Professional Gaming on the Downturn, Cheesy TV to Blame

Professional Gamer David Treacy, or “Zaccubus” to his—erm—fans, recently spoke to Alienware about the changing face of professional gaming. Based on his interview, however, there’s not much to talk about. While Treacy compares the world of pro gaming to the economy (“It grew rapidly over the last decade, then almost imploded on itself.”) he also…

Maybe Al Gore Should Play a Video Game

I have not confirmed this, but I believe that you would not be allowed to keynote a climate change conference if you hadn’t sweated in the past 25 years. But a couple of weeks ago, former Vice President Al Gore keynoted the Games For Change conference—a conference about the potential for video games to improve…

Cath Gall

Rumor: Sony To Introduce ‘PSN Pass’ for PlayStation Network, May Hit With Resistance 3

Is Sony following the trail blazed by Electronic Arts and other third-party publishers by limiting who has access to its online multiplayer? That’s our best guess for what the new, still-unannounced PSN Pass is, a feature rumored to have made its first appearance on the Resistance 3 PS3 bundle. The unconfirmed PSN Pass was spotted…

Now Four Eyes Can Look Cool In 8-Bit Glasses

For the glasses wearer looking to lower the resolution of their frames, designer Dzmitry Samal offers pairs of retro-futuristic pixelated glasses, inspired by late ’80s video games and “society’s fascination with an ‘informational aesthetic.'” Samal is selling two styles of 8-bit frames, the 6dpi and 5dpi, each hand-made pair running a cool 198 euro (about…

Real Life Flipping is Much More Colorful Than Video Game Flipping

Jumping enthusiast Robert Souris recently broke the world record for distance flipping, hurling himself nearly 20 feet through the air while dressed as a superhero of his own creation, all in the name of showing children how much more fun real jumping around is than virtual jumping around. Dressed as Zero G, his own super…

Do They Make Cakes In Cubes?

Which Swedish indie superstar developer just popped the question to his sweetheart? One clue: His game is such a hit he specifically mentioned he won’t be having a wedding crafted in that theme.

The Archbishop of Denver Tells You about Violent Video Games and the Rights of Parents

In this essay originally penned for First Things, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput discusses the recent Supreme Court decision that granted video games First Amendment protection. Opening with his memories of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, Chaput is clearly against the decision. Twelve years have passed, but very few Coloradans have forgotten the name of…

SOCOM Mobile HQ Challenges Players Via Android Phones

Is every moment spent away from SOCOM 4 on the PlayStation 3 a lesson in agony and anxiety? Now available on the Android Market, the SOCOM Mobile HQ app is the free cure to what ails you, as long as you’re up for a little challenge. The SOCOM Mobile HQ puts access to the SOCOM…

Researchers are Using Achievements to Read Your Mind

World of Warcraft players be wary. Big Brother may be watching. Game developers may start paying closer attention to your gameplay in order to predict your next move. Researchers from North Carolina State University have come up with a new procedure to predict the actions of players in massively multiplayer online role playing games. Testing…

Can You Resist Amazon’s Buy One Get One Free Game Sale?

Through July 9 Amazon.com is holding a massive buy one get one free sale on video games and accessories. Sure there’s a lot of crap, but one man’s crap is another man’s delicious sandwich. Ew. Thanks, Cheap College Gamers!

EVE Online Virtual Goods Dispute Ends Peacefully Following Trip to Iceland

Last week the universal community of EVE Online exploded into rage over the release of high-priced virtual goods and a leaked internal memo that suggested developer CCP planned to monetize the hell out of everything they could put a price tag on in the popular space MMO. Thanks to a brilliant plan that involved flying…

A New, Wonderful Portal 2 Music Video

Yes this Portal 2 video is packed to the gills with spoilers so look away if you’re not into that sort of thing. Look away and watch a video of a kitten playing with a potato. DO IT. For the rest of you, watch this video it’s so great. [thanks Russ]

This Thursday Retro Game Master Takes on Bonanza Brothers

This week on Retro Game Master The Kacho takes on Sega Mega Drive shooting platformer Bonanza Brothers as they loot banks, mansions and casinos. Released in Japan in 1990 as an arcade game, Bonanza Brothers was later ported to a number of systems including the Sega Mega Drive. In the game, players take on the…

Death Is the Perfect Time for In-Game Advertising

Dying in a video game pisses people off. In-games advertising pisses people off. Independent free-to-play browser-based online game developer Artix figures it might as well kill two angry birds with one annoying stone, merging death with in-game ads. Isn’t it just perfect? In-game advertising is a way for game developers to recoup a little of…

How To Make Your Own Live Fruit Ninja Video

No, he’s not really chopping fruit on the fly, but he is really swinging a cleaver around so that’s cool… right? Want to make your own Fruit Ninja video? Check out the FinalCutKing’s tutorial below.

A Closer Look at Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed and Might & Magic Figures

Ubisoft’s “limited-edition premium” UbiCollectibles are still only available to European customers, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t have a close look at the Ezio and Michael figurines. Only 2,000 Ezio’s Fury figurines were produced and only 500 figurines of Might & Magic Heroes VI‘s Michael were made. We’re told that both are…

Who Would You Battle in the Ultimate Game Industry Boss Fight?

In today’s battle-hardened edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Dracosummoner asks you to square off against a corporate executive, developer, designer, or member of the gaming press in your ultimate game industry boss fight. Cue battle music! If you could face off against any major gaming figure (other than Bobby Kotick, get creative!) in…

Is Valve Bringing DOTA 2 to Gamescom?

Gamescom, the biggest video game party in the world, strikes next month but it’s not too soon to start digging in to what we might be seeing at the biggest blending of beer, sausage and video games in the world. Over on Gamescom’s official site they’ve got a list up of who’s going and what…

A Storm of Swords, a Stronghold 3 Preview

I went to see Firefly’s long-awaited strategy sequel Stronghold 3 two weeks ago. It’s a game about constructing some castles and destroying others, and it looks rather jolly. But jolly in a ‘squalid medieval life and constant war’ kind of way. Here’s some detail and impressions for you… They had me at ‘sacks full of…