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  Get Your E3 2011 Floorplan Maps Right Here!

  Most of you won’t be going to E3, as unlike TGS and GamesCom it’s sadly closed to the public, but that doesn’t matter. Some of you still find it interesting to pore over the location and size of a company’s booths, so here they are! And hey, that’s cool. The weigh-in before a boxing match…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  Harvest Moon Studio and The Last Story Studio Are Marvelous Together

  Marvelous Entertainment, the studio behind the Harvest Moon farm simulators, is merging with AQ Interactive, which recently did The Last Story for Nintendo, and Liveware, a software contents company. [Marvelous Entertainment]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 10, 2011
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  Some of the PS3 Hackers May be Turning On Themselves

  It’s believed that members of Anonymous, a group of hackers and activists, are behind the attacks on the PlayStation Network. While the group’s “leaders” have dismissed these claims, the fact they’re seen as “leaders” at all may have become a bit of a problem. According to a report on website thinq_, a splinter group has…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  Regular Cough Drops. Virtual Girlfriend Packaging.

  Back in December 2010, Konami launched a product tie-in with Halls mentholated cough drops. The ads featured virtual girlfriend Nene Anegasaki, of the popular love simulator Love Plus. In Love Plus, characters fall in love with one of three schoolgirls and then “date” them. This June, pink grapefruit Halls will feature Anegasaki on the packaging…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 10, 2011
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  Metal Gear on 3DS Is Shooting for November

  Everything we’ve seen so far of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D has made it look little more than a tech demo for Nintendo’s new console. But according to MCV, it may be less of a demo and more a nearly finished game. The British publication reckons the title, a graphical showcase for the new…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  Japan’s Most Famous Foreigner Can See the Funny Side of the PSN Attacks

  If you were to ask a Japanese person to name five Americans, they might say President Obama, Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp. But one person they’d definitely say is Dave Spector. Dave Spector is a regular on Japanese television, appearing in commercials, dramas and variety programs. He even writes columns in Japanese magazines and has…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 10, 2011
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  The PSN Downtime is costing Capcom “Hundreds of Thousands, if not Millions” in Lost Revenue

  What’s the PlayStation Network downtime cost you? Some time playing games? It’s cost Japanese publisher Capcom a lot more than time. Speaking out against the hackers who have crippled Sony’s online network for over two weeks now, Capcom senior vice president Christian Svensson has written on the company’s forums “as an executive responsible for running…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  Strap on a Jetpack, It’s Time to Look at the New Tribes Game

  First revealed back in March, it’s not until today that we’re getting our first proper look at Tribes: Ascend, the latest game in the long-running sci-fi shooter series. These two screens are it, sadly, but die-hard fans of the series will no doubt be able to drag some info out of the weapons and geography…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  Rumor: Microsoft is Buying Skype

  Reuters reports that Microsoft is in talks to buy internet voice communications company Skype for around $8.5 billion. What does that mean to you? Well, you’d presumably kiss Skype on the PSP goodbye. You could also, in a perfect world, expect Skype to hit the 360 via Kinect. [Reuters]

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
• CultureTotal Recall

  Old Consoles: The Illustrated Edition

  We’ve looked at the design of old consoles a few times lately here on Total Recall, in particular my fetish for those with faux wood panelling, but today we’re looking at something a little different. These illustrations, by German artist Sebastian Koch, show a variety of old consoles from the 1970’s. Specifically, those built just…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 10, 2011
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  The Tags, Pandas and Yoshimitsus of Tekken Tag Tournament 2

  If new media of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 makes you feel like doing a jig with your panda pals, this is the gallery for you, Kotaku reader. Namco Bandai gives us a visual update on the next Tekken right here, right now. Feast your eyes on King and Marduk tag teaming Armor King; Yoshimitsu working…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  A Couple Of Wavy Lines

  Let’s get this workweek rolling with some stimulating conversation between you, me and your fellow Kotaku readers. Yeah. You! It doesn’t even have to be about video games. Watch! How was your weekend? Mine was spent feeling unusually busy, but with little tangible to show for it, other than some much needed beauty rest. The…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  Don’t Expect To See Bungie’s Next Project At E3 2011

  Halo and Marathon fans looking forward to Bungie’s all-new universe can set aside their hype and hope until sometime after E3 2011. Bungie and publisher Activision have both said the developer will not have an official presence at this year’s E3 show which is just weeks away. [Bungie.net]

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  ‘Brawl’ Art Contest Spawns Expertly Redesigned Cammy, Chun-li and Haggar Piledriving a Shark

  When the CG artists who inhabit the Polycount forums direct their creative juices at redesigning the famous fighters of video games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, Tekken and more, we’re the real winners. That’s because we get to see the polygonal fruit of their labors, which range from radical takes on Mario from…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  GameStop Knocks $100 Off The PlayStation 3, Just Not For Everybody

  Retailer GameStop has a surprisingly sweet deal on PlayStation 3 hardware right now, offering customers a $100 USD discount when they purchase a new console in either 160GB or 320GB flavors. The catch? Not everyone is getting that deal. GameStop has e-mailed select members of its subscription-based PowerUp Rewards program with details on how to…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  World of Warcraft Suffers Post-Cataclysmic Drop in Subscriptions

  Six months after buzz for the Cataclysm expansion drove World of Warcraft numbers to an all-time high, Blizzard reports the lowest subscription figures for the massively multiplayer game since December of 2008. During the Activision Blizzard first quarter 2011 financial results conference call today, Blizzard president and co-founder Mike Morhaime told us that as of…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 9, 2011
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  Xbox Live Update Will Add Paypal on May 19th

  Microsoft plans to release an Xbox Live update beginning in less than two weeks, according to Joystiq. The update will add support for Microsoft’s new disc format and add Paypal as a payment option for Xbox Live. Meanwhile, Microsoft will also be launching Avatar Kinect on May 27th as a separate download. [Joystiq]

  By Mike Epstein Published May 9, 2011
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  Leaked Splinter Cell 6 Details Point to Night Vision Goggles and Nukes on the Loose

  The existence of a brand new entry in Ubisoft and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series is no surprise—Ubisoft Toronto managing director Jade Raymond has already confirmed she’s leading the development team. What’s new are apparently leaked details on the forthcoming sixth Splinter Cell According to a report from Gamerzines, audio equipment maker Blue Sky posted…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 9, 2011
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  Boom Brink Graffiti Headshot

  AD ART | A modified Brink ad spotted by reader Israel in a New York subway. Photo: Israel) Is the bin Laden Kill Game Cathartic, Educational, or Just Ghoulish? Osama bin Laden hunches quietly in the darkness of an Abbottabad basement, rifle clutched in his hands. He swivels smoothly left. Stops. Then swivels smoothly right.…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 9, 2011
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  L.A. Noire‘s Homicide Captain Wants Results, No Matter What

  Here are some new screenshots of L.A. Noire‘s hard-nosed homicide captain, James Donnelly. Though you may have seen him in previews and screens before, Rockstar wants you to really get to know the man. [Rockstar]

  By Mike Epstein Published May 9, 2011