 6, 2011
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  Sony Confirms ‘PSN Pass’ Program, Required for Resistance 3‘s Online Modes

  Sony will bring single-use registration codes that grant access to online modes to the PlayStation 3 later this year in the form of the unofficially named “PSN Pass,” the company confirmed today. As rumored, starting with Insomniac Games’ Resistance 3, PS3 owners will need to buy online-enabled games new if they want to play online,…

  By Michael McWhertor Published July 6, 2011
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  Can You Fathom Video Games and Movies Living in Harmony?

  Movies and video games have a sordid history, but artist Joe Russ is looking to change that with “FATHOMS”. “FATHOMS” aims to combine the best of video games and movies in its visual style to tell the story of Evan, Sam and their rescued cat Hippo. Survivors of a pollution ruined world, they explore the…

  By Sam Winstrom Published July 6, 2011
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  Touch Mai With The King of Fighters iPhone

  Available now for the iPhone in Japan, The King of Fighters I delivers three-on-three team fights and one-on-one battles between 14 different fighters, with SNK Playmore promising six additional characters by October. Read all about it at Adriasang

  By Mike Fahey Published July 6, 2011