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  PlayStation Network Return “Uncertain”, May Not be 100% Back Until May 31

  The PlayStation Network has been down for a while now. We’ve been warned that it may be down for a little while longer. Now Sony says it could be weeks still before the PSN is fully operational. Sony’s Shigenori Yoshida has told Bloomberg that his company’s deadline for the full return of all PlayStation Network…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Episode IV: A New Earthbound

  This piece, throwing Nintendo’s classic Mother RPG series (known as EarthBound in the West) and the original Star Wars together, is just too damn cute for words (via 4CR). Earthbound Star Wars by lauramw

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Alice: Madness Returns Is Adults Only in Japan

  According to an online image doing the rounds, Alice: Madness Returns will be out on July 21 and rated “Cero Z”, Japan’s “Adults Only” equivalent. It’s not uncommon for violent games to get Cero Z. Xbox 360’s Gears of War and Wii’s MadWorld both snagged Cero Z ratings. [はちま起稿]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  He Co-Wrote Portal 2. Who Is His Favorite Character?

  Valve lead writer Erik Wolpaw lent his clever pen to sci-fi shooter Portal 2. If you’ve played the game (this post has spoilers!), you might have your favorite character. Wolpaw does. According to Wolpaw, his favorite character (co-writer Jay Pinkerton’s, too) is Rick the Adventure Sphere, the jabbering AI sphere with a Texas twang. “The…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Pillage These New Dragon’s Dogma Screens

  Capcom released some new screenshots and class artwork for upcoming open-world RPG Dragon’s Dogma over the weekend. Here they are! If you’re wondering, the three classes are Fighter, Strider and Mage. If you can’t tell which is which, this might not be the game for you.

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Just How Valuable Are Video Game “Brands”?

  Advertising and branding specialists Millward Brown have released their annual chart detailing the 100 most valuable “brands” in world commerce. The list takes into account not just a company’s income, but it’s reputation as well. The 2011 list includes all three video game platform holders, with Microsoft in fifth spot (though no doubt its PC…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Once Upon a Time Capcom Only Made Sequels

  Former Capcom developer Keiji Inafune said recently at Ritsumeikan University that there was a time his old studio had a rule that 70 or 80 percent of games were sequels and the rest new games. New games weren’t usually approved—something Inafune hinted to Kotaku in 2006 when he said Capcom rejected both Dead Rising and…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Osama bin Laden’s Demise, as Told Through a Game of Super Mario Bros.

  The assassination of Osama bin Laden has already provided modders and commentators with political video game fodder, but this French TV show kicks it up a notch with a fanciful presentation of Super Mario Bush In which the former Al Qaeda leader is Bowser, and Mario is played by George W. Bush. At least, he…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  They’re Totally Addicted to Cosplay

  If those addicted to work are called “workaholics” and those addicted to chocolate are called “chocoholics”, then what are those who are addicted to cosplay called? Over the weekend, “Cosholic” stormed through Tokyo’s Odaiba. Cosholic is a picture-takin’, costume-wearin’ get together. Some of the costumes were elaborate, others were practically invisible. Cosplayers and cosplayer “circles”…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Bedroom Coders Making New Super Mario Bros. Wii “Sequel”

  If you’re done playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii—released18 months ago so you may well be—you could always try the fan-made Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. Currently in development by a team of devoted modders, artists and Mario fans, Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. is an unofficial sequel of sorts to Nintendo’s 2009 retail release,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Violence Erupts at a Chinese Apple Store After iPad 2 Release

  Although no one seems sure what exactly happened, reports are coming out that fights broke out between staff and customers at this Beijing Apple Store today. We’re talking bloodied faces and broken glass here. All over the new iPad? The fights come one day after the iPad 2 was released in China, resulting in lines…

  By Kwame Opam Published May 9, 2011
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  Time To Cash in on the Japanese Earthquake Disaster?

  When the Great East Japan Earthquake rocked the country on March 11, Japanese games with sensitive imagery were delayed. PS3 title Disaster Report 4, set during a natural disaster, was canceled. The game’s publisher even canned all Disaster Report titles. Not every Japanese game company is taking such drastic steps. According to a report out…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  This LEGO Master Chief Is so Big He Has a Human Inside Him

  For the past six months, Ben Caulkins has been building a Master Chief suit. Which, you know, lots of people do. So why’s Ben’s so special? Because, even though it’s full-size and entirely wearable, it’s made out of LEGO. We showed you an in-progress shot of this suit around Christmas, when it was a helmet…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Lock Up Your Dancing Daughters, Here Comes the Internet

  If you’ve spent any time on Japanese video site Nico Nico Douga, you’ve seen them: young girls dancing to cutesy pop music. It’s their chance to live out their adolescent idol fantasies for viewers with adolescent idol fantasies of their own. In the video above, the girl’s mother tries to barge in, but her daughter…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  There Is Still a Small Town in America That Bans Arcade Games

  As incredible as it is to imagine, until a recent vote a small town in the United States of America had outlawed arcade machines. Thankfully, that vote has now been held, and…hey, wait a minute, arcade games are still banned? Yes, even harder to imagine than placing the restriction in the first place is the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  In the Next Assassin’s Creed, You Play an Old Man

  Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is the next game in Ubisoft’s stealth action series, and it’ll be out later this year. It’s also the third game where the player takes control of Ezio Auditore, meaning, yes, by now he’s very old. According to a feature in the latest issue of Game Informer, the former smooth-talking ladies man…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
• CultureTotal Recall

  Behind the Scenes of the Most Disappointing Game Movie Ever Made

  Considering its budget, the popularity of the franchise and its accomplished cast, 1993’s Super Mario Bros. is—relatively—surely the most disappointing video game movie of all time. Still, train wreck that it is, we can’t help but keep on looking at it, even after all these years. And today we’re getting a real good look, with…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Yo Dawg, I Heard You Like Mother’s Day

  OMG Puppies | Nintendo threw a posh Mother’s Day event featuring Nintendogs + Cats in Beverly Hills, Calif. this weekend. (Photo: Chris Weeks | Getty Images) Which One Is Worse? At this point, after 17 days with no end in sight, it’s fair to ask the question. the PlayStation Network Outage, or the Xbox 360’s…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Stephen Colbert Joins Noble Team (Well, Not Really)

  After Stephen Colbert joked this week that Master Chief must have been one of the members of SEAL Team Six, which took out Osama bin Laden, Bungie dusted off that image, which it had whipped up a while back in an attempt to get a mention on the show. For those who might think this…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Get Your Hands on an Original NES Software Development Kit

  This may look like a busted up Nintendo Entertainment System, but its seller says it’s actually an NES development kit, recovered about 10 years ago from the warehouse of a defunct Las Vegas-area developer. It’s up for bid on eBay, currently topping out at $305. The seller is, evidentely, not a video gamer, saying his…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011