- Culture
The Baggy Pants and Silly Hats of the Fable Universe
Mike McCarthy, of Lionhead Studios, has for many a year now been working on the Fable series, bringing us some of the weirdest and most wonderful characters going around. In a world where angry bald space marines are the norm, and brown and grey the extent of most colour palettes, Fable‘s bright, comical character designs…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 -
UncategorizedNow Age of Conan is Free-to-Play
Massively-multiplayer game Age of Conan has just jumped on the bandwagon and is releasing a free-to-play version. For those wondering, the existing, paid version is going nowhere, with free players given the option of upgrading should the fancy take them. One day, our grandchildren will laugh at the notion we spent money on video games…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
Split/Second Developers Get the Boot
Black Rock Studios, the developers behind explosive racer Split/Second, have been shut down by owners Disney. Those laid off have already formed two new studios, called Roundcube Entertainment and ShortRound Games. [Eurogamer]
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
This Year’s Club Nintendo Rewards Suuuuuuck
Pins and a calendar. Yep, that’s what Nintendo of America is giving Gold and Platinum Club Nintendo members. That’s kinda lame. No, that’s really lame. More in the link, bitching in the comments section. [Club Nintendo Thanks, GeeQ!]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Zelda Game of My Dreams
Reddit user thepixelartist, who is a “professional 3D artist” by trade, has taken the raw game files included with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and turned them into something so glorious I’m getting dizzy just looking at them. Inspired by user 50CALBR’s earlier efforts, he’s got the game’s Outset Island looking absolutely stunning, and…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
This 3DS Box Art Just Got Ugly
The box art for 3DS game Nintendogs + Cats looks similar to the box art for Nintendogs. Make that looked According to Japanese website Famicom Plaza, Nintendo said that the change was made to differentiate the two games. Some gamers might have trouble discerning which version is the DS one and which one is the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011 -
UncategorizedWar is Looking Very Pretty On the PC These Days
There comes a point in every hardware cycle where the PC, thanks to its ability to be constantly updated, begins to pull ahead. Do things a console shooter can’t do. We’re now reaching that point. While Battlefield 3 is probably the most prominent example of this, with the astounding visuals of its PC edition, I’m…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
Wronged Chiptune Artist is Mysteriously Avenged
Last week we brought you the sad story of chiptune artist Andy Baio and his run in with the legal system over an album cover. Opponents of current copyright laws will no doubt then get a smile out of this. An anonymous sponsor in New York City paid people to put up posters of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
A Tale of Two Tales Cafes
Next month, Tokyo’s Ufotable Cafe is being turned into a special Tales cafe as part of a promotion for Namco’s Tales role-playing games. Then in September, the Tales cafe will move to an Ufotable in Tokushima. In both cafes, there will be special Tales themed food and drinks, a Tales exhibit, and more. For a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
Hang Some Portal 2 On Your Wall
While Valve sells its own collection of Portal 2 merchandise, nerd internet store Think Geek is doing its own bit for science, first with testing gel and now with these classy posters based on the hit first-person puzzler. While Valve’s prices tend to drift towards the “fancy” end of the market, these are highly affordable,…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 -
UncategorizedDon’t Believe the Lines. Don’t Believe the Hype.
Whenever a new console launches in Japan, people line up. And whenever there are lines, there’s often press there taking photos. During the last several hardware launches, I was there, doing just that. For Kotaku coverage, I always try to take as many pictures as I can at several different stores to get a better…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
When Call of Duty’s Creators Left, They Took a LOT of People With Them
Last year, Vince Zampella and Jason West – heads of Infinity Ward and the creators of the Call of Duty franchise – abruptly resigned from the studio and formed a new company At the time, it became knowledge that a few of their former IW colleagues had joined them at their new studio, Respawn Entertainment.…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
Free Team Fortress 2 Players Can’t Play In EVERY Game
While the news Team Fortress 2 has gone free-to-play is good for most, for some long-time fans of the game, it’s been seen as an assault on decency and common sense. Which they’ve reacted to by putting up a wall. A script has been created by Asher Baker at Limetech, which enables servers to filter…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallIn Memory of the Original Castle Wolfenstein (the one That Wasn’t In 3D)
It’s a slightly sad quirk of video game history that id Software’s Wolfenstein 3D is lauded as a masterpiece of gaming while the title it was heavily inspired by – name and all – is afforded no such honour. Yet id’s comic blaster owes everything to a stealth game released in 1981 called simply Castle…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 1, 2011 - Uncategorized
D.C. Universe Online Adds Microtransaction Support
D.C. Universe Online has launched something called the “DCUO Marketplace,” and while its shelves are pretty bare, what it could portend down the line is worth paying attention, if not cash. Currently all you can buy are “Proto Repair-Bots” (tune your gear without visiting a tech in HQ) and extra Vault Tickets. Given that you…
By Owen Good Published June 30, 2011 - Uncategorized
Videodome
Kotaku readers of the night, please talk amongst yourselves in this, our sleepier, more casual open thread of the day. We have a few things for you to watch and read, non-video game related, if you’re looking for a diversion. I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got hot dogs to cook as we gear up…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2011 - Uncategorized
Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife, Bed Intruder‘s on Rock Band 3
Like a civil court filing just beating the statute of limitations, Bed Intruder has officially made it to Rock Band‘s catalog of downloadable songs, 11 months after it was first uploaded (July 30, 2010, for those keeping score.) The song is 160 Microsoft Points/$2 [h/t Kariodude]
By Owen Good Published June 30, 2011 - Uncategorized
Pac-Man Fever Duo Stake Their Comeback to a Mobile Game
When they cashed in on the video game crazy nearly 30 years ago, Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia didn’t have to worry about licensing. Columbia/CBS records took care of that as Pac-Man Fever soared to No. 8 on the charts in 1982. Of course, the price they paid came later, in the form of CBS’s…
By Owen Good Published June 30, 2011 - Uncategorized
Ubisoft Unveils ‘Ubicollectibles’ for the Discriminating Assassin’s Creed and Might & Magic Fan
Publisher Ubisoft is continuing its pursuit into higher end, limited edition merch with the arrival of Ubicollectibles, things you may want to invest in if you’re a die hard Assassin’s Creed or Ghost Recon fan. And you live in Europe. The folks at UbiWorkshop bring word of the premium line of goods, which launches with…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 30, 2011
