- Uncategorized
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Has A Cloth Map, Naturally
It’s not really a fantasy role-playing game unless it ships with a map, preferably cloth, charting the mystical, magical regions of such and such. Thankfully, Bethesda Softworks won’t leave aficionados of the cloth map wanting with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim That is, if they pre-order. Bethesda has confirmed today that anyone who pre-orders Skyrim…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
William Gibson says cyberspace was inspired by 8-bit videogames
Over at the Paris Review, William Gibson has finally told the full story of how he invented the term cyberspace — partly by scribbling on notepads, and partly by watching kids playing videogames in early-1980s arcades. Here’s a really fascinating excerpt from a much longer interview with Gibson: INTERVIEWER Where did cyberspace come from? GIBSON…
By Annalee Newitz Published June 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedE3’s Booth Babes Fail a Simple Trivia Quiz With Flying Colors
About a year ago, PAX sought to ban booth babes (pardon me, “costumed booth representatives,”) using a number of tests to determine booth babe-iness (as opposed to garden-variety sexy cosplay). One of them was a lack of familiarity with the product represented. At E3, Bitmob’s 5HP put that standard to the test with a five-question…
By Owen Good Published June 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedHow I Learned to be the Bad Guy in Video Games
I suck at being the bad guy in video games. I always get all invested, and then I’m hardly ever able to commit to being evil. But for some reason, Infamous 2 has become that game that’s made it so much fun for me to be bad–-and I have those annoying guys that drum on…
Leigh Alexander Published June 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedVideo Game Ships Used to Train Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is teaming up with Invenio Engineering Solutions on a huge undertaking, to train sailors almost exclusively with video games of a sort. While using video game technology to train is not a new concept, Invenio and the RAN are using their software to go more in-depth and interactive than previous software…
By Jen Schiller Published June 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedBioShock Creator Explains the Science Behind BioShock Infinite‘s Tears
One of the most intriguing components of BioShock Infinite, just one of the reasons why the game was nominated “Best of Show” at E3 2011 by critics, was the gameplay concept of tears, the rifts in space-time that can be controlled by your sidekick Elizabeth. BioShock braniac Ken Levine explains the fictional science behind those…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Legend of Zelda Puts Nintendo 3DS Back on Top in Japan
Japan’s bestselling video game right now may be a PlayStation Portable title—Level 5’s Cardboard Senki—but The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D wasn’t far behind, helping to put the Nintendo 3DS back into first place this week. Only about 2,000 units separated the first and second place game’s in Japan this week, with Senki…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Ms. ‘Splosion Man To Splode on Xbox Live Arcade in July
Twisted Pixel’s sequel to 2009 explosive action-platformer ‘Splosion Man, the more feminine Ms. ‘Splosion Man, comes to Xbox Live Arcade on July 13, boasting 50 all-new single player levels, 50 multiplayer levels and a “2 Girls 1 Controller” mode
By Michael McWhertor Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Jamie Kennedy’s Still Sensitive About His Trainwreck of an E3 2007 Hosting Gig, Apparently
Jamie Kennedy, star of Son of the Mask, Malibu’s Most Wanted and Wii game Real Heroes: Firefighter doesn’t always deliver brilliantly inspired performances. See his E3 2007 Activision press conference hosting gig, for example, which he’s still really really sensitive about, according to a recent Twitter tirade. Kennedy, responding to a Twitter exchange between former…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
What Is America’s Fetish This Week? Penises
Dicks. Cocks. Penes. Half the population has them, and they’ve been the object of fascination for centuries—whether that be the physical organ itself or the phallus. You know what the Washington Monument is, right? If May was National Water Safety Month (it was!), then June’s been National Trouser Snake Month. Former Congressman Anthony Weiner was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Before They were Famous: Video Game Characters
Video Game Characters weren’t always doing…whatever it is they do. They had to earn their rankings, work for minimum wage, and rise to their current super stardom. So what was it they were doing before? Readers at Cracked.com have answered this question with never-before-seen (totally not photoshopped) pictures of your favorite characters… before their glory…
By Jen Schiller Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Does Breaking Bad Now Star Video Game’s Lost Hero?
This poster, recently slapped up on the walls of some of New York City’s subway stations, advertises the next season of AMC’s Breaking Bad. But gamers like me who look at it will probably see something else. Gordon Freeman, hero of Half-Life, is that you? This is Freeman as he appears on the box art…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
New Laws and Clinic to Combat Internet Addiction in South Korea
Internet Addiction is a growing problem for millions around the globe, but in more wired countries the problem is all the more prevalent. The “Save Brain Clinic”, which opened last month in South Korea, is one of a handful of medical facilities all over the world aimed specifically at treating those who suffer from internet…
By Jen Schiller Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
New Rainbow Six Might Be the Most Innovative Shooter in Years
While Ubisoft’s still-secret, yet-to-be named Rainbow Six game skipped an E3 appearance this year, it is still very much in the works we’re told. Here is our first look at early, rough images leaked to us from the game, a game that promises to mix the former glory of the hard-as-nails tactical shooter with a…
By Brian Crecente Published June 23, 2011 -
UncategorizedEvidence That Someone Loves Playing Duke Nukem Forever Online
There’s been a lot said about Duke Nukem Forever, not much of it good. But we’re slowly starting to hear from people demonstrating how they love the throw-back shooter in their own ways. Last night it was a couple of buddies who popped open some beers and played the game side-by-side. Today it’s Randy Pitchford,…
By Brian Crecente Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Set Your… Browser? Retro Game Master “Airs” Tonight
Don’t forget to pop over to Kotaku at 8 p.m. eastern tonight (if you live in North America) to watch the first episode of Retro Game Master. In this season premiere we’ll see Shinya Arino trying to defeat Ninja Gaiden on the NES. Psyched!
By Brian Crecente Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Puzzles, Platforms and Towel Attacks? This week in Nintendo Downloads
This week in the Nintendo Download, Pro Jumper! premieres for North American audiences, though the trailer is still in Japanese, it’s an adorable variation on platformers. Tennis and Stratego are exactly what they sound like&emdash;expect no variations there. This week is rounded out by a hidden-object game that will put I Spy books to shame,…
By Jen Schiller Published June 23, 2011 - Uncategorized
Is it OK to Hate Great Games?
If you asked Meterora3255 if he liked Uncharted 2 he’ll tell you he never played it, but that’s a lie. You see, Meteora3255 has a dirty secret. He didn’t like Uncharted 2. He tried to hide his true feelings at first, but as we all know, the gaming community can be cruel and shamed him…
By Sam Winstrom Published June 23, 2011
